CLAT Full Form: Eligibility Criteria, Participating Universities, Syllabus
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CLAT Full Form: Eligibility Criteria, Participating Universities, Syllabus

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CLAT Application Date:01 Aug' 25 - 31 Oct' 25

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Mirza Farhan BaigUpdated on 05 Sep 2025, 01:59 PM IST
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The full form of CLAT is Common Law Admission Test. Candidates have to appear for CLAT in order to gain admission into 5-year LLB and LLM programmes of participating NLUs. In CLAT 2026, there are 24 national law universities (NLUs) and one private university that conduct their admissions through the CLAT counselling process. Being a national-level law entrance exam, the scores of CLAT are also accepted by over 60 law schools in the country. The Consortium of NLUs will conduct CLAT 2026 on December 7, 2025.

This Story also Contains

  1. CLAT Full Form - Highlights
  2. What is CLAT Exam - Brief History
  3. CLAT Exam - What is Consortium of National Law Universities?
  4. CLAT Exam Eligibility
  5. CLAT Syllabus
CLAT Full Form: Eligibility Criteria, Participating Universities, Syllabus
CLAT Full Form (Image by JComp on Freepik)

Over 60,000 candidates are expected to appear in the Common Law Admission Test. The exam will be held in over 130+ exam centres across 89 cities in the country. CLAT exam is for admission into the integrated law programmes and post graduate law programmes of the participating NLUs.

CLAT Full Form - Highlights

ParticularsDetails
CLAT full formCommon Law Admission Test
Mode of examOffline mode
Medium of examEnglish
Duration2 hours
Participating NLUs24 NLUs
SeatsUG - 4054
PG - 1591
Level of examNational level
Frequency of conductOnce every year
Application feeRs. 4000 for General/ OBC category, and Rs 3500 for all other reserved categories
Courses offered5-year LLB and one-year LLM

What is CLAT Exam - Brief History

To understand CLAT meaning and its purpose, it's good to look at brief history of the exam. The National Law Universities (NLUs) were created on the lines of IITs and IIMs to redefine the legal education system in the country. The National Law School of India University, Bangalore, set up in 1987, was the first NLU in the country and is the top NLU in the NIRF law rankings 2025. Today, there are 26 such National Law Universities

ICFAI-LAW School BA-LLB / BBA-LLB Admissions 2025

Ranked 1 st among Top Law Schools of super Excellence in India - GHRDC | NAAC A+ Accredited | #36 by NIRF

CLAT Cut-offs

Understand previous year cut-off trends as well as expected cut-offs for current year. Get the Ebook

Earlier, each university conducted its entrance test. This practice was challenged in court through a PIL filed by one parent. The PIL sought to introduce a single entrance exam for admission into various national law universities. Subsequently, 7 NLUs joined hands, and in 2008 conducted the first ever Common Law Admission Test. Subsequently, the number of universities that are part of the CLAT has risen to 24. RPNLU Prayagraj is the latest NLU to be part of the consortium. Other universities, such as the National Law University, Delhi still conduct their entrance exam.

CLAT Sample Paper 2026 with Answer Key- Careers360
Download the CLAT Sample Paper 2026 PDF featuring the latest exam pattern with descriptive-type questions for effective preparation.
Download EBook

CLAT Exam Details: CLAT Participating Universities

Given below are the participating universities in CLAT 2026. From last year, RPNLU Prayagraj also started accepting admissions into BA LLB programme based on CLAT scores.

Participating NLUs in CLAT

CLAT Exam - What is Consortium of National Law Universities?

The Consortium of National Law Universities was founded on August 19, 2017, to raise the standard of legal education in India, and also improve the justice system by providing quality legal education and producing capable future lawyers and judges. The consortium is a legal entity registered under the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act, at Bengaluru.

The group seeks to promote better coordination between the national law schools to deliver the highest quality of legal education in the country.

CLAT Exam Eligibility

The Consortium of NLUs has detailed the CLAT eligibility criteria for various UG and PG programmes on its official website. Any candidate desirous of taking the Common Law Admission Test should thoroughly go through the same. Further, candidates must also go through the individual websites of the colleges they wish to apply to in order to check their eligibility.

The eligibility criteria include details about age, and minimum qualification, among other things.

CLAT UG Eligibility Criteria

ParticularsDetails
Educational qualification10+2 or equivalent. Candidates appearing in their qualifying exams are also eligible to apply.
Minimum passing marks45% for General / OBC / PWD / NRI / PIO / OCI categories

40% for SC/ST categories
Age limitNo age limit
VGU, Jaipur | Law Admissions 2026

NAAC A+ Grade | Admissions open for 5 year Integrated LLB & LLB programs | Approved by Bar Council of India

All about LSAT India

Complete information around exam dates, application process, participating institutes, etc. Get the Ebook


CLAT PG Eligibility Criteria

ParticularsDetails
Educational qualification3-year LLB or 5-year LLB. Candidates appearing in their qualifying exams are also eligible to apply.
Minimum passing marks50% for General/OBC/PWD/NRI/PIO/OCI categories
45% for SC/ST categories
Age LimitNo age limit

Also Read: CLAT Vs AILET - Eligibility, Syllabus & Pattern, Marks Distribution, Participating Institutes

CLAT Syllabus

The consortium prescribes the CLAT syllabus on its official website. Given below are the details of the syllabus of CLAT 2026 for UG and PG programmes.

UG-CLAT Exam Syllabus

The CLAT UG exam syllabus covers 5 different sections, namely English Language, Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. There will be 120 questions in the CLAT UG paper. Each question carries 1 mark. For each incorrect response, 0.25 marks will be deducted as negative marks. The duration of the exam is two hours.

CLAT 2026 Section Wise Details

  • CLAT English Language: In this section, the candidate will encounter a set of passages of around 450 words each that cover both fictional and non-fictional topics, and have a difficulty level of 12th grade. The candidate has to answer questions based on the passages to show their level of understanding of the text.

  • Current Affairs: This section requires the candidates to answer questions based on passages that are derived from newspapers and other journalistic sources. The questions test the candidate’s awareness of current affairs and general knowledge

  • CLAT Legal Reasoning: In this section, the candidate will encounter passages of around 450 words that revolve around public policy, legal matters, and philosophical enquiries. The passages are followed by questions that test their ability to identify principles set out in the passage, apply these rules to real situations, and also assess how a change in principles will change their application to the real world.

  • Logical Reasoning: In this section, the candidate, after reading a given passage, has to answer questions that demand drawing inferences, recognising and forming arguments, and identifying patterns of relationships between different arguments.

  • Quantitative Techniques: This section includes questions that are based on brief statements of fact, textual or visual representations of numerical data. The candidate has to extrapolate data from these texts, graphs, or other representations and perform mathematical calculations on it.

You may also check -

CLAT UG Exam Pattern 2026

Subject Area

Number of Questions (New Pattern)Total MarksMarking scheme

English Language

22-26 questions22-261 mark per question. 0.25 negative marking for every wrong answer

Current Affairs with General Knowledge

28-32 questions28-32

Legal Reasoning

28-32 questions28-32

Logical Reasoning

22-26 questions22-26

Quantitative Techniques

10-14 questions10-14

CLAT PG Exam Syllabus

The syllabus for the postgraduate course focuses on the subject expertise of the aspiring candidates. The CLAT LLM Exam syllabus will test the candidate’s proficiency in different areas of law and test their suitability to pursue a postgraduate law program. The CLAT PG exam pattern 2026 consists of 120 questions, and the candidate will get a total of 120 minutes to attempt the questions. Each question carries one mark, and there is a negative marking of 0.25 for every incorrect response.

CLAT LLM Syllabus Topics 2026

CLAT PG 2026 Subjects

Important Topics

Criminal Law

Elements of crime, Actus Reas and Mens Rea, group liability, abetment, criminal conspiracy, exceptions, attempt to commit offences, offences against public tranquility, offences against body – culpable homicide, murder, hurt, grievous hurt, wrongful confinement and wrongful restraint, criminal force, assault, abduction, kidnapping, rape & un-natural offences

CLAT LLM Constitutional Law syllabus

Constitution law of India, definition, features, framing of Indian Constitution, doctrine of separation of power, executive power, nature of executive of India, relationship between President and Council of Minister, constitutional rights, Writ jurisdiction of HC and SC, freedom, right against social discrimination,

  • Legislative power – procedure, privileges

  • Judicial power – organisation of the judiciary, the jurisdiction of SC of India,

  • Federal Idea – Nature of Indian Polity, Co-operative Federalism

  • Freedoms of Inter-state trade and commerce

  • Impact of Emergency on centre-state relations

Public International Law

Definition, origin and development of international law, sources and subjects of International law, relationship between International and municipal law, state recognition, state succession, international rive and canals, international law of the sea, air, space, aerial navigation, outer space exploration and use, nationality statelessness, state jurisdiction, basis of jurisdiction, jurisdiction immunity, extradition and asylum, diplomatic and consular relations, law of treaties, war and use of force in International law, law of contraband & blockade, concept of war, legal effects of outbreak of war and enemy character, settlement of international disputes, state responsibility, retorsion, reprisals, Armed interventions with the role of United Nations

Administrative Law


Definition and Significance Administrative law's scope and significance, the rule of law, and the definition and classification of administrative actions

Natural justice principles: definition, nature, and necessity of administrative guidance; natural justice and statutory provisions; Control Mechanism for Adjudicatory, Procedural, and Parliamentary Delegated Law Administrative Adjudication; Administrative Discretion and Remedies; Legislation and its Development; Administrative Liability; Administrative Discretion and Enforcement; Administrative Guidance to Quasi-Judicial and Statutory Bodies; Principle of Estoppel Constitutional law's relationship to administrative law The Latest Developments in Administrative Law

Law of Contracts

First of all, Fundamental components of an offer, acceptance, consideration, etc., Notification of Offer, Acceptance, and Offer and Acceptance Revocation, Wagering agreements and contingent contracts, consent, ability to enter into contracts, privity of contracts, element vitiating contracts, bailment, pledge-specific contracts, indemnity, guarantee, and agency, The Doctrine of Frustration and Force Majure

Law of Torts

Overview of General Principles Tort: What is it? India's Law of Torts Origins, Winfield's Criticism, Injuria sine Damnum/Damnum sine Injuria

Tortious Liability, Statutory Authority, Consent (Volenti nonfit Injuria), Several and Independent Tortfeasors, Joint Tortfeasors and Related Cases

Defences in General, Acts of God, and Private Negligence, nuisance, and defamation, as well as strict liability, specific torts, and absolute liability, The concept of vicarious liability safeguarding consumers, The differences between multiple tortfeasor and joint tort

Intellectual Property Rights

Nature, meaning, definition and scope of IPR, Trademarks Act 1999, Patents Act 1970, Copyright Act 1957, IPR in International Perspective

Jurisprudence

Legal method, Indian Legal system, basic theory of law, Analytical positivism, Kelsen’s pure theory of law, Hart’s definition of law, Austin’s theory of law, definition of law by Holland and Salmond, different theoretical approaches to study law and jurisprudence – Historical and anthropological approach, Sociological approach, economic approach (Marx’s and Engel’s views about the law and state, realist approach – American and Scandinavian realism,

Taxation law

First of all, domicile status, earnings from a salary, income not included in the total income, revenue from real estate, revenue from a career and business, indirect taxation Latest Changes to GST

Labour & Industrial Law

Overview, Concept, and Theory of Industrial Relations, Industrial Disputes Act, The Factories Act, 1948, The Standing Orders Act, Industrial Relations Code 2020, Code on Social Security 2020, Code on Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions 2020, Code on Wages 2020, An examination of recent labour law amendments and the key cases they involve

Environmental Law

Summary of the Subject Acts 1974 about the prevention and control of pollution in water, 1981 regarding the prevention and control of pollution in air, and 1986 regarding the protection of the environment

The Indian Forest Act of 1927, the Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980, the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, the Public Liability Insurance Act of 1991, the Schedule Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act of 2006, the National Environment Tribunal Act of 1955, International Law of the Environment

Family law

Maintenance (For both Muslim law and Hindu law), Judicial Separation, Divorces

Property Law

Summary and Relevance of the Topic Property types, concepts of lease, exchange, gifting, wills, mortgages, etc., Take Actionable Allegations

Company Law

Overview of the Companies Act, 2013's Doctrines under the Companies Act Directors, Meeting of Shareholders, Listing and Delisting of Shares, Closing, Answers to Assessments


CLAT PG Exam Pattern 2026

The CLAT PG 2026 exam pattern consists of 120 questions, and the candidate will get a total of 120 minutes to attempt the questions. Each question carries one mark, while there is a negative marking of 0.25 mark for every incorrect response.

CLAT PG 2026 Exam Pattern

ParticularsNumber of questionsTotal marksMarking scheme
Different topics on law1201201 mark per question. 0.25 negative mark for every wrong answer

Also, check - Colleges Accepting CLAT Score

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: When is the next CLAT exam?
A:

The next CLAT exam date has not been notified. However, it will likely occur in the first week of December 2026.

Q: What is the CLAT full form?
A:

The CLAT full form is Common Law Admission Test.

Q: Is CLAT exam compulsory for LLB?
A:

No, CLAT is not compulsory LLB. CLAT exam is conducted for admissions to law courses in NLUs.

Q: What is CLAT exam eligibility?
A:

CLAT aspirants must have passed their class 12. Candidates appearing for their class 12 exams are also eligible to apply.

Q: Is CLAT very difficult?
A:

Yes, CLAT is very reading intensive and most popular law entrance exams in India.

Q: What is CLAT exam eligibility?
A:

Candidates must have cleared or appearing for the 12th grade exam to be eligible for CLAT UG while CLAT PG is open to LLB graduates.

Q: Do all NLUs admit students through CLAT?
A:

Some NLUs such as the National Law University, Delhi conduct their own entrance exam.

Q: For which courses can one gain admission through CLAT exam?
A:

The CLAT exam is conducted for admitting students to the 5 year BA LLB programme and 1 Year LLM programme.

Q: What is the full from CLAT?
A:

The full form of CLAT is Common Law Admission Test which is an entrance exam conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities for admission into UG and PG programmes offered by participating universities.

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Questions related to CLAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CLAT ?

It is always better to take the CLAT exam right after Class 12 if your goal is to build a career in law, because CLAT UG is specifically designed for admission into integrated five-year law programs like BA LLB, BCom LLB, or BBA LLB. Appearing after Class 12 saves you time, as you complete both graduation and law together in a single course. On the other hand, if you first complete graduation and then plan for law, you will not be eligible for CLAT UG but instead for CLAT PG, which is meant for admission into LLM programs. This path takes longer, because you first spend three or four years on graduation and then add another three years in an LLB program if you choose not to go for an integrated course. So, if you are already sure about pursuing law as your career, writing CLAT right after Class 12 is the smarter and time-saving option, while writing it after graduation makes sense only if you are considering higher studies in law or a shift in career later.

For CLAT, the most important topics are from  Legal Reasoning, Current Affairs & GK, the Indian Constitution, English Language, Quantitative Techniques and Logical Reasoning. For a brief detail you can go through the following link: https://law.careers360.com/articles/clat-important-topics

Thank You.

Hi dear candidate,

Both the colleges Maharaja Agrasen (MAIMS) or Gitarattan (GIBS) are affiliated to IP University and allows admission either by CLAT or IPU CET Law. Without either of these exams, your admission is NOT accepted there. You can try looking for management quota seats in these colleges if you have got good marks in 12th class.

BEST REGARDS

Hi dear candidate,

You can easily register yourself for CLAT exam by visiting the Consortium of NLUs official website and follow these steps:

  • Register yourself with your EMail ID, phone number and password.
  • Log in using OTP
  • Complete application form by entering details, selecting program (UG/PG) and uploading required documents mentioned there.
  • Then at last, review the application and pay the registration fees.
  • Download your confirmation slip.

Know the complete process at:

CLAT Registration 2026 (Started): Documents Required, Application Fee, Link, Steps to Apply

BEST REGARDS

Right now there is no official e-guide for CLAT 2026 released by the Consortium of NLUs. They usually provide sample questions and model papers closer to the exam, but not a complete guide at this stage.

You can still prepare using free study material available online. Many websites provide free downloadable PDFs, mock tests, and previous year papers that will help you understand the pattern and practice important topics.

If you want a structured book, there are two good options. The Oswaal CLAT & AILET guide has past year solved papers, topic-wise questions, and mock tests. The Arihant CLAT Conqueror book has more than 3000 practice questions with solutions. Both are helpful depending on whether you prefer solved papers or more practice questions.