“Government Service Was Always the Goal”: CLAT PG 2026 AIR 1 Mayank Goel on Judiciary Prep, PGCIL & NLU Delhi

Mayank Goel secured AIR 1 in CLAT PG 2026. A graduate of National Law University, Delhi, Mayank demonstrates a strong inclination towards public service. Unlike many CLAT PG students who pursue LLM, Mayank believes that practical work experience holds more value in real-world scenarios. His success in CLAT PG 2026 led to his selection as a Law Officer at Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) and NTPC Limited. He opted for PGCIL due to its central role in the power transmission sector. In an exclusive conversation with Careers360, Mayank speaks about his CLAT PG preparation, NLU Delhi’s academic environment, and why he decided on a government job over LLM.

Careers360: Hi Mayank, Congratulations on your success! What was your initial reaction upon knowing your rank? Were you expecting such a good AIR, or was it a surprise?

Mayank: Since I already had a fair idea of my score, I was expecting a rank somewhere in the top 10. So in that sense, the result wasn’t completely unexpected. However, seeing Rank 1 was definitely a big surprise for me and took me a moment to process. It felt unreal at first.

Careers360: Could you briefly tell us about yourself — educational background, where you’re from, and your family?

Mayank: I am from Jaipur, Rajasthan. My father works in the State Bank of India, and my mother is a homemaker. I completed my schooling in Jaipur and BA LL.B (Hons.) from National Law University, Delhi (2018-2023). My goal was to get a government job and contribute to the growth of the nation, and hence, I was preparing for several government job exams. I have appeared for three Judiciary Mains Examinations (DJS 2023, RJS 2024, RJS 2025). I secured AIR 47 in CLAT PG 2025 but did not get shortlisted for an interview call by any PSU. I have also cleared the Coal India Legal MT Examination 2025 (2nd list).

Careers360: You received offers from both PGCIL and NTPC and chose PGCIL. What influenced your decision to join PGCIL as a Law Officer?

Mayank: Both PGCIL and NTPC are excellent performing Maharatna PSUs and crucial for nation building, so it was a close decision. However, I was particularly drawn to PGCIL because of its central role in the power transmission sector, especially with the increasing importance of renewable energy, where transmission infrastructure plays a crucial role.

The entry-level grade offered at PGCIL, in comparison, also played a role in my decision. I felt joining PGCIL would provide better exposure and opportunities to develop my legal acumen and ultimately make a meaningful contribution to the growth of the nation.

Careers360: How do you see the role of in-house counsel in PSUs like PGCIL? What attracted you to this career path over pursuing LLM, joining law firms, or litigation?

Mayank: In-house counsels play a crucial role in PSUs like PGCIL. Their work includes handling legal matters of the organisation and communicating with the empanelled advocates, contract drafting and vetting, and providing legal guidance in matters of contracts, right of way, and arbitration, among others. The role involves both the resolution of existing disputes and the prevention of future ones.

This opportunity aligns with my aspirations, which is why I chose this path over pursuing an LLM, joining a law firm, or litigation.

Careers360: Do you see yourself pursuing an LLM in the future, or do you believe practical work experience is more valuable at this stage of your career?

Mayank: At this stage of my career, I believe practical work experience holds more value, as it helps in building a strong understanding of how the law operates in real-world scenarios. I would prefer to gain hands-on exposure first, especially in a sector like energy and infrastructure.

Careers360: Coming to the preparation, how difficult is it to crack CLAT LLM, and what was your broad preparation plan?

Mayank: CLAT PG is an exam that tests one's knowledge of two things: legal knowledge and comprehension abilities. If one masters these two, it's quite an easy exam.

I dedicated only one month of preparation to this exam. This was because I was already well-versed in the subjects that are asked in judicial examinations. The legal knowledge that is required is at par with what is generally taught in colleges. So for the remaining subjects, I read my college notes and supplemented them with recent changes in law.

For each of these subjects, I understood the basic concepts, and read the most important provisions, landmark cases and recent cases. I read PYPs multiple times to understand the nature of the questions being asked.

For recent cases, I have read monthly digests from LiveLaw over the past year and examined any case in detail that seemed important from an exam point of view. The paper has special emphasis on comprehension abilities. I suggest giving multiple mocks to those facing issues in completing the paper within the time.

Careers360: With the growing number of coaching institutes, do you think formal coaching is necessary for CLAT PG?

Mayank: The answer to this question depends on the personal preferences of each individual. For me, I already had a good grasp of the law, so coaching was not necessary.

The exam is quite easy if one has diligently studied for 5 years of college. But those who lack self-preparation can opt for coaching. Also, taking a good mock test series promptly can be very beneficial in understanding time management and building strategies, understanding where you currently stand in your preparation, and building confidence for clearing the exam.

Careers360: How was your experience at NLU Delhi — especially about 1) faculty and academic environment, 2) internships, 3) moot court/debating culture and 4) placements?

Mayank: NLU Delhi is a premier institution already well recognised in the field of legal education, and therefore hardly requires any appreciation from my side. Everything mentioned above is top-notch at the university, and each student is encouraged and given ample opportunities to participate, learn and excel in each of the above.

Careers360: NLU Delhi posts impressive placements every year, with median salaries ranging from ₹14 18 LPA. What’s your assessment of the university’s placements?

Mayank: As said above, I was always inclined towards public service and hence, did not participate in college placements. As a result, I was also not much involved in the placement process and hence am unaware of the exact placement figures and can therefore not comment on the above data. What I can say for sure is that, as NLUD is an institute providing premium education, all the students are capable and generally succeed in securing placements aligned with their career aspirations.