CLAT Syllabus 2026: The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) has released the CLAT 2026 syllabus pdf on its official website - consortiumofnlus.ac.in. The CLAT UG 2026 syllabus has five sections namely English language, logical reasoning, legal reasoning, general knowledge, current affairs, and quantitative techniques. The maximum difficulty level of the CLAT 2026 syllabus is of class 12th level. On the other hand, the CLAT LLM syllabus 2026 covers different law topics testing the candidate's suitability to pursue post-graduation in law. Read the complete article about the CLAT syllabus 2026, including subject-wise topics, marking scheme, and more. The Common Law Admission Test is a reading intensive law entrance exam. A common skill tested in the CLAT 2026 syllabus across all the syllabus is the ability to read and comprehend long text passages. The CLAT question papers often require students to read around 20,000 words across passages and answer the questions within 120 minutes.
Candidates who have been called for the CLAT 2026 counselling and seat allocation process must register online by following the instructions given below.
Go to the official website, consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
Log in using your registered mobile number and password.
CLAT 2026 Syllabus and Subject-wise questions and marks
CLAT UG Syllabus 2026 Snapshot
CLAT Subjects 2026
CLAT Syllabus 2026 for General Knowledge and Current Affairs
CLAT Legal Reasoning Syllabus 2026
CLAT 2026 Syllabus vs Other Law Entrance Exams
CLAT 2026 Books and Study Material
How to Prepare for CLAT 2026?
CLAT Syllabus 2026 (Image by freepik)
As per the CLAT exam pattern, the total number of questions in CLAT 2026 will be 120, each carrying one mark, spread across the five sections as per the assigned weights. Candidates will have 2 hours to answer the questions. The CLAT participating institutes include 24 national law universities (NLUs), 1 private university, and 60+ affiliated colleges that accept CLAT scores for their law admissions. CLAT 2026 will be conducted on December 7, 2025 offline for 5-year LLB and LLM admissions.
CLAT Exam Syllabus: Overview
Details
Particulars
Exam name
Common Law Admission Test
Duration of CLAT exam
2 hours (offline exam)
CLAT exam timings
2 pm to 4 pm
Total number of questions in CLAT 2026
120
Subjects
Legal reasoning, logical reasoning, maths, current affairs, general knowledge and English comprehension
Level of difficulty
Class 12 or equivalent
Is CLAT 2026 Syllabus Tough?
Whether the CLAT 2026 syllabus is tough or not can be gauged by the success rate in CLAT. Close to 60000+ candidates appear for the exam every year vying for a very limited number of seats in the top NLUs. The table below provides the success rate in CLAT.
CLAT Success Rate (Last Year Trend)
Exam
Number of registered candidates
Number of appeared candidates
Attendance
Seats
Maximum Success Rate
CLAT UG
62832
60544
96.35%
4054
6.66%
CLAT PG
16082
14817
92.91%
1591
10.73%
Amity University-Noida Law Admissions 2026
Among top 100 Universities Globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026
CLAT 2026 Syllabus and Subject-wise questions and marks
There are five sections in the CLAT 2026 exam syllabus. Each section contains comprehension passages followed by a series of multiple-choice questions. Candidates are required to answer the CLAT questions after reading the passages. The subject-wise distribution of questions and marks is given below.
There are five subjects in CLAT. As can be seen in the overview above, the CLAT 2026 subjects have different weights in the syllabus. Among the CLAT exam subjects, current affairs and legal reasoning have the maximum weight at 25%. English and logical reasoning have 20% weight. The lowest weight among the CLAT subjects is for Mathematics at 10%. The CLAT subject-wise marks are also distributed according to the weight of each subject.
CLAT 2026 Syllabus Section-wise Weightage - Most to Least
Sl. no
Sections
Weightage
1
Current affairs
25%
2
Legal reasoning
25%
3
English
20%
4
Logical reasoning
20%
5
Quantitative techniques
10%
CLAT 2026 College Predictor
Know your admission chances in National Law Universities based on your home state & exam result for All India Category & State Category seats.
The CLAT 2026 syllabus is designed to test whether the candidates possess the basic skills and aptitude required to pursue a career in law. The five subjects of the CLAT UG syllabus 2026 test some common and some subject-specific skills. The common skills tested in the CLAT syllabus are those personality traits that will be required for anyone interested in pursuing the legal profession. Such skills include critical thinking and analytical skills. The subject-specific skills tested in the CLAT syllabus are different for each subject. Let's do the section-wise breakdown of the CLAT syllabus in depth.
CLAT 2026 Syllabus for English Language and Comprehension
The CLAT English section is primarily a test of a candidate’s language skills — reading, comprehension, and grammar. The English syllabus for CLAT 2026 will contain 3-4 passages of around 450 words each. Each passage is followed by multiple-choice type questions based on the passage. Students have to read the passages and answer the underlying questions accordingly. The passages are usually drawn from non-fiction and journalistic sources such as newspapers and magazines.
CLAT English Syllabus 2026 with Weightage
Particulars
Important details
Total weightage
20%
Type of questions asked
Comprehension-type passage-based questions
Number of questions
22-26
Number of passages
3-4 passages of around 450 words
Source material or content of passages
Newspapers, journals, contemporary or historically important fiction and non-fiction writing.
Standard of questions
12th standard
Skills Tested
Comprehending the core idea of the passage
Reading speed and proficiency
Summarising ideas
Vocabulary
Drawing inferences and conclusions
Evaluating Arguments
Important Topics
Correcting incorrect grammar sentences
Synonyms & antonyms
Tenses
Fill in the Blanks
Spotting grammatical errors
Active & passive voice
Vocabulary
Idioms and phrases
Preparation tips for English
Develop a regular reading habit
Constantly improve vocabulary using flashcards and noting down new words
Practise attentive reading by paying attention to small details
CLAT Syllabus 2026 for General Knowledge and Current Affairs
This section will have 25% of the questions, making the GK and current affairs syllabus for CLAT 2026 one of the most important sections in the question paper. The CLAT general knowledge largely remains static and tests the basic knowledge of candidates in subjects such as history, economics, political science, and technology. Whereas, CLAT current affairs will be based on topics of national and international importance that have been featured in recent news. However, in recent years, questions for CLAT GK and current affairs have been asked based on the information given in the passage iteself. The table given below provides an overview of the CLAT GK syllabus 2026.
CLAT general knowledge and current affairs syllabus 2026 with Weightages
Particulars
Important details
Total weightage
25%
Type of questions asked
Comprehension-type passage-based questions - Static general knowledge and current affairs
Number of questions
28-32
Number of passages
4-6
Source material or content of passages
News, journalistic sources, and non-fiction writing.
Standard of questions
Class 12th
Skills Tested
Reading and comprehension ability
General Awareness
Drawing inferences and conclusions
Important topics
National & International Affairs
Schemes
Science & Technology
Summits & Conferences
Sports
Awards & Honours
Arts & Culture
Important Historical Events
Preparation tips for GK
Regularly follow news and read newspapers to remain abreast of the latest developments
Note down important events in a diary
Solve mock tests and sample papers to familiarise with the type of questions asked in the exam
The legal reasoning for CLAT 2026 has a 25% weight in the CLAT syllabus. The consortium of NLUs specifies that prior knowledge of the law is not required for the legal reasoning syllabus for CLAT 2026. However, CLAT experts suggest that some level of familiarity with basic legal principles and current legal affairs will help the candidates answer questions quickly and perform better in the exam. Knowledge of legal and moral issues can help candidates apply general legal principles and propositions in various fact scenarios when attempting the CLAT legal reasoning questions.
There will be 4-6 passages in the CLAT legal reasoning syllabus of 450 words. These passages will contain various fact situations or scenarios with legal matters, public policy questions, or moral philosophical inquiries. The CLAT legal reasoning questions will be based on the given passages. The passages are drawn from non-fictional sources such as policy reports and legal journals.
CLAT 2026 Legal Reasoning Syllabus with Weightage
Particulars
Important details
Total weightage
25%
Type of questions asked
Multiple choice type questions from comprehension passages
No. of questions
28-32
No. of passages
4-6
Source material or content of passages
Legal knowledge, policy reports, legal journals, cases, news and editorials
Difficulty level
Class 12th
Skills tested
Identifying and inferring the rules and arguments in the passage
Demonstrating how change in such rules/principles affects their application
Applying such rules and principles in various fact scenarios
Reading Speed and Critical Thinking Ability
Important topics
Concepts of law
Law of Torts
Indian Penal Code and related concepts
Monism and dualism
Special Marriage Act
Contract Act
Bigamy and Constitution
Law of writs
Penal law
Personal laws related to Bigamy
Public international law
Legal current affairs
Identify and infer the rules and arguments in the passage
Preparation tips for legal reasoning
Regularly read law magazines to develop a good conceptual understanding of legal concepts
Approach different situations based on facts without making any assumptions for an objective understanding of the situation.
CLAT Logical Reasoning Syllabus 2026
The CLAT logical reasoning syllabus has 20% weight in the CLAT syllabus 2026. The section on CLAT logical reasoning attempts to test the ability of candidates to think logically. The questions in CLAT logical reasoning are based on passages that contain statements, arguments, and facts. The language and tone of the passages can be tricky with the use of words like “And/Or, Where/There, All/Some” etc. Additionally, this section will have arguments and patterns in which candidates have to either draw relationships or apply those arguments in different situations.
CLAT 2026 Logical Reasoning Syllabus with Weightage
Particulars
Important details
Total weightage
20%
Type of questions asked
MCQs from comprehension passages
Number of questions
22-26 questions
Number of passages
3-4
Content of passages
Arguments, patterns, statements, and fact situations
Difficulty level
Class 12th
Skills tested
Identifying arguments and their premises and drawing conclusions
Critically analysing patterns of reasoning and assessing how conclusions may depend on particular premises or evidence
Inferring what follows from the passage and applying these inferences to new situations
Reading and comprehension ability
Identifying contradictions and equivalence and assessing the effectiveness of arguments
Engage in puzzle-solving to improve logical and critical thinking ability
Pay attention to small details and improve comprehension skills to understand a given problem better
Practise with sample papers to build speed-solving skills
CLAT Maths Syllabus 2026
The CLAT Maths syllabus carries 10% weightage in the CLAT 2026 syllabus. The maths section carries the least weight in CLAT 2026. However, it is often considered a game changer as one can get ahead of the rest by performing well in this section which can be difficult for candidates from a non-mathematical background. The difficulty level of CLAT syllabus for quantitative techniques will be a maximum of class 10 level.
Unlike general maths, CLAT maths will not have straightforward problems. Questions in CLAT maths will be framed based on facts, conditions, data, graphs or textual representations containing numerical information. Candidates have to study that information before answering the underlying questions. Gathering and processing such numerical information may take some time, but the skills tested are only basic to mathematics. Students from the science stream may have a slight advantage in the CLAT maths section. However, the questions are basic, and students from other streams can improve their overall CLAT 2026 score by preparing well for the CLAT maths syllabus 2026.
CLAT Maths Syllabus 2026 with Weightages
Particulars
Important details
Total weightage
10%
Type of questions asked
Sets of facts or propositions, graphs, or other textual, pictorial, or diagrammatic representations of numerical information, followed by a series of questions.
Number of questions
10-14
Number of passages
2-3
Standard of questions
Class 10th
Skills tested
Working with and drawing inferences from numerical data
Performing basic mathematical operations on given problems
Reading and comprehending data given in the passage
Along with the syllabus, it is very important that candidates are acquainted with the paper pattern. CLAT 2026 will be an offline exam. As per the CLAT 2026 exam pattern, there will be 120 questions across five subjects. Candidates will be awarded one mark for every correct answer and 0.25 marks will be deducted for every incorrect response. The detailed exam pattern of CLAT 2026 has been given below:
CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern
Category
Details
Time duration
2 hours
Mode
Offline mode (pen paper-based mode)
Conducting Body
Consortium of National Law Universities (CNLU)
Type of questions
Objective-type questions
Number of questions
CLAT UG - 120 questions
CLAT PG - 120 questions
CLAT Total marks
120 marks (Both CLAT UG and CLAT PG)
CLAT UG marking scheme
Correct answer - 1 mark
Incorrect answer - 0.25 marks deduction
Un-attempted questions - No negative marking
Language
English
Subject-wise Analysis of CLAT Previous Year Question Paper
Analysing the previous year's CLAT question paper will help candidates evaluate the difficulty level of the CLAT syllabus 2026. The table given below provides the CLAT exam analysis of last year's CLAT question paper, including the difficulty level and the topics covered.
Less core legal reasoning questions, Valid and Invalid Contract, Right to Privacy, 42nd Amendment
Quantitative Techniques
Easy to Moderate
Dearness Allowance
English Language
Easy
How to Improve Your Life passage by George Orwell
Difficult Sections in CLAT Syllabus 2026
The difficult sections in the CLAT syllabus vary as per the difficulty level of the exam. Last year's exam analysis shows that quantitative aptitude and logical reasoning were considered moderate, while the remaining sections were considered easy. The maths section in the CLAT exam syllabus can be challenging for students from non-mathematical background. However, the difficulty level of the maths questions is not beyond class 10.
CLAT LLM Syllabus 2026
As mentioned above, the CLAT 2026 PG syllabus contains subjects of the LLB programme. The questions are asked in similar comprehension passage formats. However, questions are framed around specific law topics and current legal affairs. All of the questions asked in CLAT LLM 2026 will be objective-type questions. There will be no essay or descriptive section. The topics covered in the CLAT LLM syllabus are listed below.
The difficulty level of the CLAT syllabus 2026 can be better understood when looked at in comparison to a few other law entrance exams. The table given below provides a comparison of the syllabus of CLAT 2026 with two other popular law entrance exams namely AILET and SLAT.
CLAT Syllabus Vs AILET Syllabus Vs SLAT Syllabus
Particulars
CLAT 2026 syllabus
AILET 2026 syllabus
SLAT 2026 syllabus
Number of sections
5
3
5
Sections
English, GK and current affairs, legal reasoning, logical reasoning, quantitative techniques
English, current affairs and GK, logical reasoning
Logical reasoning, legal reasoning, analytical reasoning, reading comprehension, GK and current affairs
Number of questions
120
150
60
Time
2 hours
2 hours
1 hour
Total marks
120
150
60
Marks per question
1 mark
1 mark
1 mark
Negative marking
0.25 mark for every wrong answer
0.25 mark for every wrong answer
No negative marking
Number of attempts
Once a year
Once a year
Twice a year
CLAT 2026 Books and Study Material
While preparing for the law entrance exam, candidates must refer to the standard CLAT books that are only meant for the entrance exam. Additionally, a daily English newspaper like The Hindu and internet-based study resources; news analysis, editorials, and journals are required for CLAT preparation. Here is a complete list of CLAT books and study materials that students should keep for their preparation.
Recommended books and study material for CLAT 2026
Subject
Author
Legal Reasoning
Legal Aptitude for CLAT and other Law Exams: Workbook by A. P Bhardwaj
Online legal news portals such as Live Law, Bar & Bench.
General Awareness, Current affairs
Legal General Knowledge by R. K Gupta
Pearson General Knowledge Manual
Pratiyogita Darpan
Monthly current affairs magazine
Logical Reasoning
Logical Reasoning by Jain Prateek
Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by RS Aggarwal
Analytical Reasoning by MK Pandey
English
Objective General English by N. Khurmi and George
English is Easy by Chetananand Singh
High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin
Quantitative Techniques
Class 10 textbook by NCERT Quantitative Aptitude by RS Aggarwal
Previous Year Papers
Previous Year Papers by A.P. Bhardwaj
Additional Resources
Newspaper - The Hindu or The Indian Express, legal journals, articles, editorials, explanations
CLAT is one of the toughest law entrance exams in India and is highly competitive. Close to 60000+ students appear for the exam. Most of the sections in CLAT 2026 focus on high-level reading and comprehension skills, which can not be developed overnight. Given below are the tips to prepare for the CLAT syllabus 2026.
Preparation Tips for CLAT 2026 Syllabus
Start preparations early and give adequate time. Candidates should spend at least six to eight months on CLAT preparation and deal with each subject in a dedicated manner.
Keep a collection of good CLAT 2026 books for each section, which can be referred to during one's preparation to cover the underlying concepts and build a good understanding of each subject.
Candidates preparing for UG-CLAT 2026 are advised to practice sample questions throughout their preparation. The CLAT previous year papers are one of the most important resources that not only make the candidate familiar with the actual test but also make them habitual of solving such lengthy papers within the available time limits.
Candidates must leave enough time at the back end to revise and consolidate one's learning for better performance during the exam.
Look for study groups of like-minded people who are preparing for CLAT 2026 with the same intensity. Peer groups act as great motivators to study well for the exam.
Devote enough time for rest and leisure activities during one's preparation without getting overwhelmed by the pressure to perform well in the exam.
CLAT Syllabus 2026: Last-Minute Preparation Tips
The last-minute preparation for the CLAT 2025 syllabus requires slight tweaking. Candidates should focus more on consolidating one's learning than learning about new topics. Here are a few last-minute preparation tips for the syllabus of CLAT 2025.
Quickly go through the notes prepared during the preparation to build on one's learnings
Solve as many mock tests as possible to get comfortable with the exam pattern and increase the solving speed.
Avoid taking up new concepts that are difficult to understand and instead focus on topics that can be tackled quickly.
The CLAT 2026 syllabus comprises five subjects - English Language, Current Affairs including General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Techniques.
Q: What are the key subjects covered in the CLAT exam?
A:
CLAT UG exam comprises of five subjects - English Language, Current Affairs including General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Techniques.
Q: Where can I check the CLAT syllabus?
A:
Candidates can check the detailed CLAT syllabus in this article. The article comprises detailed subjects and topics list.
Q: Who prescribes the CLAT syllabus?
A:
The Consortium of NLUs prescribes the syllabus of CLAT 2026.
Q: Are there any changes to the CLAT 2026 syllabus this year?
A:
No, there are no new changes in the CLAT 2026 syllabus.
Q: Is there a specific weightage for each subject in the CLAT syllabus?
A:
Yes, English Language and Logical Reasoning sections have a weightage of 20% each, while Current Affairs and Legal Reasoning sections have 25% weightage each. The Quantitative Techniques section will have 10% weightage.
Q: Which is the most difficult section of the CLAT 2026?
A:
The Quantitative Techniques section can be termed as the most difficult section of CLAT exam.
Q: Where can I find resources to prepare for the CLAT syllabus?
A:
Candidates can visit the Careers360 Law eBooks and Sample Papers store.
If you have scored around 85 marks in CLAT 2026, you have a fair chance of getting admission into some of the mid to lower tier National Law Universities, depending on factors like your category, domicile reservation, women quota and the overall difficulty level of the paper this year.
With a score of 85, general category candidates usually have better chances in NLUs such as NLU Odisha (Cuttack), NLU Assam (Guwahati), NLU Ranchi, NLU Raipur, NLU Patiala, NLU Shimla, NLU Aurangabad, NLU Trichy or NLU Visakhapatnam. If you belong to a reserved category like SC, ST, OBC, EWS, or have domicile or women reservation, your chances improve further and you may also be considered for comparatively better NLUs within the same score range.
Top NLUs like NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata, NLUD Delhi, NLU Jodhpur and GNLU Gandhinagar generally require much higher scores, so getting into these with 85 marks would be difficult under the general category. However, cutoffs change every year based on seat matrix, number of applicants, reservation policies and counselling rounds, so nothing can be ruled out completely until the counselling process ends.
You should participate in CLAT counselling, fill as many preferences as possible in a realistic order, and stay active through all rounds, including vacancy and spot rounds if announced. Many candidates secure seats in later rounds due to withdrawals.
Overall, 85 is a decent score and gives you a reasonable chance of securing an NLU seat, especially in mid or newer NLUs. Stay positive, plan your preferences wisely, and keep checking counselling updates regularly. All the best.
With a score of 51 marks in CLAT and belonging to the ST category with Jharkhand domicile, you do have a realistic chance of getting admission to some National Law Universities, especially through category reservation and domicile benefits.
At this score range, top-tier NLUs may be difficult, but several mid and newer NLUs can be considered. As a Jharkhand domicile candidate, you should specifically look at NLU Ranchi, as domicile and ST reservation together significantly improve your chances there. In previous years, ST category cut-offs at NLU Ranchi have gone comparatively lower than the general category, so you stand a fair chance if you participate actively in counselling and fill choices carefully.
Apart from NLU Ranchi, you may also get opportunities in newer or developing NLUs such as NLU Tripura, NLU Meghalaya, NLU Manipur, NLU Nagaland, NLU Sikkim, or NLU Andhra Pradesh, depending on seat availability, counselling rounds, and category-wise cut-offs. Cut-offs vary every year based on difficulty level, number of candidates, and seat matrix, so participating till the last round is very important.
It is advisable to keep a broad preference list during CLAT counselling, include all NLUs where ST seats are available, and not skip later rounds as many seats open up due to withdrawals. Also keep backup options like good state law colleges or central universities offering law programs, in case the final allotment does not go as expected.
Overall, with your category and domicile advantage, admission into a decent NLU is possible if counselling choices are made wisely and patiently. All the best.
Sorry, but with 59 marks in the CLAT, your chances of getting in top NLUs in the general category are very low, as the cutoffs are usually 90+ marks. But don't worry you have good chances in the tier-3 NLUs, espicely if you are belongs to SC/ST/OBC reserved categories.
You are scoring 35.75 in the CLAT exam as a female candidate, and both parents are in the Army, so you have a plus point for the Army quota, but getting admission in top NLUs is highly unlikely because the SC cutoffs for the top NLUs are often 60+ or even 80+ marks. But you have a chance to get admission in the lower NLUs colleges through the women's/ Armed Forces (Ward quota). You can find the NLU colleges' list that gives you admission at this score by reading the article
CLAT Expected NLUs
, which was published on our official website, careers360.
With 47.5 marks in CLAT 2026 under General category, chances of admission in top NLUs are very low. However, you may have a chance in lower-ranked or newer NLUs, depending on the cut-off, women reservation, and domicile rules. Final allotment depends on counselling rounds and seat availability.
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