CLAT Application Date:01 Aug' 25 - 31 Oct' 25
With less than 100 days left for the CLAT 2026 exam, it is high time candidates amp up for the last stretch of preparation. Candidates who have a good knowledge of the CLAT 2026 syllabus will have a great advantage and ease while preparing for the Common Law Admission Test. It is not just the topics and subjects included in the syllabus that make up the CLAT question paper; candidates must also pay special attention to the pattern, difficulty level, and high-weightage topics from past years. In this article, we have analysed the CLAT question papers for the last five years and segregated the most repetitive and important topics for CLAT 2026 aspirants.
There are a total of five subjects in the CLAT 2026 exam, and each subject has a specific weightage. The table below denotes the CLAT 2026 subjects and weightage:
Sections | Weight | No. of questions |
English Language | 20% | 22-26 |
Current Affairs including General Knowledge | 25% | 28-32 |
25% | 28-32 | |
20% | 22-26 | |
Quantitative Techniques | 10% | 10-14 |
The CLAT syllabus is mostly unchanged from the past few years, with only a few changes in the exam pattern. On analysing the CLAT question papers over the last years, a few common topics can be segregated. For example, vocabulary in the English Language section is a very important topic, and each year there are some questions from this topic. Similarly, constitutional laws are an important part of the Legal Reasoning section each year. In the below-given table below, candidates can find the most important topics for each subject.
Subject | High Priority Topics | Medium Priority Topics | Low Priority Topics |
English Language | Inference-based RC (core: 40–45% of Qs), Vocabulary in context (synonyms, antonyms, contextual meaning), Indian authors/philosophy passages (e.g., Vivekananda, Narayan, Orwell-type themes) | Main idea, symbolism, tone analysis | - |
Current Affairs and GK | Constitutional Laws, Article 370, Women’s Reservation (Nari Shakti Bill), International Relations & Geopolitics → BRICS, G20, India-China, Israel-Hamas, Ukraine war, vaccine diplomacy, Sports & Global Events → Olympics 2024, upcoming 2026 events (Asian Games, ICC tournaments, etc.) | Historical movements (Civil Disobedience, independence-linked), major sports events | Static GK (states, capitals, rivers, wildlife) |
Legal Reasoning | Contracts - void vs. voidable, duress, minors, ab initio, Child Rights - POCSO, CICL, NCRB data, Environment/Climate Duties - Art. 48A, 51A(g), Paris Agreement | Data privacy/digital rights (consent, AI regulation), GI/IP Law (TRIPS, patents, trademarks) | Exam malpractice/academic integrity laws |
Logical Reasoning | Inference-based reasoning (draw conclusions, assumptions, implicit ideas), Puzzles/Seating arrangements (1–2 passages guaranteed), Social Issues - homelessness, mental health, justice inequality, governance | Strengthen/Weaken, cause-and-effect reasoning | Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC-based passages) |
Quantitative Aptitude | Wage gaps - gender, sectoral, state-wise (trend across years), Budgets & Expenses - inflation, savings, interest, household expenditure, Percentages, Ratios, Multiples, Trend analysis | - | Misc arithmetic (simple interest, averages, profit-loss) |
The English Language section of CLAT 2026 will roughly comprise around 24 questions. All questions in the CLAT exam, as well as the English Language section, are passage-based. Each passage is around 450 words long. After analysing the CLAT English Language section from the past five years' question papers, some topics can be segregated and termed as high-weightage topics. The table below comprises some of the most common topics in CLAT English Language over the years and expected questions in the upcoming exam.
Focus Area | Repetition (Years) | Avg. Weightage | Probability 2026 | Notes |
Inference-based RC (author’s motive, implicit meaning) | Every year (2021–2025) | 40–45% | High | Core skill; appears in all passages. |
Vocabulary in context (synonyms, antonyms, contextual meaning) | Every year | 20–25% | High | Words like incorrigible, odious, assimilation. |
Main idea / Theme / Symbolism | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | 15–20% | Medium | Tone, narrative shaping, symbolism. |
Indian authors/philosophy passages | 2024, 2025 | 10–15% | Medium | Vivekananda, Krishnamurti, Narayan. |
The CLAT General Knowledge and Current Affairs section is a very integral part of the syllabus and carries 25% weightage in the exam. Questions in this section are also passage-based. A key observation in the last five years of CLAT question papers is that this section comprises questions from the latest legal amendments and new laws. Apart from constitutional laws, geopolitics and sports events are also some repeated topics. The table shows the CLAT GK and Current Affairs repeated questions and expected topics for 2026.
Focus Area | Repetition (Years) | Avg. Weightage | Probability 2026 | Notes |
Constitutional amendments/laws (Art. 370, Women’s Reservation) | 2021, 2024, 2025 | 20–25% | High | Repeated in 3 different years. |
International relations & organizations (BRICS, G20, UN, vaccine diplomacy) | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | 20–25% | High | BRICS in 3 years, global crises every year. |
Sports & global events (Olympics, World Cups, Paris 2024) | 2021, 2024, 2025 | 15–20% | Medium | Likely continuation with 2026 sports events. |
Historical movements/events (Civil Disobedience, independence-related) | 2021, 2024, 2025 | 10–15% | Medium | Always tied to constitutional or freedom history. |
Static GK (states/UTs, capitals, wildlife) | Every year (low weightage) | 10% | Low | Seen only in a small % of questions. |
CLAT Legal Reasoning is also a very integral part of the syllabus. This subject too has 25% weightage in the entire exam. Roughly, there will be around 32 questions from CLAT 2026 Legal Reasoning. In the past few years, Contract Law has been a topic that has been repeated every time. There are around one or two passages each year from Contract Law. Apart from Contract Law, Child Rights, Environment & Climate Rights, Data Privacy Laws are some important topics asked in the exam. The table below throws light on the most repeated topics in the CLAT Legal Reasoning section and expected topics for the upcoming session.
Focus Area | Repetition (Years) | Avg. Weightage | Probability 2026 | Notes |
Contract law (void, voidable, duress, minors, ab initio) | Every year | 20% | High | Always 1–2 passages. |
Child rights (POCSO, CICL, juvenile justice) | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 | 15–20% | High | Very consistent; NCRB stats in 2025. |
Environment & climate rights (Art. 48A, Paris Agreement, duties) | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | 15–20% | High | Present all 5 years in some form. |
Data privacy/digital rights (consent, surveillance, AI) | 2022, 2023, 2024 | 10–15% | Medium | May evolve into an AI law focus in 2026. |
GI / IP Law (TRIPS, patents, trademarks) | 2021, 2023, 2025 | 10% | Medium | Appears every alternate year. |
Exam malpractice/academic integrity | 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025 | 5–10% | Low | More of a filler passage. |
The Logical Reasoning section holds 20% weightage in the CLAT exam. There are questions centred around inference-based reasoning, and it is an integral part of the Logical Reasoning subject. Apart from this, puzzles, seating arrangements, and social issues are also important topics in this subject. The table below comprises the most repeated topics in the CLAT Logical Reasoning section and expected topics for the upcoming session.
Focus Area | Repetition (Years) | Avg. Weightage | Probability 2026 | Notes |
Inference-based reasoning (draw a conclusion, implicit meaning) | Every year | 40–45% | High | Backbone of the section. |
Puzzles / Seating arrangements | Every year | 20–25% | High | Always 1–2 passages. |
Social issues (homelessness, justice, mental health, inequality) | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | 15–20% | High | Recurs in different contexts. |
Strengthen/Weaken / Critical reasoning | 2021, 2024, 2025 | 10–15% | Medium | Slowly rising in frequency. |
TRC / Transitional justice | 2021, 2023, 2025 | 5–10% | Low | May appear again, but not yearly. |
The Quantitative Aptitude subject of the CLAT exam carries the least weightage. The CLAT Quantitative Aptitude holds only 10% weightage in the exam. Most of the questions in this section are centred around percentages, ratios, multiples, trend analysis, wage gaps, household budgets, etc. The table below comprises of most repeated topics in the CLAT Quantitative Aptitude subject over the years and expected topics from the upcoming 2026 session.
Focus Area | Repetition (Years) | Avg. Weightage | Probability 2026 | Notes |
Wage gaps (gender, sector, state-based) | Every year | 30–35% | High | Most consistent theme. |
Household budgets & expenses (inflation, savings, interest) | Every year | 30–35% | High | Inflation/budget data are repeated yearly. |
Percentages, ratios, multiples, trend analysis | Every year | 20–25% | High | Core DI tools. |
Misc arithmetic (SI, averages, profit-loss) | Occasional | 10% | Low | Only filler-type questions. |
Focus on mastering inference and application. This will help candidates in the English, Logical and Legal sections as 70% questions rely on inference and application.
Make sure to read and understand legal amendments, new laws and geopolitical situation from the past two years.
Wage gaps and budget passages appear every year, ensure that you master these types of questions.
Recurring legal themes have been a key aspect of the CLAT paper over the years. Make sure to cover all recent legal amendments and laws over the years.
First, invest your time in topics with high weightage. Once candidates are done with important topics, they can move to low-weightage topics like static GK, filler arithmetic, etc.
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
While NLUs are costly, you can still pursue government-funded law education through state-funded universities and their affiliated colleges that accept CLAT scores, such as institutes like Banaras Hindu University and Aligarh Muslim University.
I hope it will clear your query!!
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.
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Hi dear candidate,
You can easily register yourself for CLAT exam by visiting the Consortium of NLUs official website and follow these steps:
Know the complete process at:
CLAT Registration 2026 (Started): Documents Required, Application Fee, Link, Steps to Apply
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