Summary of Proposed CLAT Reforms 2026

Major Recommendations of the CLAT Expert Committee

The report proposes several changes to the CLAT exam pattern. The major recommendations are explained below:

1. General Knowledge Section Proposed to be Removed Completely

The committee has recommended removing the General Knowledge and Current Affairs section from the CLAT UG examination. According to the report, the section primarily tests factual recall and memorisation instead of aptitude. It has proposed replacing memory-based testing with questions that assess reasoning, comprehension and analytical ability.

The committee believes candidates should be evaluated on their ability to interpret information, analyse arguments, and solve problems, rather than on their ability to recall facts. The report also says this change could reduce dependence on coaching and last-minute current affairs preparation.

2. Legal Reasoning and Logical Reasoning to Become One Section

The Committee has recommended merging the existing Legal Reasoning and Logical Reasoning sections in CLAT UG into a single section called Logical Reasoning and Legal Aptitude. According to the report, the merged section will assess candidates' ability to apply legal principles, analyse arguments and solve problems logically.

The Committee believes the two existing sections test several overlapping skills. A combined section will improve question quality and reduce repetition. The report also clarifies that candidates will not be tested on prior legal knowledge, but on their ability to apply rules to facts and derive logical conclusions.

3. English Section to Become Language and Comprehension

The Committee has proposed renaming the English Language section as Language and Comprehension. According to the report, the section should move beyond grammar and vocabulary-based questions and focus on functional language skills.

The proposed section will assess reading comprehension, identifying tone, drawing inferences and evaluating arguments. The Committee believes these skills are more relevant for legal education and better reflect a candidate's ability to understand and interpret complex texts.

4. Quantitative Techniques to Continue with a Different Focus

The Committee has recommended retaining the Quantitative Techniques section in the CLAT UG paper. However, it has proposed changing the focus of the section from mathematical calculation to aptitude-based numerical reasoning.

According to the report, questions should assess data interpretation, pattern recognition and practical problem-solving instead of advanced mathematics. The objective is to test analytical ability through numerical information rather than mathematical proficiency.

5. Essay Component Deferred for Future Implementation

The Committee examined the possibility of introducing an essay component in CLAT UG but has not recommended its immediate implementation. According to the report, evaluating descriptive answers for a large number of candidates would create logistical and administrative challenges.

However, the Committee has not ruled out the proposal. It recommends preparing a roadmap for introducing an essay section in future examination cycles once suitable evaluation mechanisms and infrastructure are in place.

6. CLAT UG Exam Pattern to Be Streamlined

The proposed pattern includes Logical Reasoning and Legal Aptitude, Language and Comprehension, and Quantitative Techniques. The total duration of the examination will remain two hours.

The report recommends 10 to 15 questions in each section. According to the Committee, the reduced number of questions will encourage thoughtful problem-solving and application of concepts instead of speed-based attempts. The objective is to assess aptitude and analytical ability rather than the ability to answer a large number of questions quickly.

Major Changes Proposed for CLAT PG

The Committee has recommended adopting the same three-section model proposed for CLAT UG. It has proposed to add two new sections: Legal Knowledge and Problem Question.

Under the proposed pattern, each of the first four sections will contain 10 to 15 multiple-choice questions. Candidates will also answer one descriptive Problem Question by selecting one of three legal problems. The total exam duration will remain two hours.

The Legal Knowledge section will test important legal developments from the preceding two calendar years. The Problem Question section will assess structured legal reasoning and written articulation across subjects such as Public Law, Private Law, Commercial Law or International Law.

The report also recommends that descriptive answers should be evaluated by individual NLUs after candidates are shortlisted based on their multiple-choice scores. Besides changes to the CLAT exam pattern, the Committee has suggested institutional reforms such as professional paper setting, stronger quality control, permanent governance structures, publication of sample papers and the creation of a Steering Committee to oversee implementation.