CLAT Exam 2026: 3rd Merit List (Out), Cutoff (Released), Counselling

The Consortium of NLUs issued the CLAT 2026 admit card on November 22, 2025. The consortium also releases the CLAT 2026 test day instructions a few days later. The CLAT admit card is a mandatory document for appearing in the examination. The last date to download CLAT 2026 admit cards will be till the morning of the exam date.

Further, the admit card mentions various details such as candidate roll number, application number, exam centre name, address, CLAT exam reporting time and instructions. One must download and take a printout of the admit card to the designated CLAT exam centre on the exam day. 

How to download CLAT admit card 2026?

Candidates can follow the steps mentioned below to download their admit card of CLAT 2026.

• Visit the CLAT official website of the CLAT consortium 
• A login window will open
• Enter your registration or application number and password
• Enter your NLUs preferences (minimum five), and click on update NLUs preferences
• The CLAT admit card will be displayed on screen in downloadable pdf format
• Download the admit card and take a printout

CLAT admit card login window

CLAT 2026 Exam Guidelines 

As per the previous year CLAT exam guidelines, the candidate has to report to the CLAT 2026 exam centre at least one hour before the commencement of the exam. Also, no candidate will be allowed fresh entry 15 minutes after the CLAT exam.

To take the test, the candidate has to display a printout of the admit card and a valid and original photo ID proof. 

No baggage counter

There will be no baggage counter at the exam venue and candidates will be solely responsible for the safe keep of their belongings. So, it is advisable not to carry non-essential items to the centre.

If the candidate wants, they may visit the exam centre to check out the location, travel route, distance and traffic situation. However, no candidate will be allowed beyond the main entrance gate, except on exam day and that too is only on producing the admit card and photo ID.  

Important items to carry to the CLAT exam hall

• Blue/Black Ball Pen

• Admit Card

• Any original photo ID proof issued by the Government.

• Transparent water bottle.

• Own mask, gloves and personal hand sanitiser.

• Self-health declaration

• Disability certificate for PWD candidates

CLAT 2026 Exam Day - Things to avoid 

• Electronic/communication devices such as mobile phones
• Any kind of watch, calculator, headphones, etc.
• Sheets of paper including blank sheets are not allowed inside the examination hall.  

Candidates may also note that the consortium or the security staff at the exam centre will not be held responsible for the loss and damage of any property/gadgets of candidates.

The CLAT 2026 eligibility criteria will be published by the consortium of NLUs through an official notification. However, there are not many changes in the eligibility criteria year after year. Candidates appearing in the CLAT exam 2026 must meet the eligibility criteria prescribed by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs). Since the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is conducted for both UG and PG programmes, the eligibility criteria are also different for each level. The details of CLAT UG and CLAT LLM eligibility criteria are given below.

CLAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria - Highlights

UG CLAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria - Details

Candidates have to meet the following conditions;

• Candidates should have passed Class 12 with at least 45% marks (40% for SC and ST students) from a recognised board or institution. 
• Candidates who will appear in Class 12th board exams in April-May 2026 are also eligible to appear in the exam. However, the admission of such students will be subject to fulfilling the required eligibility criteria.
• Candidates who have completed a diploma or any other programme equivalent to Class 12th can also apply for the CLAT exam 2026.

CLAT LLM Eligibility Criteria 2026

The eligibility criteria for LLM-CLAT are given below;

• Candidates should have passed graduation in Law (3-year LLB or 5-year LLB) from a recognised university. 
• They must have obtained at least 50% marks (45% in the case of SC and ST candidates) in the qualifying examination. Further, candidates appearing in the final year of the LLB degree programme are also eligible. 

CLAT 2026 age limit

There is no age limit for appearing in CLAT 2026. Further, there are no restrictions on the number of attempts. 

The CLAT 2026 registration window was closed on November 7, 2025. Eligible candidates who wish to appear in CLAT 2026 could register online and fill out the CLAT application form 2026 by visiting the CLAT official website - consortiumofnlus.ac.in. The Consortium of NLUs has closed the CLAT 2026 application correction window. Registered candidates could edit their details in the application forms and update their test city preferences by November 9, 2025. The CLAT exam will be held on December 7, 2025, in pen-and-paper mode from 2 pm to 4 pm. Earlier, the CLAT 2026 registration window was opened on August 1, 2025.

How to fill CLAT Application Form 2026?

Candidates had to follow the steps mentioned below to fill out the application form of CLAT 2026.

• Registration: To register, enter your name, email id, mobile number, and other details. 
• Fill in relevant details: Here, enter personal, academic, and contact details and reservation details. Candidates are also required to select the program of study (UG or PG), 
• Upload documents: Scanned copies of the signature, photograph, and other documents in the prescribed specification (refer to the table below) have to be uploaded.

Document Required for CLAT 2026 Application Form                   

• Application fee: Depending on the category of the candidate, the application fee may vary as shown in the table below.

CLAT 2026 registration fee

CLAT Application Form 2026: Important points to remember

• During the document verification process of CLAT counselling 2026, all details entered in the form will be verified. Exam officials will demand originals of all essential documents to be produced before them. In case of any inconsistency in the information shared in the application form, the candidate may be disqualified.
• Candidates must carefully all the information in the CLAT 2026 application form. Certain information such as programme and category, cannot be changed or edited after submission of the application form.
• Also, simply meeting the eligibility criteria is no guarantee for admission, as the final CLAT seat allotment will be based on the merit rank of the candidate in the online exam. 
• Candidates can gain CLAT seat allotment in only those NLUs which are part of their NLU preferences at the time of registration.

CLAT Application Form Correction 2026

The CLAT 2026 application correction window is open till November 9, 2025. Candidates can make changes or correct the test location preferences in the application form during this period. Candidates will be able to make corrections in the CLAT application form 2026 through login on the official website: consortiumofnlus.ac. 

Candidates preparing for CLAT exam should be well-versed with the exam pattern and syllabus. The CLAT exam pattern informs the candidates about the test structure, number of questions and their types, marking scheme and several other test modalities. 

As per the CLAT 2026 exam pattern, It is an offline-based exam, with OMR sheets and question papers. CLAT 2026 question paper comprises 120 multiple-choice type questions in CLAT UG and 120 questions in CLAT LLM. All questions are based on comprehension passages. The details of the exam pattern are mentioned below.

CLAT Exam Pattern 2026

Candidates who wish to appear in CLAT 2026 can solve a good number of mock tests during their preparation. There are multiple benefits of taking the CLAT mock test 2026. The Consortium of NLUs will also release CLAT 2026 sample papers in due course. Registered candidates can access the sample paper through their login.

Benefits of attempting CLAT mock test

• Mock tests contain similar types of questions to those asked in the exam. So, solving these problems will help candidates judge the difficulty level of CLAT 2026 and plan accordingly.
• The success in mock tests can be indicative of exam readiness or lack of it. If readiness is lacking, one may need to pull up one's socks and try harder.
• Doing well in mock tests would also give the candidate lot of confidence to carry to the actual exam.
• CLAT mock tests will teach the candidate time management skills and also how to wriggle out of a tricky problem by keeping a cool head.
• Effective prioritizing of questions is an art that can be cultivated by solving the CLAT mock test. Students who master this art will be able to lock down all the sure-shot questions first, before moving on to tricky and not-so-sure questions. 

How to attempt CLAT mock test?

• Make sure to attempt mock tests which are updated as per the latest syllabus and exam structure.
• Follow a time table for attending mock test and attempt at least one CLAT mock test a day.
• After attempting the mock test, spend time on analysing the performance and identify weak areas and improve on them.
• Solve 4-5 papers and then try to identify any trends or patterns such as important topics, repeated questions. This will help the candidate to strategize for the exam.

CLAT 2026 Exam Day Preparation Tips

• Familiarise yourself with the CLAT 2026 exam pattern and focus on passage-based questions, as the exam emphasises comprehension and critical thinking. 
• Start preparing for exam 8 to 12 months before, giving 2-6 hours daily study and weekly revisions.
• Read leading newspapers, practice passage comprehension, and build vocabulary.
• Solve previous year’s CLAT question papers to understand the paper pattern and time yourself for real-exam practice.
• Maintain concise revision notes for quick last-minute revision.
• Dedicate the last month before the exam to revision, topic-wise mock analysis and fine-tuning exam strategy.
• Create a well-structured, realistic study plan, balancing the CLAT prep and school/ college demands. 
• Allocate adequate daily hours to each section, gradually increasing practice frequency as the exam approaches. 
• Choose trustworthy and current materials designed especially for CLAT practice.

Sometimes the candidate may need a little assistance in their CLAT exam preparation to get over the line. Like the candidate may want to know about some tools that can assist them to improve accuracy or improve speed. 

CLAT 2026 Preparation Tips 

• Candidates need to be well-versed with the exam pattern and syllabus.
• Practice sufficient mock tests and sample papers to edify learning and to hone problem-solving skills.
• CLAT aspirants are also advised to follow a proper timetable for preparation.
• Candidates should choose books that are easy to follow, meet quality standards, and contain lots of practise material to prepare for the exam.
• Regular revision is the key to scoring good marks in exams.
• Maintaining equanimity is crucial for effective preparation. To achieve that stay in the moment, instead of flying into the future or pondering the past. 

CLAT 2026 last week and exam-day tips

• Solve sample papers: The last most should involve extensive solving of CLAT sample papers 2026. While in the preliminary phases of the CLAT exam preparation one may solve one sample paper a week, the number in the last month and weeks can be increased. One may solve as many sample papers as possible.
• Mock test: The idea of CLAT mock tests 2026 is to get an exam-like experience, which may include a pressure-cooker situation. Considering the exam will be now conducted in online mode, mock tests will help the candidate to understand navigation, how questions are presented, how questions can be answered, and manage time. Note that there will be 150 multiple choice questions that have to be answered in 120 minutes. This means speed and accuracy will be important qualities for success in the exam.
• Don't study new topics close to the exam: Unless you are thoroughly done with what you have already taken up, better don't get entangled in new topics, because it will eat into your last phase of exam preparation. Remember the last phase is all about acceleration, which includes doing fast revision, solving sample papers, and taking mock tests. But if you bring in new topics, you will break the flow; also note that new topics will take more time to master, which you can ill afford at this stage.  
• How to answer the CLAT question paper 2026: The questions asked in the CLAT exam 2026 can be placed in three groups: easy, moderate, and difficult. It is recommended that the candidate starts with easy questions, before answering moderate and difficult questions. Also, if one gets stuck with a difficult question, better not spend too much time on it, but instead move on to the next question.
• Stay composed even in difficult situations during exams: Sometimes the question paper may turn out to be more difficult than expected, or you may not be able to answer an easy-looking question. In those situations, it is important to keep one's cool and not get rattled. Take a deep breath and move on to the next question.
  Also read | Last minute preparation tips to ace CLAT 2026 exam

CLAT UG Sample Papers - Based on new CLAT exam pattern

Download CLAT subject wise sample papers                                                                           

CLAT 2026 best books for exam preparation 

When preparing for CLAT exam 2026, it is important to have dependable and high-quality study material. The CLAT best books 2026 will be those that are easy to understand and contain few to no errors, including problem sets and instructions. 

CLAT Exam Reference Books

The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) has published the CLAT UG 2026 final answer key on its official website, consortiumofnlus.ac.in, on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 5:00 PM. There is no change in the provisional answer key or to any question. Earlier, the provisional answer key was released on December 10, 2025. Candidates had a designated time period to raise objections against the questions or the provisional answer key through a specific portal. This objection window was closed at 5:00 PM on December 12, 2025.

Download CLAT 2026 Answer Key PDF

Candidates can download the CLAT 2026 answer key PDF from the table below.

CLAT 2026 Official Answer Key PDF

How to download CLAT 2026 answer key?

• Open the CLAT examination portal - consortiumofnlus.ac.in
• Click on the master question paper and answer key links 
• The CLAT answer key will be displayed on the screen
• Download and calculate your answers

How to calculate marks using CLAT answer key 2026

As per the official marking scheme of CLAT 2026, every correct answer will fetch 1 mark, while for an incorrect answer 0.25 marks will be deducted. Use the following formula to calculate probable scores.

For e.g. If the number of correct answers is 100 and incorrect answers is 40 then the total marks will be calculated as-

Total CLAT Marks = (100*1) - (40*0.25)

Therefore; Total marks = 100 - 10 = 90

How to raise objections against CLAT 2026 answer key?

Candidates will be given around two days to raise their objections against the key. The CLAT objection fee is Rs. 500 per question, reduced from the past years' objection fee of Rs. 1000. In case the objections are accepted, the objection fee will be refunded.

Steps to raise objections against CLAT answer key 2026

• Visit CLAT 2026 official examination portal 
• Login using your mobile number and password 
• Click on the "Raise" objection option
• Select the type of objection - about the question or about answer key
•  Select the question ID and add a comment
• Submit the objection

Click Here to Download the CLAT Question Paper & Answer Key - Previous Year's                                                            

The CLAT result 2026 was declared on December 16, 2025 at 7:20 PM. Candidates can download their results from the official website of the NLU Consortium. They will need the application number and date of birth to download the admit card. The CLAT result is provided in the form of individual scorecards. Along with the result, an invite list is also released for counselling purposes. 

How to download CLAT result 2026?

• Visit the CLAT official website 
• Click on the result link 
• In the CLAT login window, enter the registration/application number and date of birth
• The CLAT result 2026 would be displayed on the screen
• Download and take a printout of the result

Details mentioned on the CLAT 2026 result

• Name of the candidate
• Roll number
• Category under which admission is sought
• Program of study (UG / PG)
• CLAT score 
• CLAT All India Rank (AIR)
• CLAT 2026 category rank (CR)

Previous Year CLAT Toppers

The list of CLAT toppers for the previous sessions has been given below. The CLAT toppers list comprises of names of candidates who topped the exam along with their AIRs and scores. 

List of CLAT 2025 Toppers

CLAT Topper Interview Links:

• CLAT 2025 Topper Interview Vidit Rawat, AIR 9
• CLAT 2025 Topper Interview Tejaswi Giridhar, AIR 18
• CLAT 2025 Topper Interview Aditya Rao, AIR 37
• CLAT 2025 Topper Devansh Agarwal, AIR 70
• CLAT 2025 Topper Interview Rohan Yadav, AIR 137
• CLAT 2025 Topper Interview Divya Negi, AIR 318

CLAT 2024 Toppers

CLAT UG 2023 Toppers

CLAT 2022 Toppers

CLAT LLM topper 2022

CLAT 2021 toppers interview, rank, marks

CLAT 2020 toppers interview

CLAT 2026 Merit List

The release of the CLAT UG 2026 third merit list, initially scheduled for February 5, 2026, has been postponed following a judgment by the Allahabad High Court. The Consortium of NLUs released the second CLAT 2026 merit list on January 22, 2026 at 10:00 AM. Candidates included in the merit list of CLAT 2026 will have to pay the confirmation fee before the prescibed date. The merit list of CLAT 2026 will mention the roll number, marks and merit rank of the candidates. The CLAT merit rank is important as it is referred to for inviting the candidates for counselling and seat allotment.

CLAT Merit List 2026 - Tie-breaking procedure

• The candidate who has a higher score in the “Legal Aptitude” section of CLAT 2026 will be placed higher in the merit list
• If this step, the candidate who is senior in age will get a higher rank
• If the tie is still undecided, a computerised draw of lots will be used to decide the merit rank of such candidates.

The CLAT 2026 cut off is released in online mode. The consortium releases the cut-off for each round of CLAT 2026 counselling. The cut off is the minimum marks required for admission to a national law university participating in the counselling. CLAT cut off 2026 will be different for each NLU, depending on the number of seats offered by NLU, the number of applicants and the reservation policy. 

Check in details - CLAT 2025 Cut off

Previous Year CLAT Cut-Offs 

Candidates can check the CLAT NLU cut-offs for the previous years in the tables given below to get an idea of what to expect this year.

CLAT 2025 Cutoff (Round 3) for All NLUs: General, OBC, SC, ST, and EWS

CLAT 2025 Cutoff (Round 2) for All NLUs: General, OBC, SC, ST, and EWS

CLAT 2025 Cutoff (Round 1) for All NLUs: General, OBC, SC, ST and EWS

What is a good score in CLAT 2026?

To decide what is a good score in CLAT 2026 you have to first identify the NLU you want to get admission into. And the last rank (or cutoff rank) for which admission is offered in that institute can be considered to be a good score. That said the cutoff fluctuates depending on a host of parameters like seat intake, the performance of candidates in CLAT 2026 total applicants, and the CLAT merit rank of these applicants. So, you will be in the safe zone only if you score a little higher than the past year's cutoff rank.

The Consortium of NLUs closed the CLAT 2026 counselling registration window on December 27, 2025. The authorities have published the merit list for the second round of counselling on January 22, 2026. Candidates who are shortlisted will be required to pay the confirmation and university fees before January 29, 2026. The counselling for CLAT 2026 is conducted in five rounds, in online mode. Candidates will be able to gain admission only in those NLUs which are part of their preferences. Registered students should provide a minimum of 15 preferences for UG and a minimum of 5 preferences for PG. The CLAT merit list is based on the scores of candidates and the NLU preferences submitted by them. Candidates included in the merit list of CLAT 2026 will be eligible for admission to the allotted National Law Universities. After each round, the consortium will release the seat allotment for all national law universities participating in the common admission process. 

CLAT Counselling Fee 2026

The counselling fee of CLAT 2026 is Rs. 30,000. For SC and ST candidates, the counselling fee is Rs 20,000. Candidates can pay the counselling fee online while registering for the counselling. The counselling fee will be adjusted with the NLU course fee. 

CLAT Seat Allotment 2026

The CLAT seat allotment is made based on the merit rank of the candidate and NLU preference selected. The seat allotment of CLAT 2026 will be announced for each law school, in five rounds. After each round of seat allotment, candidates will have the following options;

• Accept the seat allotment and complete the CLAT admission process
• Apply for upgrade and submit NLU fee
• Exit the admission process

Post Round 5 seat allotment, the candidate has two options before him:

• Accept the allotted seat
• Exit the admission process.

To accept a seat, the candidate will have to pay the NLU fees and complete admission formalities. However, if the candidate is unhappy with the allotted seat, they may exit the admission process without paying the admission fee.

Top Law Universities in India

Candidates should also solve all previous year's CLAT papers, especially those based on the new exam pattern. The CLAT previous year's question papers would also be helpful in understanding the type of questions asked in the examination and topics that appear frequently in the test paper. While registering for CLAT, candidates may purchase the question papers on payment of Rs 500. However, the official question papers of CLAT at FREE of COST are provided below.