CLAT

Exam Overview

The Common Law Admission Test, usually called CLAT, is a national entrance test for students seeking a law degree at participating National Law Universities. The Consortium of National Law Universities conducts the examination. There are separate papers for undergraduate and postgraduate applicants: the undergraduate route leads to five-year integrated law programmes, while the postgraduate route is intended for eligible law graduates applying for an LL.M.

CLAT 2027 belongs to the 2027–28 admission cycle even though the examination takes place in December 2026. For a student, the main task is to connect three things: examination eligibility, the preferred university's admission rules, and the counselling timetable. A good rank creates options, but admission also depends on available seats, category, university preferences and successful document verification. Use this guide to organise preparation and applications without confusing an entrance score with a confirmed college seat.

Exam Highlights

• Exam: CLAT 2027.
• Conducting body: Consortium of NLUs.
• Mode: Offline.
• Courses: Integrated LL.B. / LL.M..

CLAT is held once for an admission cycle and uses an offline, pen-and-paper format. The conducting body is the Consortium of National Law Universities. UG applicants take the test for five-year integrated law courses; PG applicants take a separate test for LL.M. admission. This page focuses mainly on CLAT UG and flags the different PG qualification requirements. Students should select the correct programme when registering.

Important Dates

• Registration: 3 August–31 October 2026.
• Admit card: To be announced.
• Exam: 6 December 2026.
• Result: To be announced.

For CLAT 2027, registration opened on 3 August 2026 and the announced application deadline is 31 October 2026. The examination is scheduled for 6 December 2026, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; approved disability accommodations may change the permitted writing time. The admit-card release date and result date have not been announced on the official pages reviewed. Counselling is expected in December 2026 or January 2027 according to the official FAQ. Check fresh notifications for any extension or revision.

Eligibility Criteria

Undergraduate law programmes

• Qualification: Pass Class 12 or an equivalent recognised examination.
• Minimum marks: 45% for the general rule; 40% for SC, ST and PwD candidates.
• Appearing students: Eligible March/April 2027 candidates may apply and must prove they passed at admission.
• Age and school stream: No upper age limit or specific school stream is prescribed in the published UG rule.

Postgraduate law programmes

• Qualification: An LL.B. or equivalent degree is required.
• Minimum marks: 50% under the general rule; 45% for SC, ST and PwD candidates.
• Final-year applicants: Eligible 2027 candidates may apply, subject to proof of passing.
• Age: The published PG rule has no upper age limit.

Reservation and document checks

Each NLU may have its own domicile and reservation conditions. Keep qualifying results, identity proof and applicable certificates ready, with consistent names and dates. Basic eligibility permits consideration; final admission also depends on rank, seat availability and verification.

Application Process

1. Start from the Consortium's official CLAT 2027 page and register with your own active email address and mobile number. Choose the undergraduate or postgraduate application carefully. Enter your personal details, academic information, category and examination-city preferences, then upload the photograph, signature and any applicable supporting certificates in the prescribed format.
2. Before paying, compare the form with your original documents. Check spelling, date of birth, category and programme choice rather than relying on a quick visual scan. Complete the online payment and final submission before the deadline, then save the submitted form and payment receipt.
3. Check university preferences and subsequent notices through your candidate account. Do not assume that creating an account completes the application. If a payment fails or the submitted status is unclear, use the official help channel and keep transaction evidence. Any correction opportunity is governed by the current notification.

Application Fees

• General / OBC: ₹4,000.
• SC / ST / BPL / PwD: ₹3,500.
• Optional past papers: ₹500 extra.

For CLAT 2027, the published application fee is ₹4,000 for General and OBC applicants, and ₹3,500 for SC, ST, BPL and PwD applicants. Optional previous question papers cost an additional ₹500. Bank transaction charges may also apply. Pay through the official portal and save the receipt. The application payment is separate from later counselling, university and hostel charges; compare those costs when shortlisting colleges. The official instructions describe the application fee as non-refundable.

Exam Pattern

• UG questions / marks: 120 / 120.
• Duration: 2 hours.
• Correct / wrong answer: +1 / −0.25.

The published CLAT 2027 undergraduate format has 120 multiple-choice questions for 120 marks, with a standard duration of two hours. A correct answer earns one mark and a wrong answer attracts a deduction of 0.25 mark. The five areas are English Language, Current Affairs including General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Techniques.

The question distribution is approximate rather than an identical count promised for every paper. Reading passages play a central role, so preparation should include understanding arguments and drawing conclusions under time pressure. Practice an answer-sheet routine alongside timed question sets, because transferring answers carelessly can waste a well-solved question.

The postgraduate paper is a different test and requires its own official format and syllabus. Applicants must also check current accessibility instructions for approved compensatory time or assistance. Use the published 2027 format when planning mocks and revisit it if the Consortium issues a revision.

Syllabus

English preparation should develop passage comprehension, interpretation of viewpoints, vocabulary in context and inference. Read a passage for its main argument before examining individual questions. Current Affairs and General Knowledge preparation should connect major national and international developments with their background, rather than depend only on isolated dates and names.

Legal Reasoning asks students to identify a principle in a passage and apply it to the facts presented. Prior legal study is not a prerequisite for the UG paper. A useful practice method is to separate the stated rule from personal opinions about what should happen. Logical Reasoning focuses on arguments, assumptions, supporting evidence, contradictions and relationships between ideas.

Quantitative Techniques uses numerical information in short sets. Revise school-level ratios, percentages, basic algebra, measurement and interpretation of data, then practise choosing the relevant information before calculating.

These areas describe the UG preparation direction. PG candidates should download the separate law syllabus and organise revision around the prescribed legal subjects. Keep a checklist tied to the official syllabus, with space for completed topics, recurring mistakes and topics that still need practice. The complete official document should guide coverage.

Admit Card

Download the CLAT admit card from your candidate login when the Consortium releases it. Verify your name, paper, test centre, reporting time and examination instructions immediately. The release date is currently to be announced. Print the required copy and carry the accepted original photo identity document, along with any additional material specifically listed in the instructions. Follow the admit card's rules on pens, permitted items and disability documentation. A registration confirmation or screenshot of the application does not replace the examination admit card.

Result & Scorecard

The Consortium publishes CLAT results through its official channels and candidate login. Save the scorecard and check the marks, rank and category information shown. CLAT 2027 is used for the corresponding 2027–28 admission cycle, so students should not treat it as an indefinitely reusable entrance score. The result date remains to be announced on the pages reviewed. A scorecard alone does not confirm admission: eligible students must complete the relevant counselling steps. If answer-key objections are invited, follow the published procedure and deadline rather than sending an informal complaint.

Cutoff & Counselling

There is no single admission cutoff that guarantees a seat at every NLU. Closing ranks differ by university, programme, category, domicile reservation, round and available seats. Last year's ranks can help students build a preference list, but they should be labelled as historical references rather than promised targets.

After results, follow the Consortium's counselling notice to check whether you are invited and what registration or payment is required. Submit preferences in the order you actually want the universities. Read the available acceptance, movement and withdrawal options before choosing one, because deadlines and refund rules affect later decisions.

Keep Class 10 and 12 records, identity proof and applicable category or domicile certificates ready. Final-year applicants must supply the qualifying result as directed. The allotted NLU checks eligibility and may require additional formalities or payment. Monitor each round until your admission is complete. Missing a document response or fee deadline can affect an allotment even when the entrance rank is competitive. Use the current official counselling instructions for amounts and schedules.

Participating Colleges

Participating institutions listed on the CLAT 2027 website include NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata, NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Gandhinagar and other NLUs. Course names differ: undergraduate offerings may include combinations such as B.A. LL.B. or B.B.A. LL.B., while postgraduate choices depend on the university's LL.M. structure.

Compare the actual university brochures for intake, reservation, tuition, accommodation and course availability. Seat information must be checked for the admission year and programme rather than copied from an old total. When evaluating a college, also consider its location, internship access and the cost of living. Use the Consortium's participating-university list as the starting point, then verify details with the institution before finalising preferences.

Preparation Tips

1. Build a weekly routine around reading, reasoning practice and quantitative revision. Begin with a diagnostic paper to find out whether your main difficulty is comprehension, calculation or finishing on time. Practise short passages regularly and write one sentence explaining why each incorrect option fails.
2. Maintain a current-affairs notebook that links an event with its background and significance. For legal questions, apply the passage's rule consistently instead of introducing outside assumptions. Take full mocks in the exam format and review them before taking the next one. Track errors such as rushing, misreading a qualifier and careless answer transfer. In the final weeks, revise familiar material, rehearse the centre-day routine and protect sleep. A realistic plan with regular review is easier to sustain than collecting more resources.

FAQs

Q1. When is CLAT 2027 held?

Answer: The announced examination date is 6 December 2026. The test is for the 2027–28 admission cycle, which explains why its name uses 2027 while the exam falls in 2026.

Q2. Can a Class 12 student apply?

Answer: Yes. Eligible students appearing for the qualifying examination in March or April 2027 may apply, but must provide proof of passing at the admission stage.

Q3. Is there an upper age limit?

Answer: The published CLAT 2027 UG and PG eligibility pages do not set an upper age limit. Applicants still need the required qualification and marks for the chosen route.

Q4. Do I need to study law before CLAT UG?

Answer: No prior law degree is required for the UG test. Legal Reasoning preparation should focus on understanding and applying the principles supplied in the question passages.

Q5. What is the negative marking?

Answer: The UG format awards one mark for a correct answer and deducts 0.25 mark for a wrong answer. Build an attempt strategy around accuracy and the time available.

Q6. When will the admit card be released?

Answer: The precise date has not been announced on the official instructions reviewed. Download it from the candidate account when available and check the centre and reporting requirements.

Q7. Does a CLAT score guarantee an NLU seat?

Answer: No. Admission depends on rank, preferences, reservation, seats and successful counselling and document checks. Follow the current counselling notice after the result.

Official sources: CLAT 2027 official website. Reviewed 14 October 2026.