About CLAT 2026-2027: Exam Dates, Application Form, Syllabus, Pattern, Admit Card, Cutoff & Result
The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is India’s premier national-level entrance examination conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities (Consortium of NLUs). It serves as the gateway for admissions to undergraduate five-year integrated law programmes (such as B.A. LL.B. Hons., B.B.A. LL.B. Hons., B.Sc. LL.B. Hons., B.Com. LL.B. Hons., and B.S.W. LL.B. Hons.) and postgraduate one-year Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree programmes across 24 participating National Law Universities as well as dozens of affiliated private law schools and public sector undertakings (PSUs).
CLAT is administered annually in offline pen-and-paper mode using OMR answer sheets across more than 130 cities nationwide. The examination evaluates a candidate's aptitude, analytical reasoning, and reading comprehension through reading comprehension-based passages rather than rote memorization. For CLAT 2027, the examination is officially scheduled for Sunday, 6 December 2026 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM IST.
| Exam Feature | Official Details (CLAT 2026-2027) |
|---|---|
| Full Exam Name | Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) |
| Conducting Body | Consortium of National Law Universities (Consortium of NLUs) |
| Exam Level / Category | National Level Law Entrance Examination (UG & PG) |
| Programmes Offered | 5-Year Integrated Law (BA LLB, BBA LLB, B.Com LLB, BSc LLB) • 1-Year LL.M. |
| Official Website | consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
| Participating Institutions | 24 National Law Universities (NLUs) + 60+ affiliate law schools + leading PSUs |
| Exam Mode | Offline (Pen-and-Paper Test using OMR Sheets) |
| Exam Frequency | Once Annually (typically first Sunday of December) |
| Test Duration | 2 Hours (120 Minutes) • 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM |
| Total Questions | 120 Passage-Based Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Total Marks | 120 Marks |
| Marking Scheme | +1 mark for correct response • -0.25 mark deduction for wrong answer • 0 for unanswered |
| Medium of Exam | English Language |
| CLAT 2027 Exam Date | Sunday, 6 December 2026 |
| Scorecard Validity | One Academic Year (Valid for respective intake session) |
CLAT Eligibility Criteria
The Consortium of NLUs stipulates separate eligibility criteria for the Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) admissions:
1. CLAT Undergraduate (UG) Eligibility
- Qualifying Examination: Candidates must have passed the 10+2 (Senior Secondary / Intermediate) or equivalent examination from a recognized central or state board of secondary education.
- Minimum Qualifying Marks:
- General / OBC / PwD / NRI / PIO / OCI categories: Minimum 45% aggregate marks or equivalent grade.
- SC / ST categories: Minimum 40% aggregate marks or equivalent grade.
- Appearing Candidates: Candidates appearing for their 10+2 board examinations in March/April 2027 are fully eligible to apply provisionally, provided they present qualifying passing proof at the time of final admission counselling.
- Age Limit: There is no upper age limit for appearing in CLAT UG.
2. CLAT Postgraduate (PG - LL.M.) Eligibility
- Qualifying Degree: Candidates must hold an LL.B. degree (either 3-year LL.B. or 5-year Integrated LL.B.) or an equivalent law qualification from a recognized university approved by the Bar Council of India.
- Minimum Qualifying Marks:
- General / OBC / PwD / NRI / PIO / OCI categories: Minimum 50% aggregate marks.
- SC / ST categories: Minimum 45% aggregate marks.
- Final Year Law Students: Candidates appearing for their final semester/year LL.B. examination in April/May 2027 can also apply provisionally.
- Age Limit: There is no upper or lower age limit for CLAT PG.
Registration & Application Fees
Candidates can apply exclusively online through the official portal (consortiumofnlus.ac.in). The application fee is non-refundable and must be remitted through online payment gateways (Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, or UPI):
| Candidate Category | Application Fee (INR) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC / PwD / NRI / OCI / PIO | ₹4,000 | Standard non-refundable fee for UG & PG programmes. |
| SC / ST / BPL (Below Poverty Line) | ₹3,500 | Concessional fee on uploading valid category/BPL certificate. |
| Official Past Year Question Papers Pack | ₹500 (Optional) | Consortium official archive of previous question papers with keys. |
CLAT Exam Pattern & Sectional Weightage
Both CLAT UG and CLAT PG consist of 120 passage-based multiple choice questions to be answered within 120 minutes. Candidates are provided with an OMR answer sheet where they must mark responses with a black or blue ballpoint pen.
CLAT UG Sectional Breakdown
| Section Name | Number of Questions | Marks | Weightage (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 22–26 | 22–26 | ~20% |
| Current Affairs, including General Knowledge | 28–32 | 28–32 | ~25% |
| Legal Reasoning | 28–32 | 28–32 | ~25% |
| Logical Reasoning | 22–26 | 22–26 | ~20% |
| Quantitative Techniques | 10–14 | 10–14 | ~10% |
| Total | 120 Questions | 120 Marks | 100% |
List of Participating National Law Universities (NLUs)
Admission to the following 24 premier National Law Universities is governed strictly through CLAT centralized merit counselling:
- National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru
- National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR), Hyderabad
- National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal
- The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata
- National Law University (NLUJ), Jodhpur
- Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur
- Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar & Silvassa
- Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow
- Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Patiala
- Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna
- National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi
- National Law University Odisha (NLUO), Cuttack
- National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi
- National Law University and Judicial Academy (NLUJA), Guwahati
- Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU), Visakhapatnam
- Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU), Tiruchirappalli
- Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai
- Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Nagpur
- Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Aurangabad
- Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla
- Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU), Jabalpur
- Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University (DBRANLU), Sonipat
- National Law University Tripura (NLUT), Agartala
- GNLU Silvassa Campus (GNLU), Dadra & Nagar Haveli