CLAT (Common Law Admission Test)

CLAT 2026

Common Law Admission Test

Notification | Exam Date | Application Form | Eligibility | Exam Pattern | Admit Card | Syllabus | Results

The CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is a very popular national – level entrance exam for pursuing Law in higher studies. This exam is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities, which is responsible for organizing the exam each year. This exam is very crucial for those candidates who aspire to purse Law in Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees. There 24 prestigious National Law Universities (NLUs) that accepts CLAT scores during admission in their institutes. The CLAT exam assess a candidate’s abilities under several categories such as proficiency in English language, Current Affairs including General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques.

CLAT serves as a gateway for candidates aspiring to pursue their career in the Legal field. Apart from 24 prestigious National Law Universities, there are several other institutions which also accepts scores secured in this exam. There are thousands of candidates who register themselves annually for CLAT. This exam follows an offline mode with 120 multiple-choice based questions. Each of the sections in the question paper is set to evaluate a broad spectrum of skills that are essential for legal studies. Hence, CLAT is also considered to be one of the most challenging and comprehensive exam for young Law aspirants.

CLAT 2026 – Online Registration:

CLAT is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities. This exam is for those aspirants who are seeking admission to the following programs listed below.

• 5-year full-time UG program in Bachelor’s Degrees at NLUs and various colleges and universities accepting CLAT score pan India.
• Candidates can also pursue 2-3 years’ full time PG programs in LLM.

CLAT 2026 Notification:

CLAT 2026 notification will be available in the month of July 2025 following with the online application submissions starting in the month of July/August 2025. The last date for the submission of online applications will be available till October/ November 2025. Additionally, candidates will be provided with correction window where they will be able to make corrections in their application form. This correction window will be open in the month of October 2025. The CLAT exam will be conducted on 7th December or 14th December 2025 although the official dates are yet to be released by the authorities.

CLAT 2026 Important Dates:

CLAT 2026 Application Form:

1. The application process conducted by CLAT is done through online mode only.
2. Candidates are required to visit the official CLAT website of Consortium of NLUs to begin with the application process and select the “New Candidate Registration”.
3. Candidates are required to register themselves before proceeding with the application form.
4. After registering themselves, candidates can proceed with filling up of application form with accurate details of information regarding personal and academic details.
5. Payment of the application fee must be done through online mode using various payment methods – Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking services.
6. Candidates are required to keep a print/Xerox of the application form for their future references.

CLAT 2026 Application Process:

Requirements:

1. Candidates must have a valid email id and phone number for ease of communication.
2. Candidates will be required to provide their personal and academic details.
3. Candidates need to upload their scanned images of a recent passport-size photograph and signature in required format.

Steps to Apply for CLAT 2026:

Online Mode:

• Candidates must go to the CLAT Consortium's official website – consortiumofnlus.ac.in to begin the application process.
• Candidates need to first create an account by entering their name, mobile number, email ID, and setting a password. This will generate a unique applicant account.
• Candidates will then have to use the registered credentials to log in and access the application form.
• Candidates need to choose the desired program (5-year LLB or 1-year LLM) before proceeding further.
• Candidates need to proceed the application by providing personal information, communication details, qualifying examination status, and academic records accurately.
• Candidates can choose up to three exam centres in order of preference.
• In the next step, candidates will have to upload scanned copies of their recent passport-size photograph (max 500 KB), signature (max 100 KB), and state domicile certificate (max 2 MB), as per specified formats.
• From CLAT 2026 onwards, it is mandatory for candidates to list their preferences for National Law Universities (NLUs) at the time of application. Only the NLUs listed will be considered during seat allocation.
• Candidates are recommended to carefully review all entered details and uploaded documents and make corrections if necessary before final submission.
• Candidates need to pay as per the category-specific application fee online using credit/debit card or net banking. An additional fee is charged if opting for previous years' question papers.
• Candidates after submitting their application form are required to keep a print/Xerox of the application form for their future references.

CLAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria:

• Year Under Graduate Program (Bachelor’s Degree) and 2-3 years Post Graduate Program (LLM):
• Candidates must have qualified the 10+2 or equivalent examination from a recognized board.
• General/OBC/PwD/NRI/PIO/OCI category candidates must have secured a minimum aggregate of 45% marks in the qualifying examination.
• SC/ST category candidates must have secured a minimum aggregate of 40% marks in the qualifying examination.
• Candidates appearing for their 10+2 or equivalent examination in March/April 2026 are also eligible to apply, provided they submit proof of passing at the time of admission.
• There is no upper or lower age limit for appearing in CLAT 2026.
• The eligibility criteria apply to admission in the five-year integrated undergraduate law program (BA LLB).
• For the postgraduate program (LLM), candidates must have an LLB degree (3-year or 5-year) from a recognized university with a minimum aggregate of 50% marks for General/OBC/PwD/NRI/PIO/OCI and 45% for SC/ST candidates.
• Candidates appearing in the final year of their LLB program are also eligible for the CLAT PG exam, subject to submission of proof of qualification at admission.
• Candidates who do not meet the minimum mark requirement or fail to provide proof of qualification at admission will be disqualified.
• Reservation policies as per government and NLU rules will be applicable.
• International and NRI candidates are also eligible, but must check specific requirements of individual NLUs.

CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern:

1. The exam will be conducted in offline mode based on pen and paper.
2. The exam will consist of 120 questions which will be MCQ (Multiple-Choice-Questions) and typing the answer based.
3. The exam will consist of five sections with English Language, Current Affairs including General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques.
4. The duration of the test will be of 2 hours (120 minutes).
5. Each correct answer is awarded with 1 mark, 0.25 marks are deducted for every incorrect answer, and unanswered questions will receive zero marks.
6. The medium of language will be in English only.

CLAT 2026 Admit Card:

1. Candidates will be provided with admit cards for the CLAT 2026 exam in the month of October 2025 (Tentative).
2. Admit card is mandatory without which no candidate will be allowed to appear for the exam.
3. Candidates will be able to download their hall tickets/admit cards from the official website by providing their user ID and password.

CLAT 2026 Syllabus:

The CLAT 2026 focuses on comprehension, reasoning, and application of concepts rather than rote memorization. All sections contain passage-based questions, except Quantitative Techniques, which features data and numerical problem-solving.

Following is the list of the main topics which are usually covered by the exam authorities when conducting CLAT exam.

Syllabus:

CLAT 2026 Results:

CLAT 2026 results will be announced by the Consortium of National Law Universities in December 2025 or January 2026, after the CLAT 2026 exam is conducted on 7th December or 14th December 2025. Candidates will be provided with answer keys in December 2025. However, candidates will not be able to challenge those answer keys unlike other competitive exams.

The results and cut-off marks will be released online. The cut-off in general varies by respective institute and course, and only candidates meeting or exceeding the cut-offs are eligible for the next stage i.e. counselling.

CLAT 2026 Selection Process:

• A merit list is prepared after the results are published, in which ranking candidates are listed in descending order according to their CLAT
• Shortlisted candidates must register online for the CLAT counselling process through the official website.
• During counselling process, candidates need to fill in their preferences for National Law Universities (NLUs) and law programs.
• Seat allotment is carried out based on the candidate’s rank in the merit list, preferences submitted, and seat availability at the NLUs.
• Candidates who are allotted a seat must report to the designated NLU within the specified timeframe to complete admission formalities and pay the required fees.
• Document verification is conducted at the allotted institute to confirm eligibility and reservation claims.
• Admission is finalized upon successful document verification, fee payment, and fulfilment of all eligibility conditions.
• If a candidate fails to report or provide valid documents, they may result in forfeiture of the allotted seat.

CLAT 2026 Instructions:

1. Candidates should upload their photograph and signature with the preferred size in the portal which should be clearly visible.
2. Candidates need to carry their admit card/hall ticket to the exam centre. Candidates will be prohibited from entering the exam hall without this document.
3. Candidates will also be required to carry a valid ID proof such as – Voter ID Card/ Aadhaar Card/ PAN Card/ Driving License, etc.
4. It is advisable for all candidates to enter the designated exam hall before time for a smooth security process before the beginning of exam.
5. Any candidate violating the rules will be strictly dealt as per the norms of the exam centre.
6. Any candidate pursuing any unfair means in the exam hall will be dealt with as per the rules and regulations of the test centre.

List of NLUs:

The 18 participating NLUs in the order of their year of establishment are:

1) National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru.

2) National Academy of Legal Study and Research (NALSAR) University of Law, Hyderabad.

3) National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal.

4) West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), Kolkata.

5) National Law University (NLU), Jodhpur.

6) Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur.

7) Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar.

8) Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow.

9) Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Punjab.

10) Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna.

11) National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi

12) National Law University Odisha (NLUO), Cuttack

13) National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi.

14) National Law University and Judicial Academy (NLUJA), Assam.

15) Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU), Visakhapatnam.

16) Tamil Nadu National Law School (TNNLS), Tiruchirappalli.

17) Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai.

18) Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Nagpur.