A detailed guide covering key dates, the online application process, UG & PG syllabus, eligibility criteria, and exam pattern for aspiring legal professionals in India. Navigate your path to top National Law Universities. Explore Details
CLAT 2026 Key Dates and Timeline
The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 was an offline, pen-and-paper examination conducted on **December 7, 2025**, from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M., serving as the gateway to 25 National Law Universities (NLUs) in India.
- ● Official Notification Release: July 20, 2025
- ● Online Registration/Application Start Date: August 1, 2025
- ● Last Date for Submitting Applications: October 31, 2025 (extended to November 7, 2025 for some aspects)
- ● Admit Card Release: Third week of November 2025
- ● CLAT 2026 Exam Date: December 7, 2025 (2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.)
- ● Counselling Process Expected Start: Last week of December 2025
CLAT 2026 Application Process
The application process for CLAT 2026 was conducted entirely online via the official website of the Consortium of NLUs. Follow these crucial steps:
- Registration: Candidates registered using a personal mobile number and email ID, followed by OTP validation.
- Fill Application Form: Personal details, educational qualifications, and contact information were meticulously entered.
- Upload Documents: Scanned copies of a recent passport-size photograph (plain background), signature, and relevant category certificates (SC/ST/OBC/PwD/BPL) were required.
- Select Test Centers & NLU Preferences: Aspirants chose their preferred test centers and NLUs.
- Pay Application Fee:
- General/OBC/PwD/NRI/PIO/OCI: Rs. 4,000/-
- SC/ST/BPL: Rs. 3,500/-
- Additional fee for previous years’ question papers: Rs. 500/-
- Submit Form: A final review was crucial before submission, as changes to program, category, and BPL fields were not permitted post-submission.
CLAT 2026 Syllabus: UG & PG Programs
The CLAT syllabus is designed to assess aptitude rather than rote memorization of legal concepts.
Undergraduate (UG) Programs:
- ✓ English Language: Tests reading comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar.
- ✓ Current Affairs, including General Knowledge: Covers contemporary national and international “news events”, arts, culture, and historically significant events.
- ✓ Legal Reasoning: Evaluates the ability to apply legal principles to factual scenarios.
- ✓ Logical Reasoning: Assesses critical thinking, argument analysis, identifying reasoning patterns.
- ✓ Quantitative Techniques: Interpreting facts or numerical data, 10th-standard math.
Postgraduate (PG) Programs:
Includes all UG subjects plus specialized legal areas such as Jurisprudence, Constitutional Law, Tort Law, and Administrative Law.
CLAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Undergraduate (UG) Programs:
- ✓ Educational Qualification: Passed 10+2 or equivalent from a recognized board.
- ✓ Minimum Marks: Gen/OBC/PWD/NRI/PIO/OCI: 45% aggregate; SC/ST: 40% aggregate.
- ✓ Appearing Candidates: Eligible if proof of passing provided by admission date.
- ✓ Age Limit: No upper or lower age limit.
- ✓ Nationality: Indian nationals, NRIs, PIOs, and OCIs.
Postgraduate (PG) Programs:
- ✓ Educational Qualification: LLB degree or equivalent from a BCI-recognized university.
- ✓ Minimum Marks: General: 50% aggregate in LLB; SC/ST: 45% aggregate in LLB.
- ✓ Appearing Candidates: Eligible if qualification certificates presented at admission.
- ✓ Age Limit: No upper age limit.
- ✓ Nationality: Indian nationals and NRIs (Foreign nationals were not eligible).
CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern
The CLAT 2026 exam was an offline, pen-and-paper based test. Understanding the “CLAT exam pattern” is crucial for effective “exam preparation”.
- ● Duration: 2 hours (120 minutes)
- ● Total Questions: 120 multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
- ● Maximum Marks: 120 marks
Marking Scheme:
- + +1 mark for each correct answer
- − -0.25 marks for each incorrect answer
Sections and Weightage:
| Section | Weightage | Questions (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 20% | 22-26 |
| Current Affairs including General Knowledge | 25% | 28-32 |
| Legal Reasoning | 25% | 28-32 |
| Logical Reasoning | 20% | 22-26 |
| Quantitative Techniques | 10% | Approx. 13-17 |
Passages in English, Logical Reasoning, and Legal Reasoning sections were approximately 450 words. Quantitative Techniques involved short sets of facts or numerical information requiring 10th-standard math operations.
Roadmap to Legal Success & Preparation Tips
The CLAT 2026 exam is a critical step for admission to top NLUs. Success hinges on understanding key dates, the application process, the syllabus, eligibility, and the exam pattern. For “career growth” in law, a strategic approach to “exam preparation” is vital for “law aspirants”.
Key Preparation Strategies:
- Leverage resources like online tutorials and official materials for comprehensive “exam preparation”.
- Utilize “AI technologies” for practice and mock tests. Some candidates found “ChatGPT” helpful for generating practice questions or explanations.
- Diligent practice, especially for reading comprehension and logical reasoning, is key for success.
- Stay updated with “news events” for the Current Affairs section. Regularly check prominent news sources.
- Consider exploring reputable “YouTube” channels dedicated to CLAT preparation for conceptual clarity and tips on strategy.
- Regularly solve previous years’ question papers to understand the “CLAT exam pattern” deeply.
- Monitor the official Consortium of NLUs website for future updates to ensure you have the latest “important dates”.
- Engage in mock tests frequently to gauge your progress and refine your test-taking “strategy”.
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