CLAT 2026: Your Entrance Exam for National Law Universities (NLUs)
The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is the most important national-level entrance examination for admission into undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law programs in India. Organized by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs), CLAT is the centralized gateway to the prestigious 5-year integrated B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), and LL.M. degrees offered by 22 National Law Universities (NLUs) across the country.
A high CLAT score is essential not only for NLUs but also for admission to several other top private law colleges that accept the CLAT score.
CLAT Exam Overview (UG Law Programs)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) |
| Conducting Body | Consortium of National Law Universities |
| Purpose | Admission to 5-year integrated B.A. LL.B. and LL.M. programs |
| Participating Institutes | 22 National Law Universities (NLUs) and several affiliated private law colleges across India. |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen and Paper-based) |
| Official Website | https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
CLAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria (UG)
The eligibility criteria for CLAT are set by the Consortium of NLUs and are uniform across all participating universities.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | Must have passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination. |
| Stream | Candidates from any stream (Arts/Humanities, Science, or Commerce) are eligible. |
| Minimum Marks | 45% aggregate marks in the qualifying examination (Class 12) for General/OBC/PWD/NRI/PIO/OCI categories. |
| Relaxation | 40% aggregate marks for candidates belonging to SC/ST categories. |
| Age Limit | No upper age limit for appearing in the CLAT UG examination. |
CLAT Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
The CLAT 2026 exam pattern focuses on assessing comprehension and reasoning skills rather than rote learning of legal facts.
| Section | Approximate No. of Questions | Weightage (%) | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 22–26 | 20% | Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, and Grammar |
| Current Affairs, including GK | 28–32 | 25% | Contemporary events, Arts & Culture, International Affairs |
| Legal Reasoning | 28–32 | 25% | Applying legal principles to given fact situations (No prior legal knowledge needed) |
| Logical Reasoning | 22–26 | 20% | Critical analysis of arguments, Inferences, and Deductions |
| Quantitative Techniques | 10–14 | 10% | Passage-based sets on basic arithmetic, ratios, and statistics (Class 10 level) |
| Total | 120 Questions | 100% | Duration: 2 Hours (120 Minutes) |
| Marking Scheme | Details |
|---|---|
| Correct Answer | +1 Mark |
| Incorrect Answer | -0.25 Mark (Negative Marking) |
| Unattempted | 0 Marks |
Why CLAT is the Premier Law Entrance Exam
CLAT is essential because it is the single gateway for the most prestigious legal education in India. A top CLAT rank secures your position in:
Top NLUs: Including NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, NLIU Bhopal, WBNUJS Kolkata, and NLU Jodhpur.
Reputed Private Colleges: Over 50 private colleges and universities in India utilize CLAT scores for their admissions process, highlighting its national acceptance and credibility.