CLAT 2026 Exam
CLAT 2026 Exam: Admit card, Result, Application, Counseling, Syllabus, Cutt-Off, Exam Dates, Eligibility Criteria, Colleges
CLAT 2026 is just around the corner! The CLAT 2026 application form will be accepted by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) starting in July 2025. As per the trends from the previous years, the exam is likely to take place in the first week of December 2025, probably on the 7th day of the last month. Students, however, should keep track of the latest updates to better prepare for the exam.
Candidates must immediately fill out the CLAT 2026 application form on the official website, consortiumofnlus.ac.in – once it starts in June. To make sure you’re ready for one of India’s most competitive law entrance exams, keep checking back for further updates on the exam schedule, syllabus, and other important information!
What is CLAT 2026?
CLAT 2026 or Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a national-level Undergraduate and post-graduate law entrance exam for admission to law courses such as LL.B., BBA LLB, BA LLB, LL.M., etc.
Attracting about 70,000 law students who aspire to pursue law after class XII, it is an important event on the legal education calendar. This exam, which the Consortium of NLUs administers, grants admission to 26 National Law Universities (NLUs).
English, General Knowledge and Current Affairs, Quantitative Techniques, Legal Reasoning, and Logical Reasoning are among the disciplines that are used to evaluate students in undergraduate programs. The goal is to assess the candidates’ aptitude and preparedness for a career in law.
The test assesses applicants for the postgraduate program on a range of legal topics, including contract law, torts, criminal law, international law, intellectual property rights, and environmental law, in addition to constitutional law and jurisprudence.
CLAT 2026 exam is anticipated to take place in December 2025, based on the patterns of the previous year. There are 120 questions in all, divided into five sections. Each right response is worth +1, and each wrong response is worth ¼.
The CLAT 2026 exam will be required for all admissions to the five-year integrated L.L.B. and LL.M. programs starting in the Academic Year 2026–2027.
Although both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply for CLAT, this page will solely cover UG-CLAT 2026.
CLAT 2026 Course Details: Key Highlights
CLAT 2026 is a special exam administered in pen and paper mode all across the country in various locations for admission to top law colleges and universities in India. It provides access to UG and PG law courses in NLUs and other public/private institutions.
The entire exam consists of 5 different sections with a total score of 120 marks.
An outline of the CLAT 2026 exam can be seen in the table below.
| CLAT 2026 Overview | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Conducting Body | National Law Universities Consortium (NLUs) |
| Frequency of Conduct | Once a year |
| CLAT 2026 exam date | December 2025 (Expected) |
| Types of questions | MCQs |
| Exam Level | Nationwide |
| CLAT is administered for | Admission to undergraduate and graduate law programs offered by member NLUs
Admissions to self-funded and private universities PSU hiring practices for legal roles |
| Application Fee | General and OBC categories cost INR 4,000, while all other reserved groups cost INR 3500. |
| Mode of Exam | Pen-and-paper mode |
| Question paper language | English (with regional and vernacular languages also anticipated) |
| Duration of the exam | 120 Minutes |
| Number of Seats | Graduate Level Courses – 3,000+ seats
Post-Graduate Level Courses – 1,000+ seats |
| Official website | consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
CLAT 2026 Exam Dates (Tentative)
Online applications for CLAT 2026 are anticipated to open in June 2025, with the official announcement anticipated to be released in May 2025. The Consortium will post the official dates and timetable for CLAT 2026 on its website.
These dates will include the CLAT 2026 notification release, the CLAT 2026 registration dates, the CLAT 2026 admit card release, the CLAT 2026 exam date, the CLAT 2026 result announcement, and the answer key release. Candidates are given a summary of the approximate CLAT 2026 exam dates.
| Event | Timeline |
| CLAT 2026 notification | June 2025 |
| CLAT 2026 application form start date | First week of July 2025 |
| CLAT 2026 application form deadline | End of October 2025 |
| CLAT 2026 admit card release date | Mid-November 2025 |
| CLAT 2026 exam date | December 7, 2025(Expected) |
| Provisional CLAT 2026 answer key date | December 7, 2025(Expected) |
| CLAT 2026 final answer key date | December 13, 2025(Expected) |
| CLAT 2026 results date | December 13, 2025(Expected) |
| CLAT 2026 counseling start date | December 15, 2024(Expected) |
CLAT 2026 Notification Release Soon
The public is anticipated to receive the CLAT 2026 notification in May 2025. The announcement will contain information on exam dates, eligibility requirements, application processes, curriculum, and exam format. Students will use this message to help them plan their exam preparation.
Candidates are invited to regularly check the Consortium of NLUs’ official website for the most up-to-date information. The CLAT 2026 Notification PDF will be available for applicants to download upon release.
CLAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must fulfil the requirements listed below to be considered for CLAT 2026. The CLAT 2026 eligibility criteria for both undergraduate and graduate programs are broken down into particular requirements according to category, grades, and educational background. See the table below for the CLAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria.
CLAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria for Undergraduate Programs
Below are the instructions to check your CLAT 2026 eligibility criteria to apply for the UG law courses:
• There is no upper age limit for UG courses.
• If you fall into any of the following categories—General, OBC, PWD, NRI, PIO, or OCI—you must have earned at least 45% on your 10+2 or equivalent test after the official announcement.
• You must have received at least 40% of the aggregate marks if you fall into the SC/ST group.
• Applications are also open to students taking the 10+2 test in the academic year (March/April 2026).
CLAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria for Post-graduate courses
• The PG Program has no upper age limit.
• Members of the General, OBC, PWD, NRI, PIO, and OCI categories must have earned at least 50% of the aggregate marks in their LLB degree or its equivalent.
• The official announcement states that individuals who fall under the SC/ST categories must have earned 45% of the aggregate marks in an LLB degree or its equivalent.
• On the day of admission, you must have passed the qualifying exam for your last semester or year.
• You must be an Indian citizen to be eligible for the test, though foreign nationals and NRIs may also be able to apply.
CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern
The CLAT 2026 exam pattern is highly unlikely to change this year. Each section in the exam has its own set of questions and weightage. The table below shows the weights given to each part of the CLAT exam, even though the exact number of questions is never known.
Each question is worth one mark, and each incorrect response will result in a deduction of 0.25 marks.
| Duration of the test | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
| Mode | Offline |
| Type of Questions | (MCQs) |
| Number of Questions | 120 |
| Test Sections | English Language
Current Affairs (General Knowledge) Legal Reasoning Logical Reasoning Quantitative Techniques |
| Marking scheme | Total Score: 120
1 right answer: 1+ Mark 1 wrong answer: -0.25 marks. |
| Language | English |
Students should be aware of the CLAT 2026 exam pattern, if not the current one, then at least the previous ones, to get an overview of how they should plan their preparations. Exam pattern is subject to change to align with evolving educational goals. So far, no changes have been proposed by the consortium.
CLAT 2026 Marking Scheme and Question Weightage
| Subject/Section | Number of questions (weightage) | CLAT 2026 (No. of Questions) |
| English Language | 22-26 (20%) | 24 |
| Quantitative Techniques | 10-14 (10%) | 12 |
| Logical Reasoning | 22-26 (20%) | 24 |
| Current Affairs, including General Knowledge | 28-32 (25%) | 28 |
| Legal Reasoning | 28-32 (25%) | 32 |
| Total Questions | 120 questions | 120 |
| Total Marks | 120 | 120 |
| Total Time (min) | 120 | 120 |
| Marks for correct answer | 1 | 1 |
| Negative Marking | – 0.25 marks deducted for every incorrect response | – 0.25 marks deducted for every incorrect response |
CLAT 2026 Application Form: How to Apply
The CLAT 2026 registration period is scheduled to open in mid-July 2025, according to the schedule from the previous year.
CLAT 2026 Application Process
On the official Consortium website, candidates can complete the CLAT 2026 application form to be considered for admission to undergraduate law programs offered by the member NLUs.
Follow these procedures to guarantee a smooth process:
• Step 1: Go to https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in/, the official website.
• Step 2: To finish the registration procedure, click the “REGISTER” link on the home page. Enter your name, mobile number, and password.
• Step 3: Enter the OTP that was sent to the registered mobile number. The registration process is now complete.
• Step 4: Enter your password and registered mobile number to access the portal.
• Step 5: Fill out the application by providing accurate information.
• Step 6: Upload the required scanned documents, photos, and signatures in the format that has been stated.
• Step 7: To finish the application procedure, pay the cost using one of the several online payment options.
Note: The candidate will not be allowed to change the program, category, or BPL field once the application has been filed and paid for. The candidate may be disqualified if their name is found to have changed or altered.
Size of Photo and Signature for CLAT 2026 Application Form
Fill out the CLAT 2026 application form by following the guidelines and format below:
| Dimensions | Image Size | Format |
| Photograph | 500 KB | .jpg/.jpeg |
| Signature | 100 KB | .jpg/.jpeg |
CLAT 2026 Registration Fee
The CLAT 2026 registration fee may only be paid online through Net Banking and NEFT. Students must keep in mind that the CLAT registration fee is non-refundable once it has been paid.
Check out the CLAT 2026 registration fee for different categories of students:
| CLAT 2026 Registration Fee | |
| Category | Exam Fee |
| General/OBC/NRI | Rs 4,000/- |
| SC/ST/BPL/PWD | Rs 3,500/- |
CLAT 2026 Application Form Correction Window
The Consortium gives CLAT 2026 applicants time to revise or update the data they previously entered on the application. The Consortium will not consider any further requests to update or modify the information.
How to modify the portal’s test location preferences:
• Visit the CLAT 2026 website to access your CLAT account – consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
• The ‘Edit Application Form’ button should be clicked.
• Select ‘Test Centre Preferences’ from the menu.
• Verify your preferred test location and make any necessary updates.
• To access the “Reservation” tab, click the Next (>) button.
• Scroll down and accept the statement.
• Press the button labelled “Submit Form.”
NOTE:
Additionally, candidates can use this time to check and, if needed, update their names, Date of birth, applicable program (UG/PG), and eligibility for reservations.
To accomplish this, take these actions:
• Go to the CLAT 2026 website and sign in to your CLAT account to confirm your information.
• After selecting the “Print Application” button, verify that your information is correct.
• Click the “Edit Application” button if any modifications are needed.
• After making any required adjustments, go over the entire application form carefully.
• Click the “Submit Form” button after selecting the Reservations tab.
CLAT 2026 Syllabus
The exam is administered offline and consists of 120 questions divided into five sections. This is a summary of the CLAT 2026 Syllabus, part by section, based on the syllabus for the last CLAT exam.
| CLAT Subject/Section | Brief Summary |
| English Language | Total Questions: 22-26
Word Count of Each Passage: 450 words each |
| Quantitative Techniques | Total Questions: 10-14
Word Count of Each Passage: 450 words each Expected Time to Read Each Passage: 5-7 mins |
| Logical Reasoning | Total Questions: 22-26
Word Count of Each Passage: 450 words each |
| Current Affairs, including General Knowledge | Total Questions: 22-26
Word Count of Each Passage: 450 words each Passage Source: News, journalistic sources, and other non-fiction writing |
| Legal Reasoning | Total Questions: 28-32
Word Count of Each Passage: 450 words each |
CLAT 2026 Exam Centre
When filling out the form, you can select from three distinct Centre locations. Below is a list of the cities where the CLAT 2026 Exam Centres are situated.
| Agartala | Chennai | Guwahati | Jodhpur | Muzzafarpur | Shillong |
| Agra | Chittoor/Tirupathi | Gwalior | Kanpur | Mysore | Shimla |
| Allahabad | Coimbatore | Haldwani | Kolkata | Nagpur | Siliguri |
| Amravati (Maharashtra) | Cuttack | Hissar | Kota | Navi Mumbai | Sonepat |
| Amritsar | Dehradun | Hooghly | Kottayam | New Delhi | Srinagar |
| Asansol | Durg | Hubli/Dharwad | Kurnool | Patiala | Surat |
| Aurangabad | Ernakulum | Hyderabad | Kurukshetra | Patna | Thane |
| Barrackpore | Faridabad | Imphal | Lucknow | Puducherry | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Bengaluru | Gandhinagar | Indore | Madurai | Pune | Tirunelveli |
| Bhopal | Gangtok | Jabalpur | Malda | Raipur | Trichy |
| Bhubaneshwar | Ghaziabad | Jaipur | Mangalore | Rajahmundry | Vadodara |
| Bilaspur | Gorakhpur | Jalandhar | Meerut | Rajkot | Varanasi |
| Calicut | Greater Noida/Noida | Jammu | Mohali | Ranchi | Vijayawada |
| Chandigarh | Gurugram | Jamshedpur | Mumbai | Salem | Visakhapatnam |
CLAT 2026 Admit Card
The CLAT 2026 Admit Card is released by the Consortium of NLUs in November, at least 15 days before the exam. Once the admit card is available, it can be downloaded from consortiumofnlus.ac.in, the official website.
It is required to have a CLAT 2026 admit card to take the exam. Information related to the candidate’s roll number, the exam center’s name and address, and exam times are all included on the admit card.
How to obtain the CLAT 2026 Admit Card when it is released?
• Step 1: Go to https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in, the exam’s official website.
• Step 2: Choose the CLAT 2026 exam and enter your password and registered mobile number to log in.
• Step 3: Click the “Download CLAT 2026 Admit Card” option in the upper right corner of the screen after logging in.
• Step 4: Save the PDF file of the entrance card to your device.
• Step 5: For future use, print two or three copies of the entry card on A4 paper.
CLAT 2026 Answer Key
The Consortium frequently releases the preliminary CLAT answer key the same day or the day after. For instance, the tentative answer key for the CLAT 2025 exam was made available at 4 PM on December 2, 2024, the day after the exam.
Students must be aware, nonetheless, that this is merely a tentative answer key. The final version of the CLAT Answer key was released on December 7, 2024, just before the release of the CLAT Result.
CLAT 2026 Result
Shortly after the final CLAT 2026 answer key is made public, the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) will distribute the CLAT 2026 results.
For example, the results were released a few hours after the Consortium released the answer key for CLAT 2025.
The CLAT 2026 results will be made available in PDF format. The scorecard includes the category, total exam scores, overall CLAT rank, and other information. Depending on their scores, candidates will be invited to the counseling process. The last step in the admissions process for National Law Universities (NLUs) is counseling.
CLAT 2026 Expected Cut-Off
The CLAT exam cut-off refers to the minimum scores and rankings required to get admission to NLUs. Each NLU publishes the cut-off in the form of opening and closing rankings following the counseling rounds. The basic predicted cut-off, as determined by expert study of prior years, is displayed in the table below.
Here is a summary of the top NLUs for CLAT 2025 based on the exam’s difficulty level.
| Expected CLAT Cut-off 2026 | |
| NLU | Expected CLAT Cut-off |
| Top 3 NLUs | 90+ |
| Top 10 NLUs | 87+ |
| At least 1 NLU | 85+ |
CLAT 2026 Reservation Policy
Approximately 3400 spaces are available for the five-year LLB program through the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs). Reservations for various categories, such as OBC, SC, ST, PWD, KM (Kashmiri Migrants), the Armed Forces, and others, determine how these seats are allocated.
The reservation criteria set by each NLU are crucial throughout the CLAT 2024 seat allocation process. Every university has a different reservation policy, which varies by university. To find out about the reservations for various castes, candidates should visit the websites of each NLU.
CLAT Exam Analysis
Students should consider the past before looking to the future, since it gives them a sense of the patterns and questions that will be on the CLAT exam.
Students must review and read the CLAT 2025 Exam Analysis to get a summary of the student responses, mentor analysis, and other information, because CLAT 2025 was an intriguing version of the paper.
CLAT 2026 Counseling
Following the announcement of the merit list, the counseling process starts. Online counseling is used for CLAT.
You must pay Rs. 30,000 for the General Category and Rs. 20,000 for the ST, SC, OBC, BC, EWS, PWD, and other reserved categories online to register for the counseling procedure.
When the first tentative list is released to the public, you must choose one of the three options:
• Accept the designated seat (option to freeze).
• Apply for a Float Option Upgrade
• Exit (Exit Option) from the admissions process
Documents required for CLAT 2026
The following paperwork needs to be with you when you attend counseling:
• Application Form
• Scorecard
• 10th & 12th Mark sheets
• Admit Card
• Specially-abled Certificate (if applicable)
• Domicile Certificate (if applicable)
• Caste Certificate (if applicable)
• NRI Certificate (if applicable)
• Sponsored NRI Certificate (if applicable)
CLAT 2026 Merit List
After the results, the NLU Consortium usually provides the merit list.
The UG and PG CLAT Merit Lists will be made available separately on the official website.
• For every counseling round, a unique merit list will be made public.
• The category-by-category merit rank of the candidate who passed the test is included in the Merit List.
• All of the candidates’ scores are used to prepare it, with the highest scores at the top and the lowest scores at the bottom.
• Your admit card number, All India Rank, and total admission exam scores are among the information on the merit list.
Steps to Prepare for the CLAT 2026 Exam
To get the best answer to “How to Prepare for CLAT 2026,” let’s start with some preparation tips from our experts.
Given the remaining time, the best CLAT 2026 preparation plan would consist of:
• Examining the curriculum
• Editing it two or three times
• Reading comprehension exercises
• Increasing one’s reading proficiency
• Responding to numerous practice tests and sample papers
When preparing for the CLAT exam, there are a few more important factors to take into account.
• Create and implement a study schedule
• Increase your reading accuracy and speed
• Complete practice exams and sample papers
• Maintain consistency and discipline
• Take breaks and learn stress management techniques.
Top CLAT Accepting Colleges in India
| NLUs | Seats in 5-year LLB programs | ||
| Total CLAT seats | All India seats | Domicile | |
| NLSIU Bangalore | 240 | 180 | 60 |
| NLU Hyderabad | 132 | 99 | 33 |
| NLU Jodhpur | 104 | 104 | 0 |
| NUJS Kolkata | 132 | 91 | 41 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 172 | 129 | 43 |
| RGNUL Patiala | 180 | 175 | 5 |
| NLU Lucknow | 169 | 80 | 89 |
| NLU Odisha, Cuttack | 180 | 135 | 45 |
| NLU Assam, Guwahati | 60 | 31 | 29 |
| NLIU Bhopal | 120 | 60 | 60 |
| CNLU Patna | 138 | 69 | 69 |
| NLU Kochi | 120 | 61 | 59 |
| NLU Ranchi | 120 | 60 | 60 |
| NLU Visakhapatnam | 138 | 54 | 84 |
| NLU Trichy | 120 | 60 | 60 |
| MNLU Mumbai | 150 | 55 | 95 |
| MNLU Nagpur | 240 | 92 | 148 |
| MNLU Aurangabad | 60 | 23 | 37 |
| NLU Shimla | 180 | 108 | 72 |
| NLU Jabalpur | 120 | 60 | 60 |
| HNLU Raipur | 180 | 85 | 95 |
| Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University | 120 | 90 | 30 |
| Total | 3175 | 1714 | 1274 |
Key Takeaways
These are some of the most crucial details and things to remember for CLAT 2026.
• The CLAT 2026 exam date is set for December 2025.
• The CLAT 2026 Admit Card will be made available by the Consortium of NLUs in the middle of November 2025.
• There are 120 questions in the syllabus, which are divided into five categories.
• Make sure your study schedule is organized.
• Focus on the basics and go over every test topic in detail.
• To familiarize yourself with the format of the exam, practice with past years’ papers and mock exams.
• For more help, look for online classes, attend CLAT coaching facilities, or look for mentorship.
• Remain inspired, maintain a positive outlook, and believe in your abilities.
Clat 2026 FAQs
Q1. Are Class 12 grades taken into account by NLUs for admission?
The minimum qualifying score for the NLUs that are a component of the Law Entrance Exam is 45% or higher overall in Class XII.
Q2. What is the minimum age requirement to apply for CLAT 2026?
For those who wish to apply for the exam, there is no upper age limit. However, the minimum age requirement must be 20 years old, and it is 22 years old for candidates who fall into the SC/ST and PhD (Physically Disabled) categories.
Q3. What date is the CLAT 2026 exam?
Regarding the CLAT 2026 Exam Date, there is currently no official announcement. It is scheduled to take place in December.
Q4. Is it easy to pass CLAT 2026?
Of course! Passing the CLAT might be simple if you have the correct attitude, perseverance, and preparation. You may be one of the many students who have passed this test.
Q5. Is 93 a good score in CLAT 2026?
A 93 on the CLAT is undoubtedly a noteworthy accomplishment! According to earlier data, candidates in the general category who receive a score of at least 100 are likely to be accepted into one of the top two NLUs. But don’t worry—if you receive a score between 93 and 95 out of 150, you will have full access to prestigious National Law Universities (NLUs).
Q6. Which subjects are included in the CLAT syllabus 2026?
English, current events with GK, legal reasoning, quantitative approaches, and logical reasoning are the five main topics that make up the CLAT 2026 syllabus.
Q7. How can I get ready for the syllabus for CLAT 2026?
Candidates can create a timetable and allocate equal time to each section of the CLAT 2026 syllabus.
Q8. Can candidates who reside overseas (NRIs) take the CLAT in 2026?
Yes! CLAT 2026 is open to candidates who are living overseas (NRIs). On the application form, you can even select a unique NRI category.
Q9. What is the application fee for CLAT 2026?
The application fee is determined by your category.
Q10. Can I apply in person or by mail for CLAT?
No, CLAT applications are only accepted online. Neither in-person nor mail-in options are available.
