CLAT Exam 2026: The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) has officially released the CLAT application form 2026 on August 1, 2025. Candidates who wish to appear for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 can fill out the form online through the official website, consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
Candidates must carefully check the CLAT 2026 eligibility criteria to ensure they meet all requirements before applying. The CLAT 2026 registration process will remain open until October 31, 2025, after which no applications will be accepted.
Applicants are required to pay the CLAT 2026 application fee, which is Rs. 4,000 for candidates from the General and OBC categories, and Rs. 3,500 for those belonging to the SC, ST, BPL, and PwD categories.
The CLAT 2026 exam date is set for December 7, 2025 (Sunday), and the test will be conducted from 2 PM to 4 PM in offline mode. Candidates who have successfully applied will be able to download their CLAT 2026 admit card from the official website within the announced timeline once the registration process concludes.
The CLAT Exam 2026 will be conducted for admission to 24 National Law Universities (NLUs) and IIULER Goa. In addition, over 60 affiliated law colleges across India also accept CLAT scores for admission into LLB and LLM programs.
This year, approximately 60,000 candidates are expected to appear for the CLAT UG, while around 10,000 candidates will appear for the CLAT PG exam. The exam will be held in offline mode at centres located in 131 cities across India.
The question paper will cover general knowledge, current affairs, legal aptitude, English, mathematics, and logical reasoning, testing a candidate’s overall aptitude and awareness. On the other hand, the CLAT PG (LLM) exam focuses primarily on assessing a candidate’s legal knowledge and expertise.
CLAT 2026
The CLAT Exam 2026 (Common Law Admission Test) is a national-level entrance exam for students seeking admission to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law programs in India. It is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) every year.
Candidates can apply for 5-year integrated LLB (UG) and one-year LLM (PG) courses offered by 24 NLUs for UG admissions and 21 NLUs for PG admissions across the country through CLAT 2026.
Apart from NLUs, 61 private law colleges also accept CLAT scores for admission. Moreover, reputed public sector organizations like ONGC and BHEL use CLAT-PG scores for their recruitment process, making this exam even more valuable for law aspirants.
The CLAT exam 2026 is scheduled for December 7, 2025 (Sunday) and will be held in offline mode (pen-and-paper) for a duration of two hours. Over 1 lakh candidates are expected to appear for the exam this year, highlighting its growing popularity and competitiveness.
CLAT 2026 Highlights
Below are some important highlights of the CLAT 2026 exam:
| Features | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the Exam | Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) |
| Conducting Body | Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) |
| CLAT Exam Date 2026 | December 7, 2025 |
| Exam Mode | Offline (Pen and Paper) |
| Exam Duration | 2 Hours |
| Total Seats | 3,213 (UG) and 1,217 (PG)* *Excluding NRI, supernumerary, and sponsored seats |
| Accepting Colleges | 24 NLUs + 61 Private Law Colleges |
| Top-Ranked NLUs (NIRF 2024) | NLSIU Bengaluru (Rank 1), NALSAR Hyderabad (Rank 3), WBNUJS Kolkata (Rank 4) |
| Exam Helpline | 08047162020 |
| Official Website | https://clatconsortiumofnlu.ac.in |
CLAT 2026 Important Dates
The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) has officially announced the CLAT 2026 exam date on its website, consortiumofnlus.ac.in. The exam is scheduled to be held on December 7, 2025 (Sunday) from 2 PM to 4 PM.
Candidates must stay updated with all the important dates for CLAT exam 2026 to ensure timely registration and participation. Below is a detailed schedule for reference:
| Particulars | Dates |
|---|---|
| Release of CLAT notification | July 20, 2025 |
| CLAT application form opens | August 1, 2025 |
| Last date to submit CLAT application | October 31, 2025 |
| CLAT application correction | To be notified |
| Release of CLAT admit card | 15 days before the exam |
| CLAT exam date | December 7, 2025 (2 PM – 4 PM) |
| CLAT provisional answer key | To be notified |
| Objection submission window | To be notified |
| CLAT result declaration | One week after the exam |
| CLAT counselling | To be notified |
CLAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) has defined the CLAT eligibility criteria 2026 on its official website. Candidates must meet these criteria before applying to ensure they are eligible to appear for the exam. Failure to meet any eligibility requirement at any stage of the admission process may lead to disqualification.
The key eligibility requirements for CLAT 2026 are as follows:
| Particulars | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | Candidates must have completed 10+2 or its equivalent from a recognized board. |
| Minimum Passing Marks | 45% for General and OBC candidates, 40% for SC/ST candidates. |
| Age Limit | No age limit for CLAT 2026 applicants. |
CLAT 2026 Application Form
The Consortium of NLUs officially released the CLAT application form 2025 on August 1, 2025. Candidates can apply online through the official website: consortiumofnlus.ac.in. The last date to submit the application form is October 31, 2025.
How to Complete CLAT 2026 Application Form?
Candidates must follow these key steps to successfully complete the CLAT 2026 registration:
Step 1: Registration
Candidates must first register on the official CLAT website to generate their login credentials. This requires providing a valid email ID and mobile number. These credentials are important for accessing the account throughout the CLAT process, including downloading the admit card, checking results, and registering for counselling.
Step 2: Filling in Application Details
Once registered, candidates must fill in the application form with the following details:
- Personal Information: Name, parent’s name, date of birth, and category.
- Educational Qualification: Class 10 and Class 12 details.
- Communication Details: Permanent and correspondence addresses. (All admission and counselling processes are conducted online.)
- Uploading Documents: A recent passport-size photograph and signature as per the specified format.
Step 3: Selecting Exam Centre Preferences
Candidates can select a maximum of three exam centres in order of preference. The final allotment will depend on seat availability and candidate preferences.
Step 4: Payment of Application Fee
The final step is the payment of the CLAT 2026 application fee, which completes the registration process. The fee structure is as follows:
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC | Rs. 4,000 |
| SC / ST / BPL / PwD | Rs. 3,500 |
Only after successful payment will the CLAT 2026 application form be considered complete. Candidates are advised to keep the payment confirmation receipt for future reference.
CLAT 2026 Syllabus
The Consortium of NLUs has released the official CLAT 2026 syllabus on its website. The syllabus is essential for candidates to plan their preparation and focus on the important topics for each section.
The CLAT syllabus differs for undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) courses:
CLAT UG Syllabus 2026
The CLAT UG exam is divided into five main sections with varying weightage:
| Section | Weightage | Topics Covered |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 20% | Grammar, sentence correction, synonyms & antonyms, tense, and voice |
| Current Affairs & General Knowledge | 25% | National & international events, science & technology, summits & conferences, sports, awards & honors, arts & culture, important historical events |
| Legal Reasoning | 25% | Torts, Contract Law, IPC, Family Law, Constitutional Law, Defamation, Child Rights, Writs, Cyber Law, basic legal terms |
| Logical Reasoning | 20% | Analogies, series, seating arrangement, syllogisms, blood relations, logical sequences, matching, calendars, clocks |
| Quantitative Techniques | 10% | Ratios & proportions, basic algebra, mensuration, statistical estimation, algebra |
CLAT PG Syllabus 2026
The CLAT PG (LLM) exam focuses on advanced legal knowledge. The following are the key topics:
- Constitutional Law
- Jurisprudence
- Administrative Law
- Contract Law
- Torts
- Family Law
- International Law
- Tax Law
- Environmental Law
- Labour Law
- Criminal Law
- Property Law
- Company Law
CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern
The CLAT exam pattern is officially released by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs). It gives candidates a clear idea about the exam structure, sections, number of questions, and marking scheme. Understanding the CLAT 2026 exam pattern is crucial for effective preparation and scoring well.
The exam includes 4–6 passages in each section, followed by multiple-choice questions based on the passages. Each correct answer carries one mark, while every wrong answer attracts a negative marking of 0.25 marks.
Check the section-wise details of the CLAT Exam Pattern:
| Section | Number of Questions | Marks | Marking Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 22–26 | 22–26 | 1 mark per question, 0.25 negative marking for wrong answers |
| Current Affairs & General Knowledge | 28–32 | 28–32 | 1 mark per question, 0.25 negative marking for wrong answers |
| Legal Reasoning | 28–32 | 28–32 | 1 mark per question, 0.25 negative marking for wrong answers |
| Logical Reasoning | 22–26 | 22–26 | 1 mark per question, 0.25 negative marking for wrong answers |
| Quantitative Techniques | 10–14 | 10–14 | 1 mark per question, 0.25 negative marking for wrong answers |
CLAT 2026 Admit Card
The CLAT admit card 2026 will be released by the Consortium of NLUs at least 15 days before the exam. Candidates can download their hall ticket up to 1:30 PM on the day of the exam. It is mandatory to carry the admit card to the examination centre.
Follow these steps to download your CLAT 2026 admit card:
- Visit the official website of CLAT: consortiumofnlus.ac.in
- Enter your registered mobile number and password.
- Click on the Download Admit Card link.
- Check all the details mentioned on the admit card carefully.
- Download and save a copy for future reference.
Note: Make sure all details on the admit card, such as name, exam centre, and roll number, are correct. Contact the authorities immediately in case of any discrepancy.
CLAT 2026 Answer Key
The CLAT 2026 answer key will be released by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs), tentatively a day after the exam. Candidates can raise objections by paying the prescribed objection fee after the provisional answer key is published. Once all valid objections are reviewed, the Consortium will release the final CLAT 2026 answer key.
Follow these steps to download the CLAT 2026 answer key:
- Visit the official website: consortiumofnlus.ac.in
- Go to the Notifications section and click on the answer key link.
- The CLAT 2026 answer key will appear on the screen.
- Download and save it for future reference.
CLAT 2026 Result
The CLAT 2026 result is expected to be declared about a week after the exam. Candidates can download their scorecards from the official website. The results will be based on the final CLAT 2026 answer key, and shortlisted candidates will be called for the counselling process.
The steps to download the CLAT 2026 Result:
- Visit the official website: consortiumofnlus.ac.in
- Log in to your CLAT 2026 account.
- Click on the CLAT 2026 scorecard link.
- The result will be displayed on the screen.
- Download and save your scorecard for future reference.
CLAT 2026 Counselling Process
The CLAT 2026 counselling schedule will be announced by the Consortium of NLUs on its official website. Counselling registrations are expected to open a day after the results are declared. Candidates can register for counselling through their login account after paying the prescribed registration fees.
Candidates must also provide their preference for NLUs during registration. The counselling process usually consists of five rounds, and the Consortium will release a merit list for each round.
Shortlisted candidates must confirm their seat by paying the confirmation fees. Afterwards, candidates need to pay the university fees within the specified deadline to finalize their seat allotment.
Participating NLUs in CLAT 2026
A total of 24 National Law Universities (NLUs) participate in CLAT 2026. Most NLUs offer the 5-year BA LLB (Hons.) programme, while a few also provide LLM courses. Some NLUs do not admit students into LLM through CLAT.
Check the complete list below:
| NLU | Courses | UG Seat Intake | LLM Seat Intake |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bengaluru | BA LLB (Hons) | 300 | 120 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | BA LLB (Hons) | 132 | 66 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | BA LLB (Hons) | 132 | 100 |
| NLIU Bhopal | BA LLB (Hons), B.Sc LLB, LLM | 202 (BA LLB 134, B.Sc LLB 68) | 60 |
| NLU Jodhpur | BA LLB (Hons) | 120 | 50 |
| HNLU Raipur | BA LLB (Hons) | 180 | 90 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | BA LLB (Hons.), BCom LLB (Hons.), BSc LLB (Hons.), BBA LLB(Hons), BSW LLB(Hons) | 172 (all courses) | 57 |
| GNLU Silvassa | BA LLB (Hons) | 66 | 33 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | BA LLB (Hons) | 169 | 48 |
| RGNUL Patiala | BA LLB (Hons) | 180 | 60 |
| CNLU Patna | BA LLB (Hons), BBA LLB (Hons) | 138 (69 each) | – |
| NUALS Kochi | BA LLB (Hons) | 60 | 60 |
| NLUO Odisha, Cuttack | BA LLB (Hons), BBA LLB (Hons) | 180 (BA LLB 120, BBA LLB 60) | 50 |
| NUSRL Ranchi | BA LLB (Hons) | 134 | 60 |
| NLUJA Assam, Guwahati | BA LLB (Hons) | 60 | 40 |
| DSNLU Visakhapatnam | BA LLB (Hons) | 138 | 69 |
| TNNLU Tiruchirappalli | BA LLB (Hons), B.Com LLB (Hons) | 120 (BA LLB 60, B.Com LLB 60) | 60 |
| MNLU Mumbai | BA LLB (Hons), BBA LLB (Hons) | 100 | 50 |
| MNLU Nagpur | BA LLB (Hons), BBA LLB (Hons) | 120 (BA LLB 60, BBA LLB 60) | 60 |
| MNLU Aurangabad | BA LLB (Hons), BBA LLB (Hons) | 120 (BA LLB 60, BBA LLB 60) | 60 |
| HPNLU Shimla | BA LLB (Hons), BBA LLB (Hons) | 120 (BA LLB 60, BBA LLB 60) | 80 |
| DNLU Jabalpur | BA LLB (Hons) | 120 | 50 |
| DBRANLU Sonipat | BA LLB (Hons) | 120 | – |
| NLUT Agartala | BA LLB (Hons) | 60 | 50 |
| RPNLU Prayagraj | BA LLB (Hons) | 60 | 10 |
| IIULER Goa | BA LLB (Hons), BBA LLB (Hons) | 120 (BA LLB), 60 (BBA LLB) | 40 |
CLAT 2026 FAQs
Q.1. When will the CLAT 2026 exam be conducted?
Ans. CLAT 2026 will be held on December 7, 2025, from 2 PM to 4 PM in offline mode.
Q.2. How can I apply for CLAT 2026?
Ans. Candidates can apply online at consortiumofnlus.ac.in before the last date, October 31, 2025.
Q.3. What is the CLAT 2026 exam pattern?
Ans. The exam includes sections on English, GK & Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques, with negative marking of 0.25 per wrong answer.
Q.4. When will the CLAT 2026 admit card be released?
Ans. The admit card will be available 15 days before the exam and can be downloaded from the official website.
Q.5. Which NLUs participate in CLAT 2026?
Ans. 24 NLUs participate, offering UG and PG courses, along with over 61 private law colleges accepting CLAT scores for admission.
