What is CLAT?
CLAT stands for the Common Law Admission Test. It’s a national-level entrance exam for students who want to study law at India’s top law schools – the National Law Universities (NLUs).
Think of it as the gateway to becoming a lawyer, judge, or legal advisor. If you’re aiming for a career in law, this is one of the first big steps.
How Does CLAT Work?
CLAT is held once a year, usually in December, and is taken online or offline, depending on the mode announced.
There are two versions:
- CLAT UG – for 12th-pass students (for 5-year integrated law programs like BA LL.B, BBA LL.B).
- CLAT PG – for law graduates (for LLM programs).
The UG exam tests you in:
English
Passage-based questions (approx. 450 words each)
Focus on:
- Vocabulary in context
- Main idea and tone
- Inference and conclusions
- Paraphrasing and summary
- Grammar is tested indirectly through comprehension
Current Affairs (including GK)
Contemporary topics (mainly from the last 6–12 months)
Topics include:
- National & International Events
- Government Schemes & Bills
- Legal and Constitutional Developments
- Important Judgments
- Awards, Sports, and Appointments
Legal Reasoning
You’ll be given a short legal principle or passage
Questions test your ability to:
- Apply the given law to new factual situations
- Identify correct legal conclusions
- Distinguish between principles and facts
Topics often include:
- Contracts, Torts, Criminal Law, Constitutional Law (basics)
Logical Reasoning
Focus on critical thinking and argument analysis
Questions are mostly passage-based
Skills tested:
- Identifying arguments, premises, and conclusions
- Detecting assumptions or flaws in logic
- Drawing analogies and inferences
Quantitative Techniques (basic maths)
Based on short sets of facts, graphs, or numerical data
Tests your ability to:
- Interpret tables, charts, and graphs
- Perform basic calculations
- Apply math concepts in real-life/legal scenarios
Key topics:
- Percentages
- Ratios and Proportions
- Averages
- Profit & Loss
- Time, Speed & Distance
- Simple and Compound Interest
- Data Interpretation
Why is CLAT Important?
CLAT opens doors to:
- 22 NLUs, including NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, and NLU Delhi (Note: NLU Delhi has a separate exam – AILET).
- Top private law colleges that accept CLAT scores.
- Career paths in corporate law, litigation, civil services, legal journalism, and more.
It’s not just an exam—it’s your first step into the legal world.
CLAT 2026 exam schedule :
| Particulars | Dates |
| Registration starts from | 1st of August, 2025 |
| Registration ends on | 31st October, 2025 |
| Exam date | December 7th, 2025 (Sunday) |
| Exam mode | Offline |
| Exam timing | 2 PM to 4 PM |
| Maximum Marks | 120 |
| Number of Questions | 120 multiple-choice questions |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer |
You can check out the official notification here
CLAT is for you, if you:
- Love reading, debating, or solving problems
- Are curious about how laws work
- Dream of becoming a lawyer, judge, or policy expert
You can access a selection of CLAT study resources through the EBC Webstore.