Preparing for the CLAT 2026 exam requires both strategic thinking and dedicated practice. Begin by fully grasping its structure and syllabus before creating a study plan to cover high-weightage sections of the test.
The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is the national-level entrance exam that serves as the gateway to law degrees at 24 National Law Universities (NLUs) and various other top law colleges in India. As the most competitive law entrance exam in the country, CLAT 2026 exam dates and schedule are essential information regardless of whether you are an undergraduate degree seeker or a graduate planning to pursue legal studies.
The CLAT Consortium will release an official notification and application dates online for its exam. You must register to take it, uploading a passport-sized photograph of yourself with your signature in accordance with the specified specifications, as well as provide any preferences for NLUs at registration time.
After the examination is over, the consortium will post results and answer keys on its official website. You can access your CLAT 2026 scorecard by clicking the "View Answer Key" link from its homepage; once downloaded as PDF form you can check responses for each question and submit any objections within the allotted time.
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Upcoming Events |
Important Dates |
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CLAT 2026 notification release |
July, 2025 |
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Application starts |
1, Aug, 2025 |
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Last date to fill the application form |
October, 2025 |
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Application correction window |
October, 2025 |
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CLAT 2026 admit card |
November, 2025 |
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CLAT 2026 exam date |
7, December 2025 |
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CLAT 2026 answer key |
To be announced |
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CLAT final answer key release 2026 |
To be announced |
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CLAT 2026 result announcement |
To be announced |
Before filling out their CLAT application forms, applicants should verify their eligibility criteria to avoid any last-minute edits of information after final submission of online applications. Filling in accurate details will prevent any misunderstandings when admission decisions are being made.
Applying for undergraduate law programs requires providing proof that they passed their 12th class exams to qualify. There is no age restriction associated with the CLAT 2026 examination, and applicants can include Indian nationals, NRIs, PIOs or OCIs.
Registering online for CLAT 2026 requires applicants to visit the NLU Consortium website and provide personal details, communication address and Class 10 and 12 mark sheets as evidence of eligibility. They will also need to upload their passport-size photo and signature in accordance with requirements. It is vitally important that any uploaded documents be checked for errors, as miscalculation can lead to seat allotment problems later.
As there have been no changes announced by the NLU Consortium regarding their exam pattern or syllabus this year, candidates are advised that it is likely the exam will follow a similar section structure and question type as last time around. Candidates will therefore need to prepare by strengthening each subject area while practising sample questions.
Registration for CLAT involves many steps, such as choosing an application center and paying required fees. To ensure an enjoyable process, you must know what to expect so you can navigate it with ease and confidence.
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Category |
Fees details |
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For General/OBC/PWD |
4,000 |
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For NRI/OCI/PIO |
4,000 |
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SC/ST/BPL |
3,500 |
The CLAT 2026 exam pattern includes both multiple-choice questions and passage-based questions. English, Current Affairs and Logical Reasoning sections will feature 450-word passages followed by questions. Quantitative Technique questions will focus on short sets of facts, propositions, graphs or pictorial representations, with candidates being required to derive answers from these representations. Each question in the CLAT 2026 question paper carries one mark; incorrect answers incur a negative marking of 0.25 marks per question answered incorrectly. In total, there will be 120 questions across each section; each question carries 1 mark; negative marking of 0.25 marks will apply per incorrect answer given.
Experience and knowledge of the CLAT exam are essential to effective preparation, so becoming familiar with its structure and syllabus is paramount for effective preparation. Once familiar, make a study plan tailored to your schedule, strengths/weaknesses, and ability level. Give each section enough study time so as to improve over time - read books that offer both theory and practice questions for each section - keep in mind factors such as author credentials, publication type price coverage when selecting your ideal book!
The CLAT 2026 syllabus comprises three sections: Legal Aptitude, English Language, and Quantitative Techniques. Of these sections, Legal Aptitude holds the most weightage; you will be asked to apply general principles or propositions to given fact scenarios. To improve your score in this area, try reading national dailies, editorials, legal journals or mock tests to improve reading speed and comprehension skills as well as assess progress or identify areas needing improvement.
The English Language comprises 22 to 26 questions with a weightage of 20% in the exam, consisting of passages with around 450 words from newspapers, editorials, and legal articles as the source material. To excel at English Language examinations, pay particular attention to reading comprehension skills; identify the tone/theme of passages while answering word-based questions as part of answering this section successfully.
Quantitative Techniques is composed of short sets of facts or propositions followed by questions. To excel in this section, focus on improving both calculation speed and accuracy; practice by solving sample papers and problem sets; also, try learning shortcuts and employing Vedic math techniques when answering DI-based questions, as well as practising chart/graph-based questions regularly.
The Consortium of NLUs holds an admission test called the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) every year to select candidates for undergraduate and graduate law programs. The exam takes place online using a pen and paper format, and applicants can find more details regarding it on its website.
Although each year's exam questions and patterns differ, some key preparation tips remain the same. Invest in quality study materials and enrol in coaching programs to increase your odds of success, as well as take as many mock tests as possible to increase speed and accuracy. It is also vitally important that you familiarise yourself with legal jargon and recent court decisions in order to maximise success on test day.
The CLAT exam consists of five sections: English, Math, Current Affairs & GK, Logical Reasoning and Legal Reasoning. You have 120 minutes to complete each section with 120 multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Correct answers earn one mark while incorrect answers subtract 0.25 marks; shortlisted candidates will then attend counselling; once released on merit lists, they can select their NLU and course based on rank.
Establishing the appropriate mindset and studying environment are central to successful CLAT preparation. By investing in quality books and practice resources, creating an efficient study plan, and regularly taking full-length CLAT mock tests on an ongoing basis, you will lay down a strong foundation for future success. In addition, learning stress-handling techniques will allow you to stay calm and focused during exam day.
The English section of the CLAT exam involves passage-based questions designed to test candidates' ability to comprehend, interpret, and evaluate written material. Questions in this section typically use literary passages of approximately 450 words from contemporary or historically significant works as test cases; vocabulary correction and critical reasoning issues also feature prominently here.
Legal Reasoning of the CLAT Exam is a difficult and time-consuming component designed to assess candidates' ability to recognise and interpret arguments and patterns, current events knowledge and general awareness. Therefore, candidates are encouraged to keep up-to-date on national and international affairs by reading newspapers regularly, as this section tests this skill set.
