CLAT 2028 Complete Guide: Exam Date, New Pattern, Syllabus, Eligibility & Preparation
Quick answer
CLAT 2028 is expected on 5 December 2027, with registration from 2 August to 31 October 2027, mainly for students now in Class 11. It currently has 120 MCQs, but the July 2026 Expert Committee proposed pattern changes that are not yet confirmed. The Consortium is expected to confirm the pattern in July 2027.
- Expected exam date: 5 December 2027 (Sunday)
- Expected registration window: 2 August to 31 October 2027
- Current pattern: 120 MCQs in 2 hours, +1 for a correct answer and −0.25 for a wrong one
- Pattern status: proposed changes, not yet confirmed
⚡ CLAT 2028: At a Glance
| Expected Exam Date | 5 December 2027 (Sunday) |
| Notification Expected | July 2027 |
| Registration Window | Aug 2 to Oct 31, 2027 |
| Mode | Offline (Pen and Paper) |
| Total Questions | 120 Questions (2 Hours) |
| Marking Scheme | +1 correct / −0.25 wrong |
| Pattern Status | ⚠ Proposed change: NOT yet confirmed |
| Conducting Body | Consortium of National Law Universities |
| Participating NLUs | 27 NLUs (expected) |
| NLU Delhi | Not included — uses AILET separately |
What is CLAT 2028?
CLAT 2028 is the national law entrance examination for admission to 5-year BA LLB (Hons) and LLM programmes at 27 participating National Law Universities. It is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities and is held in December 2027 for 2028 admissions. Students currently in Class 11 (academic year 2026-27) are the primary CLAT 2028 target batch.
CLAT 2028 carries exceptional strategic importance: it is the first CLAT after the Expert Committee Report of July 2026, which proposes the most significant structural changes to the exam in its history: including removing GK entirely and reducing from 5 to 3 sections.
Critical distinction: CLAT 2027 is confirmed unchanged: all five sections, same pattern, same weightage. CLAT 2028 may see a major structural change but this is a recommendation, NOT a confirmed change. Do not build your CLAT 2028 preparation around the new pattern alone until the official July 2027 notification confirms it.
CLAT 2028 Important Dates
All dates below are expected based on CLAT 2027 confirmed dates and historical patterns. This will be updated when the official notification is published.
| Event | Expected Date | CLAT 2027 Reference | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official Notification Release | July 2027 | July 23, 2026 | Expected |
| Registration Opens | ~August 2, 2027 | August 3, 2026 | Expected |
| Last Date to Register | ~October 31, 2027 | October 31, 2026 | Expected |
| Application Correction Window | November 2027 | November 2026 | Expected |
| Admit Card Release | Late November 2027 | Late November 2026 | Expected |
| CLAT 2028 Exam Date | December 5, 2027 (Sunday) | December 6, 2026 | Expected |
| Provisional Answer Key | December 8, 2027 | December 2026 | Expected |
| Objection Window | December 8–10, 2027 | December 2026 | Expected |
| Final Answer Key | December 2027 | December 2026 | Expected |
| Result Declaration | Late December 2027 | December 2026 | Expected |
| Counselling Registration | January 2028 | January 2027 | Expected |
| Seat Allotment (Round 1) | January–February 2028 | January–February 2027 | Expected |
CLAT 2028 Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | For UG (BA LLB 5-year) | For PG (LLM) |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | Class 12 (10+2) passed or appearing from a recognised board | LLB or equivalent degree (3 or 5 year) from recognised university |
| Minimum Marks: General / OBC / PwD / NRI / OCI / EWS | 45% aggregate in Class 12 | 55% aggregate in LLB |
| Minimum Marks: SC / ST | 40% aggregate in Class 12 | 50% aggregate in LLB |
| Age Limit | No upper age limit | No upper age limit |
| Appearing Candidates | Eligible to apply: must provide proof of passing at time of admission | Final year LLB students eligible |
| NLU Delhi | Does NOT participate in CLAT: conducts its own AILET examination separately | |
Is the CLAT 2028 Pattern Changing? The Honest Answer
The Expert Committee Report, published July 22, 2026, recommends significant structural changes. The committee was a 4-member international academic panel co-chaired by Prof. Dev Saif Gangjee (Oxford) and Prof. Tarunabh Khaitan (LSE).
| Question | Answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Is the Expert Committee report real? | ✓ Yes: published July 22, 2026 | consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
| Has GK removal been recommended? | ✓ Yes: clearly | Expert Committee Report |
| Is CLAT 2027 changing? | ✗ No: confirmed unchanged | Consortium press release |
| Is CLAT 2028 pattern confirmed as new? | ⚠ Not yet confirmed | Consortium press release |
| Who reviews before CLAT 2028? | New committee under Office of the CJI | Consortium press release |
| When will CLAT 2028 pattern be confirmed? | July 2027: with official notification | Expected timeline |
CLAT 2028 Proposed New Syllabus: The Three-Section Model
The Expert Committee proposes replacing the current five-section UG CLAT with a three-section model:
Logical Reasoning and Legal Aptitude
What it replaces: Current Legal Reasoning section + current Logical Reasoning section (merged)
What it tests: Application of given rules to facts and, in more advanced questions, deriving rules from facts. No prior legal knowledge required or rewarded: all rules are supplied within the passage. Tests ability to think like a future law student, not recall legal trivia.
- Fact-pattern application: reading a legal scenario, identifying the applicable principle from the passage, and applying it correctly
- Argument analysis: identifying assumptions, evaluating the strength of arguments, spotting logical fallacies
- Principle-fact problems using entirely hypothetical legal scenarios
- Critical reasoning: inference, deduction and analogical reasoning
Key shift from current pattern: The merger means no section boundary between LR and Legal Reasoning. Passages may require both rule-application and logical inference from the same stimulus: closer to how real legal reasoning works.
Language and Comprehension
What it replaces: Current English Language section (evolved, not replaced outright)
What it tests: Deep reading comprehension: not grammar drills or vocabulary lists, but genuine comprehension of argument structure, tone, inference and implication in dense passage material.
- Reading passages for tone, theme and author's intent
- Inferential comprehension: what can be concluded, what is implied, what is assumed
- Argument evaluation: identifying the main argument, supporting claims, counterarguments
- Vocabulary in context: meaning as used in the passage, not dictionary definitions
Key shift from current pattern: The committee's language suggests the section will be more passage-heavy and inference-focused, with less of the grammar-based and fill-in-the-blank question types that appeared in earlier CLAT iterations.
Quantitative Techniques
What it replaces: Current Quantitative Techniques section (largely retained)
What it tests: Interpreting data, spotting patterns and reasoning with numbers. Not advanced mathematics: the section tests ability to read and reason from quantitative information.
- Data interpretation: charts, graphs, tables and numerical passages
- Basic arithmetic: percentages, ratios, averages, profit and loss
- Statistical reasoning: mean, median, range in data-based scenarios
- Number series and pattern recognition
Key shift from current pattern: Expected to remain broadly similar to the current QT section with possible increased emphasis on data interpretation over pure arithmetic.
CLAT 2027 vs CLAT 2028: Full Comparison
| Element | CLAT 2027 (Confirmed) | CLAT 2028 (Proposed) | Confirmed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Sections | 5 sections | 3 sections (proposed) | ⚠ Proposed |
| English Language | ✓ Yes: 20% weightage | → Language and Comprehension | ⚠ Proposed |
| Current Affairs & GK | ✓ Yes: 25% weightage | ❌ Recommended for removal | ⚠ Proposed |
| Legal Reasoning | ✓ Yes: 25% weightage | → Merged into Legal Aptitude + LR | ⚠ Proposed |
| Logical Reasoning | ✓ Yes: 20% weightage | → Merged into Legal Aptitude + LR | ⚠ Proposed |
| Quantitative Techniques | ✓ Yes: 10% weightage | ✓ Retained | ⚠ Proposed |
| Total Questions | 120 questions | Not yet specified (likely 120) | Not confirmed |
| Duration | 2 hours | Expected: 2 hours | ⚠ Expected |
| Negative Marking | −0.25 per wrong answer | Not yet confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Exam Mode | Offline (Pen & Paper) | Expected: Offline | ⚠ Expected |
| Paper Setter | NTA-assisted, Convenor university | NTA removal recommended | ⚠ Proposed |
| Essay Writing | Not included | Considered but NOT recommended yet | Not applicable |
Proposed Section-Wise Weightage for CLAT 2028
The Expert Committee report does not specify exact question counts or percentage weightages for the proposed three sections. The current CLAT 2027 weightages and likely direction for CLAT 2028 are shown below.
| Section | CLAT 2027 Questions | CLAT 2027 Weightage | CLAT 2028 Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language → Language & Comprehension | 24 questions | ~20% | Likely similar or higher: deeper inference focus |
| Current Affairs & GK | 28–32 questions | ~25% | ⚠ Recommended for removal |
| Legal Reasoning | 28–32 questions | ~25% | Merged into new Section 1 |
| Logical Reasoning | 22–26 questions | ~20% | Merged into new Section 1 |
| Quantitative Techniques | 13–17 questions | ~10% | Retained: expected ~10–15% |
| Proposed: Logical Reasoning & Legal Aptitude | TBC | TBC: expected ~45–50% | Highest weightage section |
| Proposed: Language & Comprehension | TBC | TBC: expected ~35–40% | Second highest |
| Proposed: Quantitative Techniques | TBC | TBC: expected ~10–15% | Retained as lowest |
CLAT 2028 Application Form, Fee and Process
| Detail | CLAT 2028 (Expected) |
|---|---|
| Application Mode | Online: through consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
| Registration Opens | ~August 2, 2027 |
| Last Date to Apply | ~October 31, 2027 |
| Payment Mode | Online: debit card, credit card, net banking, UPI |
| Application Correction | November 2027 (expected) |
| Documents Required | Class 10 certificate, Class 12 marksheet (if passed), photograph, signature, caste certificate (if applicable) certificate (if applicable) |
Read Next
- CLAT 2027: Complete Guide to Syllabus, Pattern and Important Dates
- Which NLU Can I Get With CLAT Rank 1000? Complete 2027 Guide
- Is CLAT Coaching Necessary or Can I Self-Study? Honest Answer
- 3 Out of 4 CLAT Droppers at MEGA LAW & G.K. Improved Their Rank: What Changed
- How to Analyse CLAT Mocks Like a Topper
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CLAT 2028 exam date?
CLAT 2028 is expected to be held on December 5, 2027 (Sunday). The official date will be confirmed when the Consortium of NLUs releases the CLAT 2028 notification, expected in July 2027. Based on CLAT 2027 (held December 6, 2026), the 2028 exam is expected to follow on the first Sunday of December 2027.
What is the CLAT 2028 new syllabus and pattern?
The Expert Committee Report (July 2026) proposes a 3-section UG model: (1) Logical Reasoning and Legal Aptitude, (2) Language and Comprehension, (3) Quantitative Techniques. The GK section is recommended for removal. However, this is a proposal: not a confirmed change. The confirmed pattern will be announced in the July 2027 notification.
Is GK removed from CLAT 2028?
GK removal has been recommended by the Expert Committee but not confirmed by the Consortium. A committee under the Office of the Chief Justice of India must review the recommendations before implementation. Until the official July 2027 notification, GK removal is a strong probability, not a settled fact.
What are the eligibility criteria for CLAT 2028?
Class 12 (10+2) passed or appearing from a recognised board. Minimum 45% for General, OBC, NRI, OCI and EWS; minimum 40% for SC and ST. No upper age limit. Students appearing in Class 12 in March-April 2028 are also eligible to apply.
How should I prepare for CLAT 2028?
Preparation for CLAT 2028 should be reasoning-first. Build legal aptitude (fact-pattern application) and critical reading (inference, argument analysis) as the core skills. Maintain GK as a secondary habit even if GK may be removed. Run the full 5-step mock analysis protocol after every mock, and set a specific rank target from Day 1.
How many NLUs accept CLAT 2028?
CLAT 2028 is expected to be accepted by 27 participating National Law Universities, consistent with CLAT 2027. NLU Delhi does not participate — it conducts its own AILET examination separately.
What is the difference between CLAT 2027 and CLAT 2028?
CLAT 2027 is confirmed unchanged: 5 sections, 120 questions, 2 hours, same marking scheme as previous years. CLAT 2028 may shift to a 3-section model with GK removed, but this change has not been confirmed. CLAT 2028 aspirants (Class 11) should prepare reasoning-first from the start, while CLAT 2027 aspirants (Class 12) should continue with the current 5-section preparation.
About the Author
Manav Lawania, India's Teens & Twenties Mentor. Founder of MEGA LAW & G.K. and UsefullBooks, Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Former Intelligence Officer, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India. 15+ years of teaching experience and 4,000 to 5,000 students counselled for CLAT and AILET. Manav scored 13 out of 100 in Class 12 before rebuilding his own path, and that comeback is the lens he brings to every student he now mentors. He writes and teaches under the belief that CLAT preparation is as much about having the right data as it is about having the right mindset.