What is AILET? Exam Pattern, Syllabus & NLU Delhi Eligibility (2027)
Everything you need to know about AILET Exam 2027 — what the exam is, its pattern, section-wise syllabus, eligibility criteria, how it compares to CLAT, important dates and admission to National Law University Delhi.
Quick answer: AILET (All India Law Entrance Test) is a national-level, offline entrance exam conducted once a year by National Law University, Delhi (NLU Delhi) — independently of the CLAT Consortium. It has 150 MCQs across 3 sections, tests English, current affairs and logical reasoning, and is the only route into NLU Delhi’s BA LLB (Hons.) and LLM programmes. |
What is the AILET Exam?
AILET stands for All India Law Entrance Test — a national-level entrance exam conducted solely by National Law University, Delhi (NLU Delhi) for admission to its 5-year BA LLB (Hons.) programme, one-year LLM, and PhD law programmes.
Unlike the CLAT Consortium exam, AILET Exam is conducted independently by NLU Delhi itself, and has been run this way since the exam’s inception. Since NLU Delhi does not participate in CLAT counselling, clearing one exam does not make you eligible for the other — read more on the official NLU Delhi website.
Like CLAT, AILET Exam is skill-based, not memory-based. It doesn’t test how much law you already know — it rewards strong reading habits, daily current affairs awareness and sharp logical reasoning under time pressure.
Thousands of students compete every year for NLU Delhi’s limited seats, making this one of the most selective law entrance exams in India. Compare study options on our AILET 2027 courses page or read exam-specific strategy posts on the MegaLaw blog.
AILET Exam Pattern 2027
- 150 MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)
- Duration: 2 hours (120 minutes)
- +1 mark for every correct answer
- −0.25 negative marking for every wrong answer
- Offline exam, conducted on OMR sheet (pen-and-paper mode)
- Medium of exam: English
- 3 sections: English Language, Current Affairs & GK, Logical Reasoning
AILET Exam Section-wise Weightage
| Section | No. of Questions | Approx. Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 50 | ~33% |
| Current Affairs & GK | 30 | ~20% |
| Logical Reasoning | 70 | ~47% |
Logical Reasoning carries nearly half the paper — this section deserves the largest share of your preparation time, followed closely by English.
AILET Exam 2027 Important Dates
Below is the AILET 2027 timeline as per NLU Delhi’s official notification, released 23 July 2026. Dates can be revised, so always cross-check on the official NLU Delhi website.
| Event | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Official notification released | 23 July 2026 |
| Online registration begins | 7 August 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 10 November 2026 (tentative) |
| Admit card release | Last week of November 2026 |
| AILET 2027 exam date | 13 December 2026 (Sunday), 2:00–4:00 PM |
| Result declaration | Fourth week of December 2026 |
| Counselling & seat allotment | Conducted online by NLU Delhi after the result |
AILET Exam Syllabus 2027 (Section-wise)
English Language
Tests reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary and sentence correction through passage-based and standalone questions. Reading speed and accuracy matter most here.
Current Affairs & General Knowledge
Covers Indian and world affairs, legal and constitutional updates, history, polity, sports, and awards and honours. No prior legal knowledge is needed — only general awareness of ongoing events matters.
Logical Reasoning
The highest-weightage section, testing syllogisms, critical reasoning, statement-assumption, cause-effect, analogies, and application of given rules to new situations. Since it carries nearly half the paper, this section deserves your heaviest daily practice.
AILET Exam Eligibility Criteria 2027
- No upper age limit for the UG programme
- Minimum 45% marks in Class 12 (or equivalent) for General/OBC/PwD candidates
- Minimum 40% marks in Class 12 for SC/ST category candidates
- Minimum 65% marks in Class 12 (or equivalent) for Foreign Nationals and OCI/PIO candidates
- Students appearing for Class 12 board exams can also apply, but must submit proof of passing at the time of admission
AILET Exam vs CLAT: Detailed Comparison
AILET and CLAT are the two major national law entrance exams in India, and aspirants often confuse the two. AILET is conducted independently by NLU Delhi, while CLAT is the common exam accepted by the Consortium of National Law Universities across 23+ other NLUs — NLU Delhi does not take part in CLAT’s counselling process.
Because the two exams are run by different bodies, they have separate application forms, separate fees, separate exam dates and separate scorecards — clearing one does not make you eligible for the other, and vice versa. Many serious aspirants prepare for both exams together since the syllabus overlaps heavily.
| Parameter | AILET | CLAT |
|---|---|---|
| Conducted by | NLU Delhi (independently) | Consortium of National Law Universities |
| Accepted at | NLU Delhi only | All participating NLUs (23+ law colleges) |
| Number of questions | 150 | 120 |
| Duration | 120 minutes | 2 hours |
| Exam mode | Offline (OMR-based) | Offline (OMR-based) |
| Sections | 3 sections: English, GK, Logical Reasoning | 5 sections: English, GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quant |
| Negative marking | 0.25 per wrong answer | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Application window | August–November (annually) | August–October (annually) |
In short: if NLU Delhi is your goal, this is the only exam that gets you there. If you’re also targeting any of the other 23+ NLUs, you’ll need to register for CLAT separately — read our full CLAT 2027 guide for pattern and syllabus details.
How to Prepare for the AILET Exam 2027
- Build reading habits: it’s a comprehension-heavy exam, so daily reading practice matters most
- Daily current affairs: read a newspaper or GK digest every day for the Current Affairs section
- Weekly mock tests: attempt full-length mocks weekly to build speed and accuracy within the 120-minute limit
- Prioritise Logical Reasoning: it carries nearly half the paper, so accuracy here has the biggest impact on your score
- Practise time management: with 150 questions in 120 minutes, you get under 48 seconds per question on average
- Analyse every mock: review wrong answers instead of just checking your score
If you’d rather follow a structured plan with mentorship instead of preparing alone, see our AILET 2027 Batch or browse all CLAT & AILET 2027 courses.
About NLU Delhi
Unlike CLAT, which is accepted by 23+ National Law Universities, AILET is the only entrance exam for National Law University, Delhi (NLU Delhi) — one of India’s top-ranked law schools. NLU Delhi offers 120 seats through AILET each year: 110 for Indian nationals and 10 reserved for Foreign Nationals and OCI/PIO candidates.
| S.No. | Institution | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Law University, Delhi (NLU Delhi) | New Delhi |
Seat intake and reservation policy can change year to year — always confirm the latest numbers on the official NLU Delhi website before applying.
Related Resources
CLAT Exam 2027 — pattern, syllabus & eligibility for the Consortium exam
Top Law Colleges in India — rankings, fees & placements
MegaLaw Student Results — CLAT & AILET selections and AIRs
CLAT & AILET Preparation Blog — strategy articles, current affairs digests & mock analysis
2027 GK Booster Batch — dedicated Current Affairs & GK coaching
Talk to a Mentor — free counselling session
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AILET?
AILET (All India Law Entrance Test) is a national-level entrance exam conducted independently by National Law University, Delhi (NLU Delhi) for admission to its BA LLB (Hons.), LLM and PhD law programmes.
How many times is the exam held in a year?
It is held only once a year, usually in the second week of December, and is conducted solely by NLU Delhi.
What is the AILET 2027 exam pattern?
Is there negative marking in this exam?
Yes, it has negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer, so candidates should avoid random guessing.
What is the difference between AILET and CLAT?
AILET is the entrance exam for NLU Delhi only, while CLAT is accepted by the Consortium's 23+ other National Law Universities. AILET has 150 questions in 120 minutes; CLAT has 120 questions in 2 hours. Both have a similar syllabus but different application windows, exam dates and scorecards that are not interchangeable.
What is the eligibility criteria for the exam?
There is no upper age limit for the UG programme. General, OBC and PwD candidates need a minimum of 45% marks in Class 12, SC/ST candidates need a minimum of 40%, and Foreign Nationals/OCI/PIO candidates need a minimum of 65%..
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