What is CLAT? Exam Pattern, Syllabus & 23 Participating Colleges (2027)
Everything you need to know about CLAT Exam 2027 — what the exam is, its pattern, section-wise syllabus, eligibility criteria, how it compares to AILET, important dates and the list of 23 participating law colleges.
Quick answer: CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is a national-level, offline entrance exam conducted once a year by the Consortium of National Law Universities. It has 120 MCQs across 5 sections, tests reading comprehension and reasoning rather than memorised law, and is the primary gateway into India’s National Law Universities (NLUs). |
What is CLAT?
CLAT stands for Common Law Admission Test — a centralised, national-level entrance exam that decides admission to 5-year integrated undergraduate law programmes (BA-LLB, BBA-LLB, B.Com-LLB) and postgraduate LLM programmes at India’s National Law Universities.
Before 2008, each NLU conducted its own separate entrance test, which meant students had to prepare for and travel to multiple exams. It was introduced to solve this by creating one common exam accepted across all participating NLUs, and since 2019 it has been organised by the Consortium of National Law Universities.
Unlike many competitive exams, it is skill-based, not memory-based. It doesn’t test how much law you already know — it tests how well you can read a passage, understand it, and reason through it under time pressure. This is why reading habits and daily current affairs matter more than rote learning for this exam.
Tens of thousands of students take this exam every year for a limited number of NLU seats, which makes it one of the most competitive entrance exams in India. Compare study options on our CLAT 2027 courses page or read exam-specific strategy posts on the MegaLaw blog.
CLAT Exam Pattern 2027
- 120 MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)
- Duration: 2 hours
- +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
- 5 sections: English Language, GK & Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques
CLAT Section-wise Weightage
| Section | No. of Questions | Approx. Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 22–26 | ~20% |
| Current Affairs & GK | 28–32 | ~25% |
| Legal Reasoning | 28–32 | ~25% |
| Logical Reasoning | 22–26 | ~20% |
| Quantitative Techniques | 10–14 | ~10% |
Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning and Logical Reasoning together make up nearly 70% of the paper — these three sections deserve the largest share of your preparation time.
CLAT 2027 Important Dates
Below is the CLAT 2027 timeline as per the Consortium’s latest notification. Dates can be revised, so always cross-check on the official Consortium of NLUs website.
| Event | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Online registration begins | 3 August 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 31 October 2026 |
| Admit card release | Late November 2026 |
| CLAT 2027 exam date | 6 December 2026 |
| Provisional answer key | Within a week of the exam |
| Result declaration | Late December 2026 |
| Counselling & seat allotment | Starts last week of December 2026 (multiple rounds) |
CLAT Syllabus 2027 (Section-wise)
English Language
Passages of about 450 words each, covering fiction, science, business and social issues. A Class 12 student can typically read each passage in 5–7 minutes.
Questions test comprehension, inference and vocabulary. You are also expected to compare arguments and identify the meaning of specific words used in the passage.
Current Affairs & General Knowledge
~450-word passages drawn from news, journalism and other non-fiction sources. Questions test awareness of current affairs, GK, arts, culture and international events.
No prior legal knowledge is needed here — only general awareness of ongoing events matters. Reading a newspaper daily is the best preparation strategy for this section.
Legal Reasoning
~450-word passages on legal matters, public policy, or moral and philosophical questions. No prior knowledge of law is required — general awareness of legal issues helps.
You will apply the rules and principles given in the passage to new fact situations, and judge how a change in rules could alter a scenario’s outcome.
Logical Reasoning
Short passages of about 300 words each. You will identify arguments, premises and conclusions within each passage.
Questions also test inference, relationships, analogies and contradictions, and how strong or valid a given argument is.
Quantitative Techniques
Facts, graphs or diagrams followed by numerical questions. You will apply Class 10-level maths — ratios, basic algebra and mensuration.
Practising from Class 10 maths textbooks and reading data-based current affairs regularly helps you interpret this section faster.
CLAT vs AILET: Detailed Comparison
CLAT and AILET are the two major national law entrance exams in India, and aspirants often confuse the two. CLAT is the common exam accepted by National Law Universities across the country, while AILET (All India Law Entrance Test) is conducted independently by NLU Delhi, which does not participate in CLAT counselling.
Because the two exams are run by different bodies, they have separate application forms, separate fees, separate exam dates and separate scorecards — clearing CLAT does not make you eligible for NLU Delhi, and vice versa. Many serious aspirants prepare for both exams together since the syllabus overlaps heavily.
| Parameter | CLAT | AILET |
|---|---|---|
| Conducted by | Consortium of National Law Universities | NLU Delhi (independently) |
| Accepted at | All participating NLUs (23+ law colleges) | NLU Delhi only |
| Number of questions | 120 | 150 (UG) |
| Duration | 2 hours | 90 minutes |
| Exam mode | Offline (OMR-based) | Offline (OMR-based) |
| Sections | 5 sections: English, GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quant | Similar 5-section format |
| Negative marking | 0.25 per wrong answer | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Application window | August–October (annually) | Usually opens later, around December–January |
In short: if your goal is any NLU other than NLU Delhi, CLAT is the exam that matters. If NLU Delhi is on your list, you’ll need to register for AILET separately — read our full AILET Exam 2027 guide for pattern and syllabus details.
How to Prepare for CLAT 2027
- Build reading habits: CLAT is 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 2-hour limit
- Prioritise high-weightage sections: Legal Reasoning and Current Affairs together carry the most marks
- Revise Class 10 maths: Quantitative Techniques only needs Class 10-level concepts
- 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 2027 GK Booster Batch or browse all CLAT 2027 courses.
23 CLAT Participating Law Colleges
The table below lists the 23 law colleges/campuses that currently accept CLAT scores for admission. Seat intake and reservation policy differ by college — see our Top Law Colleges page for rankings, fees and placement details.
| S.No. | Law College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Law School of India University (NLSIU) | Bangalore |
| 2 | National Academy of Legal Study and Research (NALSAR) | Hyderabad |
| 3 | National Law Institute University (NLIU) | Bhopal |
| 4 | West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS) | Kolkata |
| 5 | National Law University (NLUJ) | Jodhpur |
| 6 | Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU) | Raipur |
| 7 | Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) | Gandhinagar |
| 8 | Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU) | Lucknow |
| 9 | Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL) | Patiala |
| 10 | Chanakya National Law University (CNLU) | Patna |
| 11 | National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) | Kochi |
| 12 | National Law University Odisha (NLUO) | Cuttack |
| 13 | National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL) | Ranchi |
| 14 | NLU Judicial Academy, Assam (NLUJAA) | Guwahati |
| 15 | Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU) | Visakhapatnam |
| 16 | Tamil Nadu National Law School (TNNLS) | Tiruchirappalli |
| 17 | Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU) | Mumbai |
| 18 | Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU) | Nagpur |
| 19 | Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU) | Aurangabad |
| 20 | Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU) | Shimla |
| 21 | Dharmashastra National Law University | Jabalpur |
| 22 | Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University | Sonipat (Rai) |
| 23 | Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) | Silvassa |
The Consortium periodically adds new NLUs, so this list can grow year to year. Always confirm the latest count and seat matrix on the official participating universities page.
Related Resources
AILET Exam 2027 — pattern, syllabus & eligibility for NLU Delhi
Top Law Colleges in India — rankings, fees & placements
MegaLaw Student Results — CLAT & AILET selections and AIRs
CLAT 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 CLAT?
CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes at National Law Universities across India.
How many times is the exam held in a year?
It is held only once a year, usually in the first week of December, and is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities.
What is the CLAT 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 CLAT and AILET?
CLAT is the common entrance exam for National Law Universities across India, while AILET is conducted separately only for NLU Delhi. It has 120 questions in 2 hours; AILET has 150 questions. 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. Unreserved, OBC and SAP candidates need a minimum of 45% marks in Class 12, while SC/ST candidates need a minimum of 40%.
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