The Consortium of National Law Universities (Consortium of NLUs) has officially released the CLAT 2027 Official Notification, confirming that the examination for admissions to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law programmes will be conducted on 6 December 2026 (Sunday) in offline (pen-and-paper) mode.
Online applications open on 3 August 2026, giving aspirants roughly four months to register and line up their final prep strategy.
Key Highlights at a Glance
| Particular | Official Details |
| Exam Name | Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2027 |
| Conducting Body | Consortium of National Law Universities |
| Notification Date | 22 July 2026 |
| Application Starts | 3 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 31 October 2026 |
| Exam Date | 6 December 2026 (Sunday) |
| Exam Timings | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM |
| Exam Mode | Offline (Pen & Paper) |
| Duration | 2 Hours (120 Minutes) |
| Total Questions | 120 MCQs |
| Marking Scheme | +1 for every correct answer, –0.25 for incorrect ones |
| Offered Courses | 5-Year Integrated LLB (BA, BBA, BCom, BSc, BSW LLB) & LLM |
| Official Portal | consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
What is CLAT?
CLAT is the gateway exam for getting into the top National Law Universities (NLUs) in India. For 12th-appearing or passed students, the UG-CLAT opens doors to 5-year integrated law degrees like:
BA LLB (Hons.)
BBA LLB (Hons.)
BCom LLB (Hons.)
BSc LLB (Hons.)
BSW LLB (Hons.)
For law graduates, PG-CLAT is conducted for admission into LLM programmes. Beyond NLUs, several top private law schools and institutes also accept CLAT scores for their admissions.
Comparing Law Entrance Exams
| Feature | CLAT | AILET | SLAT |
| Conducting Body | Consortium of NLUs | NLU Delhi | Symbiosis International |
| Accepted By | 24+ NLUs & private colleges | NLU Delhi only | Symbiosis Law Schools |
| Exam Mode | Offline | Offline | Computer-Based (CBT) |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate to High | High | Moderate |
| Reading Volume | Very High | Moderate | Moderate |
| Competition | 1,000,00+ aspirants | ~20,000 aspirants | High |
Mentor Advice: Never rely on a single entrance exam. Always apply for AILET, SLAT, and other state/private law tests alongside CLAT to keep your options open.
Difficulty Trends & Target Scores
Looking at the last few years, CLAT paper difficulty has remained fairly steady with a consistently heavy reading load:
| Year | Difficulty Level | Reading Load |
| 2022 | Moderate | High |
| 2023 | Moderate | High |
| 2024 | Moderate to High | Very High |
| 2025 | Moderate | High |
| 2026 | Moderate | High |
Expected Score Cut-offs (Indicative Benchmark)
Cut-offs swing every year depending on paper difficulty and total candidate scores, but based on past trends, here is a general score benchmark to aim for:
- Top 3 NLUs (NLSIU, NALSAR, WBNUJS): 90+ marks
- Top 10 NLUs: 80–90 marks
- Mid-tier NLUs: 70–80 marks
CLAT 2027 Eligibility Criteria
For Undergraduate (UG) Courses
- Educational Qualification: Passed or currently appearing in Class 12 (or equivalent).
- Minimum Marks: At least 45% aggregate marks for General / OBC / PwD / NRI candidates; 40% for SC / ST candidates. (Appearing students can sit for the exam, but must produce proof of passing during admission).
- Age Limit: No upper age limit exists for CLAT UG.
- Nationality: Open to Indian Nationals, NRIs, PIOs, OCIs, and Foreign Nationals.
For Postgraduate (PG) Courses
- Qualification: LLB degree or equivalent with at least 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC / ST).
How to Fill the CLAT 2027 Application Form
The form-filling process is completely online on the Consortium's official website.
- Registration: Head to consortiumofnlus.ac.in and create an account using an active mobile number and email ID.
- Personal Details: Enter personal info, parent details, address, and academic marks accurately.
- Upload Documents: Attach scanned images of your photo, signature, Class 10 & 12 details, and category certificates in the required dimensions.
- Select Exam Centres & NLU Preferences: Pick your nearest test city choices and rank your NLU preferences carefully.
- Fee Payment: Pay the fee online via debit card, credit card, or net banking.
- Confirmation: Double-check every detail before final submission, download the confirmation sheet, and keep a copy safely.
Application Fee Structure
| Category | Fee Amount |
| General / OBC / NRI / PwD | Rs. 4,000 |
| SC / ST | Rs. 3,500 |
Note: The fee is non-refundable once paid.
Checklist of Required Scanned Documents
- Passport-sized photo (light background)
- Candidate's signature
- Class 10 marksheet / birth certificate
- Class 12 marksheet (if already passed)
- ID proof (Aadhaar, Passport, or PAN card)
- Caste / Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) if claiming reservation
- PwD certificate (if applicable)
CLAT 2026 vs CLAT 2027: Any Pattern Changes?
There are no surprise changes in the exam format for CLAT 2027.
| Parameter | CLAT 2026 | CLAT 2027 |
| Exam Mode | Offline | Offline |
| Duration | 2 Hours | 2 Hours |
| Question Count | 120 MCQs | 120 MCQs |
| Negative Marking | Yes (–0.25) | Yes (–0.25) |
| Passage-Based Structure | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Pattern Change | None | None |
Participating NLUs Across India
CLAT scores are used for seat allocation across premier National Law Universities in India:
- NLSIU Bengaluru (Karnataka)
- NALSAR Hyderabad (Telangana)
- WBNUJS Kolkata (West Bengal)
- NLU Jodhpur (Rajasthan)
- GNLU Gandhinagar & Silvassa (Gujarat)
- HNLU Raipur (Chhattisgarh)
- NUALS Kochi (Kerala)
- RMLNLU Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh)
- RGNUL Patiala (Punjab)
- NLUO Cuttack (Odisha)
- NUSRL Ranchi (Jharkhand)
- MNLU Mumbai, Nagpur & Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Maharashtra)
- TNNLU Tiruchirappalli (Tamil Nadu)
- DSNLU Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh)
- CNLU Patna (Bihar)
- NLUJAA Guwahati (Assam)
- NLU Tripura
Total Seats Available
There are over 3,500+ seats offered for undergraduate law across NLUs, excluding NRI, supernumerary, and state domicile quotas.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When is CLAT 2027 scheduled?
The exam will be conducted on 6 December 2026 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
When do registrations start and close?
Online applications open on 3 August 2026 and close on 31 October 2026.
Has the syllabus or pattern changed for 2027?
No, the Consortium has kept the pattern identical to previous years—120 questions in 2 hours with passage-based MCQs.
Is CLAT an online test?
No. It is an offline, pen-and-paper exam conducted using OMR sheets.
Can Class 12 students write CLAT 2027?
Yes. Anyone giving their Class 12 board exams in the 2026–27 academic year can apply provisionally.
Is there an upper age limit for CLAT?
No, there is no age restriction for sitting for CLAT UG or PG.
How many mocks should I take before December?
Aim to complete and thoroughly analyse between 25 to 40 full-length mock tests.
Which newspapers are best for CLAT preparation?
The Hindu or The Indian Express are ideal for strengthening reading speed, editorial analysis, and current affairs knowledge.
Related Blogs:
CLAT 2027 Exam Pattern and Detailed Syllabus: What You Need to Know
CLAT Previous Year Paper and free New Pattern 2027 CLAT Mock
