CLAT 2026 Exam: The CLAT 2026 Exam, also known as the Common Law Admission Test 2026, is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities. It is conducted for students seeking admission to UG and PG law programs in the top NLUs of India. The CLAT exam 2026 was held on 7 December 2025 in a pen-and-paper test mode. The application process started on 1 August 2025 on the official website. Also, applicants were required to completely fill out the application form before the CLAT 2026 registration last date on 7 November 2025.
Candidates must pass their 12th or equivalent with at least 45% marks (40% for SC/ST) to apply for CLAT UG. Meanwhile, for PG, candidates require an LLB or equivalent degree with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for SC/ST) and no upper age limit for either course. Furthermore, the CLAT entrance exam 2026 will consist of 120 MCQs, each of 1 mark, to be completed within 2 hours. The candidate will get 1 mark per correct answer, and there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for wrong answers. Interested candidates can apply online through the official CLAT website and stay updated with the official notifications.
The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) announced the CLAT 2026 exam to be conducted on 7 December 2025. The application window opened on 1 August and remained open until 7 November 2025.
Once the application process was over, the admit cards were released on 22 November 2025. Candidates could complete all these steps through the official CLAT website. After the exam, the provisional answer key for CLAT 2026 was released on 10 December 2025. Subsequently, the final answer key and results will be declared in December or January.
CLAT 2026 Exam Improtant Dates
Note: The dates are tentative and subject to change. Candidates must refer to the official website.
Below are the eligibility criteria for the CLAT Exam 2026 for both undergraduate and postgraduate admissions:
CLAT UG 2026 Eligibility
Candidates must pass their class 12th or equivalent from a recognized board.
Minimum marks required: 45% for General/OBC/PwD/NRI/PIO/OCI and 40% for SC/ST
Students appearing in the 2026 board examinations are also eligible.
No upper age limit.
CLAT PG 2026 Eligibility
Applicants must have an LLB or equivalent law degree from a recognized university.
Minimum marks required to apply for CLAT PG 2026 are 45% for SC/ST and 50% for the rest.
Final year law students can also apply.
No upper age limit.
CLAT 2026 Application Form
The CLAT 2026 application form for both UG and PG programs was made available on the official website. The CLAT registration 2026 process started on 1 August 2025. Candidates could submit their applications before the deadline on 7 November 2025. To start the registration process, applicants are required to register by providing their name, mobile number, email ID, etc. In addition, they get an option to select their preferred NLUs in preference order.
Moving further, the candidates need to pay an online application fee of INR 3,500 to INR 4,000, which varies according to the candidates’ category. The overall application process and requirements are the same for both CLAT PG & UG applicants, except for the eligibility requirements.
The following is the exam pattern for the CLAT UG & PG 2026 exam, along with the marking scheme:
CLAT Syllabus 2026
The CLAT 2026 syllabus for the undergraduate exam includes 5 sections. These sections are English Language, Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. On the other hand, the CLAT PG syllabus covers subjects including Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Administrative Law, Law of Contracts, Torts, etc.
For both UG & PG, each of these sections has a particular weightage for the number of questions and marks. However, the CLAT exam 2026 will have 120 multiple-choice questions and a fixed duration of 120 minutes to attempt all the questions.
CLAT PG 2026 Syllabus
CLAT 2026 Question and Sample Paper
The CLAT 2026 official question paper will be out for students after the examination. This question paper will be downloaded by students with an additional INR 500. The question paper follows the question format structured by the official bodies. The question paper for both UG and PG will be allowed for download.
CLAT 2026 sample papers are structured for students to give an idea of the official exam paper. The official portal also releases the sample paper of the upcoming exam. Students can have an idea of the exam pattern, difficulty and types of questions from it. It follows the latest exam format with passage-based questions across five sections: English Language, Current Affairs including General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. By observing recent trends, we have created the CLAT 2026 sample paper for free.
Click on the following link to download CLAT 2026 Previous Year’s Question Paper and Sample Paper: CLAT 2026 Question Paper.
The CLAT 2026 admit card was available online from 22 November 2025. Candidates who filled out the application forms for the CLAT exam could download their admit cards from the official website. To get the admit card, candidates need to log in with their registered details and follow the website’s instructions. They must print the admit card and bring it, along with a valid government-issued photo ID, to the exam center on the exam day. The admit card includes important information like the candidate’s name, roll number, exam center address, etc.
Read More about CLAT 2026 Admit Card
CLAT 2026 Answer Key
The Consortium of National Law Universities will release the CLAT 2026 answer key in two phases on its official website. The provisional answer key was published on 10 December 2025. Candidates can compare their answers with this provisional key and submit objections if they find any mistakes. The objection window is open from 10 December (5 PM) to 12 December 2025 (5 PM).After reviewing the objections, the Consortium released the final answer key on 16 December 2025.
Read More about CLAT 2026 Answer Key
CLAT Results 2026
The CLAT results 2026 for both UG and PG exams are out on 16 December 2025. Candidates can check their results by logging into the official CLAT Consortium website. The result will be published in the form of a scorecard, showing the candidate’s marks, All India Rank (AIR), and category rank. After the results declaration, the CLAT counseling process will begin in January 2026.
Read More about CLAT 2026 Results
CLAT 2026 Exam Cutoff
The CLAT 2026 cut-off is the minimum score or rank required for admission to various NLUs through the CLAT 206 exam. The expected CLAT 2026 exam cutoff for the top NLUs like NLSIU Bangalore is around 100-102 marks out of 120 for the general category. Although the cutoff can change every year based on multiple factors. The factors include the no. of applicants, exam difficulty, reservation policies, and seat availability. The Consortium of NLUs will publish the official closing ranks and cutoffs for each round during the counseling process.
While the difficulty level of the exam is subject to aspirant preparation, the CLAT 2026 exam is considered to be moderate to challenging. However, the right tips can help candidates qualify for the exam. Therefore, CollegeHai is here to help you guide with effective CLAT preparation tips:
Understand the Exam Pattern & Syllabus: Review the latest CLAT exam syllabus and exam structure for UG or PG.
Make an Easy-to-Follow Study Plan: Create a daily or weekly timetable that covers all subjects and stick to it consistently.
Read Regularly: Read newspapers like The Hindu or Indian Express daily for awareness of current and legal affairs.
Section/Subject-wise Approach:
English/Comprehension: Practice reading comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary-building exercises.
Current Affairs & GK: Stay updated with daily news, legal updates, and make concise notes for revision.
Legal Reasoning: For UG, focus on understanding legal principles. Whereas for PG, master core law subjects and landmark judgments.
Logical Reasoning: Solve puzzles, critical reasoning, and analytical reasoning questions regularly.
Quantitative Techniques (UG): Practice basic arithmetic, data interpretation, and problem-solving.
Solve CLAT Previous Year Question Paper: Practice PYQs to understand the paper pattern and difficulty level.
Take Regular Mock Tests: Attempt full-length and section-wise mock tests under timed conditions. Analyze your performance, identify weak areas, and refine your strategy.
Revise Consistently: Set a fixed weekly time for revision of notes, important facts, formulas, and legal principles.
Stay Updated: For PG, regularly read about recent Supreme Court and High Court judgments and amendments.
Time Management: Note your time while answering questions to improve speed and accuracy.
Stay Positive and Motivated: Maintain a healthy routine, take short breaks, and keep your motivation high.
Best Books for CLAT 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
CLAT 2026 registration is expected to be start open 01 August 2025.
No, CLAT is conducted once a year.
The registration for CLAT 2026 opened on 1 August 2025.
The full form of CLAT is Common Law Admission Test.
The CLAT is a national-level entrance exam conducted for admission to UG and PG law programs in top NLUs.