CLAT UG EXAM 2026

The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT UG) is national level widely accepted entrance in India, conducted for admission to undergraduate 5 year law programs offered by the National Law Universities (NLUs) and other law schools such as National Law School of India University, NALSAR University of Law, and The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences. It is conducted once a year, usually in December, and is usually conducted difficult because of limited seats in top law schools.

Educational Qualification

• 10+2 (Senior Secondary) Examination: Candidate must have passed 10+2 or an equivalent examination from a recognized Board.
• Appearing Candidates:  Candidates must have cleared Class 10+2 or an equivalent examination from a recognized board with:

- 45% minimum marks for General, OBC, PWD, NRI, PIO, OCI categories

- 40% minimum marks for SC/ST category**

Age Limit

• No Upper Age Limit: Candidates of any age may apply, provided other eligibility criteria are fulfilled.

Nationality

Indian citizens are eligible to appear for CLAT. Foreign nationals may also apply — but whether CLAT scores are accepted for admission depends entirely on the university’s policy.

The CLAT UG exam tests reading comprehension, analytical ability, and application skills of the candidates. From 2024 onwards, the total number of questions was reduced from 150 to 120, and the same structure continues for the 2026 examination.

• Total Duration: 2 Hours (120 Minutes)
• Mode of Exam: Offline (Pen and Paper / OMR Based)
• Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) only
• Language: English

Marking Scheme

• Correct Answer: +1 mark
• Incorrect Answer: –0.25 mark
• Unattempted Question: No penalty

CLAT UG 2026 Section-Wise Exam Pattern

Important Notes

• Passage-Based Format: Except for the Quantitative Ability section, all sections consist of 400–450 word passages followed by MCQs.
• No Sectional Time Limit: Being a paper pen test, candidates may attempt sections in any order within the total duration.

After CLAT, counselling sessions are conducted:

→ For NLUs: Centralized counselling — NLU Consortium sends invitations to eligible candidates to register.

→ For other colleges: No centralized invitation. Candidates must apply directly to each college to participate in their admission process.

Students must register separately for counselling after the CLAT UG results are declared.

Round 1: Counselling Registration & Preference Filling

Invited candidates must complete the online counselling process.

• Counselling Registration Fee: Payment of the prescribed counselling fee is required — amount varies by category.
• NLU Preference List: Candidates must submit their order of preference for National Law Universities (NLUs) during counselling.        

Round 2: Seat Allotment Rounds

Seat allotment is done in multiple rounds by the Consortium/individual college authority . In case, if a seat is allotted, candidates must choose one of the following options:

• Freeze: Accept the allotted seat.
• Float: Accept the current seat but remain eligible for upward movement in subsequent rounds.
• Exit: Withdraw from the counselling process.
  Seat allotment is strictly based on rank, category, and availability of seats. However, once you accept freeze or float, you have to pay a non-refundable fee which is approx. ₹20,000