CLAT 2027 Eligibility Criteria and Exam Pattern: UG, PG, Age Limit & Changes

The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) has announced the eligibility criteria, examination pattern and important instructions for CLAT 2027. The Common Law Admission Test is conducted for admission to five-year integrated undergraduate law programmes and postgraduate LLM programmes at participating National Law Universities.

One important update for CLAT 2027 aspirants is that the Consortium has decided not to change the syllabus, examination pattern or sections of the UG and PG question papers. However, the Convenor and paper setters may adopt recommendations from the CLAT Expert Committee Report 2026 to improve question quality and format wherever feasible. Major reforms are being considered for CLAT 2028.

1. CLAT 2027 Eligibility Criteria for UG Programme

Candidates seeking admission to five-year integrated undergraduate law programmes such as BA LLB, BBA LLB, BCom LLB and other participating NLU programmes must satisfy the following eligibility conditions:

Educational Qualification

• Candidates must have passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination from a recognised board or institution.
• General category candidates must secure at least 45% marks or an equivalent grade.
• SC/ST/PwD category candidates must secure at least 40% marks or an equivalent grade.
• Candidates appearing for their qualifying examination in March/April 2027 are also eligible to apply.
• Appearing candidates must provide evidence of passing the qualifying examination at the time of admission.

2. CLAT 2027 Age Limit

There is no upper age limit for candidates appearing for the CLAT 2027 undergraduate programme. Candidates who satisfy the educational qualification and minimum marks requirements can apply regardless of their age.

3. CLAT 2027 Eligibility for PG Programme

Candidates applying for the one-year postgraduate LLM programme must hold an LLB degree or an equivalent qualification from a recognised university.

• Candidates must have completed a three-year or five-year LLB degree or an equivalent qualification.
• General category candidates require at least 50% marks or an equivalent grade.
• SC/ST/PwD candidates require at least 45% marks or an equivalent grade.
• Candidates appearing for their qualifying examination in 2027 are also eligible to apply.
• Eligible appearing candidates must produce proof of passing the qualifying examination at the time of admission.
• There is no upper age limit for the CLAT PG programme.

4. CLAT 2027 Exam Pattern: Has Anything Changed?

The Consortium of NLUs has officially decided to retain the existing syllabus, examination pattern and sections for both UG and PG CLAT 2027 papers. Therefore, candidates do not need to prepare for a completely new examination structure.

The Convenor and paper setters may consider the recommendations of the CLAT Expert Committee Report 2026 regarding the quality and format of questions wherever feasible. These possible improvements should not be confused with an officially announced change in the overall examination pattern.

5. CLAT 2027 UG Subject-Wise Question Distribution

The UG question paper will contain five sections. The approximate number of questions and weightage are given below:

6. CLAT 2027 UG Syllabus: Section-Wise Details

English Language

This section tests reading comprehension and language skills through passages of approximately 450 words. Questions may assess the ability to understand arguments, identify main ideas, draw conclusions, summarise passages, compare viewpoints and understand words in context.

Current Affairs Including General Knowledge

This section covers contemporary events of national and international importance, arts and culture, international affairs and historically significant events. Questions are based on passages derived from news and other non-fiction sources.

Legal Reasoning

Candidates are expected to identify legal principles from passages and apply them to given situations. The section tests the ability to understand rules, analyse fact situations and assess how changes in a principle may affect its application. Prior legal knowledge is not mandatory for attempting the passages.

Logical Reasoning

This section evaluates the ability to recognise arguments, premises and conclusions, analyse reasoning, identify assumptions, draw inferences and assess relationships between different arguments.

Quantitative Techniques

This section tests numerical interpretation and basic mathematical operations using information presented in short passages, facts or data sets. Topics include ratios and proportions, basic algebra, mensuration and statistical estimation at approximately Class 10 level.

7. CLAT 2027 PG Exam Pattern

The CLAT PG examination is designed to test comprehension and understanding of legal materials. The latest official pattern contains 120 objective-type questions to be completed in two hours.

8. CLAT 2027 PG Syllabus

The PG paper is based on mandatory subjects studied in the undergraduate law programme. The official syllabus includes the following areas:

• Constitutional Law
• Jurisprudence
• Administrative Law
• Law of Contract
• Torts
• Family Law
• Criminal Law
• Property Law
• Company Law
• Public International Law
• Tax Law
• Environmental Law
• Labour and Industrial Law

9. What Are the Proposed CLAT Exam Changes for 2028?

The Consortium considered the CLAT Expert Committee Report 2026 during its Governing Body meeting held on 18 July 2026. The report discusses improvements to the quality and structure of the examination.

The Consortium decided that the recommendations and public feedback would be considered further in preparation for CLAT 2028. A committee was also proposed to examine the recommendations in coordination with the Consortium.

Therefore, candidates appearing for CLAT 2027 should follow the existing official syllabus and pattern. They should not assume that proposed recommendations have already become mandatory examination changes.

10. CLAT 2027 Tie-Breaking Rules

If two or more candidates secure equal marks in CLAT 2027, the Consortium will resolve the tie in the following order:

1. Higher marks in the Legal Aptitude component/section of CLAT 2027.
2. Higher age of the candidate.
3. Computerised draw of lots.

11. CLAT 2027 Important Dates

12. CLAT 2027 Application Fee

The application fee is payable online and is non-refundable or non-adjustable. Candidates should verify any applicable transaction charges and instructions on the official application portal.

13. Nationality and Other Important Instructions

• Indian Nationals, NRIs, PIO card holders and OCI card holders may appear for CLAT UG subject to the applicable admission rules.
• Foreign Nationals are not eligible to appear for CLAT UG. They should contact the respective NLUs directly regarding admission under applicable foreign-national provisions.
• NRI and NRI-sponsored admission arrangements should be checked directly with the relevant NLUs.
• Reservation benefits require valid certificates issued by the competent authority.
• Applicants must carefully select their programme and category because changes may not be allowed after submission.

14. Official Links for CLAT 2027

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Has the CLAT 2027 exam pattern changed?

No. The Consortium has decided to retain the existing syllabus, examination pattern and sections for both UG and PG CLAT 2027 papers.

2. What is the minimum percentage required for CLAT UG 2027?

General category candidates need at least 45% in Class 12 or equivalent. SC/ST/PwD candidates need at least 40%.

3. Is there an age limit for CLAT 2027?

No. There is no upper age limit for either the UG or PG programme under the CLAT 2027 eligibility rules.

4. Can Class 12 appearing students apply for CLAT 2027?

Yes. Candidates appearing for their qualifying examination in March/April 2027 can apply. They must produce evidence of passing at the time of admission.

5. What is the CLAT 2027 UG exam mode?

CLAT 2027 will be conducted in offline pen-and-paper mode according to the official instructions.

6. How many questions are there in CLAT UG 2027?

The UG question paper contains 120 multiple-choice questions for 120 marks, with a duration of two hours.

7. What is the negative marking in CLAT 2027?

One mark is awarded for each correct answer and 0.25 marks are deducted for each incorrect answer. Unanswered questions receive zero marks.

8. Will major CLAT exam reforms be introduced in 2027?

The Consortium has retained the existing syllabus and pattern for CLAT 2027. Expert Committee recommendations may be adopted for question quality and format wherever feasible. Major reforms are being considered in preparation for CLAT 2028.

9. What is the CLAT 2027 exam date?

The examination is scheduled for 6 December 2026, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

10. What are the CLAT 2027 tie-breaking rules?

The official order is higher marks in Legal Aptitude, followed by higher age, and then a computerised draw of lots.