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CLAT 2026 registration begins August 1, closes Oct 31. Exam on Dec 7. Check eligibility for UG/PG, application fees, exam pattern, and prepare for NLUs & top law colleges. Visit consortiumofnlus.ac.in.

The highly anticipated application window for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 is set to open on August 1, 2025. This marks a pivotal moment for thousands of law aspirants across India eyeing admission to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law programs offered by the prestigious National Law Universities (NLUs) and numerous other affiliated private colleges.

The Consortium of National Law Universities, the official body responsible for conducting CLAT, had previously announced the key dates for the examination, setting the stage for the upcoming academic cycle. The CLAT exam is the gateway to a career in law, opening doors to 24 participating NLUs for UG courses and 21 NLUs for PG courses.

Key Dates for CLAT 2026:

Prospective candidates must take note of the following critical dates to ensure a smooth application process:

Online Registration Starts: August 1, 2025
Online Registration Closes: October 31, 2025
CLAT 2026 Exam Date: Sunday, December 7, 2025 (from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM)
Admit Card Release (Tentative): November 2025
Result Declaration (Tentative): First week of January 2026

Aspirants are strongly advised to complete their registration well within the three-month window to avoid any last-minute technical difficulties.

Eligibility Criteria for UG & PG Programs:

For CLAT UG 2026 (5-Year Integrated LLB):

Educational Qualification: Candidates must have passed Class 12 (10+2) or an equivalent examination from a recognized board.
Minimum Marks: A minimum of 45% aggregate marks (40% for SC, ST, and Persons with Disability categories).
Appearing Candidates: Those appearing for their Class 12 examinations in March/April 2026 are also eligible to apply provisionally.
Age Limit: There is no upper age limit for applying to CLAT UG 2026.

For CLAT PG 2026 (1-Year LLM):

Educational Qualification: Candidates must hold an LLB degree or an equivalent qualification from a recognized university.
Minimum Marks: A minimum of 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC, ST, and Persons with Disability categories).
Appearing Candidates: Those in their final year of LLB degree are also eligible to apply provisionally.
Age Limit: There is no upper age limit for applying to CLAT PG 2026.

Application Process and Fees:

The entire application process for CLAT 2026 will be conducted online through the official website: consortiumofnlus.ac.in. Candidates will be required to register, fill in personal and academic details, upload necessary documents (photograph, signature, category certificates), select exam centers, and pay the application fee.

The application fee for CLAT 2026 is as follows:

General/OBC/PWD/PIO/OCI/NRI Candidates: INR 4,000
SC/ST/BPL Candidates: INR 3,500 An additional fee of INR 500 will be applicable if candidates opt to purchase previous years' question papers.

Exam Pattern and Preparation Strategy:

The CLAT 2026 exam will be a pen-and-paper based test lasting two hours. The Undergraduate (UG) paper will consist of 120 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), carrying one mark for each correct answer and a negative marking of 0.25 for each incorrect answer. The paper will be divided into five sections:

English Language
Current Affairs, including General Knowledge
Legal Reasoning
Logical Reasoning
Quantitative Techniques

The CLAT PG exam primarily focuses on Constitutional Law and other core legal subjects such as Jurisprudence, Torts, IPC, CrPC, CPC, Family Law, and IPR.

Aspiring lawyers are advised to begin their preparation in earnest. With the syllabus largely relying on comprehension, critical analysis, and logical reasoning skills, consistent reading, mock test practice, and analysis of previous year's papers will be crucial for success.