• Updated on 2 Dec, 2025 by Souvik Podder
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For admissions into various National Law Universities, Consortium of NLUs has announced the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) registration details for 2026. The last date for online registration for CLAT 2026 is extended for students. The students can apply for CLAT exam till 7 November 2025. The CLAT 2026 exam is scheduled for Sunday, 7 December 2025.
Gujarat National Law University Gandhinagar has secured the #5 position in the NIRF 2025 rankings for law universities
NLU Delhi has secured the #2 position in the NIRF 2025 rankings for law universities maintaining its consistent second-place standing.
CLAT Latest news and articles
The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) prescribes CLAT Exam Pattern 2026. The exam pattern outlines the number of questions, sections, total marks, exam duration, marking scheme, and syllabus. The CLAT UG 2026 will have 120 questions across five sections. The CLAT PG 2026 will also consist of 120 questions, mainly based on law subjects. The CLAT 2026 Exam will be conducted in offline mode for a total duration of two hours (120 minutes). CLAT 2026 exam is scheduled on December 7, 2025 from 2 PM to 4 PM.
CLAT 2026 Syllabus will include English, Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques for UG. Candidates should know the CLAT Exam Pattern and Syllabus clearly to prepare better for the exam. Test takers should also practice mock tests and refer to the Best CLAT Books for better preparation. Read further to know more about the CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern in detail.
Table of Contents
CLAT UG Exam Pattern 2026
The CLAT UG 2026 will be conducted in offline mode. It will have 120 multiple-choice questions from five sections. Each question carries 1 mark, and there will be negative marking for wrong answers. The exam duration is 2 hours. The CLAT 2026 exam will be held in English only. Check out the table below for CLAT UG Exam Pattern 2026.
Particulars | Details |
Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen and Paper) |
Duration | 2 Hours (120 minutes) |
Total Questions | 120 MCQs |
Total Marks | 120 |
Medium | English |
Sections | English Language, Current Affairs including GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques |
Marking Scheme | +1 for correct, -0.25 for wrong, 0 for unanswered |
CLAT Exam Pattern 2026: Subject-Wise Pattern
Interested candidates can check the subject-wise CLAT Exam Pattern 2026 below. Go through this to have a subject-wise understanding of the question pattern.
CLAT English Language: The English section in CLAT 2026 consists of 22 to 26 questions, accounting for about 20% of the total exam. It includes passages of approximately 450 words drawn from notable non-fiction and fiction writings with historical significance. The difficulty level corresponds to the Class 12 standard. Previous candidates have described this section as generally straightforward but with occasional tricky questions.
CLAT Current Affairs including General Knowledge: This section contains 28 to 32 questions, contributing to 25% of the exam's weightage. It features passage-based questions that test candidates on static general knowledge, recent national and international events, and related topics. According to past test-takers, this is considered the easiest section in the CLAT exam.
CLAT Quantitative Techniques: With 10 to 14 questions, this section carries the least weight on the exam. The questions cover basic mathematics topics such as ratio and proportion, elementary algebra, mensuration, and statistical estimation, testing fundamental arithmetic and problem-solving skills.
CLAT Legal Reasoning: The legal reasoning section includes 28 to 32 questions based on passages about public policy, legal issues, or philosophical moral inquiries. The passages are generally around 450 words. Feedback from previous years indicates this section is relatively easy, with concise passages.
CLAT Logical Reasoning: Comprising 22 to 26 questions, this section accounts for 20% of the exam. It contains passages of similar length (approximately 450 words) followed by multiple-choice questions assessing the candidate’s ability to analyse logical arguments. The difficulty ranges from easy to moderate.
CLAT 2026 Marking Scheme
CLAT follows a uniform marking scheme for both UG and PG exams. Each correct answer will be awarded +1 mark. For every wrong answer, 0.25 marks will be deducted. Unanswered questions carry no mark deduction. Check out the following table for CLAT 2026 Marking Scheme.
CLAT Marking Parameters | Marks Awarded |
Correct Answer | +1 mark |
Incorrect Answer | -0.25 mark |
Unattempted Question | 0 marks |
CLAT 2026 Exam Timings
The CLAT 2026 will be held in the afternoon session. Candidates must follow the bell timings strictly. Candidates’ entry will start at 1:00 pm, and the CLAT 2026 exam will begin at 2:00 PM. The exam will end at 4:00 PM, and students can leave the centre at 4:15 PM after submitting the OMR sheet to the exam invigilator. Check out the following table for CLAT 2026 Bell Timings.
Particulars | Bell Type | Timings |
Entry inside the examination hall begins | Long bell | 1:00 PM |
Entry of candidates inside the classroom ends | Long bell | 1:30 PM |
Instructions and distribution of envelopes | Short bell | 1:50 PM |
Exam begins | Long bell | 2:00 PM |
Last entry to exam centre | Short bell | 2:15 PM |
Completion of 60 minutes | Short bell | 3:00 PM |
10-minute warning before exam ends | Short bell | 3:50 PM |
Exam ends | Long bell | 4:00 PM |
Candidates allowed to leave the test centre | Short bell | 4:15 PM |
CLAT 2026 Syllabus
The CLAT Syllabus 2026 for UG will test candidates’ language comprehension, general knowledge, legal awareness, logical reasoning, and basic mathematics. Whereas, the CLAT PG Syllabus 2025 will include core law subjects such as Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, and others from LLB courses. Candidates must know the complete syllabus of CLAT 2026 before starting their preparation.
Exam Type | Subjects/Topics |
CLAT UG | English Language, Current Affairs including GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques |
CLAT PG | Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Administrative Law, Contract, Torts, Family Law, Criminal Law, Property Law, Company Law, International Law |
Also Check: CLAT Syllabus 2026
CLAT 2026 Sectional Weightage
CLAT 2026 will have five sections with varying weightage. Each section will have questions within a definite set range. Current Affairs and Legal Reasoning will have the highest weightage of 25% each. Quantitative Techniques will have the least with 10% weightage. Check out the following table for CLAT 2026 Sectional Weightage.
Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Weightage |
English Language | 22–26 | 22–26 | 20% |
Current Affairs including General Knowledge | 28–32 | 28–32 | 25% |
Legal Reasoning | 28–32 | 28–32 | 25% |
Logical Reasoning | 22–26 | 22–26 | 20% |
Quantitative Techniques | 10–14 | 10–14 | 10% |
Total | 120 | 120 | 100% |
CLAT 2026 Best Books
Referring to the best books for CLAT 2026 is important for strong preparation. There are several Best CLAT Books 2026 that cover theory, practice questions, as well as previous years' papers. Check out the following table for some of the CLAT 2026 best books.
CLAT Sections | Recommended Books |
English Language | English Grammar by Wren & Martin
Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis |
Current Affairs & GK | General Knowledge 2022-24 by Arihant
Manorama Year Book |
Logical Reasoning | A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by RS Aggarwal
A New Approach to Verbal & Analytical Reasoning by Arihant |
Legal Reasoning | Legal Awareness and Legal Reasoning by Pearson
Pearson’s Guide to CLAT |
Quantitative Techniques | NCERT Class 10 Maths Book
Quantitative Aptitude by RS Aggarwal |
CLAT 2026 Preparation Tips
For CLAT 2026, candidates require a focused and planned preparation. Candidates must start early and understand the exam pattern and syllabus of CLAT 2026 properly. Use the best books for each section, take mock tests, and analyze performance. Most importantly, time management and accuracy are key to scoring well in the CLAT 2026 exam. Some of the effective CLAT 2026 preparation tips are as given below-
- Understand the syllabus and exam pattern before starting preparation.
- Make a proper timetable and follow it consistently.
- Read newspapers and magazines daily for GK and Current Affairs.
- Practice previous year papers and take regular mock tests.
- Revise key concepts in legal reasoning and mathematics regularly.
- Improve reading speed by reading editorials and opinion columns.
- Maintain good physical and mental health during preparation.
CLAT Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs
What is the marking scheme for CLAT 2026?
In CLAT 2026, candidates will be awarded +1 mark for each correct answer. There will be a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer in the CLAT 2026 exam.
Is there negative marking in CLAT 2026?
Yes, there is negative marking in CLAT 2026. For every incorrect answer, 0.25 marks will be deducted from the total score in CLAT 2026.
What is the total number of questions in CLAT 2026?
The CLAT 2026 exam will have a total of 120 multiple-choice questions. This is a consistent aspect of the CLAT 2026 exam pattern.
What is the duration of the CLAT 2026 examination?
The CLAT 2026 examination will have a duration of two hours (120 minutes). Proper time management is crucial for successfully completing the CLAT 2026 paper.
What type of questions can be expected in the CLAT 2026 exam?
Most sections in the CLAT 2026 exam, except Quantitative Techniques, will feature passage-based questions. These passages will be followed by multiple-choice questions to assess comprehension and analytical skills in CLAT 2026.
What is the weightage of different sections in CLAT 2026?
In CLAT 2026, Current Affairs, including General Knowledge and Legal Reasoning sections, hold the maximum weightage (25% each). English Language and Logical Reasoning account for 20% each, while Quantitative Techniques has a 10% weightage in CLAT 2026.
Will there be any changes to the CLAT 2026 exam pattern compared to previous years?
As of now, the CLAT 2026 exam pattern is expected to remain consistent with recent years. Any official changes to the CLAT 2026 pattern will be announced by the Consortium of NLUs.
Are there any specific instructions for attempting the CLAT 2026 exam?
For CLAT 2026, candidates should reach the exam center before reporting time, as it's an offline test. It's advisable to read all instructions thoroughly on the CLAT 2026 question paper and admit card to avoid disqualification.