CLAT 2027 Eligibility: Age Limit, Minimum Marks by Category

CLAT 2027 eligibility criteria require a minimum of 45% marks in Class 12 for General and OBC students and 40% for SC/ST students, with no upper age limit.

The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) sets CLAT eligibility criteria for admission to the 5-year integrated LLB (UG) and LLM (PG) programs at 24 NLUs across India. CLAT 2027 is expected in December 2026, and checking your eligibility now gives you enough time to align your Class 12 preparation and application plans well before registration opens.

• No upper age limit for CLAT 2027 — the Consortium removed the age cap in 2020, so students of any age who have passed or are appearing in Class 12 can apply.
• General and OBC students need a minimum of 45% aggregate marks in Class 12; SC and ST students need 40%.
• Students appearing in Class 12 in 2027 are eligible to apply provisionally.
• For the PG (LLM) program, General/OBC students need a minimum of 50% in LLB; SC/ST students need 45%.
• Indian nationals, NRIs, PIOs, and OCIs are all eligible to apply.

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CLAT 2027 Eligibility Criteria Overview

CLAT 2027 has separate eligibility criteria for the UG (5-year integrated LLB) and PG (LLM) programs. The table below summarises the key requirements at a glance.

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Educational Qualification for CLAT 2027

The educational qualification required for CLAT 2027 differs between the UG and PG programs.

For the UG Program (5-Year Integrated LLB):

• You must have passed the Senior Secondary Examination (Class 12) or an equivalent from a recognised board or university.
• Students appearing in Class 12 in 2027 can apply and receive provisional admission, subject to meeting the minimum marks requirement after results are declared.

For the PG Program (LLM):

• You must hold an LL.B degree or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Bar Council of India.
• Students in the final year of LL.B can apply provisionally, and their admission will be confirmed after they meet the marks requirement.

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CLAT 2027 Minimum Marks Percentage: Category-Wise

General and OBC students must score at least 45% aggregate in their qualifying exam, while SC and ST students need a minimum of 40%. These percentages are calculated on aggregate marks across all subjects — not subject-wise — and apply to Class 12 results for the UG program and LLB results for the PG program.

If you are currently in Class 12 and targeting CLAT 2027, secure the minimum aggregate percentage in your board exams. A provisional CLAT admission will be cancelled if board results fall below the required threshold.

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Age Limit for CLAT 2027

There is no upper age limit for CLAT 2027. The Consortium of NLUs removed the upper age cap in 2020. There is also no prescribed minimum age, though you must have completed Class 12 (or be appearing in it) to meet the educational qualification for the UG program.

Working professionals, graduates from other streams, and anyone who has passed Class 12 can apply without any age-related restriction. This makes CLAT one of the few national-level law entrance exams with a fully open age policy.

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Nationality and Other Requirements for CLAT 2027

The following nationality categories are eligible to apply for CLAT 2027:

• Indian Nationals
• Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)
• Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs)
• Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs)
• Foreign Nationals — subject to individual NLU rules and seat availability

NRI, PIO, and OCI students are considered under a separate NRI quota at participating NLUs. The number of NRI seats and the fee structure differ from the general quota — check individual NLU prospectuses for precise details before applying.

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What to Do Next: Steps for CLAT 2027 Aspirants

Once you have confirmed your CLAT 2027 eligibility, take these steps before registration opens:

1. Verify your eligibility — Cross-check your Class 12 percentage against the category requirement (45% for General/OBC, 40% for SC/ST). If you are still in Class 12, plan your board preparation to secure this aggregate.
2. Gather documents early — Keep your Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets, category certificate (if applicable), passport-size photographs, and a valid government-issued ID ready for the registration form.
3. Begin CLAT preparation now — CLAT 2027 will cover five sections: English Language, Current Affairs including General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. Start with Current Affairs and Legal Reasoning as these sections carry the most weight in the paper.
4. Practice with recent papers — Solve CLAT 2024 and 2025 papers to get familiar with the reading-comprehension-heavy format introduced in recent years. The entire paper is passage-based; adapting to this style early is essential.
5. Bookmark the official portal — CLAT registration typically opens in August or September of the application year. Watch consortiumofnlus.ac.in for official dates, notification PDF, and application link.
6. Research NLU programs and seats — Explore the 24 participating NLUs, their UG and PG seat intake, and category-wise seat distribution so you can build a realistic preference list before choice filling begins during counselling.