The Consortium of NLUs has released the CLAT 2027 notification confirming a December 2026 exam date, making July 2026 the critical window for law aspirants to register, lock in their study plan and act on the 10-step checklist below.
CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) 2027 is the single gateway to 24 National Law Universities and over 3,600 UG BA LLB seats. The comprehension-passage format — unchanged since the 2020 reform — rewards reading speed and legal reasoning over rote learning. With roughly five months between the notification and exam day, the steps students take now will directly shape their December 2026 results.
- CLAT 2027 exam date: December 2026 (exact date to be confirmed in the official brochure)
- Registration expected to open: August 2026 at consortiumofnlus.ac.in, based on previous-year trends
- Total marks: 120 across 5 sections, 2 hours duration, offline pen-and-paper mode
- Negative marking: −0.25 marks per wrong answer; no penalty for unattempted questions
- Eligibility: Class 12 passed or appearing; 45% aggregate (40% for SC/ST); no upper age limit for UG
- Legal Reasoning remains the highest-weightage section at approximately 35–39 questions out of 120
| Direct Link — CLAT 2027 Official Notification and Registration Portal (OPEN) |
| consortiumofnlus.ac.in — Consortium of NLUs Official Portal |
CLAT 2027 Exam Overview
CLAT is a centralised national entrance conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities. A single CLAT score unlocks UG (BA LLB) and PG (LLM) admissions at all 24 NLUs. The exam is strictly offline and passage-based — every question is anchored to a reading extract, testing reasoning and comprehension rather than memorisation of facts.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2027 |
| Conducting body | Consortium of National Law Universities |
| Mode | Offline (pen and paper) |
| Duration | 2 hours (120 minutes) |
| Total questions | 120 |
| Total marks | 120 |
| Marking scheme | +1 for correct; −0.25 for wrong; 0 for unattempted |
| Eligibility (UG) | Class 12 passed or appearing; 45% marks (40% for SC/ST) |
| Age limit | No upper age limit for UG CLAT |
| NLUs covered | 24 National Law Universities |
| Official website | consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
CLAT 2027 Important Dates
The Consortium follows a consistent annual calendar. The dates below are expected based on previous-year trends. Students must verify confirmed dates at the official portal as each event approaches.
| Event | Expected Date |
|---|---|
| Official notification release | July 2026 (announced) |
| Registration portal opens | August 2026 |
| Last date to register | October 2026 |
| Application correction window | October–November 2026 |
| Admit card download | November 2026 |
| CLAT 2027 exam date | December 2026 |
| Provisional answer key release | December 2026 (post-exam) |
| Result declaration | December 2026 / January 2027 |
| Counselling Round 1 | January 2027 |
All dates above are expected based on the CLAT 2026 cycle. Verify each milestone on consortiumofnlus.ac.in once officially confirmed.
CLAT 2027 Exam Pattern Updates
The comprehension-passage format introduced in 2020 continues for CLAT 2027. The total remains 120 questions, 120 marks, in 2 hours. Key pattern trends observed across recent editions that are expected to carry forward include the following:
- Longer passages in Legal Reasoning and Current Affairs: Passages have trended toward 450–600 words, putting real pressure on reading speed under timed conditions.
- Quantitative Techniques is data-interpretation-heavy: Expect bar graphs, pie charts and ratio tables rather than standalone arithmetic — practise DI sets from Class 10 level upward.
- Logical Reasoning shifts toward inference and argument: Critical reasoning and assumption-based questions have grown relative to sequence and arrangement types across recent editions.
- Close answer options throughout: The comprehension-anchored format makes all four options plausible for each question — elimination strategy and careful re-reading of the passage are essential.
- No online mode: CLAT is strictly offline. Students also appearing for online law entrances must practise switching formats regularly during preparation.
CLAT 2027 Section-wise Breakdown
The five sections below reflect the settled distribution across recent CLAT papers. The exact question count for CLAT 2027 will be confirmed in the official brochure.
| Section | Questions (approx.) | Marks | Key Focus Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 22–26 | 22–26 | Reading comprehension, inference, vocabulary in context |
| Current Affairs and GK | 28–32 | 28–32 | Legal GK, static GK, news passages from the past 12 months |
| Legal Reasoning | 35–39 | 35–39 | Principle-fact application, legal maxims, tort and contract passages |
| Logical Reasoning | 28–32 | 28–32 | Critical reasoning, assumptions, arguments, inferences |
| Quantitative Techniques | 13–17 | 13–17 | Data interpretation, basic arithmetic, ratio and percentage |
| Total | 120 | 120 | — |
Legal Reasoning carries the highest weightage at roughly 30% of the paper. Students who underprepare this section — even with strong Current Affairs or English scores — typically see their rank slip significantly at the NLU allocation stage.
CLAT 2027 Aspirant Action Checklist
With the CLAT 2027 notification out in July 2026 and the exam approximately five months away, the 10 steps below are prioritised by urgency:
| Step | Action | When |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Register on consortiumofnlus.ac.in as soon as the portal opens. Keep your email ID, phone number, Class 10 and 12 marksheets, and a recent passport-size photograph ready before you begin. | August 2026 |
| 2 | Download and read the CLAT 2027 official brochure. Note any change in eligibility criteria, application fee, section weightage or exam rules compared to the previous year. | July–August 2026 |
| 3 | Build a 5-month study plan. Allocate the highest weekly hours to Legal Reasoning, followed by Current Affairs and Logical Reasoning. Quantitative Techniques needs the least time but must not be ignored. | July 2026 |
| 4 | Start tracking current affairs immediately. CLAT 2027 will test events from approximately July 2025 to November 2026. A consistent daily reading habit of 30–45 minutes compounds far better than monthly cramming sessions. | Start now |
| 5 | Solve CLAT 2025 and CLAT 2026 past papers in timed, offline conditions. This reveals your weakest sections before you invest in a mock-test series or coaching programme. | July–August 2026 |
| 6 | Enrol in a full-length mock-test series by September. Target 3–4 mocks per month in September and October, scaling to weekly mocks in November for timing and accuracy calibration. | September–November 2026 |
| 7 | Practise OMR sheet marking in every mock. CLAT is pen-and-paper; students unfamiliar with OMR conventions can lose 3–5 minutes on bubbling errors in the actual exam. | October–November 2026 |
| 8 | Research NLU preferences and historical rank ranges early. Knowing your target NLU’s expected cut-off sharpens your score goal and avoids over- or under-preparation. | August–September 2026 |
| 9 | Download your admit card immediately when released (expected November 2026). Print a physical copy — exam centres do not accept digital admit cards displayed on mobile screens. | November 2026 |
| 10 | Prepare your document folder for counselling. Keep original Class 10 and Class 12 marksheets, caste certificate (if applicable), domicile proof and valid ID in one place for seat-allotment verification in January 2027. | December 2026 |
CLAT 2027 FAQs
Ques. When is the CLAT 2027 exam date?
Ans. CLAT 2027 is expected in December 2026. The Consortium of NLUs released the official notification in July 2026. The confirmed exam date will be published on consortiumofnlus.ac.in once finalised in the official brochure.
Ques. Has the CLAT 2027 exam pattern changed?
Ans. The core format remains 120 questions for 120 marks across five sections in 2 hours. The comprehension-passage-based approach continues. Check the official CLAT 2027 brochure for any section-wise adjustments once it is published.
Ques. What is the negative marking in CLAT 2027?
Ans. CLAT 2027 carries a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer. Unattempted questions carry zero penalty, so skipping uncertain questions is a valid strategy.
Ques. What is the eligibility for CLAT 2027 UG?
Ans. You must have passed Class 12 or be appearing in it with at least 45% aggregate marks. SC/ST students need 40%. There is no upper age limit for the UG programme. Students currently in Class 12 during 2026–27 may apply provisionally.
Ques. Which section has the highest weightage in CLAT 2027?
Ans. Legal Reasoning has the highest weightage, with approximately 35–39 questions out of 120 — roughly 30% of the total paper. Prioritising this section is key to securing a competitive rank for top NLUs.
Ques. When will CLAT 2027 registration open?
Ans. Based on previous-year trends, CLAT 2027 registration is expected to open in August 2026. Bookmark consortiumofnlus.ac.in and register as soon as the portal goes live to avoid last-minute technical difficulties.
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