CLAT 2027 Notification: Exam Pattern Changes, Eligibility and Dates

The Consortium of National Law Universities released the CLAT 2027 notification on July 9, 2026, confirming the exam pattern, eligibility criteria and schedule for admission to 22 NLUs for the 2027-28 academic session.

CLAT 2027 (Common Law Admission Test) is the national gateway to undergraduate LLB and postgraduate LLM programs at National Law Universities. With the notification now available on the official portal, students can register, verify eligibility and begin their preparation for the December 2026 exam. This analysis covers every key detail and what you must do next.

• CLAT 2027 exam date: Expected in December 2026 (first Sunday of December, based on previous CLAT cycles).
• Application window: Expected to open in July 2026 and close in October-November 2026 as per the official notification.
• UG exam: 150 questions, 150 marks, 120 minutes across 5 comprehension-based sections.
• UG eligibility: Class 12 pass with 45% marks (40% for SC/ST/BPL students); no upper age limit.
• Participating institutes: 22 National Law Universities via centralised counselling.

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CLAT 2027 Notification Overview

The CLAT 2027 notification released by the Consortium of NLUs on July 9, 2026 covers the full admission roadmap for the 2027-28 academic year. It details the exam pattern, eligibility norms, application process and exam schedule for both UG (5-year LLB) and PG (1-year LLM) programs at 22 National Law Universities across India.

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CLAT 2027 Exam Pattern: Key Details

CLAT follows a comprehension-based format introduced in 2020 where all questions are drawn from passages. This format tests reading speed, contextual reasoning and analytical thinking rather than rote recall. The CLAT 2027 UG exam pattern is as follows:

Additional CLAT 2027 UG exam parameters:

• Duration: 2 hours (120 minutes)
• Question format: Comprehension passage-based MCQs
• Correct answer: +1 mark
• Wrong answer: -0.25 marks (negative marking applies)
• Exam mode: Offline pen and paper test

For CLAT 2027 PG, the paper has 120 questions for 120 marks to be completed in 2 hours. PG passages are drawn from constitutional law, jurisprudence, contract law and other core law subjects.

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CLAT 2027 Eligibility Criteria

Students must meet the eligibility conditions set by the Consortium of NLUs before submitting an application. The criteria differ for UG and PG programs:

Students currently in Class 12 and appearing for board exams in 2027 are eligible to register for CLAT 2027 UG. The final marksheet must be submitted at the time of counselling if you qualify.

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CLAT 2027 Important Dates

The Consortium of NLUs has outlined the CLAT 2027 schedule in the official notification. Dates marked as expected are based on previous CLAT cycle patterns and will be confirmed on the official portal:

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What to Do Next: CLAT 2027 Preparation Roadmap

With the CLAT 2027 notification out and registration opening soon, you have approximately 5 months before the expected December 2026 exam. Follow this action plan from day one:

1. Register on the official portal without delay: Visit consortiumofnlus.ac.in and create your application account as soon as registration opens. Keep scanned copies of Class 10 and 12 marksheets, category certificate (if applicable) and a recent passport-size photograph ready before you begin.
2. Download and read the full notification: Check for any section-wise changes in question count or marking scheme specific to CLAT 2027 before finalising your study plan.
3. Begin with Legal Reasoning: At 35-39 questions, this section carries the highest weightage in CLAT UG. Practise comprehension passages using the principle-fact-conclusion method daily to build both speed and accuracy.
4. Start a current affairs log from July 2026: CLAT GK passages cover news from the past 12-15 months. Reading one national daily from now will ensure you cover events across the entire relevant window for CLAT 2027.
5. Practise full papers in timed conditions: CLAT 2022 to 2026 papers follow the comprehension-based format. Attempt at least one full mock in 120 minutes every week to sharpen time management and identify weak sections.
6. Revise Class 10 maths for Quantitative Techniques: This section carries only 13-17 questions but causes disproportionate score loss when ignored. Focus on ratios, percentages, data interpretation and basic statistics at the Class 10 level.

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