The Consortium of National Law Universities released the CLAT 2027 notification in July 2026, confirming no changes to the UG exam pattern — 120 questions, 120 marks, two hours — and retaining the eligibility benchmark of 45% marks in Class 12 for general category students.
Students planning to appear in CLAT 2027 want to know exactly what has shifted and what has stayed the same. The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a national-level entrance examination conducted for admission to BA LLB and LLM programmes across National Law Universities in India. As per the CLAT 2027 notification, the exam continues in its passage-based, offline format with no revisions to eligibility, pattern, or syllabus compared to CLAT 2026.
- CLAT 2027 UG: 120 questions, 120 marks, 2-hour duration — unchanged from CLAT 2026.
- UG eligibility: 45% in Class 12 for General/OBC/EWS students; 40% for SC/ST/PWD — same as CLAT 2026.
- No age limit continues to apply for CLAT 2027 UG (removed in 2022).
- All five sections — English, Current Affairs and GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques — remain unchanged.
- Negative marking: −0.25 per wrong answer, unchanged from 2026.
- Exam expected in December 2026 based on previous-year trends.
| Direct Link to CLAT 2027 Official Notification (OUT) — consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
CLAT 2027 vs CLAT 2026 — Quick Comparison
The table below places both editions side by side so you can spot every key parameter at a glance. The Consortium of National Law Universities has maintained full consistency in the exam structure, meaning students can use previous-year resources and preparation strategies without adjustment.
| Parameter | CLAT 2026 | CLAT 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Consortium of National Law Universities | Consortium of National Law Universities |
| UG Total Questions | 120 | 120 |
| UG Total Marks | 120 | 120 |
| Duration | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Negative Marking | −0.25 per wrong answer | −0.25 per wrong answer |
| UG Eligibility (General/OBC/EWS) | 45% in Class 12 | 45% in Class 12 |
| UG Eligibility (SC/ST/PWD) | 40% in Class 12 | 40% in Class 12 |
| Age Limit (UG) | No limit | No limit |
| PG Eligibility (General/OBC/EWS) | LLB with 50% | LLB with 50% |
| PG Eligibility (SC/ST/PWD) | LLB with 45% | LLB with 45% |
| Mode | Offline (pen and paper) | Offline (pen and paper) |
| Question Format | Passage-based | Passage-based |
| Number of Sections (UG) | 5 | 5 |
| Pattern Change | — | None announced |
| Syllabus Change | — | None announced |
| Notification Release | July 2025 | July 2026 |
Eligibility Criteria: What Changed?
No changes have been made to CLAT 2027 eligibility compared to CLAT 2026. The Consortium of National Law Universities has retained the same academic qualification requirements and category-wise percentage thresholds for both the UG and PG programmes.
UG (BA LLB — 5 Years) Eligibility for CLAT 2027
| Category | Minimum Marks in Class 12 | Change from CLAT 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | 45% | No change |
| SC / ST / PWD | 40% | No change |
| Appearing students (Class 12, 2027) | Provisionally eligible | No change |
| Age limit | No limit | No change (removed in 2022) |
Students currently in Class 12 and appearing in board exams in 2027 can apply provisionally. Admission is confirmed only after their final mark sheets are submitted and meet the required percentage cutoff.
PG (LLM — 1 Year) Eligibility for CLAT 2027
| Category | Minimum Marks in LLB | Change from CLAT 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | 50% | No change |
| SC / ST / PWD | 45% | No change |
| Final year LLB students | Provisionally eligible | No change |
Exam Pattern: Section-wise Breakdown
CLAT 2027 follows an identical UG exam pattern to CLAT 2026 — 120 passage-based questions, 120 marks, a 2-hour window, and a −0.25 deduction for each wrong answer. The five sections and their approximate weightages are unchanged.
| Section | Approximate Questions | Approximate Marks | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 22–26 | 22–26 | ~20% |
| Current Affairs including GK | 28–32 | 28–32 | ~25% |
| Legal Reasoning | 35–39 | 35–39 | ~30% |
| Logical Reasoning | 28–32 | 28–32 | ~25% |
| Quantitative Techniques | 10–14 | 10–14 | ~10% |
| Total | 120 | 120 | 100% |
Every question is tied to a passage — comprehension and application are tested, not memorisation. The Legal Reasoning section does not require prior law knowledge; you apply a stated rule to a given set of facts. The PG paper continues in the same format, covering constitutional law, jurisprudence, contracts, torts, and other core law areas through passage-based questions.
Syllabus Updates for CLAT 2027
The Consortium of National Law Universities has not announced any syllabus revisions for CLAT 2027. All five UG sections test the same competencies as in CLAT 2026. Students who prepared for the previous cycle can continue with the same study materials and question banks.
- English Language: Comprehension passages from fiction, non-fiction, and contemporary essays — inference, vocabulary in context, identifying the author’s view, and summarising arguments.
- Current Affairs including GK: Passage-based questions on significant national and international events, legal developments, and general awareness from the 12–18 months preceding the exam.
- Legal Reasoning: A legal principle or rule is given in the passage; you apply it to a new set of facts. No prior knowledge of law is assumed or tested.
- Logical Reasoning: Short arguments, analogies, pattern recognition, inference, and statement-assumption questions set within passage extracts.
- Quantitative Techniques: Data interpretation from graphs, tables, or word problems; arithmetic at approximately Class 10 level covering percentages, ratios, and averages.
The only preparation update required for CLAT 2027 is extending Current Affairs coverage to include events through November 2026. All other study materials — textbooks, mock tests, previous-year papers — remain directly applicable.
Important Dates: CLAT 2027 vs CLAT 2026
CLAT 2027 follows the same annual cycle as previous editions, with the exam expected in December 2026. Dates beyond the notification release are based on previous-year trends and are not yet officially confirmed.
| Event | CLAT 2026 | CLAT 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Notification Release | July 2025 | July 2026 (released) |
| Application Opens | August 2025 | August 2026 (expected) |
| Application Closes | October 2025 | October 2026 (expected) |
| Admit Card Release | November 2025 | November 2026 (expected) |
| Exam Date | December 2025 | December 2026 (expected) |
| Result Declaration | December 2025 | December 2026 (expected) |
| Counselling Begins | January 2026 onwards | January 2027 onwards (expected) |
CLAT 2027 vs CLAT 2026 FAQs
Ques. Has the CLAT 2027 exam pattern changed from CLAT 2026?
Ans. No. CLAT 2027 follows the same UG pattern as CLAT 2026 — 120 questions, 120 marks, a 2-hour exam, five passage-based sections, and a −0.25 negative marking for each wrong answer. The Consortium of National Law Universities has not announced any changes.
Ques. What is the minimum eligibility percentage for CLAT 2027?
Ans. General, OBC, and EWS students must have scored at least 45% in Class 12. SC, ST, and PWD students need a minimum of 40%. For the PG programme, General category students need 50% in LLB; SC/ST/PWD students need 45%.
Ques. Is there an age limit for CLAT 2027?
Ans. No. The Consortium of National Law Universities removed the upper age limit in 2022 and has not re-introduced it for CLAT 2027. Students of any age who meet the academic qualification criteria may apply.
Ques. Has the CLAT 2027 syllabus been updated?
Ans. No syllabus changes have been announced for CLAT 2027. The five sections — English Language, Current Affairs including GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques — cover the same topics and follow the same passage-based approach as CLAT 2026.
Ques. When is the CLAT 2027 exam expected to be held?
Ans. Based on previous-year trends, CLAT 2027 is expected in December 2026. The official exam date has not yet been announced. Check consortiumofnlus.ac.in for the confirmed schedule once the application window opens.
Ques. Can students appearing in Class 12 in 2027 apply for CLAT 2027?
Ans. Yes. Students in the final year of Class 12 in 2027 can apply provisionally. Admission is confirmed only after they submit final mark sheets showing at least 45% (General/OBC/EWS) or 40% (SC/ST/PWD) marks.
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