CLAT 2027: exam date, pattern, syllabus and how to apply
The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is the entrance test for the undergraduate law programmes of the National Law Universities, run by the Consortium of National Law Universities. The thing most candidates want to know now: CLAT 2027 is on Sunday 6 December 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and online applications close on 31 October 2026 (checked 20 October 2026 on the Consortium's UG instructions page). If you have not applied yet, do that first; this guide covers the rest.
CLAT 2027 at a glance
| Conducting body | Consortium of National Law Universities |
| What it is for | Admission to the undergraduate law programmes of the 26 participating NLUs |
| Mode | Pen and paper at a centre, answers on an OMR sheet |
| Questions | 120 multiple-choice questions, all passage-based |
| Time | 2 hours (2:00 to 4:40 p.m. for eligible PwD candidates) |
| Marking | +1 for a right answer, −0.25 for a wrong one, 0 for a blank |
| How often | Once a year |
| Official website | consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
CLAT 2027 exam date
As of 20 October 2026, the Consortium's CLAT 2027 UG instructions give these dates:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online applications opened | 3 August 2026 |
| Last date to submit and pay | 31 October 2026, 11:59 p.m. |
| Admit card | To be announced on the website |
| CLAT 2027 | Sunday 6 December 2026, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
The instructions add that the exam date is subject to revision in case of necessity, so keep an eye on the notifications on the Consortium's site. The admit card is downloaded from your own login; the Consortium will announce the day on its website.
How to apply for CLAT 2027
- Go to the Consortium website and register with your own mobile number and e-mail address. An OTP is sent to the mobile number to validate it.
- Log in with the mobile number and the password you chose.
- Fill in the form. Spell your name and your parents' names exactly as they appear on your certificates and mark sheets; a mismatch can disqualify the application.
- Upload your photograph, signature and any certificate you need (category, PwD, BPL). Documents are uploaded as PDF.
- Pay online. The fee printed on the instructions page (read 20 October 2026) is ₹4,000 for General and OBC candidates and ₹3,500 for SC, ST, BPL and PwD candidates, plus bank charges. It is not refundable.
- Submit before 11:59 p.m. on 31 October 2026. Once the form is submitted and paid, you cannot change the programme, the category or the BPL field.
If you fill in more than one form, only the last one counts and the earlier fee is not refunded. Your Class 12 result is submitted at the time of admission, so a student still in Class 12 can apply. Foreign nationals cannot sit CLAT and apply to the universities directly.
CLAT exam pattern
The two hours cover the whole paper; there is no separate clock for each subject, so you choose the order. The Consortium publishes ranges rather than fixed counts.
| Subject | Questions (approx.) | What it tests |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 22–26 | Passages of about 450 words: main idea, inference, summary, word in context |
| Current Affairs, including General Knowledge | 28–32 | Passages on news and events of significance, India and the world |
| Legal Reasoning | 28–32 | A passage states a rule; you apply it to facts |
| Logical Reasoning | 22–26 | Arguments: premises, conclusions, strengthen and weaken |
| Quantitative Techniques | 10–14 | Short sets of numbers or tables, Class 10 mathematics |
The Governing Body decided on 18 July 2026 that CLAT 2027 keeps the same syllabus, pattern and sections. A report on a different shape is about CLAT 2028, not this sitting. If two candidates tie, the higher Legal Reasoning (Legal Aptitude) marks rank first, then the older candidate.
CLAT syllabus
- English: reading passages from fiction and non-fiction; you are tested on comprehension, not grammar rules in isolation.
- Current affairs: contemporary events, arts and culture, international affairs and historical events of continuing significance. Reading a newspaper daily matters more than memorising lists.
- Legal Reasoning: no prior knowledge of law is needed. The passage gives the rule; read it literally and apply only that.
- Logical Reasoning: critical reasoning on short arguments.
- Quantitative Techniques: ratio and proportion, basic algebra, mensuration and averages, from data in the passage.
Our CLAT syllabus page lists every topic.
A seven-week plan to 6 December
Weeks 1–2 (to early November). Apply if you have not. Take one full timed CLAT mock test to see where you stand. Read one editorial and the main news every day and keep short notes.
Weeks 3–4. Work section by section. Do two Legal Reasoning and two Logical Reasoning passage sets a day, timing each. For every wrong answer, write down whether you misread the rule, misread the facts or brought in outside knowledge.
Weeks 5–6. One full mock every three or four days, always 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., on paper with an OMR-style answer sheet if you can. Fix a section order and an exit rule (for example, leave a passage after 8 minutes). Revise the current affairs notes weekly.
Week 7. Two last mocks early in the week, then only revision and sleep. Check the admit card, the centre and the travel time.
On negative marking: a wrong answer costs a quarter of a mark, so a guess helps only when you can rule out at least one option. Our article on negative marking and when to guess works through the numbers.
Useful links
- CLAT 2027 UG instructions and application (Consortium of NLUs)
- CLAT 2027 UG question format and UG syllabus
- Free CLAT mock tests
- CLAT syllabus
- CLAT exam dates
- AILET 2027: exam date, pattern and how to apply
- How to analyse a mock test
Frequently asked questions
When is CLAT 2027?
CLAT 2027 is on Sunday 6 December 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., according to the Consortium's UG instructions (checked 20 October 2026). Eligible PwD candidates sit until 4:40 p.m.
What is the last date to apply for CLAT 2027?
Applications close at 11:59 p.m. on 31 October 2026. The form must be complete and paid by then; incomplete forms are not considered.
Is there negative marking in CLAT?
Yes. Each right answer gets 1 mark and each wrong answer loses 0.25 marks. A question left blank scores nothing.
Can I apply for CLAT while in Class 12?
Yes. The instructions say the Class 12 result is submitted at the time of admission. Check each NLU's own eligibility rules in the information brochure on the Consortium website.
Do I need to know law for CLAT?
No. Legal Reasoning passages state the rule you need, and the questions test whether you can apply it to new facts.
Is CLAT accepted by NLU Delhi?
No. NLU Delhi admits through its own test, AILET, which is on 13 December 2026. Many candidates prepare for both, since the reading and reasoning skills overlap.