The CLAT consortium administers the Common Law Admission Test, or CLAT, a nationwide law examination each year. Candidates who take the CLAT 2026 exam can be chosen to enroll in prestigious Indian NLUs for law school. The CLAT exam was administered twice in 2022, in June and December. In contrast, the CLAT 2026 will be administered offline, at more than 130 exam locations nationwide, using pen and paper. The application forms will be accessible online at https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in/, the official website.
To learn more about CLAT 2026, continue reading.
The exam method, pattern, syllabus, and marking scheme are among the important components of the CLAT exam that don't change from year to year. The table below, which also covers significant dates for the exam in 2026, provides further information about CLAT 2026:
|
Features
|
Details
|
|
Exam Conducting Body
|
Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs)
|
|
Frequency of Conduct
|
Once a year
|
|
CLAT exam date
|
06-Dec-2025 (tentatively)
|
|
Types of questions
|
Multiple-choice Questions
|
|
Exam Level
|
National-level exam
|
|
Exam purpose
|
CLAT is conducted for:
Admission to UG and PG law courses offered at the participating NLUs
Admissions to Private and self-financed colleges
PSUs recruitment for legal positions
|
|
Application Fee
|
INR 4,000 for General/ OBC category, INR 3500 for all other reserved categories
|
|
Mode of Exam
|
Pen-and-paper mode
|
|
Question paper language
|
English (expected to be held in vernacular/ regional languages too)
|
|
Duration of the exam
|
2 hours
|
|
Number of Seats
|
UG program - more than 3,000 seats
PG program - around 1,000 seats
|
|
Official website
|
Consortiumofnlus.ac.in
|
CLAT 2026 EXAM DATE
CLAT 2026 will be administered in December 2025, however, the dates for the registration and exams are yet to be announced. Check out the table below to learn about the important dates.
|
Parameters
|
DATES (Tentative)
|
|
CLAT 2026 Application Date
|
July, 2025
|
|
Last Date of CLAT 2026 Application
|
November, 2025
|
|
CLAT 2026 Admit Cards
|
November 2025 (Last week) or December 2025 (First week)
|
|
CLAT 2026 Exam Date
|
December, 2025 (Offline)
|
|
Release of CLAT Answer Key
|
December 2025
|
|
CLAT 2026 Results
|
December 2025 or January 2026
|
|
CLAT 2026 counseling
|
January 2026
|
CLAT EXAM DAY PLAN
It is anticipated that CLAT 2026 will follow the same timetable as the year before. The standard timeframes are listed below:
|
EVENTS
|
CONVENTIONAL CLAT EXAM TIMINGS
|
|
Reporting time
|
1:00 PM onwards
|
|
CLAT 2026 EXAM TIMINGS
|
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
|
Eligibility CRITERIA FOR CLAT EXAM 2026
Before completing the CLAT 2026 application form, candidates should review the consortium's eligibility requirements. This is the CLAT 2026 eligibility criteria in tabular form.
|
CRITERIA
|
CLAT (UG)
|
CLAT (PG)
|
|
EDUCATION QUALIFICATION
|
Class 12 or equivalent exam with minimum 45% marks for General category, minimum 40% for SC and ST categories
|
3-year LLB or 5-year LLB with 50% for the General category whereas 45% for SC and ST categories
|
|
AGE LIMIT
|
No age limit
|
No age limit
|
|
No. of ATTEMPTS
|
There is no limit to CLAT Exam attempts
|
There is no limit to CLAT exam attempts
|
CLAT 2026 Application Procedure
It is anticipated that the CLAT 2026 registration procedure will start in July. The application form will be accessible to candidates via the official website's CLAT registration window. It's crucial to remember that UG and PG applicants must follow the same application process. Candidates are required to indicate their preferred program of study when completing the application. Applicants can review the instructions below for filling out the CLAT 2026 application form.
The CLAT Application Form must be filled out with meticulous attention to detail. To ensure a seamless transaction, adhere to this detailed guide:
Step 1: Go to the official website.
• Visit the consortiumofnlus.ac.in website, which is the official CLAT website.
• On the homepage, select the "Register" or "Apply for CLAT 2026" buttons.
Step 2: Enrolment
• Give rudimentary details:
• Enter your email address, password, mobile number, and name.
• Enter the Captcha Code here: Finish the security check.
• Check Your Account: An OTP or verification link can be sent to the email address or mobile number you registered.
Step 3: Sign in
• To access your account, enter your password and registered email address.
Step 4: Complete the application.
• Personal Information
• Full Name (as per official documents)
• Date of Birth
• Gender
• Nationality
• Category (General, SC, ST, OBC, EWS, etc.)
• PwD Status (if applicable)
• Domicile (State-specific details if applying for reserved seats)
• Permanent and Correspondence Address
• Contact Information (mobile number and email ID)
• Parent/Guardian Information
• Names, occupations, and contact details of parents or guardians.
Step 5: Academic Details
• 10th grade Details: Grade/Percentage, Year of Passing, Board, and School Name.
• School Name, Board, Year of Passing (or Expected), and Grades for Class 12 or Equivalent.
• Regarding PG Candidates: Give specifics about your LLB degree or comparable credentials.
Step 6: Pick a Course
• The list of CLAT courses and their eligibility must be reviewed by candidates. Select CLAT UG or CLAT PG based on your preferences and qualifications.
Step 7: Pick Test Locations
From the list provided, select your top three exam cities.
Step 8: Upload Documents
Passport-size Photograph:
|
Particulars
|
Details
|
|
Size of the photograph
|
20 KB – 50 KB
|
|
File size
|
200 X 230 pixels (preferred)
|
|
File format
|
JPG/JPEG
|
|
Photo Background
|
White colour or Light colour
|
• Category Certificate (if applicable):
For SC/ST/OBC/EWS candidates
• PwD Certificate (if applicable):
For candidates with disabilities
Step 9: Application fee payment
Select a payment option from Net Banking, Credit Card, or Debit Card.
The following was the application fee for each category:
|
Category
|
Application fee (in INR)
|
Application fee with question papers
|
|
General/OBC/PWD/NRI/ PIO/ OCI
|
INR 4000
|
INR 4500
|
|
SC/ ST/BPL
|
INR 3500
|
INR 4000
|
Step 10: Examine and Send in
• To prevent mistakes, thoroughly review every detail.
• Press "Submit" to finish the procedure.
Step 11: Confirmation Print
For future use, download and print the receipt or confirmation document.
Required Documents for the CLAT 2026 Application Form
Generally speaking, the following types of documentation are needed for the CLAT Application Form 2026:
Regarding Undergraduate Courses
• Grade 10 Certificate/Mark sheet: to confirm your birthdate and educational background.
• Mark sheet for Class 12 (or equivalent): to verify that you are qualified to take the test.
• Passport-Size Photo: A recent passport-sized photo that meets certain size and resolution requirements, usually in JPEG format.
• Signature: A JPEG-formatted scanned copy of your signature.
• Certificate of Category (where applicable): You must present a current category certificate from an authorized body if you fall under the SC, ST, OBC, or EWS categories.
• If relevant, a domicile certificate may be required by certain NLUs for applicants who are applying under state-specific quotas.
Regarding PG Programs (LLM)
To verify your eligibility for the postgraduate program, present your LLB or equivalent mark sheet/certificate.
• Passport-size Photo: A recent passport-sized photo that meets certain size and resolution requirements, usually in JPEG format.
• Signature: A JPEG-formatted scanned copy of your signature.
• Category Certificate: A valid SC, ST, OBC, or EWS certificate, if applicable.
• Certificate of Domicile (where applicable): for applicants who are subject to state-specific quotas.
• General Records for Every Applicant
• A copy of a valid government-issued identification document, such as a driver's license, passport, voter ID, or Aadhaar card, is proof of identity.
• PwD Certificate (if applicable): A document from a qualified authority that certifies applicants with disabilities.
CLAT 2026 Important Dates and Application FAQs
Q1. Will CLAT take place twice a year in 2026?
No, CLAT 2026 will only be held once in December as directed by the Consortium.
Q2. Can a candidate take the CLAT 2026 exam online?
No, according to sources from the Consortium, the CLAT 2026 will take place offline, using pen and paper.
Q3. Which language is used for the CLAT exam?
The CLAT exam is administered exclusively in English. The Bar Council of India may, however, soon also provide the CLAT exam in other languages, according to the sources.
Q4. Is it possible to access the CLAT 2026 application form offline?
No, you can only complete out the CLAT 2026 application online.