If you’re planning to study law at one of India’s National Law Universities, the wait is over — the Consortium of NLUs has officially opened registrations for CLAT 2027 at consortiumofnlus.ac.in, with the exam scheduled for December 6, 2026. Here’s a complete breakdown of what you need to know and how to prepare.
CLAT 2027 Key Dates at a Glance
- Registration opened: August 3, 2026
- Last date to apply: October 31, 2026
- Admit card release (expected): Mid-November 2026
- Exam date: Sunday, December 6, 2026
- Exam timing: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (single shift)
- Exam mode: Offline (pen and paper)
With around 60,000 candidates expected to compete for roughly 3,200 seats across NLUs this year, early and organized preparation matters more than ever.
What Is CLAT?
The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities for admission to 5-year integrated law programmes (UG) and LLM programmes (PG) across 26 of the 27 NLUs in India — National Law University, Delhi conducts its own separate exam (AILET) and doesn’t accept CLAT scores. Many private law colleges across the country also accept CLAT scores, so a good rank opens doors well beyond the NLU system.
Eligibility Criteria
For CLAT UG (5-year integrated LLB):
- Passed Class 12 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 45% marks
- 40% marks required for SC/ST/PwD category candidates
- Candidates appearing for their Class 12 board exams in 2026 are also eligible to apply
For CLAT PG (LLM):
- An LLB degree or equivalent qualification with at least 50% marks
- 45% marks required for SC/ST/PwD category candidates
How to Register for CLAT 2027
- Visit the official website: consortiumofnlus.ac.in
- Click on the CLAT 2027 Registration link on the homepage
- Sign up using an active mobile number and email address
- Log in using the credentials generated
- Fill in personal, academic, and category details carefully
- Upload scanned copies of your photograph, signature, and required certificates
- Select your preferred exam centres, ranked by priority
- Pay the application fee based on your category
- Review the completed form carefully before submitting
- Download and save the confirmation page for your records
A quick but important note: fill in your programme, category, and reservation details carefully — some fields cannot be edited once the application fee has been paid.
Exam Pattern You Should Know
- The CLAT UG paper consists of 120 objective-type questions
- No negative marking for unattempted questions
- The exam covers English Language, Current Affairs & General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques
- The Consortium has made no changes to the exam pattern or syllabus for 2027
Preparation Tips for CLAT Aspirants
With just about four months between the registration window and the exam, here’s how to structure your preparation:
- Start with the fundamentals. Legal Reasoning and Logical Reasoning typically carry the highest weightage — build strong comprehension and inference skills first rather than memorizing case law.
- Read newspapers daily. Current Affairs & GK is one of the most unpredictable sections. Consistent daily reading builds a much stronger foundation than last-minute cramming.
- Practice previous years’ papers. CLAT increasingly tests comprehension over rote knowledge, so solving past papers under timed conditions is one of the best ways to get used to the exam’s actual difficulty and pacing.
- Don’t neglect Quantitative Techniques. It carries fewer questions than other sections, but they’re often high-scoring if you practice consistently, since the math itself stays at a Class 10 level.
- Take regular mock tests. Since there’s no negative marking for unattempted questions but there likely is for wrong answers, mock tests help you build the judgment to know when to attempt a question versus skip it.
- Track your admit card and exam centre details closely once released in November — errors on the hall ticket should be corrected with the CLAT helpdesk well before exam day, not at the last minute.
Final Thoughts
CLAT 2027 registration is open now through October 31, and with the exam date locked in for December 6, aspirants have a clear runway to plan their preparation. Whether you’re just starting out or already deep into your prep, staying on top of official updates from consortiumofnlus.ac.in and pairing that with consistent daily practice is the surest way to walk into the exam hall with confidence.
Good luck to all CLAT 2027 aspirants!
