CLAT 2027 to Be Held on December 6, 2026: Consortium of NLUs Announces Exam Date and Key Details

The Consortium of National Law Universities (Consortium of NLUs) has officially announced that CLAT 2027 will be held on Sunday, December 6, 2026. The notification, released on July 22, 2026, confirms the exam schedule, registration timeline, and key details for aspirants seeking admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes at National Law Universities across India. With registration opening on August 3, 2026, this development marks the beginning of the admission cycle for one of the most competitive law entrance examinations in the country.

Exam Date and Schedule

CLAT 2027 will be conducted in a single session on December 6, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The examination will be held in offline (pen-and-paper) mode across more than 130 cities throughout India. The Consortium of NLUs, which serves as the conducting body, will administer the test simultaneously at all centres to ensure uniformity and fairness. Aspirants preparing for careers in the legal profession, whether in litigation, judicial services, or corporate law, view CLAT as a critical stepping stone toward a rewarding career in law.

Registration Timeline and Application Fee

The online application portal will open on August 3, 2026, on the official Consortium of NLUs website. The last date for submission of applications is October 31, 2026. Candidates must complete their registration and submit all required documents within this window. The application fee for General, OBC, PwD, and NRI candidates is Rs 4,000, while SC, ST, and BPL candidates are required to pay Rs 3,500. Payment can be made online through debit card, credit card, or net banking. The application fee is non-refundable. Candidates are advised to keep copies of their application form and payment receipts for future reference.

Eligibility Criteria

For the undergraduate programme (UG), candidates who have passed or are appearing in their Class 12 examinations from a recognised board are eligible to apply. The minimum marks requirement is 45 per cent for General and OBC candidates and 40 per cent for SC and ST candidates. Notably, there is no upper age limit for either the undergraduate or postgraduate programmes, allowing working professionals and mature candidates to pursue legal education at any stage of their careers.

For the postgraduate programme (PG), candidates must hold an LL.B. degree or equivalent with the required minimum percentage. The PG programme is designed for law graduates who wish to specialise in a particular area of law through advanced study at a National Law University.

Exam Pattern and Syllabus

The CLAT 2027 UG paper will consist of 120 multiple-choice questions to be completed in two hours. Each correct answer carries one mark, while incorrect answers attract a negative marking of 0.25 marks. All questions are passage-based, testing comprehension and analytical ability rather than rote memorisation.

The syllabus covers five subjects: English Language, Current Affairs and General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques at the Class 10 level. Legal reasoning questions assess a candidate's ability to apply principles of law to given situations, a skill that future lawyers will use when dealing with matters such as filing interlocutory applications or challenging arbitration awards in legal practice.

Participating National Law Universities

CLAT scores are accepted by 24 National Law Universities across India for admission to five-year integrated undergraduate law programmes and postgraduate law programmes. Some NLUs may also conduct independent counselling processes based on CLAT scores. After the declaration of results, the Consortium conducts a centralised counselling process, with candidates allotted seats based on their merit rank and preferences. The counselling registration fee is Rs 30,000 for General category candidates and Rs 20,000 for SC, ST, OBC, BC, EWS, PwD, and other reserved category candidates.

What Aspirants Should Know About Preparation

Given that CLAT 2027 is a passage-based examination, aspirants should focus on developing strong reading comprehension and analytical reasoning skills rather than memorising isolated facts. Regular practice with past-year papers and mock tests is recommended. For Current Affairs, candidates should stay updated on recent legal developments, including significant Supreme Court judgments, legislative amendments, and policy changes.

Those interested in understanding how courts function may benefit from studying topics such as the execution of court decrees, revision petitions under procedural law, and the process of succession and inheritance. Building a strong foundation in these areas during preparation can provide a significant advantage not only in the examination but also in the study of law at NLUs.

Key Takeaways

CLAT 2027 will be held on December 6, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM in offline mode across more than 130 cities in India.

Registration opens on August 3, 2026, and the last date for applications is October 31, 2026.

The application fee is Rs 4,000 for General/OBC/PwD/NRI candidates and Rs 3,500 for SC/ST/BPL candidates.

There is no upper age limit for UG or PG programmes.

The UG exam comprises 120 MCQs with 0.25 negative marking, covering English Language, Current Affairs and GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques.

CLAT scores are accepted by 24 NLUs for admissions to both undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes.