CLAT prep feels like dating someone way out of your league. You give it your best, stalk it online, sacrifice sleep and social life—and still get ghosted by the cut-off list.
But hey, just because it’s tough doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Especially if you’ve got this no-nonsense, slightly sarcastic, totally realistic CLAT 2026 Complete Guide by your side.
We’re not here to bore you with generic gyaan or motivational fluff. This guide has what you actually need—real advice, updated info (based on official and reliable sources), and a vibe that doesn’t feel like a classroom lecture.
Table of Contents
What Even Is CLAT (And Why Should You Care)?
CLAT = Common Law Admission Test. It’s your golden ticket into India’s top National Law Universities (NLUs)—if you crack it.
Some of the most popular NLUs that accept CLAT scores:
- NLSIU Bengaluru
- NALSAR Hyderabad
- WBNUJS Kolkata
- NLU Jodhpur
- GNLU Gandhinagar
Note: NLU Delhi does NOT accept CLAT. They have their own exam called AILET.
CLAT is used for:
- 5-Year Integrated LLB (for 12th pass-outs)
- 1-Year LLM (for law grads)
Why should you care?
Because law isn’t just about courtrooms and objection memes. It’s one of the fastest-growing fields—litigation, corporate law, policy, judiciary, international law, you name it. Also, let’s not ignore the decent ROI and the elite clout. #NoCap
CLAT 2026 Exam Dates (Tentative but Based on Patterns)
| Event | Expected Timeline (To Be Confirmed by Consortium) |
|---|---|
| Application Begins | July 2025 |
| Application Ends | November 2025 |
| Admit Card Release | December 2025 |
| Exam Date | 1st week of December 2025 (based on past trends) |
| Results Out | Late December 2025 or January 2026 |
| Counselling Rounds | January to March 2026 |
Official updates will be published only on consortiumofnlus.ac.in. Don’t fall for scam links.
CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern (As Per Consortium’s Latest Notification)
For UG (5-Year LLB):
| Section | Questions (Approx.) | Weight |
| English Language | 28–32 | 20% |
| Current Affairs & GK | 35–39 | 25% |
| Legal Reasoning | 35–39 | 25% |
| Logical Reasoning | 28–32 | 20% |
| Quantitative Techniques | 13–17 | 10% |
- Total: ~120 Questions
- Duration: 2 hours
- Marking: +1 for correct, -0.25 for wrong answers
These figures are based on the official CLAT 2024 pattern and are expected to continue unless changed in the 2026 notification.
Eligibility for CLAT 2026 (UG Program)
To be safe, check official eligibility once the notification is out, but here’s the standard from past years:
- Education: Passed or appearing in Class 12 (any stream)
- Minimum Marks:
- General/OBC/PwD/NRI: 45%
- SC/ST: 40%
- Age Limit: No upper age limit
Final-year students: You must produce proof of qualifying exam results during counselling, failing which your admission gets canceled. Don’t pull a disappearing act there.
Application Process (Don’t Mess This Up)
- Go to consortiumofnlus.ac.in
- Click CLAT 2026 → Register
- Fill in your personal, academic, and communication details
- Upload:
- Passport-sized photo (as per size and format)
- Signature
- Category certificate (if applicable)
- Pay the fee:
- Gen/OBC/PwD: ₹4,000
- SC/ST/BPL: ₹3,500
- Save the form and confirmation page
Application dates and fees are based on CLAT 2025 details and may change in 2026. Always double-check official info.
CLAT 2026 Syllabus: What To Study (Without Crying Daily)
CLAT isn’t about mugging up sections or becoming a law book. It’s about reading, thinking, and strategizing.
Here’s how to handle each section:
English Language
- Based on comprehension passages (~450 words)
- Focus on:
- Tone, Vocabulary-in-context
- Inference-based questions
- Grammar and sentence correction (light)
Prep Tip: Read 1 editorial daily. The Hindu, Indian Express, or LiveMint editorials are great.
Logical Reasoning
- Critical Reasoning is the star here.
- Based on short to medium-length passages with:
- Assumptions
- Arguments
- Conclusions
- Strengthen/Weaken questions
Prep Tip: Practice from past year papers + mock sets.
Legal Reasoning
- Passage-based, with legal principles and scenarios
- No prior legal knowledge needed
- Focus on applying principles to facts (this is where most get stuck)
Prep Tip: Read case briefs or simplified summaries from legit sources like LiveLaw or Bar & Bench (if it doesn’t confuse you more).
GK / Current Affairs
- Based heavily on recent events
- Includes:
- National & International news
- Legal developments
- Government schemes
- Static GK linked to current topics
Prep Tip: Focus on the 4–6 months before the exam. LegalEdge, AffairsCloud, and GKToday are student-favorite sources.
Quantitative Techniques
- Class 10-level maths
- Based on graphs, charts, and short numerical passages
- Topics: Ratios, Percentages, Profit & Loss, Time-Speed-Distance
Prep Tip: Practice sets are better than theory here. Solve 5–10 questions a day from DI sets.
How to Prepare for CLAT 2026
Phase 1: April–July → Foundation Building
- Read, read, and read.
- Work on vocab, legal basics, and current affairs
- Section-wise practice (2 sections/day)
Phase 2: August–October → Mock Test Grind
- 2 mocks/week minimum
- Detailed mock analysis (don’t skip this)
- Focus on weak sections
Phase 3: November–Exam Day → Revision + Peak Focus
- GK revision daily
- 3 mocks/week + accuracy check
- Don’t start new books now—revise known content
Best Books & Resources
| Section | Recommended Source |
| English | Norman Lewis, Word Power Made Easy, The Hindu editorials |
| Logical Reasoning | MK Pandey, CLAT Post material |
| Legal Reasoning | LegalEdge Modules, RS Rathore, Bar & Bench summaries |
| GK & CA | LegalEdge GK, AffairsCloud monthly PDF, CLAT Post |
| Quant | RS Aggarwal Class 10, DI Practice PDFs |
Disclaimer: We’re not promoting any brand. These are based on real student reviews from the CLAT community.
Coaching vs Self-Study: What’s Better?
You Can Self-Study If:
- You’re disciplined and can follow a schedule
- You have mock tests and reliable resources
- You have a peer group or community for support
You Might Need Coaching If:
- You’re starting prep late (post-August)
- You need structured doubt support
- You feel lost alone
Don’t blindly join “Top 10 coaching centres near me.” Do your research, ask seniors, check reviews.
CLAT 2026 Expected Cut-Offs (Based on Past Trends)
Here’s a ballpark idea based on CLAT 2024 and 2023:
| NLU | Safe Rank Range (General Category) |
| NLSIU Bangalore | 1–100 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 100–170 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | 150–270 |
| NLU Jodhpur | 180–350 |
| HNLU Raipur | 400–700 |
- To be NLSIU-safe: Target 95+ marks
- For any top 5 NLU: Target 85–90+
Note: These are indicative numbers based on previous years. Official CLAT 2026 cutoffs will be released after result declaration.
After the Result: What Happens Next?
- CLAT Counselling will be conducted by the Consortium in online rounds.
- Pay counselling fee (₹30,000 approx. as per past years)
- Lock your preferences wisely
- If allotted a seat, accept it and pay university fees
- Upload documents and verify everything
Important: Always use the official site only. Double-check deadlines and documents.
TL;DR Recap
- CLAT is your gateway to 24 top NLUs
- 120 questions, 2 hours, and 1 nerve-wracking Sunday
- Prep = Reading + Mocks + Smart Strategy
- Best score = Not who studies most, but who strategizes best
- Real talk: Consistency beats cramming
Final Thoughts
CLAT 2026 isn’t a monster. It’s just a puzzle. Solve it piece by piece, and you’ll get there.
Keep your mental health in check. Don’t let marks define your worth. And if nothing works, there’s always Maggi, memes, and mock tests.
That’s it for today. Now stop scrolling and start solving. Or take a power nap first—I support both.
Question of the Day: What’s your most creative excuse for skipping a mock test? I’ve heard “internet outage due to pigeon attack.” Beat that. Drop yours in the comments.
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