CLAT UG 2026 Exam: Expected Dates, Eligibility, Exam Pattern, Syllabus (Priority-wise), Preparation Strategy, Cut-Offs & FAQs

📌 Introduction

CLAT UG 2026 (Common Law Admission Test – Undergraduate) is a national-level entrance examination conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs).

The exam is the sole gateway for admission into:

• 5-Year Integrated LLB (BA LLB, BBA LLB, BSc LLB, etc.)
• 24+ National Law Universities (NLUs)
• Several top private law colleges (through CLAT score)

CLAT is not a memory-based exam. It tests:

• Reading comprehension
• Logical interpretation
• Legal reasoning ability
• Time management under pressure

This guide for CLAT UG 2026 is student-centric and exam-realistic, strictly based on:

• Official CLAT notifications
• Recent exam pattern (2021–2025)
• Actual cut-off trends
• NLU admission process

👉 Official Website (ONLY authentic source):
🔗 consortiumofnlus.ac.in

📅 CLAT UG 2026 Exam Date (IMPORTANT – READ CAREFULLY)

⚠️ STATUS: NOT ANNOUNCED (EXPECTED ONLY)
CLAT UG 2026 official dates are NOT released yet.

The timeline below is indicative, based on recent CLAT cycles.

🔔 Expected Timeline – CLAT UG 2026

📌 Final dates will be announced ONLY on:
👉 consortiumofnlus.ac.in

🎓 CLAT UG 2026 Eligibility Criteria

✅ Educational Qualification

• Passed Class 12 (10+2) or equivalent
• Minimum marks:
  • General / OBC / EWS: 45%
  • SC / ST: 40%
• Class 12 appearing students are eligible

🎯 Age Limit

• ❌ No upper age limit for CLAT UG
  (Supreme Court removed age restriction)

📊 CLAT UG 2026 Exam Pattern (UPDATED & FINAL)

CLAT UG is a pen-and-paper based test of 120 minutes.

🔴 Marking Scheme (CRITICAL)

• +1 mark for correct answer
• –0.25 mark for wrong answer
• No section-wise cut-off (overall rank matters)

📌 Speed + accuracy > attempting all questions

📘 CLAT UG 2026 Syllabus (PRIORITY-BASED, NOT JUST LISTED)

📌 Official syllabus (broad outline only):
👉 consortiumofnlus.ac.in

🔥 High-Scoring Priority Areas (Must Master)

📖 English Language

• Reading comprehension (passage-based)
• Vocabulary in context
• Inference & tone-based questions

⚖️ Legal Reasoning (MOST IMPORTANT)

• Legal principles
• Application-based questions
• Passage interpretation
  ❌ No static law memorization required

📰 Current Affairs & GK

• Last 12 months current affairs
• Legal news
• Supreme Court judgments
• National & international issues

⚠️ Medium Priority

🧠 Logical Reasoning

• Assumptions
• Arguments
• Cause–effect
• Strengthen/Weaken

➗ Quantitative Techniques

• Ratios
• Percentages
• Averages
• Graph & table interpretation

📌 CLAT is a READING exam, not a formula-based exam.

📚 Books for CLAT UG 2026 (REALISTIC APPROACH)

❌ Myth: Too many books guarantee selection
✅ Reality: Limited resources + deep practice

✔ Recommended Resources

English

• Editorial reading (The Hindu / Indian Express)
• CLAT passage-based practice

Legal Reasoning

• No standard law book required
• CLAT Legal Reasoning passage book
• PYQs are BEST teacher

Current Affairs

• Monthly CLAT-focused CA compilations
• Daily news reading + short notes

Quant & Logical

• Basic aptitude book
• Section-wise CLAT practice sets

🔥 Mandatory (NON-NEGOTIABLE)

• CLAT PYQs (2010–2025)
• Full-length mock tests

📈 CLAT UG Cut-Offs (NLU-WISE REALITY)

Cut-offs depend on:

• NLU preference
• Category
• Domicile
• Number of seats

🔹 General Category (Approx. Rank Range)

📌 Private colleges may accept higher ranks.

🧠 CLAT UG 2026 Preparation Strategy (PRACTICAL & PROVEN)

🔹 Phase 1: Foundation (4–5 months)

• Daily reading habit
• Concept clarity
• Basic aptitude practice

🔹 Phase 2: Practice + PYQs (3–4 months)

• Topic-wise PYQs
• Passage interpretation
• Accuracy improvement

🔹 Phase 3: Mock Test Phase (2–3 months)

• 2–4 mocks per week
• Deep analysis (MOST IMPORTANT)
• Improve reading speed

📌 Coaching is optional.
📌 Mock analysis is compulsory.

🎓 CLAT UG & Career Reality Check

✔ CLAT UG gets you into top law colleges
❌ CLAT alone does NOT make you a good lawyer

Your future depends on:

• Law school performance
• Internships
• Moot courts
• Networking & skill development

❓ FAQs (IMPORTANT)

Q1. Who conducts CLAT UG 2026?
The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs).

Q2. Is CLAT harder than other law entrance exams?
Yes, due to heavy reading load and intense competition.

Q3. Can I crack CLAT without coaching?
Yes. Many toppers are self-prepared using PYQs and mocks.

Q4. Is maths compulsory for CLAT UG?
Yes, but only basic quantitative reasoning (Class 10 level).

Q5. How many attempts are allowed in CLAT UG?
Unlimited (no age limit, no attempt limit).

Written by an Academic Exam Analyst with experience in CLAT, AILET, CUET-UG, and national-level competitive examinations. Content is based on official notifications, PYQ analysis, mock test trends, and real NLU admission data.