The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a national-level entrance exam for admission to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law programmes offered by 24 NLUs across India. The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) has officially released the CLAT Notification 2026 PDF on its official website consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
In CLAT 2025, there were a total of approximately 3,649 seats available for undergraduate (UG) programs and there were around 1,436 seats available for postgraduate (PG) programs, specifically LLM courses across the participating National Law Universities (NLUs). So it is expected that in CLAT 2026, over 3,000 seats for UG programmes and around 1,000 seats for LLM courses are expected to be available. These include 24 NLU such as NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, and WBNUJS Kolkata, except NLU Delhi.
The application process for CLAT 2025 will begin on August 1, 2025 with the exam tentatively scheduled for December 7, 2025. Candidates who are aiming for a seat in top law universities are advised to stay alert and complete the form well before the deadline.
The exam pattern for CLAT 2026 remains similar to previous years. For UG candidates, sections will include English, Current Affairs (including GK), Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. PG candidates will be tested on subjects like Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, and other core legal topics. The exam will be conducted in offline mode (pen and paper format) using OMR sheets. The question paper will consist of multiple-choice questions with negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer.
CLAT Exam Dates 2026
CLAT 2026 official notification to fill the registration form is out now. Candidates can apply for CLAT 2026 directly through the website consortiumofnlus.ac.in from August 1, 2025. Candidates can check the key dates released by the Consortium of National Law Universities below:
| Event | Date |
| Release of Official Notification | July 20, 2025 |
| Application Window Opens | August 1, 2025 |
| Last Date to Apply | October 31, 2025 |
| CLAT 2026 Exam Date | December 7, 2025 |
| Admit Card Download | 1 week before the exam date |
| Declaration of Results | To be announced |
CLAT Notification 2026: Application Fee, Eligibility & Age Criteria Details
The registration fee for CLAT 2026 varies by category and is non-refundable and the payment must be made online during the application process. Candidates can check the application fee details given below:
| Category | Fee (INR) |
| General/OBC/PwD/NRI | ₹4,000 |
| SC/ST/BPL | ₹3,500 |
Eligibility & Age Criteria
There is no upper age limit to appear for CLAT 2026. However, candidates must meet the academic requirements below:
| Programme | Eligibility Criteria |
| UG (5-Year LLB) | 10+2 with 45% (General/OBC) or 40% (SC/ST) |
| PG (LLM) | LLB or equivalent with 50% (General) or 45% (SC/ST) |
| Appearing Students | Those appearing in 2026 board/final-year exams can apply too |
CLAT 2026: Online Registration Form
Candidates should follow these steps carefully while registering for CLAT 2026:
- Candidates have to visit the official website consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
- Candidates are required to click on the “CLAT 2026” Registration link.
- Candidates must register using a valid email ID and phone number.
- Fill in all the requested information in the application form with personal, academic, and contact details.
- Candidates have to upload a photo, a signature, and the required certificates.
- Candidates have to pay the registration fee online, without paying the application fee form can not be submitted.
- At last, submit the form and download the confirmation page.
Applicants are advised to double-check all details and apply early to avoid last-minute issues.
