The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a national-level entrance exam conducted for admission to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law programs at National Law Universities (NLUs) across India. It is one of the most sought-after exams for aspiring law students.

CLAT is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities, a body consisting of 22 participating NLUs. The exam is held annually in May or June, with the exact date being announced by the Consortium.

• Age Limit: For General, OBC, and PwD candidates, the upper age limit is 20 years as of 1st July of the exam year. For SC/ST candidates, the age limit is 22 years.
• Academic Qualification: Candidates must have completed or are appearing for their 10+2 exam or equivalent with at least 45% aggregate marks (40% for SC/ST candidates).
• Subjects: Candidates should have studied English, and they must have cleared Mathematics/Statistics or any other equivalent subject as part of their higher secondary education.

• Academic Qualification: To be eligible for CLAT PG, candidates must have a LL.B. degree (or its equivalent) with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST candidates).
• Age Limit: There is no upper age limit for CLAT PG.

CLAT UG Exam Pattern:

• The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), divided into five sections: English Language, General Knowledge and Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques.
• Duration: 2 hours
• Total Marks: 150
• CLAT PG Exam Pattern:
  • The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) based on subjects like Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Criminal Law, Contract Law, and other areas of law.
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Total Marks: 150

Online Registration: Candidates need to apply through the official CLAT website (https://www.clat.ac.in). The registration involves providing personal details, educational background, and uploading necessary documents.

• Application Fee: The fee for the CLAT UG and PG exams is ₹4000 for General/OBC/PwD candidates and ₹3500 for SC/ST candidates. The fee is non-refundable.

There is a reservation policy in place for various categories, including:

• SC/ST: 15% reservation
• OBC: 27% reservation
• PwD: 5% reservation
• EWS (Economically Weaker Sections): 10% reservation
• NLUs may also have specific reservations for their home state students.

• Books: There are several recommended books for CLAT preparation, such as Universal’s CLAT Guide, CLAT Previous Year Papers, and Legal Awareness and Legal Reasoning by AP Bhardwaj.
• Online Resources: Many online platforms offer mock tests, sample papers, and video lectures to help candidates prepare.
• Coaching Institutes: Several coaching institutes, both online and offline, provide structured training for CLAT preparation.