CLAT 2019 Notification, Dates, Eligibility, Registration, Syllabus

CLAT 2019 is expected to be conducted by NLU Odisha, Cuttack. The official schedule will be released shortly at clat.ac.in. As per the previous year trends, the law entrance examination will be held on May 12 in paper-pen mode. 

Law aspirants seeking admissions to 3 years/ 5-year Integrated LLB and LLM Programs in 19 NLUs and other private schools can apply online in January 2019. The registration window will be for 30 days and the application fee is INR 4000. Register Here!

Latest: Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU) joins CLAT Consortium, HPNLET dissolved!

CLAT has been facing a lot of controversies over the past 3 years. The problems that came up were power cuts, failure of log-in system, slow biometric verification, blank screens, substantial loss of time in system log-ins, frequent resetting of computer systems, hanging of computer systems, server shutdown and difficulties in moving from one question to another. To resolve these issues and to ensure a stable and smooth conduct, from 2019 onwards, the examination will be conducted in offline mode. The decision was made in the 4^th meeting of NLU Consortium in NLSIU Bangalore.

Highlights of CLAT 2019

CLAT 2019 Exam Calendar

For academic session 2019-20, NLU Cuttack will release the notification shortly. Visit CLAT Official Website i.e. www.clat.ac.in to check the same. Tabulated below are the tentative dates for the law entrance exam:

Know More CLAT 2019 Exam Dates

CLAT Eligibility 2019

CLAT Core Committee defines the eligibility for UG and PG Programs. The eligibility is measured on the following grounds:

For UG Program

1. Age Limit: As per revised rules, there is no upper age limit for CLAT 2019.
2. Academic Qualification: Candidate must have passed 10+2  or any equivalent examination.
3. Appearing Candidates: Candidates appearing in the qualifying examination in April/ May 2019 are also eligible to appear in CLAT exam.  

For PG Program

1. Age Limit: There is no upper age limit for the post-graduate program.
2. Academic Qualification: Candidate must have an LLB or any other equivalent degree.
3. Appearing Candidates: Candidates appearing in the qualifying examination in March/April 2019 are also eligible to appear in exam. However, they have to show a hard copy of the proof of their passing the qualifying examination in the respective National Law Universities at the time of admission.

Read More CLAT Eligibility

How to fill CLAT Application Form 2019?

Registration window became functional from January 1. Visit CLAT Official Website to access the application form of the Common Law Admission Test. The last date to fill in the form is March 31, 2019. Completing CLAT Registration primarily involves four steps – 

Step 1 – Filling Basic Information

Law aspirants will have to register first in order to get a provisional Registration ID and Password. The following details will be required:

Step 2 - Scanning and Uploading of Documents 

Login with the provisional ID and Password, and upload the documents as per the defined guidelines. Tabulated below is a brief of size and format of the Photo and Signature. CheckPhoto and Signature Size Format

Step 3 - Fill CLAT Application Form

Proceed to fill in the other required details in the application form. The information can be entered in any order. The sections are as follows:

• Personal Details like name, DOB, mobile number, Parent’s name, Postal Address, Gender, category etc.
• Qualification Details likemarks scored, percentage, passing year, Board name etc.
• Preference for NLU as per your preference.

Step 4 – Payment of CLAT Application Fee

• The final step is to pay the stipulated application fee.
• It can be paid via online (Debit/Credit or Net Banking) or offline (Bank Challan).

Tabulated below is the application fee for each category:

CLAT Admit Card 2019

Candidates who successfully registered can download their hall ticket from April 20, 2019. Carry a valid photo ID proof (Aadhar Card/Voter ID/ Passport/Driving license) along with CLAT Admit Card at the examination center.  

How to Download CLAT Admit Card?

Step 1: Visit the official website of CLAT i.e. clat.ac.in

Step 2: Click on ‘Download Admit Card’ tab.

Step 3: Enter Registered E-mail ID and Password

Step 4: Click on Login/ Submit tab. 

Step 5: Check and download the hall ticket.

CLAT Exam Pattern 

The national law entrance exam will be of two hours duration. The offline mode exam will have 200 objective type questions. Highlights of exam pattern of CLAT is as follows:  

• Mode of Examination: Offline
• Number of Sections: In LLB- 5 Sections and In LLM – 3 sections
• Nature of Questions: Objective type (MCQs)
• Total Questions: 200 Questions in LLB and 150 Questions in LLM
• Marking Scheme: 1 mark of each question
• Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for a wrong answer

Exam Pattern for LLB

• For undergraduate courses, the question paper will contain 5 sections namely - English (Comprehension), General Knowledge & Current Affairs, Elementary Mathematics (Numerical Ability), Legal Aptitude and Logical Reasoning.
• For every correct answer, a candidate will be awarded 1 mark and ¼ mark will be deducted for every wrong answer.

The section-wise distribution in the question paper is mentioned below:

Exam Pattern for LLM

• As perCLAT Paper Pattern, the postgraduate courses will contain 3 sections namely Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Contract, Torts, Criminal Law, International Law, IPR etc.
• The question paper for postgraduate courses will have a total of 150 multiple choice questions.
• In the LLM admission test, some subjective portion would also be included in 2019. 
• The details of the subjective portion will be worked out by the CLAT Executive Committee.

Distribution of questions in each section is indicated in the table below:

CLAT Syllabus

Aspirants appearing for legal aptitude test on May 12 should be fully aware of the syllabus. NLU Odisha, Cuttack will release the official CLAT Syllabus and there are no changes in the curriculum. The syllabus for UG program as mentioned on the official website is as follows:

Section 1: English including Comprehension

The questions in this section are from comprehension and grammar. They are designed in order to test a candidate’s aptitude in English. In the comprehension section, candidates are evaluated on the basis of their understanding of the passage, its central theme, the meaning of words etc. In the grammar section, candidates are required to spot the errors, fill in the blanks with an appropriate choice etc. 

Section 2: General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Candidates are tested on the basis of their awareness of national and international issues including static General Knowledge. It is important to keep oneself up-to-date with the news and other topics discussed in the print and digital media from March 2016 to April 2019.

Section 3: Mathematics

In this section, candidate’s aptitude for elementary Mathematics i.e. Math taught up to Class 10 will be tested.

Section 4: Legal Aptitude

The section tests candidate’s interest in the study of law, research aptitude and problem-solving ability. The official website stats – ‘Questions will be framed with the help of legal propositions (described in the paper), and a set of facts to which the said proposition has to be applied. Some propositions may not be "true" in the real sense (e.g. the legal proposition may be that any person who speaks in a movie hall and disturbs others that are watching the movie will be banned from entering any movie theatre across India for one year). Candidates will have to assume the "truth" of these propositions and answer the questions accordingly.’

Section 5: Logical Reasoning

The questions are designed to test candidate's ability to identify patterns, rectify illogical arguments and logical links. They will be framed around syllogisms, logical sequences, analogies, etc. However, visual reasoning will not be tested.

CLAT Books and Preparation Tips

The first step for preparation is to know about the paper pattern and syllabus of the exam. For undergraduate courses, students have to prepare 5 subjects namely English Comprehension, Elementary Mathematics, General Knowledge & Current affairs, Legal Aptitude & Logical Reasoning. Out of all the sections,  Legal Aptitude is the most important section. For preparing this section you can refer “Universal Guide to CLAT or A.P. Bhardwaj CLAT guide”. Do read newspapers on regular basis to prepare for current awareness questions. For elementary mathematics prepare syllabus of class 9^th & 10^th. In English comprehension, there will be 4-5 short passages on which around 20-22 questions will be asked 7-8 questions is based on antonyms & synonyms and rest questions will be on Grammar. For this, you can practice previous year mock test papers. You can also prepare these topics on online tutorials available for CLAT. Check Preparation tips for CLAT

Here we have compiled a small list of books which can prove to be helpful during your CLAT preparation:-

CLAT Answer Keys

As per the schedule, the answer keys for LLB and LLM Programs will be released online on May 15. Representation, if any, relating to the exam, questions or answer keys can be reported from May 16 to May 18. Provide Email ID and Password to access the Answer Keys. Steps to check the answer keys:

Step 1: Visit the official website of CLAT 2019.

Step 2: On the right side, a table of Important links will be there with the first link as ‘Click here to view Question and Answer Keys’. Click on it.

Step 3: A new page will appear, where a candidate has to provide his/her Registered Email ID and Password. Then click on ‘Login’ tab.

Step 4: Post that a new window will appear in which 5 tabs will be displayed. Click on ‘Candidate Response’ tab. Here, the answer keys will be displayed. 

In this sheet, candidate will be able to see the responses which they got right and wrong. The response sheet will have the following details:

• Participant ID 
• Participant Name
• Test Center Name
• Test Date
• Test Time
• Subject (CLAT 2019 UG/ CLAT 2019 PG)
• Marks Obtained
• Questions with correct answers 
• Marks obtained as per the Questions

Results/ Scorecard

Publishing of CLAT Result 2019: May 31

Visit CLAT Official Website to check the results, carrying the qualifying status of candidates in CLAT 2019. Enter the registered Email ID and Password to access CLAT Results. The document is released in the form of scorecard containing – 

• CLAT Scores
• All India Rank (AIR)
• Category Rank in CLAT

Steps to check Results

Step 1: Go to the official website of the Common Law Admission Test (clat.ac.in)

Step 2: Click on ‘Result’ tab.

Step 3: Enter your Registration No./ Roll No., DOB (dd/mm/yyyy) and security code.

Step 4: Click on ‘Login’ tab.

Step 5: View your results.

Important Points related to CLAT Results:

• The results are prepared by NLU Authorities.
• It is compiled on the basis of a candidate’s score in the law entrance exam.
• A merit list is also issued by the authorities.
• It will include state merit list and India merit lists.
• These lists are prepared as per candidate’s category, like, Unreserved/SC/ST/OBC/Women/SAP for CLAT 2019 exam.

CLAT Cut Off

With the increase in the number of test takers every year, the cut off also increases. This year it is expected to increase by 5 % to 10%. The statistics are declared by  CLAT Participating institutes individually.

• Cut off is the minimum score that needs to be secured in order to participate in the counselling procedure. 
• CLAT Cut Off forms the basis of counselling and seat allotment. 

The stats are calculated considering multiple factors listed below:

• Difficulty level of the paper,
• Availability of seats,
• Average marks scored in the test
• Total test population. 

CLAT Cut Off

CLAT 2017 was conducted by CNLU Patna and NUALS Kochi conducted CLAT 2018. Tabulated below is the first rank list:

CLAT Counselling 2019 

Commencement of CLAT 2019 Counselling: June 10 onwards

Latest: Official CLAT 2019 Counselling Guidelines – Click Here

• The centralised counselling will be conducted by the CLAT Office.
• Candidates will be alloted seats as per ‘merit-cum-preference’ basis. 
• Candidate must indicate their NLUs preference online where they want to take admission. 
• Candidates have to deposit INR 50,000 for securing allotted seat during counselling procedure.

How to Attend CLAT Counselling?

Step 1: Visit the official website of CLAT and click on ‘CLAT Counselling 2019’ link.

Step 2: Provide login details including User Id/ Registration Id and Password.

Step 3: Click on ‘Counselling’ tab.

Step 4: Go through the indicative seat allotment list of NLUs.

Step 5: Pay the requisite amount of CLAT 2019 counselling fee (applicable to only those candidates who have their names in the indicative list for the first time).

Step 6: Exercise ‘Seat Lock’ option given against the allotted NLU.

Step 7: Save a copy of the NLU seat allotted list. Click on Logout option

Documents Required for Counselling

• CLAT 2019 Application Form
• CLAT 2019 Admit Card
• CLAT 2019 Score Card
• Class 10^th Marks-sheet (Date of Birth proof)
• Class 12^th Marks-sheet (Academic Qualification/ Eligibility Criteria)
• Caste Certificate (If applicable)
• Specially-Abled Certificate (If applicable)
• NRI Certificate (If applicable)
• Sponsored NRI Certificate (If applicable)
• Domicile Certificate (If applicable) 

Read More about CLAT 2019 Counselling

CLAT 2019 FAQs

Ques. When is CLAT exam conducted every year?

Ans. The Common Law Admission Test or CLAT is held on the second Sunday of May every year. Nearly 50 thousand candidates register online for the law entrance examination.

Ques. What is the age wise eligibility to appear for CLAT Exam?

Ans. From the year 2016, the authorities removed the upper age limit. But, the lower age limit to apply online is below 20 years of age as on 1st July 2019 (22 years in case of SC/ST and Persons with Disability candidates).CheckCLAT Eligibility

Ques. Is there an option to write CLAT in offline mode?

Ans. Yes, from 2019 onwards, the examination will be conducted in pen-paper mode i.e. offline mode. Earlier, the examination was conducted in computer-based mode.

Ques. Is there any requirement of computer skills for appearing in CLAT 2019?

Ans. Law aspirants’ appearing for CLAT only needs to operate the computer mouse.

Ques. How many seats are there in National Law Universities?

Ans. For the year 2019, there are 19 NLUs offering admissions to law aspirants as per candidates score in CLAT 2019. The National Law Universities will offer a total of 2984 seats. As two new NLUs have been added, the number of seats has also increased.CheckCLAT Reservation.

Ques. Can a student apply to any other Law School / University using CLAT Score?

Ans. Yes, students can apply to a number of other private colleges using CLAT score. Some of the top Law Schools/ Universities, which accept CLAT Scores, are listed below.

• Alliance University, Bangalore
• Asian Law College, Noida
• Amity University, UP
• Azim Premji University, Bangalore
• Delhi Institute of Rural Development, Holambi, Delhi
• Institute of Law, Nirma University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat
• University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun, Uttrakhand
• School of Law, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
• Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
• Manipal University, Jaipur
• REVA University, Bangalore
• SRM University, Delhi NCR

CheckCLAT Participating Universities

Ques. What are the other major Law Entrance Exams for Law at the undergraduate level?

Ans. Some of the other major law entrance exams in India are listed below:

• AILET
• SET
• IPUCET
• KLSAT
• LSAT-India
• Christ CET
• ULSAT
• Army Law School Entrance Test
• Jamia Millia Islamia University, Faculty of Law – Common Entrance Test

Ques. If I do not clear the minimum CLAT Cut off 2019, will I still be eligible for final admissions?

Ans. No, it is necessary to qualify the minimum cut off for CLAT for further admission procedure. Failing in this step will make you ineligible to get admissions in any of the law schools accepting CLAT Scores.

Ques. When and how will I receive my CLAT Admit Card 2019?

Ans. Candidates who registered successfully will be issued their admit card online at clat.ac.in. The document will not be sent via post. Last date to download it is May 12, 2019.Know DetailsCLAT Admit Card

Ques. In case I lose or misplace my admit card at the exam center, can I download it later?

Ans. Yes, you must contact the concerned authorities and report the incident to them. They will help you with downloading the duplicate admit card.

Ques. On what occasions do students need to make payments on the CLAT website?

Ans. In the entire procedure for getting finally enrolled in the NLUs, candidates have to make payments on the following occasions:

1. Submitting the Online Application Form
2. If interested in downloading the Previous Year’s Question papers and
3. While participating in the counseling session.

Ques. Will I be given extra sheets/ papers for calculations/ rough work?

Ans. Yes, candidates appearing for the law entrance examination will be given sheets for rough work or calculations at the exam center by the invigilators. However, no candidate can carry his or her own notebooks or copies for any rough work.

Ques. How does CLAT Committee decide which NLU will hold the law exam?

Ans. The order is decided as per the NLU's year of establishment.

Ques. Can you list down the items that are banned to be carried at CLAT Exam Center 2019?

Ans. Listed below are the items or material that are strictly prohibited at the center:

• Mobile Phones
• Books/ chits/ sheets
• Electronic Gadgets
• Watches
• Calculator
• Stationary

Ques. Which are the colleges, which offer placements with salaries of 10 Lakh – 14 Lakh per annum?

Ans. Colleges, which offer placements with salaries of 10 Lakh – 14 Lakh per annum are:

1. National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore
2. NALSAR University of Law (NALSAR), Hyderabad
3. The National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal
4. The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata

Ques. Which are the colleges, which offer placements with salaries of 7 Lakh – 10 Lakh per annum?

Ans. Colleges that offer placements with salaries of 7 Lakh – 10 Lakh per annum are:

1. National Law University (NLU), Jodhpur
2. Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur
3. Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar
4. National Law University, Delhi
5. Symbiosis Law School, Pune
6. Symbiosis Law School, Noida
7. Government Law College, Mumbai
8. Indian Law Society, Pune

Ques. Who are the major Law Firms who recruit from National Law Universities?

Ans. The major Law Firms who recruit from National Law Universities are:

1. Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co
2. AZB & Partners
3. Khaitan & Co
4. J Sagar Associates
5. Luthra & Luthra
6. Trilegal
7. Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan
8. Nishith Desai Associates
9. Anand and Anand
10. Desai & Diwanji
11. Economic Laws Practice
12. Wadia Ghandy & Co
13. Phoenix Legal
14. DSK Legal
15. Fox Mandal

Ques. Who are the major MNCs who recruit from National Law Universities?

Ans. The major MNCs who recruit from National Law Universities are:

1. ITC Ltd.
2. SAIL
3. ICICI Bank
4. HDFC Bank
5. Unilever
6. P & G
7. Nestle
8. Tata
9. Infosys

Ques. Is there any arrangement for SAPs or PwDs?

Ans. Yes, there are arrangements made for the categories. They are as follows:

• They can opt either to arrange for his/ her own scribe or to make a request to the CLAT office to provide one for them.
• They will be entitled to a compensatory time of 40 minutes.

Check Guidelines for using Scribe in CLAT

Ques. How can I get past years CLAT question papers?

Ans. The past years CLAT question papers will be available at clat.ac.in. To download the previous year papers, a requisite fee need to be paid. For this year, INR 400 needs to be paid to access the papers.

Ques. Other than CLAT which other Law Exams should be kept in mind?

Ans. Apart from CLAT, there are various other state and national level law examination that one should be aware of. They are as follows:

1. AILET - All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) for admission in National Law University (NLU), Delhi.
2. Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET) conducted by the Symbiosis International University to get admission into Symbiosis Law School.
3. CET IPU - The Common Entrance test conducted by Indraprastha University, Delhi for various law colleges situated in Delhi and NCR including Amity Noida.
4. LSAT-India is a standardized test adopted as an admissions criterion by multiple law colleges across India.

Ques. What is the meaning of ‘Merit-cum-Preference’ basis in CLAT Counselling?

Ans. The term simply means that the allotment of seats will be given as per the candidate’s score in CLAT 2019 and the order of preference given by them at the time of registration.