CLAT PG 2026: Exam Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus, Pattern, Cutoff and Counselling

CLAT PG 2026 (Common Law Admission Test — Post Graduate) is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities for LLM (Master of Laws) admissions at 26 NLUs and IIULER Goa across India. The CLAT PG 2026 registration is currently open — it started on August 3, 2026 — with the exam confirmed for December 6, 2026 in offline (pen-and-paper) mode. More than 16,026 law graduates appeared in CLAT PG 2025 (the previous cycle) for approximately 1,590 LLM seats, making CLAT PG one of India’s most competitive law postgraduate entrance exams.

• Registration: CLAT PG 2026 registration opened on August 3, 2026 and is currently active. The last date to apply is October 31, 2026. The application fee is ₹4,000 for General/OBC/NRI and ₹3,500 for SC/ST/BPL/PWD candidates — apply at consortiumofnlus.ac.in before the deadline closes.
• Admit Card: The CLAT PG 2026 admit card is expected in late November 2026. In the previous cycle, the admit card was released on November 22, 2025 — about 14 days before the exam. Expect it around November 20–25, 2026.
• Exam Date: CLAT PG 2026 will be held on December 6, 2026 (Sunday), from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM in offline mode. You will mark answers on an OMR sheet with a ballpoint pen across 120 multiple-choice questions.
• Result: The CLAT PG 2026 result is expected in mid-December 2026. In the previous cycle (CLAT PG 2025), the result was declared on December 16, 2025 — just 9 days after the exam — followed by the first counselling allotment on January 7, 2026.

What is CLAT PG 2026?

CLAT PG stands for Common Law Admission Test — Post Graduate. The Consortium of National Law Universities conducts it every year for admission to one-year LLM (Master of Laws) programmes at 26 NLUs and IIULER Goa across India. CLAT PG 2026 is the exam for LLM admissions in the 2027–28 academic year, and it is scheduled for December 6, 2026.

The exam is entirely comprehension-based. All 120 questions come from passages extracted from real legal sources — Supreme Court and High Court judgments, statutory provisions, legal regulations, and legal commentary. You read the passage and answer questions based on it. There is no section-wise division of questions by subject — passages from different areas of law are mixed throughout the paper.

The exam is in offline (pen-and-paper) mode. You sit in an exam hall, receive a printed question booklet, and mark answers on an OMR sheet using a ballpoint pen. There are 120 MCQs to solve in 120 minutes. There is negative marking — 0.25 marks are deducted for every wrong answer.

More than 16,026 candidates appeared in CLAT PG 2025 (the previous cycle) for around 1,590 LLM seats — a roughly 10:1 competition ratio. NLU Delhi does not participate in CLAT PG; it conducts its own separate AILET PG exam for LLM admissions.

CLAT PG 2026: Quick Overview

Source: Consortium of National Law Universities — Official CLAT PG 2026 Notification

CLAT PG 2026 Important Dates

The Consortium of NLUs released the CLAT PG 2026 notification on July 22, 2026, and opened registration on August 3, 2026. The exam date — December 6, 2026 — is officially confirmed. Dates for the admit card, result, and counselling are expected based on the CLAT PG 2025 timeline and will be announced on the official website.

CLAT PG 2026 registration is currently open. The last date to apply is October 31, 2026. Fill your application form now to avoid a last-minute rush.

Dates for the admit card, result, allotment, and counselling are expected based on the CLAT PG 2025 schedule. Official dates will be published on consortiumofnlus.ac.in as the cycle progresses.

CLAT PG 2026 Eligibility Criteria

You can apply for CLAT PG 2026 if you hold an LLB degree from a recognised university and meet the marks requirement. There is no upper age limit. Both Indian nationals and international candidates can apply.

Educational Qualification

You must have completed an LLB degree or an equivalent law qualification from a university recognised by the Bar Council of India or the University Grants Commission. Both a 3-year LLB (after graduation) and a 5-year integrated BA LLB/BBA LLB/BSc LLB programme are accepted.

Minimum Marks in LLB

Final Year Appearing Candidates

If you are in the final year of your LLB programme, you can still apply and appear for CLAT PG 2026. Your admission will be provisionally confirmed if you are allotted a seat. However, you must produce your final LLB degree certificate showing the required qualifying percentage before the LLM session starts. If you fail the degree or do not meet the marks cutoff, your admission will be cancelled.

Age Limit

There is no upper age limit for CLAT PG 2026. Candidates of any age can register and appear for the exam as long as they meet the educational qualification and marks requirements.

Nationality

Indian nationals can apply. NRIs and foreign nationals may also apply under a separate supernumerary category with different seat allocation. This quota is small and varies by NLU — check with the specific NLU before applying under the NRI/foreign national category.

Final-year LLB students who apply must pass their LLB and meet the minimum marks requirement before the start of the LLM academic session. Failure to submit a passing certificate will result in cancellation of admission.

CLAT PG 2026 Application Process and Fee

The CLAT PG 2026 application form is available online at consortiumofnlus.ac.in. Registration opened on August 3, 2026 and closes on October 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM. Apply well before the deadline — the portal can slow down in the final days as more candidates rush to submit.

How to Apply for CLAT PG 2026 — Step by Step

• Visit the official website: consortiumofnlus.ac.in and click the CLAT PG 2026 registration link
• Create your account by entering your name, email ID, and mobile number; verify your email before proceeding
• Log in and fill in your personal details — date of birth, gender, category, address, and contact information
• Enter your educational details — LLB college name, university, year of passing or expected year, and marks obtained or expected
• Upload your recent passport-size photograph and scanned signature in the required size and format
• Upload supporting documents: your LLB degree certificate (or final-year admit card if in final year) and category certificate if applicable
• Choose up to three preferred exam city options
• Pay the application fee online using credit card, debit card, UPI, or net banking
• Submit the form and save or print your confirmation page — keep it for reference and in case of any grievance

CLAT PG 2026 Application Fee

The application fee is non-refundable. Double-check your name, date of birth, category, and LLB percentage before submitting the payment — corrections after submission may not be allowed.

The last date to submit the CLAT PG 2026 application form is October 31, 2026 by 11:59 PM. There is no late fee window. If you miss this deadline, you cannot appear for CLAT PG 2026.

CLAT PG 2026 Syllabus

The CLAT PG 2026 syllabus covers all core compulsory subjects from the LLB programme, tested through comprehension passages. Unlike CLAT UG — which covers language, general knowledge, and logical reasoning — CLAT PG tests only your legal knowledge and your ability to read, reason, and apply law from dense legal text.

Comprehension-Based Format

The Consortium designs CLAT PG as a passage-based exam. Passages are drawn from primary legal sources: landmark Supreme Court and High Court judgments, statutory provisions, government notifications, and academic legal writings. You do not need to memorise bare-act text — but you need solid conceptual clarity to follow complex legal arguments in a passage and answer related questions accurately.

Core Law Subjects Covered in CLAT PG 2026

• Constitutional Law: Fundamental rights, directive principles, federalism, constitutional amendments, basic structure doctrine, PIL, separation of powers, and landmark SC decisions including Kesavananda Bharati, Maneka Gandhi, SR Bommai, and recent rulings
• Jurisprudence and Legal Theory: Natural law, legal positivism (Austin, Hart), legal realism, Dworkin, Raz, Rawls’ theory of justice, concepts of rights, duties, ownership, and possession
• Administrative Law: Principles of natural justice, judicial review of administrative action, delegated legislation, tribunals, ombudsman, and doctrine of legitimate expectation
• Law of Contract: Indian Contract Act 1872 — formation, offer and acceptance, consideration, breach, void agreements, remedies, quasi-contracts, and specific performance
• Law of Torts: Negligence, strict and absolute liability (Rylands v Fletcher, MC Mehta), nuisance, defamation, vicarious liability, and consumer torts
• Criminal Law: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 / IPC — general exceptions, offences against persons and property, mens rea, common intention, abetment, and conspiracy
• Family Law: Hindu personal law (marriage, divorce, adoption, maintenance, succession under HMA and HSA), Muslim law, Christian law, and Parsi law
• Property Law: Transfer of Property Act 1882 — sale, mortgage, lease, gift, exchange, and actionable claims; also easements and licences
• Company Law: Companies Act 2013 — incorporation, directors, shareholders, corporate governance, dividends, and winding up
• Public International Law: Sources of international law, state responsibility, treaties, international organisations (UN, ICJ), and customary international law
• Environmental Law: Environment Protection Act 1986, Water Act, Air Act, Forest laws, sustainable development, and the polluter pays principle
• Labour and Industrial Law: Labour Codes 2019–20, Industrial Disputes Act, Trade Unions Act, and employment law principles
• Tax Law: Constitutional provisions on taxation, income tax basics, GST framework, and direct vs indirect tax principles
• Law of Evidence: Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam / Indian Evidence Act — admissibility, relevancy, burden of proof, and presumptions

Which Subjects Are Most Important?

Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence appear most frequently in every CLAT PG paper. Constitutional Law passages routinely come from landmark Supreme Court judgments. Give these two subjects at least 40% of your total preparation time. Contract Law, Criminal Law, and Family Law also appear often and should not be ignored.

CLAT PG 2026 Admit Card

The CLAT PG 2026 admit card is expected in late November 2026 on consortiumofnlus.ac.in. In the previous cycle (CLAT PG 2025), the admit card was released on November 22, 2025 — about 14 days before the December 7, 2025 exam. Following the same pattern, you can expect the CLAT PG 2026 admit card around November 20–25, 2026.

How to Download CLAT PG 2026 Admit Card

• Go to consortiumofnlus.ac.in
• Click on the CLAT PG 2026 admit card download link when it becomes active
• Log in with your registered email ID and password
• Download your admit card and take a colour printout on A4 paper

Information Printed on the Admit Card

• Candidate’s name and roll number
• Exam date (December 6, 2026) and time (2:00 PM to 4:00 PM)
• Exam centre name and full address
• Reporting time — typically 30 to 45 minutes before the exam begins
• Candidate’s photograph and signature
• Important exam-day instructions from the Consortium

Documents to Carry on Exam Day

• Printed CLAT PG 2026 admit card — a physical printout is mandatory; digital copies on a phone are not accepted
• One original valid photo ID — Aadhaar card, PAN card, Passport, or Driving Licence
• Two or three black or blue ballpoint pens for marking the OMR sheet

You must carry a physical printout of the admit card to the exam centre. Screenshots or digital copies shown on a mobile phone will not be accepted at the gate.

CLAT PG 2026 Answer Key

After the CLAT PG 2026 exam on December 6, 2026, the Consortium of NLUs will release a provisional answer key within 3 to 5 days. In the previous cycle (CLAT PG 2025), the provisional answer key came out shortly after the December 7, 2025 exam, with the objection window open for 2 days. The final answer key was released before the result declaration on December 16, 2025.

Expected Answer Key Timeline for CLAT PG 2026

• Provisional Answer Key: Expected in the first week of December 2026, a few days after the exam
• Objection Window: Typically 2 to 3 days after the provisional key is published
• Final Answer Key: Released after the Consortium reviews all objections — expected mid-December 2026
• Result: Declared based on the final answer key — expected mid-December 2026

How to Raise Objections Against the CLAT PG 2026 Answer Key

• Log in to your candidate portal on consortiumofnlus.ac.in after the provisional key is released
• Compare each question and the Consortium’s answer with your own response
• If you believe an answer is incorrect, raise an objection with a valid reference — a standard textbook, a Supreme Court judgment, or a statutory provision
• Pay the objection fee per question (the exact amount will be announced when the key is released)
• The Consortium reviews all valid objections before publishing the final key

The CLAT PG 2026 result will be calculated based on the final answer key only. No changes are possible after the final key is published. In CLAT PG 2025, one question was withdrawn after the objection process, and the result was calculated out of 119 marks.

Top NLUs Accepting CLAT PG 2026 Score

The CLAT PG 2026 score is accepted by 26 National Law Universities and IIULER Goa for LLM admissions. Together, these institutions offer approximately 1,590 LLM seats for the 2027–28 academic session. NLU Delhi (NLUD) does not participate in CLAT PG — it conducts its own AILET PG exam separately.

NLSIU (AIR 108) and NALSAR (AIR 143) are confirmed Round 1 closing ranks from CLAT PG 2025. Seat counts are approximate — check the official seat matrix at consortiumofnlus.ac.in for exact figures. Closing ranks for other NLUs are estimated based on trend data.

LLM Specialisations Available at NLUs

NLUs offer LLM in various specialisations. Common ones are:

• Constitutional and Administrative Law
• Criminal Law
• Corporate and Commercial Law
• Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Law
• International Law
• Human Rights Law
• Environmental Law
• Family Law and Personal Laws

Specialisation availability varies by NLU. Some NLUs offer 6 or more specialisations; smaller ones may offer only 2 or 3. Check each NLU’s official website to confirm what is available before you fill your counselling preference order.

How to Choose Between NLUs

When filling your NLU preference during counselling, do not choose based only on the cutoff rank. Consider the NLU’s location, faculty, LLM specialisation options, alumni network, and placement quality. NLSIU Bengaluru and NALSAR Hyderabad are widely regarded as the top two choices for most CLAT PG candidates.

CLAT PG 2026 Preparation Tips

CLAT PG 2026 tests your ability to read, understand, and reason through legal texts — not just to memorise law. Strong preparation combines deep subject knowledge with fast reading speed and disciplined negative-marking strategy. With the exam on December 6, 2026, and registration closing October 31, 2026, you have limited time. Use it well.

1. Prioritise Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence

These two subjects appear in virtually every CLAT PG paper. Constitutional Law passages routinely come from landmark SC judgments — read the full text of at least 20 major constitutional decisions, including Kesavananda Bharati, Maneka Gandhi, Vishaka, SR Bommai, K.S. Puttaswamy (Privacy), and significant 2024–2025 rulings. For Jurisprudence, focus on Hart, Austin, Dworkin, Fuller, and Rawls — knowing their theories in depth helps you process theory-of-law passages quickly and accurately.

2. Read Primary Legal Sources — Not Just Textbooks

CLAT PG passages come from actual judgments and statutes. Textbooks summarise the law, but the exam tests you on the actual language of legal reasoning. Get into the habit of reading the original ratio decidendi of cases on Indian Kanoon or SCC Online. This improves your comprehension speed for dense legal text — a skill you need on exam day more than any fact you can memorise.

3. Solve Previous Year Papers Under Exam Conditions

Solve at least 5 to 7 years of CLAT PG previous year question papers in timed, exam-like conditions — 120 minutes, no breaks, no looking up answers mid-test. After each paper, go through every question, including the ones you got right, to understand the reasoning pattern. Previous papers also reveal which areas of law appear most often. CLAT PG 2025 (December 7, 2025) and CLAT PG 2024 (December 1, 2024) papers are publicly available — start with these.

4. Master Time Management — 1 Minute Per Question

With 120 questions in 120 minutes, you have exactly 1 minute per question on average. In practice, reading a passage of 300–500 words takes 3 to 5 minutes, and each of the 5 to 8 questions following it should take under 40 seconds. Practice identifying the key argument of a passage within the first 2 minutes. Never spend more than 90 seconds on any one question — skip it, mark it, and return at the end.

5. Handle Negative Marking Strategically

Each wrong answer costs 0.25 marks. If you attempt 80 questions and get 10 wrong, you lose 2.5 marks — which can shift your rank significantly. Do not guess randomly. If you can eliminate 2 of the 4 options confidently, the expected value of guessing is positive. If you cannot eliminate any option clearly, leave the question blank. Build this habit through timed mock practice, not just in theory.

6. Stay Current on Legal Developments in 2026

CLAT PG 2026 may include passages from recent Supreme Court judgments delivered in 2025–2026. Spend 15 to 20 minutes each week from now until November 2026 reviewing major SC rulings, new legislation, and significant legal developments. When a passage about a recent case appears in the exam, you will read it faster because you already know its background.