CLAT 2026 Syllabus covers five sections: English Language, Current Affairs including General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) conducted CLAT 2026 on December 7, 2025. The syllabus remained unchanged from the previous cycle. It retained the comprehension-based, aptitude-focused approach introduced in 2020. You should download the official syllabus from consortiumofnlus.ac.in and plan your preparation around all five sections.
- The CLAT 2026 syllabus covers 5 sections: English Language, Current Affairs & GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques.
- The exam had 120 questions for 120 marks, to be completed in 2 hours in offline (pen-and-paper) mode.
- Legal Reasoning and Current Affairs & GK each carry 25% weightage — the two most important sections for your final score.
- There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer.
- The CLAT 2026 syllabus is identical to CLAT 2025 — no new topics were added and none were removed.
- All questions are passage-based — you are tested on comprehension and application, not direct recall of facts.
- The official syllabus is available at consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
Students preparing for CLAT 2027 (exam scheduled December 6, 2026) should use the same five-section syllabus — no changes have been announced for the upcoming cycle.
CLAT Syllabus 2026: Overview
The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) prescribes the CLAT 2026 syllabus. CLAT is the single entrance test for admission to 27 National Law Universities across India. The UG-CLAT syllabus evaluates aptitude and reasoning skills. No prior legal knowledge is required — not even for the Legal Reasoning section.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) |
| Official Website | consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
| Exam Mode | Offline – Pen and Paper Based |
| Total Questions | 120 |
| Total Marks | 120 (1 mark per question) |
| Duration | 2 Hours (120 Minutes) |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions – Passage-Based |
| Negative Marking | –0.25 marks for every wrong answer |
| Number of Sections | 5 |
| Participating Institutions | 27 National Law Universities |
| Syllabus Revision (2026 vs 2025) | No change – same five sections, same weightage, same format |
CLAT 2026 Important Dates
All CLAT 2026 events concluded by late January 2026. CLAT 2027 registration opened on August 3, 2026, and is currently active. The table below lists upcoming CLAT 2027 events first, followed by the completed CLAT 2026 schedule in chronological order.
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CLAT 2027 Registration Window | August 3 – October 31, 2026 | Ongoing |
| CLAT 2027 Admit Card | Expected: Last Week of November 2026 | Upcoming |
| CLAT 2027 Exam Date | December 6, 2026 | Upcoming |
| CLAT 2026 Application Start | August 1, 2025 | Over |
| CLAT 2026 Application End | October 31, 2025 | Over |
| CLAT 2026 Admit Card Release | November 2025 | Over |
| CLAT 2026 Exam Date | December 7, 2025 | Over |
| CLAT 2026 Answer Key | December 2025 | Over |
| CLAT 2026 Result | December 16, 2025 | Over |
| CLAT 2026 Counselling Registration Deadline | December 27, 2025 | Over |
| CLAT 2026 1st Merit List | January 7, 2026 | Over |
| CLAT 2026 2nd Merit List | January 22, 2026 | Over |
CLAT 2026 Syllabus for English Language
English Language carries approximately 20% weightage — around 24 questions. You read passages of about 450 words each. Passages come from fiction, non-fiction, contemporary writing, and historically significant texts. Questions test comprehension, inference, and vocabulary in context. Grammar rules in isolation do not appear.
| Topic Area | Sub-Topics and Skills Tested |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | Sub-topics of Reading Comprehension – Click Here Identifying the main idea and central theme; understanding the author’s purpose and perspective; recognising the structure and flow of arguments in the passage; identifying supporting details for the main claim; distinguishing between primary and secondary points in the text. |
| Inference and Interpretation | Sub-topics of Inference and Interpretation – Click Here Drawing logical inferences from stated information; identifying implied meaning not explicitly stated; distinguishing fact from opinion within the passage; recognising the tone and mood (critical, appreciative, neutral, ironic, satirical); identifying unstated assumptions within arguments in the passage. |
| Vocabulary in Context | Identifying word and phrase meanings as used in the passage; selecting contextual synonyms and antonyms; replacing highlighted words with contextually appropriate alternatives from the options. |
| Sentence and Passage Completion | Completing a summary, paragraph, or passage with the most appropriate word or phrase; identifying the most logical continuation of the author’s argument. |
| True / False / Cannot Say | Identifying whether given statements are directly supported, contradicted, or neither confirmed nor denied by the passage. |
You do not need to memorise grammar rules for CLAT English — the section rewards careful, active reading and the ability to distinguish what the passage says from what you assume it says.
Source: Consortium of NLUs – CLAT 2026 UG Syllabus
CLAT 2026 Syllabus for Current Affairs & General Knowledge
Current Affairs and General Knowledge carries 25% weightage — approximately 30 questions. Passages are sourced from news articles, government releases, and research reports (300–500 words each). Questions test your ability to relate passage content to a wider understanding of current events. You must follow news consistently for at least 12 months before the exam.
| Topic Area | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| National Current Affairs | Sub-topics of National Current Affairs – Click Here Government policies, schemes, and welfare programmes; important legislation and constitutional amendments; political developments; appointments to constitutional and statutory positions; major Supreme Court and High Court judgments; national awards including Padma Awards; India’s internal developments in governance and security. |
| International Affairs | Sub-topics of International Affairs – Click Here Major bilateral and multilateral agreements; India’s foreign policy developments; international organisations and summits (UN, WTO, IMF, World Bank, G20, BRICS, SCO); global political transitions; international humanitarian law and human rights developments; India’s role in international peacekeeping and diplomacy. |
| Economy and Business | Economic indicators and GDP data; Union Budget highlights; RBI monetary policy decisions; major infrastructure and industrial developments; trade policy and FDI news. |
| Science and Technology | Space missions (ISRO and global agencies); medical and public health breakthroughs; technology policy and digital governance developments; notable scientific discoveries and inventions. |
| Sports | Major national and international sporting events; Olympic, Commonwealth, and Asian Games results; individual athlete awards; India’s performance in international competitions. |
| Arts, Culture, and Heritage | Literary awards (Booker Prize, Sahitya Akademi Award, JCB Prize); cultural institutions and festivals; UNESCO World Heritage designations; notable films, books, and personalities. |
| Environment and Ecology | Climate change conferences (COP); national and international environmental legislation; endangered species and conservation efforts; pollution data and climate reports. |
| Static General Knowledge | Key constitutional facts; Indian freedom movement highlights; Indian geography; mandates of major international bodies — tested as contextual background in current affairs passages. |
CLAT 2026 Syllabus for Legal Reasoning
Legal Reasoning carries 25% weightage — approximately 30 questions. Each passage presents a legal principle or rule set. You apply those rules to new fact situations in the questions. No prior legal knowledge is required — the passage always provides the principle you need to apply. Students from all academic streams are equally placed in this section.
| Area of Law | Topics Covered in Passages |
|---|---|
| Law of Torts | Topics in Law of Torts – Click Here Negligence and contributory negligence; Strict Liability (Rylands v Fletcher principle) and Absolute Liability (M.C. Mehta precedent); Vicarious Liability of employers; Defamation (libel and slander); Private and Public Nuisance; Trespass to person and property; Occupier’s Liability; remoteness of damage. |
| Contract Law | Topics in Contract Law – Click Here Valid, void, and voidable contracts; essentials of a valid contract (offer and acceptance, consideration, free consent, capacity, lawful object); breach of contract and its remedies; specific performance; quasi-contracts; contracts of indemnity and guarantee; standard form contracts and unconscionability. |
| Criminal Law | Topics in Criminal Law – Click Here Mens Rea (criminal intent) and Actus Reus (criminal act) and their relationship; general defences in criminal law (self-defence, insanity, necessity, intoxication, duress); offences against the human body; offences against property; provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) replacing the IPC; cognizable and non-cognizable offences. |
| Constitutional Law | Fundamental Rights (Part III) and their scope and limitations; Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV); Right to Equality (Articles 14–18); Right to Freedom (Articles 19–22); Right to Life and Personal Liberty (Article 21); separation of powers; judicial review; constitutional amendments and their scope. |
| Family Law | Conditions of valid marriage under different personal laws; divorce and judicial separation; adoption and guardianship; inheritance and succession; maintenance rights under civil law and personal law statutes. |
| Intellectual Property Rights | Copyright — ownership, fair use, and infringement; Patents — novelty requirement and patent infringement; Trademarks — passing off and infringement; trade secrets and data protection principles. |
| Public International Law | Concepts of sovereignty and statehood; international treaties and their binding force; international dispute resolution mechanisms; diplomatic immunity and consular relations. |
| Consumer and Environmental Law | Consumer Protection Act — product liability, deficiency in service, and consumer rights; Polluter Pays principle; Right to a Healthy Environment under Article 21; public nuisance in environmental contexts; landmark environmental judgments. |
Source: Consortium of NLUs – CLAT 2026 UG Syllabus
CLAT 2026 Syllabus for Logical Reasoning
Logical Reasoning carries 20% weightage — approximately 24 questions. You read analytical passages of 350–500 words and answer questions on argument evaluation, inference, and conclusions. Standalone puzzle-type questions do not appear. All reasoning tasks are rooted in a passage. In CLAT 2026, this section placed greater emphasis on analytical reasoning — time management is critical; target no more than 1 minute per question.
| Skill Tested | Description and Topics |
|---|---|
| Argument Evaluation | Topics in Argument Evaluation – Click Here Identifying the main argument or conclusion in the passage; distinguishing strong from weak arguments; recognising valid versus invalid argument structures; identifying logical fallacies and errors of reasoning; evaluating whether a conclusion follows logically from the given premises. |
| Inferences and Conclusions | Drawing conclusions that must be true based on the passage; identifying the best possible inference from the options; distinguishing between what is stated and what is merely assumed. |
| Assumptions | Identifying unstated assumptions required for an argument to hold; distinguishing necessary from sufficient assumptions; evaluating whether a given statement functions as an assumption or a stated fact. |
| Strengthening and Weakening | Selecting the option that most strengthens or most weakens a given argument in the passage; identifying the most effective counter-argument to the author’s position. |
| Analogies and Parallel Reasoning | Identifying reasoning patterns that parallel the structure of the original argument; applying the same logical structure to a new context or scenario. |
| Syllogisms and Deductive Reasoning | Deriving conclusions from two or more given statements; identifying which conclusions must follow from a set of premises; testing validity of syllogistic argument forms. |
CLAT 2026 Syllabus for Quantitative Techniques
Quantitative Techniques carries 10% weightage — approximately 12 questions. This section presents numerical data in a short passage, table, or graph. You perform simple mathematical operations on that data. The mathematics is at Class 10 level only. No advanced concepts appear here.
| Topic | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Basic Arithmetic | Ratio and proportion; percentages and percentage change; profit and loss; simple interest and compound interest; averages (arithmetic mean); fractions and decimals. |
| Number Systems and Algebra | Properties of integers; LCM and HCF; factors and multiples; divisibility rules; basic algebraic expressions at Class 10 level. |
| Time, Speed, and Work | Time, speed, and distance problems; time and work calculations; pipes and cisterns at basic level. |
| Data Interpretation | Sub-topics of Data Interpretation – Click Here Reading and interpreting data tables; bar graphs (simple and grouped); pie charts (percentage share analysis); line graphs (trend and rate of change); calculating percentage change, ratio, difference, and share from graphical or tabular data; combining two data sources to answer a single question. |
| Elementary Statistics | Mean, median, and mode from a given data set; interpreting statistical summaries presented in a passage or table; understanding simple statistical conclusions. |
Quantitative Techniques is the most predictable section in CLAT — strong Class 10 Maths preparation and daily data interpretation practice can consistently deliver 10 or more correct answers out of 12.
CLAT 2026 Section-Wise Weightage
CLAT 2026 had 120 questions for 120 marks across five sections. Legal Reasoning and Current Affairs & GK together account for 50% of the paper. These two sections determine where most students gain or lose marks.
| Section | Approx. Questions | Marks | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 24 | 24 | 20% |
| Current Affairs & General Knowledge | 30 | 30 | 25% |
| Legal Reasoning | 30 | 30 | 25% |
| Logical Reasoning | 24 | 24 | 20% |
| Quantitative Techniques | 12 | 12 | 10% |
| Total | 120 | 120 | 100% |
Note: The Consortium of NLUs does not pre-fix exact question counts per section. The figures above reflect the approved weightage percentages. Actual question count may vary slightly from paper to paper within the stated percentage range.
Best Books for CLAT 2026 Preparation
Choosing fewer targeted books gives better results than building a large collection. Each title below matches the comprehension-based format the CLAT 2026 syllabus demands. Select one book per section and work through it fully.
| Section | Book Name | Author / Publisher | Why This Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis | Builds contextual vocabulary through word roots and usage — directly applicable to CLAT passage questions |
| English Language | How to Read Better and Faster | Norman Lewis | Trains reading speed and comprehension retention — critical for timed passage-based questions |
| Current Affairs & GK | Lucent’s General Knowledge | Lucent Publications | Covers static GK topics that provide essential background context for news-based CLAT passages |
| Current Affairs & GK | Monthly Current Affairs Capsule (Law-focused) | DLA / NLTI and similar law-specific publishers | Law-entrance-filtered monthly summaries covering exactly the events and legal developments CLAT passages draw from |
| Legal Reasoning | Legal Awareness and Legal Reasoning | A.P. Bhardwaj | CLAT-specific coverage of all major law areas with principle-application practice sets |
| Legal Reasoning | Universal’s Guide to CLAT & LL.B. Entrance Examination | Universal Publishers | Broad legal topic coverage with solved previous year papers for passage-application practice |
| Logical Reasoning | Analytical Reasoning | M.K. Pandey (BSC Publishing) | Best resource for argument evaluation and critical reasoning — the most frequently tested skills in CLAT Logical Reasoning |
| Quantitative Techniques | Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | R.S. Aggarwal (S. Chand) | Covers all Class 10-level topics with extensive exercises; includes data interpretation practice sets |
How to Download CLAT 2026 Syllabus PDF
Follow these steps to access and save the official CLAT 2026 UG syllabus from the Consortium of NLUs website. The Consortium publishes the syllabus as a web page. Use your browser’s PDF-save option to keep an offline copy.
- Visit the official website at consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
- Navigate to the CLAT 2026 section from the top navigation menu or homepage.
- Click on "UG Syllabus" from the left-side sub-menu under CLAT 2026.
- The full syllabus will load in your browser as a web page.
- Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to open the print dialog.
- Select "Save as PDF" as the destination and click Save.
Note: Students preparing for CLAT 2027 should also bookmark the Consortium website — any syllabus updates for CLAT 2027 will appear as official notifications on consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
CLAT 2026 Preparation Tips: Section-Wise Strategy
Your preparation time should reflect section-wise weightage. Legal Reasoning and Current Affairs together account for 50% of the paper. Spend the most study hours on these two sections while keeping the others consistent in your daily schedule.
English Language
- Read one editorial from The Hindu or Indian Express every day — this builds both reading speed and inference skill.
- After finishing each passage, summarise it in 2–3 sentences from memory. This tests and trains retention.
- Focus on identifying the author’s tone: critical, appreciative, neutral, or ironic.
- Build vocabulary from reading in context, not from isolated word lists.
- Practise 3–4 full comprehension passages daily under timed conditions — complete each 450-word passage and its questions within 8 minutes.
Current Affairs & General Knowledge
- Follow a single reliable newspaper every day for at least 12 months before the exam.
- Maintain a monthly notebook under these headings: Polity, Economy, Science & Tech, Sports, International Affairs.
- Focus on events with legal or policy implications — these generate CLAT passages more often than general news.
- Revise your monthly current affairs notes in the final two months before the exam date.
- Do not neglect static GK — it provides the contextual background needed to answer current affairs passage questions correctly.
Legal Reasoning
- Never attempt to memorise legal rules before the exam — CLAT always provides the applicable principle in the passage.
- Practise identifying the exact scope and exceptions of each principle stated in a passage.
- Cover Torts, Contract, and Criminal Law first — these areas appear most frequently as passage bases.
- Follow landmark judgment news — recent court rulings often appear as the basis of Legal Reasoning passages.
- The key skill is applying a stated principle to a new fact situation — practise this daily using official CLAT mock tests.
Logical Reasoning
- Always identify the conclusion of an argument before scanning the answer options.
- Argument evaluation questions (strengthen / weaken the argument) are the most scoring type — prioritise them in practice.
- Time yourself strictly — 1 minute per question is the maximum you can afford in this section.
- Use official CLAT mock test passages rather than standalone reasoning textbook exercises.
Quantitative Techniques
- Revise NCERT Mathematics for Class 9 and 10 to refresh core concepts before attempting practice problems.
- Focus more preparation time on data interpretation than on pure calculation — it forms the majority of this section.
- Practise reading tables and graphs quickly to locate the exact numbers needed under time pressure.
- Target 90%+ accuracy in Quantitative Techniques — it is the most predictable section and should not cost you marks.
CLAT Syllabus 2026 FAQs
Ques. Is the CLAT 2026 syllabus the same as CLAT 2025?
Ans. Yes, the CLAT 2026 syllabus is identical to CLAT 2025. The Consortium of NLUs made no structural or content changes between the two cycles. Both use the same five sections with the same passage-based format. The weightage percentages are also unchanged. The only minor shift observed in CLAT 2026 was a slightly higher proportion of analytical reasoning puzzles in the Logical Reasoning section.
Ques. Which section has the highest weightage in CLAT 2026?
Ans. Legal Reasoning and Current Affairs & General Knowledge both carry 25% weightage — the highest among all five sections. Each section has approximately 30 questions out of 120. Together they account for half the paper, making them the sections with the greatest impact on your final score and college rank.
Ques. Does CLAT Legal Reasoning require prior knowledge of law?
Ans. No. CLAT Legal Reasoning does not test prior legal education. Every passage provides the legal principle or rule you need to answer the questions. Your task is to apply the stated principle to the facts given in the question. Students from Science, Commerce, and Arts backgrounds are on equal footing in this section — the passage is your only source.
Ques. Where can I download the official CLAT 2026 syllabus PDF?
Ans. The official CLAT 2026 UG syllabus is available at consortiumofnlus.ac.in/clat-2026/ug-syllabus.html. The Consortium publishes it as a web page rather than a downloadable PDF file. Use your browser’s Print → Save as PDF option to save an offline copy.
Ques. How many questions are there in CLAT 2026?
Ans. CLAT 2026 had 120 multiple-choice questions for 120 marks. The duration was 2 hours. Each correct answer gives +1 mark. Each incorrect answer gives –0.25 marks. Unattempted questions carry zero marks. The paper was conducted in offline (pen-and-paper) mode.
Ques. Is Quantitative Techniques difficult in CLAT?
Ans. Quantitative Techniques is the most manageable section for most students. It covers Class 10-level mathematics only — percentages, ratios, averages, profit and loss, and data interpretation from graphs and tables. If you revise NCERT Class 9 and 10 Maths and practise data interpretation sets regularly, you can consistently score 10 or more out of 12 questions.
Ques. What are the most important topics in CLAT 2026 Legal Reasoning?
Ans. Law of Torts (Negligence, Strict Liability, Defamation), Contract Law (valid contracts, breach, consideration), and Criminal Law (Mens Rea, Actus Reus, defences) appear most frequently in CLAT Legal Reasoning passages. Constitutional Law and IPR also appear regularly. Because the passage provides the applicable principle every time, consistent practice of principle-application is more valuable than memorising legal rules.
Ques. What books should I follow for CLAT Current Affairs preparation?
Ans. Follow one newspaper daily — The Hindu or Indian Express is ideal. Supplement with a law-specific monthly current affairs capsule from publishers like DLA or NLTI. Lucent’s General Knowledge covers the static GK context needed for passage questions. Do not subscribe to multiple news sources — focused, consistent reading of one source produces better results than skimming several.
Ques. Has the CLAT 2027 syllabus changed from CLAT 2026?
Ans. As of August 2026, the Consortium of NLUs has not announced any syllabus changes for CLAT 2027. The CLAT 2027 exam is scheduled for December 6, 2026, and registration is open until October 31, 2026. Students preparing for CLAT 2027 should follow the same five-section syllabus. Check consortiumofnlus.ac.in for any official updates before finalising your study plan.
Ques. How should I prepare for the English Language section in CLAT?
Ans. Daily editorial reading builds the comprehension and inference skills the English section tests. Practise identifying the main idea, author’s tone, and implied meaning in each passage. Focus on vocabulary in context rather than memorising isolated word lists. Attempt timed passage exercises — aim to complete one 450-word passage with its questions in under 8 minutes. Norman Lewis’s books are particularly well-suited to CLAT English preparation.
Ques. What is the negative marking scheme in CLAT 2026?
Ans. CLAT 2026 carried a –0.25 mark penalty for every wrong answer. A correct answer gives +1 mark. An unattempted question carries 0 marks. In practical terms, every four wrong answers cancel out one correct answer. You must avoid random guessing — especially in sections where you are unsure of the passage content.
Ques. Can students from Science or Commerce stream appear for CLAT?
Ans. Yes. CLAT is open to students from all streams — Science, Commerce, and Arts. You must have passed or be appearing in Class 12. The minimum aggregate for General category students is 45% in Class 12. For SC/ST students, the minimum is 40%. No specific subject combination at Class 12 level is required to apply.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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