The CLAT 2026 (Common Law Admission Test) was conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities on December 7, 2025, in offline mode from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The paper comprised 120 questions carrying 120 marks, with a negative marking of 0.25 for each wrong answer. Students who appeared described the overall paper as moderate in difficulty — tougher than CLAT 2025 — with the Logical Reasoning section emerging as the key differentiator. The highest UG score recorded was 112.75 marks.
Immediately after the exam, Collegedunia gathered feedback from students across exam centres. Most students found the English Language and Current Affairs sections manageable, while Logical Reasoning posed the greatest challenge. The complete absence of Critical Reasoning questions — replaced entirely by Analytical Reasoning puzzles — caught many aspirants off guard and created significant time pressure.
Collegedunia correspondents collected on-the-spot reactions from students at multiple exam centres across India.
"The Logical Reasoning section completely changed my strategy. I had prepared well for Critical Reasoning, but the paper had only complex analytical puzzles — two of them were as tough as CAT-level. I had to skip and come back, which cost me time in Legal Reasoning too." — Student, Delhi Centre
- Overall difficulty was Moderate, making CLAT 2026 noticeably tougher than CLAT 2025, which was widely regarded as easy to moderate.
- The Logical Reasoning section contained zero Critical Reasoning questions — replaced entirely by Analytical Reasoning and tabular puzzle sets.
- Two LR puzzle sets reached CAT-level difficulty, consuming disproportionate time for most aspirants.
- English Language was the friendliest section, with passage themes drawn from literary works like Sapiens and Animal Farm alongside contemporary public policy topics.
- Legal Reasoning was student-friendly and predictable, with passages focused on contemporary legal developments including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and governance themes.
- Quantitative Techniques remained the most scoring section — straightforward calculation-based questions with simple data sets.
- A good attempt of 84–99 questions is considered strong for CLAT 2026, compared to 105+ in the relatively easier CLAT 2025.
Based on initial student reactions, expert reviews from leading law coaching institutes, and analysis of the paper’s difficulty spread, the expected score range for a top-100 rank in CLAT 2026 is approximately 95–105 marks out of 120.
CLAT 2026 Question Paper with Solution PDF
| CLAT 2026 UG Question Paper | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
| CLAT 2026 PG Question Paper | Download PDF | Check Solutions |
CLAT 2026 Students’ Feedback
Students who appeared for CLAT 2026 on December 7, 2025, described the paper as moderately difficult overall. The mood outside exam centres was mixed — confident among those who managed time well in Logical Reasoning, and anxious among those who got stuck in the AR puzzle sets. Most students acknowledged that the English and Legal sections were straightforward, but the LR section required a significant change in strategy mid-exam.
- English Language passages were literary and analytical, covering themes like governance, social behaviour, and environmental policy — mostly manageable for well-prepared students.
- Current Affairs & GK questions were drawn from recent legal and global events without major surprises for regular newspaper readers.
- Legal Reasoning featured passages on contemporary law including the new criminal codes, same-sex marriage jurisprudence, and governance issues — largely predictable and student-friendly.
- Logical Reasoning was the most disruptive section — all questions were Analytical Reasoning (AR) based, with no Critical Reasoning (CR) or argument-analysis questions.
- Quantitative Techniques was widely regarded as the easiest section, with basic calculations and simple data interpretation sets.
CLAT 2026 Overall Section-wise Difficulty
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 24 | 24 | Easy | 20–22 |
| Current Affairs & GK | 28 | 28 | Easy to Moderate | 21–24 |
| Legal Reasoning | 24 | 24 | Moderate | 17–20 |
| Logical Reasoning | 32 | 32 | Moderate to Difficult | 20–26 |
| Quantitative Techniques | 12 | 12 | Easy | 9–11 |
| Overall | 120 | 120 | Moderate | 84–99 |
CLAT 2026 Students’ Reaction (Ground Feedback)
Collegedunia teams stationed at exam centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Pune collected ground-level feedback from students immediately after the exam. The feedback revealed a clear pattern: sections with reading comprehension were manageable, but the surprise format of Logical Reasoning disrupted the plans of even well-prepared students.
"I came out feeling okay about English and Legal, but Logical Reasoning threw me off completely. I expected some CR passages and argument questions, but it was all puzzles — and two of them were really hard. I probably lost 15 minutes just there." — Student, Mumbai Centre
Student-Wise Insights
| Name | Centre | Exam Experience | Score Expectation | Key Observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priya Nair | Bengaluru | Moderate — LR was tough but manageable after skipping hard puzzles | 88–94 marks | Skipped the two hardest AR sets; completed rest comfortably |
| Arjun Mehta | Delhi | Tough — got stuck in LR, had to rush Legal section | 78–85 marks | Spent too long on a tabular arrangement set; regrets not moving on |
| Sneha Iyer | Hyderabad | Good — legal and English sections were very comfortable | 95–100 marks | Used LR strategically — answered easy AR sets first, left hardest two |
| Rahul Sharma | Kolkata | Moderate — GK coverage was fine, LR was trickier than mocks | 82–88 marks | GK section had more India-specific content than international topics |
| Tanvi Kapoor | Pune | Easy to Moderate — expected it to be harder based on rumours | 90–96 marks | Found QT the easiest; completed it in under 8 minutes |
English Language Section Feedback
- Passages were drawn from literary and journalistic sources, including works like Sapiens (Yuval Noah Harari) and Animal Farm (George Orwell).
- Themes included public policy, environmental sustainability, social behaviour, and institutional reforms.
- Questions were dominated by inference and tone-based items rather than direct factual recall.
- Vocabulary in context was tested, but no standalone grammar questions appeared — consistent with CLAT’s passage-based format since 2020.
- Most students found English the least time-consuming section and completed it within 20–25 minutes.
Current Affairs & GK Section Feedback
- Questions came from passages modelled on newspaper editorials — students who followed national dailies regularly had a clear advantage.
- Topics covered included India’s geopolitical engagements, constitutional amendments, governor–state conflicts, and economic policy debates.
- The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and associated criminal law reforms appeared as contextual background in at least one passage.
- International affairs — particularly India–US, India–China dynamics and global summits — formed a significant share of passage content.
- Students who relied only on static GK preparation found some questions challenging; current affairs awareness was essential.
Legal Reasoning Section Feedback
- Legal Reasoning was widely considered the most predictable and student-friendly section in CLAT 2026.
- Passages covered areas including tort law, contract law, constitutional law, and legal philosophy.
- The same-sex marriage discourse and governance jurisprudence featured prominently in passage themes.
- Fact-situation based questions required applying legal principles from the passage — no prior legal knowledge was needed, but careful reading was critical.
- Students with strong reading habits answered this section confidently and efficiently.
Logical Reasoning Section Feedback
- The complete absence of Critical Reasoning questions was the biggest shock of CLAT 2026 — all LR questions were Analytical Reasoning (AR) based.
- The section featured multiple tabular arrangement sets and analytical puzzle sets of varying difficulty.
- Two puzzle sets were rated at CAT (Common Admission Test) level difficulty by coaching experts, consuming 15–20 minutes for many students.
- Students who recognised the pattern early and skipped the two hardest sets fared significantly better.
- This section served as the primary differentiator between top scorers and average performers in CLAT 2026.
Quantitative Techniques Section Feedback
- QT was the most scoring and predictable section of CLAT 2026 — students with basic maths preparation found it very accessible.
- Questions tested basic arithmetic, ratio and proportion, simple data interpretation, and percentage calculations.
- No advanced statistics or complex DI sets appeared; the data sets were straightforward with clear numerical trends.
- Most students completed QT in under 10 minutes, making it an efficient section to start or end the paper with.
- A good attempt of 9–11 out of 12 questions is considered strong in this section.
Attempt & Score Expectations
- Students who managed their time efficiently — particularly in LR — reported attempting 95–105 questions with high accuracy.
- For a competitive NLSIU Bengaluru rank (General Category), students needed approximately 98–102 marks based on post-exam expert analysis.
- Students aiming at top 500 ranks should target a score of 90–96 marks with an attempt of 88–95 questions at high accuracy.
- Negative marking played a key role — students who left hard LR puzzle questions blank performed better overall than those who guessed.
- The Consortium declared the CLAT 2026 result on December 16, 2025, with the highest UG score at 112.75.
CLAT 2026 English Language Analysis
| Aspect | Details |
| Number of Questions | 24 |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Good Attempts | 20–22 |
| Number of Passages | 3–4 RC passages, ~450–500 words each |
| Passage Sources | Literary works (Sapiens, Animal Farm), newspaper editorials, policy reports |
| Dominant Question Types | Inference-based, tone and attitude, vocabulary in context, theme identification |
| Grammar Questions | None — consistent with passage-based format adopted since 2020 |
| Themes Covered | Environmental policy, social behaviour, institutional governance, behavioural psychology |
| Time Required | 20–25 minutes (recommended) |
| Key Strategy | Read passage for theme first; inference questions reward holistic reading over line-by-line scanning |
| Comparison with CLAT 2025 | Slightly trickier inference questions; similar passage length and theme variety |
CLAT 2026 Current Affairs & GK Analysis
| Aspect | Details |
| Number of Questions | 28 |
| Difficulty Level | Easy to Moderate |
| Good Attempts | 21–24 |
| Passage Format | 3–4 comprehension passages based on recent news/editorial articles |
| Key Topics Covered | India’s geopolitical strategy, constitutional amendments, governor–state relations, BNS and criminal law reform, global summits, India’s economic policy |
| Static GK Component | Minimal — questions were context-dependent rather than standalone fact-recall |
| International Affairs Coverage | High — India–US relations, India–China dynamics, G20/G7 outcomes, multilateral institutions |
| Legal GK | Featured prominently — BNS, judicial appointments, Supreme Court landmark rulings 2024–25 |
| Preparation Tip | Students who followed The Hindu, Indian Express editorials for 3–6 months had a distinct advantage |
| Comparison with CLAT 2025 | Similar difficulty; 2026 had slightly more India-centric governance content vs. 2025’s higher international coverage |
CLAT 2026 Legal Reasoning Analysis
| Aspect | Details |
| Number of Questions | 24 |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate |
| Good Attempts | 17–20 |
| Passage Length | ~450 words per passage; 3–4 passages total |
| Key Legal Areas | Constitutional law, tort law, contract law, criminal law (BNS/IPC), legal philosophy |
| Question Format | Fact-situation based — apply the legal rule stated in the passage to given scenarios |
| Prior Legal Knowledge Required | Not required — all principles stated in passage; logical application is the skill tested |
| Notable Themes | Same-sex marriage jurisprudence, state vs. central governance conflicts, tort liability principles, moral philosophy in law |
| Predictability | High — widely regarded as the most student-friendly section of CLAT 2026 |
| Comparison with CLAT 2025 | Similar structure and format; 2026 had more emphasis on contemporary legal developments including new criminal codes |
CLAT 2026 Logical Reasoning Analysis
| Aspect | Details |
| Number of Questions | 32 |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate to Difficult |
| Good Attempts | 20–26 |
| Biggest Surprise | Zero Critical Reasoning questions — all questions were Analytical Reasoning (AR) based |
| Question Types | Tabular arrangements, seating arrangements, order-and-ranking puzzles, complex analytical sets |
| Hard Puzzle Sets | 2 sets rated as CAT-level difficulty — caused major time loss for unprepared students |
| Easier Puzzle Sets | 3–4 sets were straightforward linear or circular arrangements — manageable in 5–6 minutes each |
| Time Pressure Impact | High — students who spent too long on hard sets had less time for Legal and GK sections |
| Score Differentiator | This section separated top-200 scorers from the rest; strategic skipping was the key skill |
| Comparison with CLAT 2025 | Significantly harder — CLAT 2025 had a mix of CR and AR; 2026 was exclusively AR with higher puzzle complexity |
CLAT 2026 Quantitative Techniques Analysis
| Aspect | Details |
| Number of Questions | 12 |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Good Attempts | 9–11 |
| Topics Tested | Arithmetic, percentages, ratios, basic algebra, simple data interpretation from tables/graphs |
| Data Set Complexity | Low — straightforward numerical trends with no multi-step DI calculations |
| Calculation Intensity | Basic — no complex computation; approximation worked for most questions |
| Time Required | 8–12 minutes (recommended) |
| Scoring Potential | High — most students with Class 10-level maths could score 9–11 out of 12 |
| Comparison with CLAT 2025 | Comparable difficulty; 2026 had slightly simpler data sets but similar question types |
CLAT 2026 Topic Distribution from the Paper
| Section | Key Topics / Themes That Appeared | Approximate Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | Literary comprehension (Sapiens, Animal Farm), environmental policy, social psychology, governance critique | 20% |
| Current Affairs & GK | India’s geopolitics, constitutional amendments, BNS/criminal law, G20/global summits, economic policy, judicial reforms | 23% |
| Legal Reasoning | Constitutional law, tort law, contract law, criminal law (BNS vs. IPC), same-sex marriage jurisprudence, legal philosophy | 20% |
| Logical Reasoning | Tabular arrangements, seating arrangements, order-ranking puzzles, analytical reasoning sets (NO Critical Reasoning) | 27% |
| Quantitative Techniques | Arithmetic, percentages, ratios, simple data interpretation (bar/line graphs, tables) | 10% |
CLAT 2026 Expert Review
Law coaching institutes and legal education experts shared their post-exam analysis. The consensus was that CLAT 2026 was a well-constructed paper that rewarded strategic time management over rote preparation.
- LegalEdge Analysis: Experts noted that the Logical Reasoning section was a significant departure from previous years. The complete shift to Analytical Reasoning — with no Critical Reasoning — was unexpected. Students who had practised on LSAT-style CR questions were at a disadvantage, while those with strong puzzle-solving skills benefited. The paper rewarded strategic test-taking: skipping the two hardest AR sets and returning later was the correct move.
- CLATapult Review: The CLATapult team highlighted that Legal Reasoning was the most accessible section for well-prepared students. The passages on the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and constitutional governance were contemporary and nuanced, but the questions followed the standard application-of-rule format. Students who practised with editorial-based legal passages were well-positioned.
- IMS India Expert Commentary: IMS analysts observed that CLAT 2026 reinforced a clear trend: reading comprehension speed and accuracy are the core skills the Consortium values. Every section — including GK — is now passage-dependent. Students who read extensively outside their preparation material consistently outperform those who rely only on coaching content.
- Delhi Law Academy Assessment: Experts noted that the Quantitative Techniques section continues to be the easiest section. Students should treat it as an accuracy section — not an area to invest more than 12 minutes, but also not one to rush carelessly.
CLAT 2026 Expected Cutoff for Top NLUs
Based on the paper’s difficulty, the number of students who appeared, and expert analysis from multiple coaching institutes, the expected cutoff ranges for top NLUs in CLAT 2026 (General Category) are indicated below.
| NLU | City | Expected Cutoff Rank (General) | Expected Cutoff Score (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bangalore | Bengaluru | 1–115 | 98–112.75 |
| NALSAR University of Law | Hyderabad | 116–250 | 94–98 |
| WBNUJS | Kolkata | 251–400 | 91–94 |
| NLU Jodhpur | Jodhpur | 401–600 | 88–91 |
| NLIU Bhopal | Bhopal | 601–900 | 84–88 |
| HNLU Raipur | Raipur | 901–1,300 | 79–84 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | Lucknow | 1,301–1,800 | 74–79 |
| CNLU Patna | Patna | 1,801–2,400 | 68–74 |
Note: NLU Delhi (NLU-D) does not participate in CLAT; it conducts its own AILET exam separately. These cutoffs are indicative estimates based on paper difficulty and historical trends; actual round-wise cutoffs post counselling may vary.
CLAT 2025 Paper Analysis
CLAT 2025 was conducted on December 1, 2024, by the Consortium of National Law Universities. The paper was widely regarded as easy to moderate — one of the more student-friendly editions in recent years. The overall good attempt was approximately 105+ questions — significantly higher than CLAT 2026’s 84–99 range. The key reason for this difference: CLAT 2025 had a balanced Logical Reasoning section with both Critical Reasoning and Analytical Reasoning, whereas CLAT 2026 sprung an exclusively AR format that disrupted many students’ time management.
- English Language was straightforward, with clear passage themes and direct inference questions.
- Legal Reasoning was accessible — mostly constitutional and tort law passages with predictable fact-situation formats.
- Logical Reasoning featured a familiar mix of CR and AR, making it manageable for most students.
- Current Affairs & GK was well-balanced between domestic and international topics, with slightly more international content than CLAT 2026.
- Quantitative Techniques was similarly easy, comparable to CLAT 2026 in format and question types.
- The highest UG score in CLAT 2025 was approximately 113–115 marks, reflecting the paper’s greater accessibility compared to 2026.
| Section | Difficulty (CLAT 2025) | Most Asked Topics | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | Easy | Contemporary social issues, policy analysis, literary excerpts | Very manageable; inference-heavy format same as 2026 |
| Current Affairs & GK | Easy to Moderate | International geopolitics, India–Pakistan dynamics, economic reforms | Slightly more international content compared to CLAT 2026 |
| Legal Reasoning | Easy to Moderate | Tort law, contract law, constitutional provisions | Easier than 2026; similar passage structure but lower difficulty ceiling |
| Logical Reasoning | Easy to Moderate | CR passages, AR puzzles, argument-analysis questions | Mixed CR+AR format — significantly easier than CLAT 2026’s all-AR paper |
| Quantitative Techniques | Easy | Arithmetic, simple DI, percentage-based problems | Comparable to CLAT 2026; both years had student-friendly QT |
| Overall | Easy to Moderate | — | Good attempts: ~105+; easier than CLAT 2026 primarily due to LR format |
CLAT Paper Analysis Last 10 Years (2017–2026)
The difficulty level of CLAT has shifted meaningfully across the past decade, driven by three landmark format changes:
- 2017–2019: Traditional MCQ format, 200 questions, direct knowledge-testing. Difficulty was moderate to high depending on the year’s GK and Legal sections.
- 2020: The Consortium introduced the fully passage-based format with 150 questions — the most significant structural change in CLAT’s history, shifting emphasis from rote knowledge to reading comprehension and analytical reasoning.
- 2021–2023: The passage-based format matured. Difficulty climbed in 2022–23 as the Consortium raised the analytical bar. CLAT 2023 is considered one of the toughest papers in the current format era.
- 2024: A second format change reduced the paper from 150 to 120 questions — overall difficulty eased, and good attempts rose. The change also reduced QT’s relative weight.
- 2025–2026: The 120-question format stabilised. CLAT 2025 was easy to moderate; CLAT 2026 was moderate — the absence of CR in LR was the pivotal differentiator between these two years.
| Year | Exam Date | Total Questions | Overall Difficulty | English | Current Affairs & GK | Legal Reasoning | Logical Reasoning | QT | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | May 14, 2017 | 200 | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Moderate | 150–165 |
| 2018 | May 13, 2018 | 200 | Easy to Moderate | Easy | Easy to Moderate | Moderate | Easy | Easy | 160–175 |
| 2019 | May 26, 2019 | 200 | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate | Moderate | 140–155 |
| 2020 | Sep 28, 2020 | 150 | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Easy to Moderate | 110–125 |
| 2021 | Jul 23, 2021 | 150 | Easy to Moderate | Easy | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Easy | 120–130 |
| 2022 | Dec 18, 2022 | 150 | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate | Easy to Moderate | 110–122 |
| 2023 | Dec 3, 2023 | 120 | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate | Moderate to Difficult | Difficult | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate | 80–92 |
| 2024 | Dec 1, 2024 | 120 | Easy to Moderate | Easy | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Easy | 95–108 |
| 2025 | Dec 1, 2024 | 120 | Easy to Moderate | Easy | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Easy | 100–110 |
| 2026 | Dec 7, 2025 | 120 | Moderate | Easy | Easy to Moderate | Moderate | Moderate to Difficult | Easy | 84–99 |
CLAT Section-wise Dominance (10-Year Trend)
| Section | 10-Year Trend (2017–2026) |
|---|---|
| English Language | Transitioned from grammar-heavy MCQs (pre-2020) to fully passage-based comprehension. Consistently Easy to Easy-Moderate. Strong readers have a consistent edge. Literary and journalistic sources used alternately year on year. |
| Current Affairs & GK | Evolved from standalone static GK questions to editorial-style comprehension passages. Coverage alternates between India-centric and international affairs. Daily newspaper reading is now non-negotiable for this section. |
| Legal Reasoning | Most consistent section in format. Fact-situation based since 2020; difficulty peaked in 2023. Generally the most student-friendly section when passages are read carefully. No prior law knowledge needed — the passage supplies the principle. |
| Logical Reasoning | Highest variability across all sections. Pre-2020: mostly standalone CR and argument analysis. Post-2020: mixed CR+AR. 2026: exclusively AR — the biggest format surprise in the exam’s modern era. This section consistently separates rank bands. |
| Quantitative Techniques | Consistently the easiest and lowest-weighted section. Weight reduced further when the format moved to 120 questions in 2024. Tests Class 10-level maths. Even students who neglect QT during preparation typically score 7–9 out of 12. |
CLAT English Language Analysis (2017–2026)
- Pre-2020 papers tested grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and error correction as standalone MCQs.
- Since 2020, English has been entirely passage-based — no grammar MCQs; only inference, tone, theme, and vocabulary-in-context questions.
- Literary sources (novels, essays) appear more frequently in recent years alongside journalistic editorials.
- Difficulty has remained consistently Easy to Easy-Moderate — the most accessible section for well-read students across all 10 years.
| Year | Difficulty | Key Passage Sources / Themes | Question Types | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Moderate | Literature, general knowledge passages | Grammar, vocabulary, RC, fill-in-the-blanks | Traditional MCQ format; grammar heavily tested |
| 2018 | Easy | Contemporary issues, social themes | Grammar corrections, RC, sentence completion | Easy to spot grammar errors; RC was direct |
| 2019 | Moderate | Political philosophy, environment | Critical RC, vocabulary, grammar | Longer passages; inference questions were trickier |
| 2020 | Moderate | Policy, social behaviour | Passage-based inference, tone, theme | First year of 100% passage-based format — adjustment year for all |
| 2021 | Easy | Environmental policy, social commentary | Inference, tone, vocabulary in context | Students adapted to new format; section felt distinctly easier |
| 2022 | Moderate | Literary texts, governance essays | Inference, theme identification, author’s purpose | Literary passages introduced; longer active reading required |
| 2023 | Moderate | Political philosophy, judicial commentary | Inference, vocabulary, critical reading | Vocabulary questions were contextually harder than 2022 |
| 2024 | Easy | Social policy, environmental journalism | Inference, tone, theme | New 120Q format debut; English section remained easy |
| 2025 | Easy | Contemporary social issues, policy reports | Inference, tone, vocabulary in context | Easy and predictable; high-scoring for most students |
| 2026 | Easy | Literary (Sapiens, Animal Farm), environmental policy, behavioural psychology | Inference, tone, theme identification, vocabulary in context | Literary sources prominent; inference questions rewarded holistic reading over scanning |
CLAT Current Affairs & GK Analysis (2017–2026)
| Year | Difficulty | Key Topics | Focus Areas | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Moderate | National affairs, history, geography | India-centric static GK dominant | Traditional standalone MCQ format |
| 2018 | Easy to Moderate | Current events, appointments, sports | Mixed static and current affairs | More predictable; standard coaching material covered it well |
| 2019 | Moderate to Difficult | International relations, economy, polity | Heavy current affairs; trickier questions | Many questions fell outside typical coaching-GK scope |
| 2020 | Moderate | COVID policy, India’s economy, governance | Passage-based current affairs from editorials | First passage-based GK format; COVID-related policy content featured |
| 2021 | Easy to Moderate | Post-COVID policy, judicial news, environment | India-centric governance and policy | Regular newspaper readers found this very accessible |
| 2022 | Moderate | Russia–Ukraine conflict, India’s foreign policy | International affairs heavily weighted | Students who tracked global geopolitics had a clear edge |
| 2023 | Moderate to Difficult | G20 presidency, electoral reforms, economic policy | Mix of domestic policy and global geopolitics | Questions demanded deeper contextual understanding from editorials |
| 2024 | Easy to Moderate | India’s economic growth, judicial reforms, climate diplomacy | India-centric with balanced global coverage | 120Q format; GK section was fair and well-balanced |
| 2025 | Easy to Moderate | Geopolitics, India–Pakistan dynamics, economic reforms | International slightly more prominent than domestic | Well-balanced; easier than the 2023 edition |
| 2026 | Easy to Moderate | Geopolitics, BNS/criminal law, constitutional amendments, governor–state conflicts | India-centric governance dominant; legal GK prominent | More India-focused than 2025; legal GK blended with current affairs |
CLAT Legal Reasoning Analysis (2017–2026)
| Year | Difficulty | Key Legal Areas | Question Nature | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Moderate | Constitutional law, torts, contract | Direct principle-application MCQs | Prior legal knowledge was an advantage in the pre-2020 MCQ format |
| 2018 | Easy to Moderate | Criminal law, torts, property law | Fact-situation based, legal terminology tested | Easier than 2017; predictable question patterns |
| 2019 | Moderate to Difficult | Constitutional law, fundamental rights | Complex fact situations; multi-step reasoning | One of the harder legal sections in the pre-2020 era |
| 2020 | Moderate | Torts, contracts, morality in law | Passage-based principle-application (new format) | Format shift: no prior legal knowledge required from this year forward |
| 2021 | Easy to Moderate | Constitutional principles, criminal law basics | Clear legal principles stated in passages | Passage format settled; students found it accessible |
| 2022 | Moderate | Contract law, torts, legal philosophy | Nuanced fact situations; abstract legal principles | Slightly harder passages; abstract reasoning rewarded |
| 2023 | Difficult | Constitutional law, criminal law, IPR | Multi-step reasoning; complex factual matrices | Hardest legal section in the 120Q era — dense passages |
| 2024 | Easy to Moderate | Tort law, contract law, fundamental rights | Straightforward principle-application | 120Q format debut; legal section was fair and accessible |
| 2025 | Easy to Moderate | Constitutional provisions, torts, criminal law | Standard fact-situation format; predictable | Comparable to 2024; students found it manageable |
| 2026 | Moderate | Constitutional law, BNS, torts, contract, legal philosophy, same-sex marriage jurisprudence | Contemporary legal themes; application-of-rule from passage | Contemporary and nuanced but well-structured; student-friendly despite moderate rating |
CLAT Logical Reasoning Analysis (2017–2026)
| Year | Difficulty | Question Types | CR vs. AR Split | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Easy to Moderate | Syllogisms, series, coding, analogy | All standalone MCQs; reasoning-based | Traditional format; predictable question types |
| 2018 | Easy | Syllogisms, odd-one-out, analogies | All standalone MCQs | Easiest LR section in the pre-2020 era |
| 2019 | Moderate | Critical reasoning, argument analysis, syllogisms | CR introduced more; mixed types | More analytical in 2019 — preview of the passage-based shift to come |
| 2020 | Moderate | CR passages, argument analysis, AR puzzles | ~60% CR, ~40% AR | New passage-based format; CR dominated in the first year |
| 2021 | Easy to Moderate | CR passages, AR sets | ~55% CR, ~45% AR | Balanced format; students adapted well in the second passage-based year |
| 2022 | Moderate | CR passages, AR puzzles, tabular sets | ~50% CR, ~50% AR | AR puzzle difficulty increased; tabular arrangements appeared for the first time |
| 2023 | Moderate to Difficult | Complex AR puzzles, CR passages, argument analysis | ~45% CR, ~55% AR | Hard AR sets caused major time pressure; key differentiator year |
| 2024 | Easy to Moderate | CR passages, simpler AR sets | ~50% CR, ~50% AR | 120Q format; easier AR sets; students found it manageable |
| 2025 | Easy to Moderate | Mixed CR and AR | ~50% CR, ~50% AR | Well-balanced; good attempts were high at 105+ partly because LR was familiar |
| 2026 | Moderate to Difficult | Exclusively AR — tabular, seating, order-ranking puzzles; 2 CAT-level sets | 0% CR, 100% AR — biggest format surprise in CLAT’s modern history | Primary rank differentiator in 2026; strategic skipping of hard sets was essential to performance |
CLAT Quantitative Techniques Analysis (2017–2026)
| Year | Difficulty | Topics Tested | Good Attempts | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Moderate | Arithmetic, algebra, number systems | 28–35 (out of 40) | Pre-2020 format had more questions; moderate difficulty |
| 2018 | Easy | Basic arithmetic, profit/loss, percentages | 33–38 (out of 40) | Straightforward; most coaching-prepared students scored well |
| 2019 | Moderate | Arithmetic, geometry, data sufficiency | 28–33 (out of 40) | Slightly harder; some tricky multi-step problems appeared |
| 2020 | Easy to Moderate | Arithmetic, DI graphs, ratio | 12–15 (out of 18) | New passage/DI format; question count reduced significantly from 40 to 18 |
| 2021 | Easy | Simple DI, percentages, ratio | 13–16 (out of 18) | Easily manageable; most students completed it in under 10 minutes |
| 2022 | Easy to Moderate | DI, arithmetic, averages | 12–15 (out of 18) | Consistent with 2021 in format and overall ease |
| 2023 | Moderate | DI with calculations, ratio, percentages | 10–13 (out of 15) | Slightly harder calculations; multi-step DI in some sets |
| 2024 | Easy | Arithmetic, basic DI, percentages | 9–12 (out of 13) | 120Q format debut; QT weight reduced; questions were simpler than 2023 |
| 2025 | Easy | Arithmetic, percentages, simple DI | 10–12 (out of 13) | Very straightforward; completed by most in under 12 minutes |
| 2026 | Easy | Arithmetic, percentages, ratios, basic DI (bar/line graphs, tables) | 9–11 (out of 12) | Simplest section of CLAT 2026; basic Class 10-level maths; treat as a high-accuracy section |
CLAT’s Quantitative Techniques section has been the smallest and easiest section across all 10 years. The weight and question count decreased with the shift to the 120-question format in 2024. Students should treat this section as an accuracy section — not a time-bank for exploration or guesswork.
CLAT 2026 Paper Analysis FAQs
Q: Was CLAT 2026 tough or easy?
CLAT 2026 was moderate in overall difficulty — harder than CLAT 2025. The Logical Reasoning section was the main reason for the tougher verdict, as it contained only Analytical Reasoning puzzles with no Critical Reasoning, including two sets at CAT-level difficulty.
Q: When was CLAT 2026 conducted?
CLAT 2026 was conducted on December 7, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, in offline mode across exam centres across India.
Q: What was the good attempt in CLAT 2026?
The good attempt range for CLAT 2026 is 84–99 questions out of 120. Students who managed Logical Reasoning strategically — skipping the two hardest AR puzzle sets — typically achieved 90–99 good attempts with high accuracy.
Q: What was the highest score in CLAT 2026?
The highest UG score in CLAT 2026 was 112.75 marks out of 120. The Consortium of NLUs declared the result on December 16, 2025.
Q: Which section was toughest in CLAT 2026?
Logical Reasoning was the toughest section in CLAT 2026. It contained no Critical Reasoning questions and was entirely Analytical Reasoning based, including two puzzle sets at CAT-level difficulty that caused significant time pressure across exam centres.
Q: What is the expected CLAT 2026 cutoff for NLSIU Bangalore?
Based on paper difficulty and post-exam expert analysis, the expected cutoff rank for NLSIU Bangalore (General Category) is approximately 1–115, corresponding to a score of approximately 98 marks and above.
Q: How many questions were there in CLAT 2026?
CLAT 2026 had 120 questions carrying 120 marks, with a negative marking of 0.25 for each wrong answer. The section-wise distribution was: English Language (24), Current Affairs & GK (28), Legal Reasoning (24), Logical Reasoning (32), and Quantitative Techniques (12).
Q: Was CLAT 2026 tougher than CLAT 2025?
Yes. CLAT 2026 was tougher than CLAT 2025. CLAT 2025 was easy to moderate with a good attempt of 105+ questions, whereas CLAT 2026 was moderate with a good attempt of 84–99. The Logical Reasoning section — exclusively AR-based in 2026 versus a balanced CR+AR mix in 2025 — is the primary reason for this difference.
Q: What topics were covered in CLAT 2026 Legal Reasoning?
Legal Reasoning in CLAT 2026 covered constitutional law, tort law, contract law, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (new criminal code replacing IPC), same-sex marriage jurisprudence, and governance-related legal philosophy. No prior legal knowledge is required — all principles are stated within the passage itself.
Q: What was the format of CLAT 2026 Logical Reasoning?
CLAT 2026 Logical Reasoning had 32 questions, all based on Analytical Reasoning (AR) puzzles — tabular arrangements, seating puzzles, and order-ranking sets. This was a major departure from previous years, which always included a mix of Critical Reasoning (CR) and AR. Two of the AR sets were rated at CAT-level difficulty by coaching institute analysts.
Disclaimer: The CLAT 2026 paper analysis, section-wise difficulty levels, good attempts, and expected cutoffs on this page are compiled from student feedback gathered at exam centres, expert analysis from law coaching institutes, and available post-exam data. Actual cutoffs may vary based on the official result, total students who appeared, and the Consortium of NLUs’ seat-allocation process. For official information, visit consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
Comments