CLAT Eligibility Criteria

The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) released the CLAT eligibility criteria 2027 session for UG and PG programs on July 22, 2026. Applicants who wish to take the law entrance exam must be qualified as per the CLAT Eligibility Criteria 2027. Even if they pass the entrance exam, candidates will not be considered for admission to NLU if they do not match the CLAT Eligibility Criteria 2027 for the exam.

The CLAT application form 2027 was released on August 3, 2026, and will close on October 31, 2026, while the correction window will be launched immediately after the registration I closed. The offline version of CLAT 2027 will take place on December 6, 2026.

The Common Law Admission Test, or CLAT for short, is administered to prospective students wishing to enroll in the five-year LLB and LLM programs offered by more than 60 affiliated law schools and 24 national law colleges around the country.

 

The following UG law programs are eligible for the CLAT 2026 exam:

 

Qualifications in Education and Passing Scores

Applicants must have at least a 45% aggregate in Class 12 or an equivalent exam from an accredited board or institution to be eligible for the CLAT 2027. For SC/ST applicants, the minimum percentage needed is 40%.

 

Applicants may also appear in CLAT 2027 if they pass the qualifying exam (the Class 12 exam in April or May of 2026). These candidates must present their qualifying exam certificate to qualify for admission; otherwise, admission will be rejected.

 

There is no set CLAT age limit for participating in the UG CLAT 2027 and obtaining an LLB degree at a national law school.

 

The qualifying requirements for the PG program for the CLAT exam are as follows:

 

Education Requirement and Required Minimum Scores

A minimum percentage of 50% in an LLB (5-year or 3-year LLB) or an equivalent degree from a university recognized by the Bar Council of India is required for eligibility in CLAT PG 2027.

 

But for SC/ST applicants, the minimum percentage needed is 45%.

 

Applicants for CLAT LLM 2027 who are in their final year of LLB college are also eligible. These candidates must present their qualification certificates at the time of applying for admission.

 

Students may apply for CLAT 2027 if they are preparing to sit for the class 12th board exam in 2027. Students must present documentation of their passing the exam during the admissions process.

 

Students who are sponsored by NRIs or foreign nationals are also eligible to take the CLAT exam if they meet the requirements. International students should consult the official website of their local NLUs as the eligibility for the CLAT may vary amongst them.

 

Limit of Age for CLAT LLM 2027

The age limit to appear in the CLAT 2026 for the LLM program is not set.

 

The consortium released the CLAT 2027 application form on its official website, consortiumofnlus.ac.in, on August 3, 2026. Candidates must provide their personal information, contact and educational details, preferred NLU, and other information while filling out their application form. Those who meet the CLAT Eligibility Criteria 2027 will sit for the CLAT 2027 exam. The cost of applying for CLAT is Rs. 4000 (or Rs. 3,500 for applicants from SC and ST).

 

The CLAT 2027 exam dates were released by the exam authority, and students can check the dates on its official website, consortiumofnlus.ac.in, as well as in the admission notification. The following table shows the CLAT 2027 exam dates:

 

CLAT Events	Key Dates
Notification	22-July-2026
CLAT 2027 Application form release date	03-Aug-2026
CLAT 2027 Registration Last date	31-October-2026
Application Correction Window Last Date	TBA
CLAT 2027 Admit Card Release Date	Mid-November
CLAT 2027 Exam Dates	06-Dec-2026
Provisional Answer Key for CLAT 2027	07-Dec-2026 Tentative
Release of CLAT final answer key 2027	11-December-2026
Declaration of CLAT 2027 results	Early January 2027

 

Q1. Can I apply for CLAT 2027 if I'm in class 12?

You may apply for CLAT 2027. However, you must pass the Class 12 exam by April or May 2027 and present your passing certificate to qualify for admission.

 

Q2. What is the maximum age limit to sit for CLAT 2027?

The officials state that there is no maximum age to take CLAT 2026. Any age group can apply to take the exam.

 

Q3. Does a three-year LLB require the CLAT?

No, there is no CLAT for admission to a three-year LLB program. Only admission to 5-year integrated LLB and LLM programs is based on CLAT scores.

 

Q4. Who can take the CLAT exam?

The CLAT 2027 exam will be open to applicants who have passed Class 12 or who are presently taking their Class 12 exam.

 

Q5. In what format will CLAT 2027 take place?

CLAT 2026 will be administered in the traditional pen-and-paper format.

 

Q6. Do law students alone take the CLAT?

Yes, the CLAT 2027 exam is solely given to law students who want to get into NLUs.

 

Q7. Who can apply to take the CLAT?

Applicants to CLAT UG must have completed Class 12 with a minimum of 45% in the aggregate marks. However, CLAT LLM is open to graduate candidates.

 

Q8. Which subjects are necessary to pass the CLAT?

The subjects for eligibility for the CLAT exam have not been established by the consortium. Candidates may take the CLAT exam in any discipline.