CLAT New Guidelines

 

For the 2025-26 academic year, the CLAT exam has introduced important new guidelines and changes to its pattern, format, and eligibility, making it crucial for candidates to adapt their preparation accordingly.​Official Guidelines

Key Updates and Guidelines for CLAT 2025-26

• The exam will be conducted in offline (pen-and-paper) mode only; no online mode will be available for UG and PG aspirants.​
• The total number of questions for both CLAT UG and CLAT PG has been reduced to 120, down from 150 in earlier years.​
• The exam duration remains the same—2 hours for both UG and PG exams.​
• Each question carries 1 mark, with a penalty of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer (negative marking enforced). Unattempted questions fetch zero marks.​
• Questions are multiple-choice (MCQs) and are distributed across five sections for CLAT UG:
• English Language
• Current Affairs including General Knowledge
• Legal Reasoning
• Logical Reasoning
• Quantitative Techniques​
• The PG CLAT follows a similar pattern, focusing mainly on constitutional law and major law subjects.​
• There is no upper age limit to apply for CLAT UG as per the latest guidelines; candidates just need the required educational qualifications.​
• To appear for CLAT UG, candidates must have passed Class 12 (or equivalent) with at least 45% marks (40% for SC/ST).​
• Application is strictly online, but the test is taken in person at exam centers.​
• CLAT 2026 (admitting for 2026-27 academic year) will be held on December 7, 2025, with CLAT 2025 held previously on December 1, 2024.​

Exam Day & Conduct Guidelines

• Candidates must report at least one hour before the scheduled exam time with their admit card and valid photo ID.​
• Banned items include electronic gadgets, calculators, smartwatches, or any study material inside the exam hall.​
• Admit cards must have a recent passport-size photo pasted in the space provided.​
• Dress code may require removal of metallic objects and light clothing is recommended for frisking purposes.​
• Covid-19-specific rules vary and should be checked on the official Consortium website closer to the exam date if applicable.​

These changes are aimed at standardizing the process, reducing student stress, and promoting greater fairness. For the latest updates and all official details, regularly check the Consortium of NLUs’ website.

Study Plan & Strategic Adjustments

• Prioritize High-Yield Topics: Focus first on sections and topics that constitute the bulk of the exam (Legal Reasoning, English, Logical Reasoning, and GK). Analyze previous year papers to spot frequently tested concepts and allocate more prep time to these areas.​
• Sectional Time Targets: With 120 questions in 120 minutes, aim to spend roughly 1 minute per question. Use a suggested section-wise time breakdown as reference:

Section	Approximate Questions	Recommended Time (Minutes)
English Language	28–32	25–30
Current Affairs/GK	35–39	15–20
Legal Reasoning	35–39	35–40
Logical Reasoning	28–32	30–35
Quant Techniques	10–14	10–15

• Practice with Timed Mocks: Take at least one full-length mock test weekly under exam conditions; gradually increase the frequency as the exam approaches. Afterwards, review your mock results to find slow sections and errors, and use that data to adjust your practice focus.​
• Micro-Goals and Revision: Set daily and weekly targets for topic completion, mock test review, and revision. Dedicate a minimum of one day per week solely to revising notes and correcting recurring mistakes.​
• Speed + Accuracy Balance: Since negative marking is present, avoid “blind guessing.” Strategically skip or mark for review any very time-consuming question, coming back later if time permits.​
• Gradual Scaling: Early months should focus on concept clarity and untimed sectional drills. The final months must simulate actual exam pressure with timed practice and full-length tests.​

Key Reminders

• Start with your strongest section to build confidence.​
• Track where most time is spent and address those lagging areas with targeted practice.​
• Always end your study day with brief revision or error log review for retention.​
• Maintain flexibility in your plan, updating it as you encounter strengths and weaknesses in mocks.​
• As the exam nears, increase mock frequency and focus on speed, endurance, and accuracy rather than introducing new topics.​

This approach ensures your preparation is optimized for the revised CLAT pattern, leveraging both effective planning and disciplined practice for the best results.