CLAT 2026: What to study in each section, subject-wise syllabus, marking scheme

The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) will conduct the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 on December 7 for admission to undergraduate law programmes. The exam will be conducted based on the official CLAT 2026 syllabus covering English, current affairs, legal reasoning, logical reasoning, and quantitative techniques.

The CLAT 2026 will be held in pen-and-paper mode in a single shift from 2 pm to 4 pm. The CLAT syllabus and exam pattern will remain the same as last year, with no changes announced by the Consortium of NLUs for this edition. The question paper will carry a total of 120 multiple-choice questions, each carrying one mark, with a penalty of 0.25 marks for every incorrect response.

This format was first introduced in CLAT 2024, when the Consortium reduced the number of questions from 150 to 120. The stated objective was to provide candidates with more time per question without altering the syllabus or marking scheme. The CLAT 2026 exam will follow the same structure, ensuring comparability with the past two years and allowing aspirants to rely on previous papers for practice.

The registration process for the CLAT 2026 is ongoing for admission to the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Master of Laws (LLM) programmes. Eligible law aspirants can apply online through the official website — consortiumofnlus.ac.in by October 31.

CLAT UG 2026 subject-wise syllabus

The CLAT UG 2026 will assess candidates across five sections, each designed to test skills relevant to legal studies. Most sections will be based on reading passages of about 450 words, followed by questions that evaluate comprehension, analysis, and application of information.

English Language

This section will evaluate comprehension and interpretation abilities using passages from both contemporary and historically significant fiction and non-fiction works. Candidates will be tested on identifying the main ideas and arguments, drawing inferences, summarising information, comparing viewpoints, and understanding the meaning of words or phrases within context.

Current Affairs Including General Knowledge

The focus here will be on awareness of important national and international developments. Passages will be drawn from news reports, features, and other journalistic writing.

Question topics may include recent events, arts and culture, global affairs, and historically significant developments. While some questions may touch on legal references in the text, no prior legal knowledge will be assumed.

Legal Reasoning

The Legal Reasoning section will test the ability to apply principles to factual scenarios. Passages of about 450 words will present legal, policy, or moral situations.

Candidates will have to identify rules and principles, apply them to given facts, and determine how modifications to those principles would alter outcomes. No prior legal study is required, though general awareness of contemporary legal and policy issues will be beneficial.

Logical Reasoning

This segment will involve analysing arguments and reasoning patterns. Candidates will have to recognise premises and conclusions, evaluate the strength of reasoning, identify contradictions, draw inferences, and apply logical relationships to new situations. Short passages will form the basis of each set of questions.

Quantitative Techniques

The quantitative techniques section will assess numerical and analytical problem-solving. Candidates will interpret data presented in text, charts, or tables, and perform calculations based on Class 10-level mathematics. The syllabus includes ratios, proportions, basic algebra, mensuration, and statistical estimation, with an emphasis on interpreting information accurately before applying mathematical operations.

Also readCLAT 2026: How will NLSIU Bangalore admit students? Seat intake, fees, cut-off trends explained

CLAT UG Syllabus 2026: Subject-wise weightage

The table below provides the subject-wise weightage and the expected number of questions for each section of CLAT 2026.