By the Online Coaching 4u team
Last updated: 2 August 2026. We'll revise this page if the Consortium changes any date below, but always confirm live deadlines and forms at consortiumofnlus.ac.in before you act on anything time-sensitive.
The Consortium of National Law Universities released the CLAT 2027 notification on 22 July 2026, confirming the dates most aspirants have been waiting for since CLAT 2026 wrapped up its counselling in early 2026. Registration opens on 3 August, just a day after this notification, so there's very little lead time to get your documents and photographs ready if you're planning to apply as soon as the window opens. Here's the complete picture.
Quick facts
Conducting body: Consortium of National Law Universities
Registration window: 3 August 2026 to 31 October 2026
Exam date: Sunday, 6 December 2026, 2 PM to 4 PM
Application fee: ₹4,000 (General/OBC/NRI), ₹3,500 (SC/ST/BPL/PwD)
Mode: Offline, pen-and-paper
Pattern: Unchanged from CLAT 2026, 120 questions, five sections, 120 minutes
Who conducts CLAT, and when was CLAT 2027 announced
CLAT is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities, a body jointly run by the participating NLUs rather than a single rotating institute (unlike CAT, which rotates between IIMs). The official CLAT 2027 notification went live on the Consortium's website on 22 July 2026. If you've seen "expected date" articles floating around before that, this notification is what actually confirms them.
CLAT 2027 registration: dates and how the process works
Registration opens on 3 August 2026 and closes on 31 October 2026, entirely on consortiumofnlus.ac.in, the only official portal for CLAT. The process typically runs in stages: you first create a login with a working email and phone number, then fill in your academic and category details, upload your photograph and signature to the specification listed on the site, choose your preferred exam city, and pay the fee online before downloading your completed form. Registering well before the October 31 deadline, rather than in the final days, generally improves your chances of getting your first-choice exam city, since city-wise capacity does fill up.
Eligibility criteria: UG-CLAT vs PG-CLAT
CLAT runs two separate eligibility tracks depending on which programme you're applying for.
| Requirement | UG-CLAT (5-year law programmes) | PG-CLAT (LL.M.) |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying exam | 10+2 or equivalent | LL.B. or equivalent law degree |
| Minimum marks, General/OBC | 45% | 50% |
| Minimum marks, SC/ST | 40% | 45% |
| Upper age limit | None | None |
| Appearing candidates | Eligible, subject to proof of passing by admission | Final-year LL.B. students eligible, subject to submitting marksheets at admission |
We couldn't find an official, currently enforced cap on the number of CLAT attempts for either track, if you've heard otherwise, that's likely an outdated or unofficial claim, always check the current year's notification PDF directly rather than relying on a coaching institute's marketing page.
CLAT 2027 application fee
₹4,000 for General, OBC, NRI, PIO and OCI category candidates, and ₹3,500 for SC, ST, BPL and PwD candidates, payable online at the time of registration.
Exam date and mode
CLAT 2027 will be held on Sunday, 6 December 2026, from 2 PM to 4 PM, in offline (pen-and-paper) mode, the format CLAT has consistently used, unlike most other entrance exams that have moved to computer-based testing.
Is the CLAT 2027 pattern changing?
No structural changes have been confirmed. The Consortium's Governing Body reportedly received a report proposing a fairly significant redesign of the CLAT paper, but decided to defer any structural reform to CLAT 2028 at the earliest, keeping CLAT 2027 aligned with the recent format: 120 questions, 120 marks, 2 hours, across English, Current Affairs & GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Techniques. That said, question-setters may still apply quality and difficulty-calibration changes recommended by that committee even without altering the overall structure, so don't assume last year's paper is a perfect predictor of difficulty.
Which law universities accept CLAT scores
Roughly two dozen National Law Universities admit students through the CLAT consortium, across UG and PG programmes, including NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, NLIU Bhopal, WBNUJS Kolkata, NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Gandhinagar and others. One mix-up worth clearing up early in your prep: NLU Delhi does not accept CLAT, it runs its own separate entrance exam called AILET, so if NLU Delhi is on your list, you'll need to register for that exam independently.
What happens after you register
Admit cards for CLAT have typically been released a couple of weeks before the exam in past cycles, which for a 6 December exam would put the admit card release in the third week of November, though this isn't officially confirmed yet. Results and the first round of seat allotment have historically followed within a few weeks of the exam, with counselling running in multiple rounds into January and February. We'll update this article once the Consortium confirms these dates.
How to start preparing right now
With exactly four months between the notification and exam day, this is a good point to lock in a study plan rather than wait for exam anxiety to force one. Our complete breakdown of CLAT eligibility, syllabus and exam pattern covers exactly what each section tests, our CLAT cutoff and NLU-wise trends guide shows roughly what score different tiers of NLUs required last cycle, and our CLAT study plan and strategy piece lays out a realistic section-by-section approach, including a genuinely free mock series most aspirants haven't heard of.
Compare every verified CLAT coaching institute we track on our CLAT coaching listings page, and check back here for updates as the Consortium releases the admit card and further instructions.
Frequently asked questions
When is the CLAT 2027 exam?
CLAT 2027 will be held on Sunday, 6 December 2026, offline (pen-and-paper) from 2 PM to 4 PM. The Consortium of National Law Universities conducts CLAT every year on a fixed early-December Sunday.
When does CLAT 2027 registration open and close?
Registration opens on 3 August 2026 and closes on 31 October 2026, exclusively at consortiumofnlus.ac.in. There is no other official portal, be wary of any third-party site asking for CLAT registration payments.
What is the CLAT 2027 application fee?
₹4,000 for General, OBC, NRI, PIO and OCI candidates, and ₹3,500 for SC, ST, BPL and PwD candidates.
What are the eligibility requirements for CLAT 2027 (UG)?
A pass in 10+2 (or equivalent) with at least 45% marks for General/OBC/PwD/NRI candidates, or 40% for SC/ST candidates. There's no upper age limit, and students appearing for their board exams in the 2026-27 session can also apply.
Is the CLAT 2027 exam pattern changing?
No. The Consortium's Governing Body has confirmed the structure stays the same as CLAT 2026: 120 questions across five sections, 120 marks, 2 hours, offline mode. A committee had proposed a full redesign, but the Consortium deferred any structural changes to CLAT 2028 at the earliest.
Which law universities accept CLAT scores?
Around 24 National Law Universities admit through the CLAT consortium for UG and/or PG programmes. One common point of confusion: NLU Delhi does not use CLAT, it runs its own separate exam, AILET.
