The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) has announced that the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) for 2026 will take place on Sunday, December 7, 2025, from 2 PM to 4 PM. This test is crucial for students who want to pursue law at various National Law Universities across India.
Applications for the CLAT 2026 will open on August 1, 2025, and close on October 31, 2025. This gives students a three-month period to register for the exam. The official notification detailing the syllabus, application procedure, and other important information will be published soon.
There is significant interest in this year’s exam, particularly because it will be held on the same day as the All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) 2026. This overlap has raised concerns among students who wish to take both exams. For the first time in history, both major law entrance exams will clash, forcing students to choose which one to attend. Both tests are highly competitive and important for securing admission to top law schools in India.
The CLAT exam will be conducted in an offline, pen-and-paper format. Students are expected to prepare thoroughly, as the exam will consist of 120 questions covering various sections like English Language, Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. Each correct answer will earn one mark, while incorrect answers will incur a penalty of 0.25 marks.
This year’s exam date marks a shift from previous years, where CLAT and AILET were scheduled on different weekends, allowing students to prepare for both without conflict. The last few years have seen CLAT held in December due to changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Before that, it was traditionally held in May.
The application process will require candidates to fill out their personal details, upload necessary documents, and pay the application fee online. It is crucial for candidates to apply early to secure their preferred exam centres.
Students are encouraged to start preparing now. Familiarising themselves with the exam pattern and syllabus will be beneficial. They should also solve past year exam papers to get an idea of the questions and difficulty level.
The CLAT 2026 result is expected to be announced in the third week of December 2025. After the exam, candidates will have a brief opportunity to raise objections regarding the initial answer key, which will be released shortly after the test.
Given the clash between CLAT and AILET, many students are hopeful that the Consortium of NLUs may consider rescheduling CLAT. However, as of now, no official statement has been made regarding a change in the exam date. Students are advised to keep preparing for both exams until a decision is announced.
In conclusion, the CLAT 2026 is set to be a significant event for law aspirants in India. With the application process starting soon, students should remain focused and diligent in their studies to maximise their chances of success.