Documents required for the application
- Passport-size photograph: 10 to 200 KB, JPG or PNG format.
- Signature: 10 to 200 KB, JPG or PNG format.
- Class 10 mark sheet: PDF, under 2 MB.
- Class 12 mark sheet: PDF, under 2 MB.
- Category certificate (SC / ST / OBC): if applicable, PDF, under 2 MB.
- BPL certificate: if applicable, PDF, under 2 MB.
- PwD certificate: if applicable, PDF, under 2 MB.
- NRI or Foreign National certificate: if applicable, PDF, under 2 MB.
The most common rejection reason is file size outside the required range. Candidates should compress image files to under 200 KB before uploading and PDF mark sheets to under 2 MB using a standard PDF compressor tool.
NLU preference order explained
The NLU preference order is the most important decision in the CLAT application process. The order determines the seat-allocation algorithm's offer order; a higher preference is offered first if seats are available. The 24 NLUs in the consortium, ranked by NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) and placement record:
| Rank | NLU | Location | 2026 intake (UG) |
|---|
| 1 | National Law School of India University (NLSIU) | Bangalore | ~240 |
| 2 | National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) | Hyderabad | ~120 |
| 3 | National Law Institute University (NLIU) | Bhopal | ~120 |
| 4 | West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS) | Kolkata | ~120 |
| 5 | National Law University (NLU) | Delhi | ~80 |
| 6 | National Law University (NLU) | Jodhpur | ~120 |
| 7 | Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) | Gandhinagar | ~180 |
| 8 | National Law University Odisha (NLUO) | Cuttack | ~60 |
| 9 | National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) | Kochi | ~75 |
| 10 | National Law University and Judicial Academy (NLUJA) | Guwahati | ~60 |
The order should reflect the candidate's genuine preference; placing a higher-ranked NLU first is the right pick even if the candidate's rank is borderline, because the algorithm will skip to the next preference only if the higher preference is full. The order can be revised during the counselling registration and during each seat-allocation round.
CLAT 2026 exam pattern
The CLAT 2026 undergraduate exam pattern, per the consortium's 2026 exam pattern notice:
| Section | Questions | Marks | Topics |
|---|
| English Language | 22 to 26 | 22 to 26 | Reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar |
| Current Affairs including General Knowledge | 28 to 32 | 28 to 32 | Static GK, current events, national and international issues |
| Legal Reasoning | 28 to 32 | 28 to 32 | Legal principles, legal maxims, application of law to facts |
| Logical Reasoning | 22 to 26 | 22 to 26 | Syllogisms, analogies, logical sequences, puzzles |
| Quantitative Techniques | 10 to 14 | 10 to 14 | Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, data interpretation |
| Total | 120 | 120 | — |
The exam is 2 hours, computer-based, with negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer. The combined score is the merit score used for the seat-allocation rounds. The Legal Reasoning section is the differentiator for the top NLUs; the top 20 to 30 ranks are dominated by candidates who score 35 or more in Legal Reasoning.
Eligibility for CLAT 2026
The CLAT 2026 undergraduate eligibility criteria:
- Educational qualification: Class 12 (or equivalent) from a recognized board, with no minimum percentage requirement since 2019. Candidates appearing in the Class 12 exam in 2026 are also eligible to sit CLAT 2026, provided they pass the exam and submit the mark sheet by the time of admission.
- Age limit: no upper age limit for CLAT 2026. The upper age limit was removed in 2019.
- Nationality: Indian nationals, NRIs, PIOs, OCIs, and foreign nationals are all eligible.
- Category certificate: candidates claiming reservation must have a valid category certificate issued by the competent government authority, valid as of the application date.
- NRI or Foreign National: candidates claiming NRI or Foreign National status must have a valid certificate and are eligible for the supernumerary seats reserved for that category.
The no-minimum-percentage eligibility is a significant change from the pre-2019 rule. The practical effect is that more candidates apply, the competition is higher, and the merit cut-offs for the top NLUs are steeper.
What to do after the application
For candidates who have submitted the CLAT 2026 application, the next steps are to prepare for the exam (2 to 3 months of focused preparation is the typical recommendation for a competitive score), download the admit card in April 2026, sit the exam in May 2026, check the result in June 2026, register for counselling in June to July 2026 with a counselling fee of Rs 30,000 to 50,000, and participate in the 5 seat-allocation rounds from July to August 2026. The top NLUs accept roughly 1 to 2 percent of applicants, so the preparation needs to cover the Legal Reasoning section in depth, plus the English, Current Affairs, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques sections.
What to watch for CLAT 2027
Three signals settle the rest of 2026 and 2027 for CLAT candidates. First, the CLAT 2027 application form is expected to be released in August 2026, with the deadline in November 2026 and the exam in May 2027. Candidates who missed the 2026 cycle should start preparing for 2027 immediately. Second, the NLU consortium expansion is expected to add 2 to 4 new NLUs by 2027 to 2028 as state governments establish new law schools, increasing the seat count. Third, the CLAT exam pattern has been stable since 2019 and is expected to remain the same for 2027.
Resources and next steps
- Consortium of National Law Universities: consortiumofnlus.ac.in
- NLSIU Bangalore (top NLU): nls.ac.in
- NALSAR University of Law Hyderabad: nalsar.ac.in
- CLAT 2027 application form (expected August 2026): consortiumofnlus.ac.in
- CLAT previous-year question papers and mock tests: free on consortiumofnlus.ac.in
Fazlur Rahman
