If you want to study at a National Law University, there are two exams you need to know about: CLAT and AILET. These entrance exams are important for admission to law programmes. Here is what we know so far about the exams for the 2027 admission cycle. We will explain everything in a simple way.

CLAT 2027: Official Announcement

The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) released a statement on 22 July 2026, announcing that CLAT 2027 will be held on Sunday, 6 December 2026, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. This exam is the gateway to 27 NLUs in India and more than 60 other law schools that accept CLAT scores.

Along with the exam date, the Consortium also released a report on proposed changes to CLAT. The committee was led by Justice Indu Malhotra and included academics from Oxford, LSE, Cambridge, and Columbia. The report has been opened for public feedback until 31 August 2026. However, the Consortium has clarified that there will be no changes to the CLAT 2027 syllabus or exam pattern. Any major changes will be implemented only from CLAT 2028.

CLAT 2027 Important Dates

Event	Date
Notification released	22 July 2026
Application form starts	3 August 2026
Last date to apply	31 October 2026
Correction window	November 2026 (tentative)
Admit card release	Third week of November 2026 (tentative)
CLAT 2027 exam date	6 December 2026 (2 PM-4 PM)
Provisional answer key	December 2026 (tentative)
Result declaration	Third/Fourth week of December 2026 (tentative)
Counselling begins	Late December 2026 (tentative)

Only the notification, registration window, and exam date have been officially confirmed so far. Dates after the examination are based on previous years and will be confirmed by the Consortium closer to the exam. Always cross-check the official website before relying on them.

CLAT 2027 Eligibility Criteria

For CLAT UG (5-year Integrated Law Programmes)

• You must have completed Class 12 from a recognised board or be appearing for the Class 12 board examinations in 2027.
• You must have at least 45% marks if you belong to the General, OBC, PwD, NRI, PIO, or OCI category. SC and ST candidates need at least 40% marks.
• There is no upper age limit.

For CLAT PG (LLM)

• You must have an LLB degree (3-year or 5-year) with at least 50% marks (General/OBC/PwD/EWS) or 45% marks (SC/ST), or be in the final year of the qualifying examination.
• There is no upper age limit.

NRI, NRI-sponsored, PIO, and OCI candidates follow the same minimum marks criteria and are considered for supernumerary seats. Foreign nationals must appear for the separate NLSAT-International examination.

CLAT 2027 Exam Pattern

CLAT UG

• The exam is conducted in offline mode using an OMR sheet.
• There are 120 multiple-choice questions, all based on comprehension passages of around 450 words.
• The duration of the exam is 2 hours.
• You receive 1 mark for every correct answer, while 0.25 marks are deducted for every incorrect answer. No marks are awarded or deducted for unanswered questions.
• The paper includes English Language, Current Affairs and General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques.
• You may attempt the sections in any order, as there is no sectional time limit.

CLAT PG

• The exam is conducted in offline mode.
• There are 120 multiple-choice questions. In some years, descriptive questions may also be included, depending on the official notification.
• The duration of the exam is 2 hours.
• The marking scheme is the same as CLAT UG: 1 mark for each correct answer and 0.25 marks deducted for each incorrect answer.
• Subjects include Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Contract Law, Torts, Criminal Law, Property Law, IPR, Family Law, Company Law, International Law, and Labour Law.

CLAT 2027 Syllabus Highlights

• English Language: Reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and language skills.
• Current Affairs & General Knowledge: National and international events, legal developments, and constitutional issues. Focus on understanding rather than memorisation.
• Legal Reasoning: Read legal passages and apply legal principles to practical situations. No prior legal knowledge is required.
• Logical Reasoning: Analyse passages, evaluate arguments, identify assumptions, and draw conclusions.
• Quantitative Techniques: Basic Class 10 mathematics, including data interpretation, ratios, percentages, and simple algebra presented through graphs and passages.

Selection Process and Counselling

Your merit is determined solely by your CLAT score and All India Rank. Shortlisted candidates then participate in multiple rounds of counselling, during which they can choose to freeze, float, or exit their allotted seat.

Candidates can select up to 15 NLU preferences for undergraduate programmes and 5 preferences for postgraduate programmes.

The counselling registration fee is:

• General, OBC, and EWS: ₹30,000
• SC, ST, PwD, and BC: ₹20,000

This fee is separate from the examination application fee and is adjusted against your admission fee if you secure a seat. Refunds are subject to the Consortium’s withdrawal policy.

CLAT 2027 Application Fee

• General, OBC, NRI, PIO, and OCI: ₹4,000
• SC, ST, BPL, and PwD: ₹3,500
• Previous years’ question papers: Additional ₹500
• Payment can be made only through credit card, debit card, net banking, or UPI. The application fee is non-refundable.

These fees are based on the CLAT 2026 admission cycle. The Consortium will announce the final fees for CLAT 2027 later.

Preparation Tips for CLAT 2027

1. Read newspapers such as The Hindu or The Indian Express every day to improve your English and current affairs knowledge.
2. Attempt questions only when you are reasonably confident, as incorrect answers attract negative marking.
3. Practise previous years’ papers and take full-length mock tests under timed conditions.
4. For Quantitative Techniques, focus on Class 10 mathematics. Spend more time on Legal Reasoning and Current Affairs, as they carry greater weight.
5. For Legal Reasoning, learn to apply legal principles to real-life situations rather than memorising laws. No prior legal knowledge is required.

AILET 2027: What We Know So Far

AILET is the law entrance examination conducted by National Law University, Delhi, for admission to its own programmes. It is separate from CLAT, and NLU Delhi does not accept CLAT scores.

As of 25 July 2026, NLU Delhi has not released the AILET 2027 notification. The examination is usually held in December, and the notification is typically released a few months earlier. We will update this guide once the official announcement is made.

What Has Remained Consistent in Previous AILET Cycles

• The examination is conducted in offline mode with multiple-choice questions and negative marking.
• The BA LLB paper includes English, General Knowledge & Current Affairs, Legal Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, and Basic Mathematics.
• To be eligible for the BA LLB programme, candidates must have passed Class 12 with at least 45% marks (General category) or 40% marks (SC/ST). There is no upper age limit.
• Admission is based solely on the AILET rank, and NLU Delhi conducts its own counselling independently of the CLAT Consortium.

For the latest updates, visit nludelhi.ac.in. This guide will be updated as soon as the official AILET 2027 notification is released.

Official Websites

• CLAT: consortiumofnlus.ac.in
• AILET: nludelhi.ac.in

This article is based on the official CLAT 2027 press release dated 22 July 2026 issued by the Consortium of NLUs, along with cross-verified information from the CLAT 2026 exam pattern, fee structure, and counselling process, which the Consortium has confirmed will remain unchanged for 2027. Some post-exam dates, including the result and counselling schedule, are tentative estimates based on previous years and will be updated once officially announced. Always verify the latest information on consortiumofnlus.ac.in before applying.