CLAT 2025: Complete Guide-Eligibility, Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Important Dates & Preparation Tips

The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is among the most competitive law entrance exams in India. Conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs), it serves as the gateway for admissions into undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law programmes offered by NLUs and various affiliated institutions. With reforms over years, CLAT 2025 reflects the changed pattern focusing more on analytical ability, reasoning, comprehension, and current affairs rather than rote legal knowledge.

Table of Contents

1. What is CLAT?

2. UG vs PG Programmes

3. Important Dates for CLAT 2025

4. Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG)

5. Application Process & Fees

6. Exam Pattern

7. Syllabus (Subject-wise)

8. Shift in Trends / Recent Changes

9. How to Prepare: Strategy & Tips

10. Career Prospects After CLAT

11. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

12. Conclusion

1. What is CLAT?

• Full Form: Common Law Admission Test. 

• Conducted by: The Consortium of National Law Universities in India.

• Purpose: Admission to 5-year integrated law programmes (e.g., BA-LLB, BBA-LLB) at UG level & LLM / other PG law programmes at PG level in NLUs and participating institutions. 

2. UG vs PG Programmes

3. Important Dates for CLAT 2025

Here are some of the key dates based on recent sources. Note: Always verify once the official notification is out on the Consortium’s website. 

4. Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG)

5. Application Process & Fees

• How to Apply: Online only, via the official portal of the Consortium of NLUs. Fill in personal and academic details, upload scanned photo, signature, category certificate (if required), etc.

• Application Fee:

  • General / OBC / PwD / NRI: ~ ₹4,000

  • SC / ST / BPL / PwD: ~ ₹3,500

• Form Correction / Admit Card: Usually admit cards are released a few weeks before the exam. Candidates must also check exam city, timings, and exam day instructions.

6. Exam Pattern

Understanding the pattern is crucial to plan preparation and time management. Here is the pattern for UG and PG levels.

7. Syllabus (Subject-wise Topics)

Here is a detailed breakdown of the syllabus for the UG & PG levels. It helps to plan what to study, how much weight each area has, etc.

UG Syllabus

PG Syllabus

Law subjects drawn from the candidate’s LLB curriculum. Some of the major topics typically include:

• Constitutional Law

• Jurisprudence

• Administrative Law

• Law of Contracts

• Torts

• Criminal Law

• Property Law

• Company Law

• Public International Law

• Tax Law

• Environmental Law

• Labour & Industrial Law

8. Recent Changes & Trends

It’s helpful to know how the exam has evolved so you can adjust your preparation.

• The number of questions for UG has been reduced over past years (from ~150 to 120) to allow more time per question. 

• Increased emphasis on reasoning, comprehension, interpretation rather than pure factual knowledge. Passage-based questions are now the norm.No descriptive writing section for most PG level exam portions; focus is multiple-choice questions. Amity Online+1

9. How to Prepare: Strategy & Tips

Here are some strategies that can help you maximise your score in CLAT 2025.

1. Start Early: Build a timetable that gives enough time for reading, revision, mocks.

2. Keep Current Affairs Strong: Daily reading of newspapers & magazines; note down important events, judgments, legal amendments.

3. Practice Comprehension & Reading Speed: Passages will test your ability to understand quickly and pick out relevant information. Time yourself while practicing.

4. Legal Reasoning Practice: Even though heavy legal doctrine isn’t required for UG, understanding basic constitutional/legal principles, landmark judgments, and ability to apply rules is key.

5. Logical Reasoning / Puzzles: Solve puzzles, seating arrangements, syllogisms etc. regularly. These often come up.

6. Quantitative Speed & Accuracy: Since Quant is only ~10% of questions, but even small gains here can help. Revise basics of arithmetic, practice data interpretation.

7. Mock Tests & Previous Year Papers: Do as many as possible. Analyse your errors. Understand which sections are time consuming, where you lose marks.

8. Time Management: During mocks, practice finishing within 2 hours. Learn to skip questions that are taking too long, return later.

9. Revision & Short Notes: Keep cheat sheets for quick revision—vocabulary, legal terms, important events & dates, formulas, etc.

10. Mental & Physical Preparedness: Sleep well, stay calm, avoid burnout close to exam. Exam day mindset matters.

10. Career Prospects After CLAT

Clearing CLAT opens up many opportunities. Some of the paths you can take:

• Admission into top NLUs for integrated law degrees or LLM.

• Internship opportunities in top law firms, NGOs, corporate legal departments.

• After LLM or LLB, roles in litigation, corporate law, consultancy, judicial services, public sector legal counsel.

• Policy making, academia, legal research.

• Public sector appointments and services. Many government/quasi-government bodies value legal graduates.

11. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is there any age limit for CLAT?
   No upper age limit. Final-year students are eligible. 

2. Can students from any stream (Science / Commerce / Arts) appear for CLAT UG?
   Yes, as long as they have passed 10+2 or equivalent. The stream doesn’t matter. 

3. What happens if two students have same CLAT score? (Tie-breaker)
   Tie-breaker rules may involve marks in legal aptitude, age, etc. But official tie-break rules are published by the Consortium. (Exact criteria may vary.) 

4. Is there negative marking?
   Yes. −0.25 for each wrong answer. No penalty for unattempted questions. 

5. How many NLUs accept CLAT scores?
   Around 22 NLUs plus many other colleges