Before you begin preparation, settle the threshold question: am I eligible? This page covers every eligibility criterion for CLAT 2027 — both the UG programme (5-year integrated LLB) and the PG programme (LLM) — including qualifying examinations, percentage requirements, age limits, reservation categories, required documents, and NRI admissions. We have accounted for the Supreme Court's directions on age and percentage barriers, so the information here reflects the current legal position as of the latest Consortium of NLUs notification.
Always cross-check with the official Consortium notification when released — eligibility norms can be updated between cycles.
The CLAT UG programme admits candidates into the 5-year integrated LLB (Honours) offered by National Law Universities across India. This is the primary entry route for students finishing school. Here are the eligibility requirements in full.
You must have passed — or be appearing for — the Class 12 examination (10+2) or its equivalent from any recognised board in India (CBSE, ICSE, State Boards) or abroad. There is no restriction on the stream: Arts, Commerce, Science, Vocational, or any other stream qualifies. Candidates with diplomas recognised as equivalent to 10+2 are also eligible.
Following the Supreme Court's direction, there is no minimum percentage requirement for General, OBC, or PwD candidates to appear for CLAT UG. This has been a contested point historically — earlier Consortium notifications required 45% for General candidates — but the current position, as of the last confirmed update, removes this barrier. That said, always verify the latest Consortium notification, as this norm has been revised more than once.
SC and ST candidates have never been subject to a minimum percentage requirement for CLAT eligibility. This remains unchanged for CLAT 2027.
There is no upper age limit for CLAT 2027. The Supreme Court struck down the Consortium's age limit in its 2024 direction, ruling that it was arbitrary and violated the right to education. This applies to all categories — General, SC, ST, OBC, and PwD. You can appear for CLAT UG at any age, provided you meet the qualifying examination criterion.
Students who are appearing for their Class 12 board examinations in 2027 are eligible to apply for CLAT 2027 on a provisional basis. If selected during counselling, admission will be provisional until the candidate produces the final 10+2 mark sheet and passing certificate. This ensures that students do not lose a year waiting for board results.
CLAT PG is a separate examination for candidates seeking admission to the one-year or two-year LLM programmes at National Law Universities. The eligibility criteria differ significantly from the UG programme.
You must hold an LLB degree — either the 3-year LLB or the 5-year integrated LLB (BA LLB, BBA LLB, B.Com LLB, BSc LLB) — from a recognised university. Equivalent law degrees recognised by the Bar Council of India are also accepted.
The Consortium typically requires a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in LLB for General and OBC candidates, and 45% for SC/ST candidates. These thresholds are set by the Consortium notification and may vary — always verify with the official notification for CLAT 2027 PG.
Candidates in the final year of their LLB programme are eligible to apply, provided they complete the degree before the deadline specified in the Consortium notification. Admission, if offered, will be provisional until the final degree certificate is produced.
Reservation for CLAT is applied at the individual NLU level during the counselling process — not at the exam level. The Consortium follows the central reservation policy, and individual NLUs may additionally apply state-specific quotas based on their establishment Act or university statutes.
PwD reservation is horizontal — it is applied across all categories (General, SC, ST, OBC). A PwD candidate belonging to SC, for instance, benefits from both the SC vertical reservation and the PwD horizontal reservation. Additionally, each NLU may maintain state-specific domicile quotas, institutional quotas, or supernumerary seats for NRI and foreign national candidates. The exact seat matrix is published by each NLU individually before the counselling process begins.
Keep these documents ready before you begin the online application. Incomplete or incorrect documents are one of the most common reasons for application rejection. Prepare scanned copies in the formats and file sizes specified in the Consortium notification.
Final mark sheet and passing certificate from your recognised board. Appearing candidates upload their admit card or school verification letter.
Aadhaar card, passport, or voter ID. The name on the ID must match the name in your CLAT application exactly.
Recent colour photographs with white background. Typically required in JPEG format, under 100 KB.
SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)/PwD certificate issued by the competent authority. OBC certificates must be recently dated (within the validity period specified).
Signature on white paper, scanned in JPEG format. The Consortium specifies exact dimensions and file size limits in the notification.
A working email address and mobile number for OTP verification and all official communication. Do not change these during the application cycle.
NRI (Non-Resident Indian) and foreign national candidates can appear for CLAT 2027. However, their admission process is distinct from the general counselling process. Most NLUs offer a supernumerary quota for NRI candidates — these seats are over and above the general intake, meaning NRI admissions do not affect the seat count available to domestic candidates.
NRI candidates take the same CLAT examination, but admission is governed by the individual NLU's prospectus. Fee structures, seat availability, and eligibility documentation requirements vary significantly between NLUs. If you are an NRI or foreign national candidate, check the prospectus of each NLU you are targeting well before the application deadline. Some NLUs require the NRI sponsor relationship to be documented with specific affidavits and financial undertakings.
Misinformation about CLAT eligibility circulates widely on forums and coaching websites. Here are five persistent myths, corrected with the current legal and regulatory position.
Incorrect. Following the Supreme Court's direction, there is no minimum percentage requirement for General, OBC, or PwD candidates for CLAT UG. The earlier 45% requirement imposed by the Consortium was challenged and is no longer in effect as of the last confirmed position. SC/ST candidates have never had a minimum percentage barrier.
No longer true. The Supreme Court struck down the Consortium's upper age limit in 2024, holding that it was arbitrary and unconstitutional. There is currently no upper age limit for any category. You can appear for CLAT UG or PG at any age.
Completely false. CLAT has no stream restriction whatsoever. Students from Commerce, Science, Arts, Humanities, Vocational, or any other stream are equally eligible. Law is a professional degree that does not require a specific academic background at entry. Some of the highest CLAT scorers historically have been Science and Commerce students.
Wrong. Students who are appearing for their Class 12 board examinations in 2027 are eligible to apply. You do not need to wait for your results before submitting the CLAT application. If selected, your admission will be provisional until you produce the final mark sheet.
This is a critical distinction that many candidates miss. Being eligible for CLAT (the exam) does not automatically mean you are eligible for admission at every NLU. Individual NLUs may impose additional criteria — domicile requirements, minimum percentage thresholds for admission (distinct from exam eligibility), medical fitness, or specific documentation requirements. Always check the prospectus of your target NLUs separately.
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Common questions about CLAT 2027 eligibility, age limits, percentage requirements, and application criteria.
As of the last confirmed update, there is no minimum percentage requirement for General, OBC, or PwD candidates for the CLAT 2027 UG programme, following the Supreme Court's direction. SC/ST candidates have never had a minimum percentage barrier. However, always verify with the latest Consortium of NLUs notification, as this has been a point of contention.
No. The Supreme Court struck down the upper age limit for CLAT in its 2024 direction. There is currently no upper age limit for appearing in CLAT 2027, whether for the UG or PG programme.
Yes. There is no restriction on working professionals appearing for CLAT. If you hold a valid qualifying degree (10+2 for UG, LLB for PG), you are eligible regardless of your current employment status. Many working professionals take CLAT for the LLM programme or to pursue a career shift into law.
Yes. Graduates from any discipline can appear for CLAT UG if they wish to pursue a 5-year integrated law programme. There is no restriction based on prior graduation. Additionally, if you hold an LLB degree, you can appear for CLAT PG for LLM admission.
There is no limit on the number of attempts for CLAT. You can appear for the exam as many times as you wish, provided you meet the eligibility criteria at the time of each attempt. Since there is no upper age limit, this effectively means unlimited attempts.
No. CLAT UG and CLAT PG are separate examinations with different eligibility criteria. You can only apply for one — UG (if you have completed or are appearing for 10+2) or PG (if you have completed or are in the final year of LLB). You cannot register for both in the same year.
Yes. CLAT has no stream restriction. Students from Arts, Commerce, Science, or any other stream who have completed or are appearing for 10+2 from a recognised board are eligible for CLAT UG. Law does not require a specific academic background at the entry level.
No. CLAT UG is designed for students entering law for the first time. The Legal Reasoning section provides all necessary legal principles within the passage itself — no prior legal knowledge is assumed or required. CLAT PG, however, tests knowledge of law at the graduate level.
Yes. NRI and foreign national candidates can appear for CLAT. Admission is typically offered under a supernumerary quota at participating NLUs, separate from the general counselling process. Each NLU sets its own NRI admission policy, so check the prospectus of your target NLUs.
CLAT itself is a national-level exam without domicile-based reservation. However, individual NLUs may reserve seats for candidates from their home state or region. For example, some NLUs reserve a percentage of seats for domicile candidates. This reservation is applied during counselling at each NLU, not at the CLAT exam level.
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