The CLAT exam 2025 will be held in December this year. The notification for the same will be released by the Consortium of NLUs on their official website very soon. The CLAT full form is the Common Law Admission Test. It is an intermediate exam given by law aspirants who aim to study in one of the prestigious National Law Universities. The Consortium of National Law Universities conducts this exam. There are 26 NLUs in India of which 24 NLUs accept the score of the CLAT 2025 exam.
The CLAT PG exam is given by the candidates who are targetting the PG programs in the National Law Universities (NLUs). The CLAT PG tests your knowledge of Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Law of Contracts, Torts, Criminal Law, IPR, etc.
CLAT 2024 Analysis: Highlights
The CLAT 2024 was conducted on 10th December 2023, the following were the highlights of the CLAT 2024 exam:-
- The CLAT 2024 had a total of 120 questions.
- There was an increase of 35% in the no. of CLAT applicants than last year. Almost 1 lakh candidates applied for the CLAT 2024 exam.
- Approximately 94% of the registered candidates appeared for the CLAT PG Exam.
- The exam was easier than the last year.
Also Read: Career Opportunities in Law
CLAT Exam Pattern 2025
The CLAT 2025 will be a pen-and-paper test which will be 120 minutes. The Exam is divided into 5 sections, the weightage, no. of questions, and subject name are as follows:-
| Sections | Sectional Weighatge | No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| CLAT English Language | 20% | 22-26 |
| CLAT GK | 25% | 28-32 |
| CLAT Legal Reasoning | 25% | 28-32 |
| CLAT Logical Reasoning | 20% | 22-26 |
| Quantitative Techniques | 10% | 10-14 |
| Total | 100% | 120 |
CLAT Exam Eligibility and Syllabus
The CLAT UG 2025 consists of 5 sections: English, Current Affairs/GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude. There are 120 questions in total out of which the Legal and Current Affairs section combined accounts for 50% of the CLAT exam syllabus. The CLAT Exam Eligibility and Syllabus are explained below:-
CLAT Eligibility Criteria 2025
The students aspiring to take the CLAT UG 2025 exam should meet the following CLAT eligibility criteria set by the Consortium of NLUs. There are three criteria that a student needs to fulfill to be eligible for CLAT 2025:-
- Minimum Percentage- You must secure at least 45% (for General/OBC/PWD/NRI/PIO/OCI) in the class 12th or equivalent examination and 40% in case you belong to SC/ST categories.
- Age Limit- Candidates who have passed class 12th and or will be appearing for the same will be eligible for this exam. There’s no maximum age or upper age cap in CLAT 2025, the Bar Council of India lifted the upper age limit per the directions of the Supreme Court.
Also Read: CLAT Mock Analysis
CLAT Exam Syllabus 2025
The CLAT 2025 consists of 5 sections namely; English Language, Current Affairs/GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. Each of the subjects has a different weightage in the CLAT exam. The Current Affairs and the Legal Reasoning sections hold the highest weightage in the exam, they account for 50% of the CLAT exam syllabus. The following is the section-wise syllabus of CLAT:-
CLAT 2025 Participating Colleges
There are 26 National Law Universities (NLUs) in India, but only 24 of them accept the CLAT exam score. The other two NLUs are NLU Delhi and NLU Meghalaya, which conduct their own AILET exam and MEG-UAT. The following are the CLAT Colleges that will accept the score of CLAT 2025:-
| National Law Universities |
|---|
| National Law School of India University, Bangalore |
| National Law Univerity, Delhi |
| National Academy of Legal Study & Research, Hyderabad |
| National Law Institute University, Bhopal |
| West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata |
| National Law University, Jodhpur |
| Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur |
| Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar |
| Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow |
| Chanakya National Law University, Patna |
| National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi |
| National Law University Odisha, Cuttack |
| National University of Study & Research in Law, Ranchi |
| National Law University & Judicial Academy, Guwahati |
| Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University, Visakhapatnam |
| Tamil Nadu National Law School, Tiruchirapalli |
| Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai |
| Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad |
| Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla |
| Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur |
| Dr BR Ambedkar National Law University, Sonipat |
| Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur |
| National Law University, Meghalaya |
| Gujarat National Law University, Silvassa |
| National Law University, Tripura |
Best books for CLAT exam 2025
Books are an integral part of the CLAT Preparation Journey. The CLAT exam is a pen-and-paper test that judges your knowledge of various subjects like legal, quants, gk, etc. Knowing the right books is important in your preparation journey. The following are the Best CLAT Books 2025:-
| Subject | Best Books |
|---|---|
| English Language | -Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension for CAT by McGraw Hill Publications -Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis |
| Current Affairs and General Knowledge | -Lucent’s General Knowledge -General Knowledge by Arihant Publications |
| Legal Reasoning | -Legal Awareness and Legal Reasoning by A P Bhardwaj -Universal’s CLAT Guide |
| Logical Reasoning | -Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by Dr. R S Agrawal -Analytical Reasoning by M.K. Pandey |
| Quantitative Techniques | -Quantitative Aptitude by R S Agrawal -Data Interpretation Decoded by Oliveboard |
CLAT Exam Previous Years’ Cutoffs
The CLAT Cutoff varies each year and is dependent on various factors like the difficulty of the CLAT 2025, the number of test takers, student-to-seat ratio. The following were the year-wise cutoffs of all the National Law Universities accepting the CLAT exam:-
CLAT 2024
| NLUs | General | OBC | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bengaluru | 1-99 | 107-908 | 372-3007 | 224-3876 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 4-164 | 189-1112 | 319-3427 | 263-6083 |
| NLIU Bhopal (BA LLB) | 159-452 | 879-1315 | 3161-5178 | 8860-11527 |
| NLIU Bhopal (BSc LLB) | 187-878 | 1112-1959 | 6497-7622 | 3764-15219 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata (BA LLB) | 140-275 | Reserved for Domicile | 2056-4464 | 2856-7487 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata (BSc.LLB Hons) | 289-998 | Reserved for Domicile | 4663-8958 | 11405-11917 |
| NLU Jodhpur | 112-365 | 487-1311 | 3574-4573 | 4411-8960 |
| HNLU Raipur | 413-765 | 1858-1981 | 5192-6765 | 9218-11879 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 8-434 | 1284-1841 | 4988-6040 | 7712-10438 |
| GNLU Silvassa Campus | 593-869 | 2103-2429 | 7751-8958 | 15471-16048 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | 357-733 | Reserved for Domicile | Reserved for Domicile | Reserved for Domicile |
| RGNUL Patiala | 220-1190 | – | 3234-9505 | 9562-16630 |
| CNLU Patna (BA LLB) | 790-1285 | – | Reserved for Domicile | Reserved for Domicile |
| CNLU Patna (BBA LLB) | 1051-1456 | – | Reserved for Domicile | Reserved for Domicile |
| NUALS Kochi | 231-1136 | – | Reserved for Domicile | Reserved for Domicile |
| NLU Odisha | 591-1147 | – | 5997-9152 | 11580-16676 |
| NUSRL Ranchi | 637-1432 | 1943-2733 | 5972-10568 | 16875-18342 |
| NLUJA Assam | 1400-1587 | Reserved for Domicile | Reserved for Domicile | Reserved for Domicile |
| DSNLU Visakhapatnam | 656-1326 | 2068-2540 | 8057-10419 | 12009-17227 |
| TNNLU Tiruchirappalli BA LLB | 806-1511 | 1672-2995 | 10681-10830 | Reserved for Domicile |
| TNNLU Tiruchirappalli BCom LLB | 821-1555 | 2178-3540 | 10861-11346 | 18980 |
| MNLU Mumbai | 222-562 | Reserved for Domicile | Reserved for Domicile | Reserved for Domicile |
| MNLU Nagpur – BA LLB | 491-1473 | Reserved for Domicile | Reserved for Domicile | Reserved for Domicile |
| MNLU Nagpur – BBA LLB | 784-1522 | Reserved for Domicile | Reserved for Domicile | Reserved for Domicile |
| MNLU Aurangabad- BA LLB | 945-1622 | Reserved for Domicile | Reserved for Domicile | Reserved for Domicile |
| MNLU Aurangabad – BBA LLB | 681-1726 | Reserved for Domicile | Reserved for Domicile | Reserved for Domicile |
| HPNLU Shimla – BA LLB | 885-1883 | – | 2387-11373 | 12423-19367 |
| HPNLU Shimla – BBA LLB | 1059-1941 | – | 9789-12007 | 18233-21367 |
| DNLU Jabalpur | 1060-1778 | 2082-3201 | 3836-11739 | 12887-22364 |
| DBRANLU Sonepat | 909-1855 | 2273-3568 | 10545-12240 | 17161-22583 |
| NLUT Agartala | 1881-2012 | – | Reserved for Domicile | Reserved for Domicile |
CLAT 2025 Study COMMUNITY
Prepare with Ex CLAT Toppers
CLAT 2023
The CLAT 2023 exam consisted of 150 questions including all the sections. The overall paper was lengthy and moderately difficult due to which the cutoffs were comparatively lower than in previous years. The following are the opening and the closing ranks of the CLAT 2023:-
Also Read: Top Career Options in Law
CLAT 2022
The CLAT 2022 consisted of 120 questions and the time limit of the paper was 150 minutes. The paper was easy due to which the cutoff ranks were higher. The following are the opening and the closing ranks of the CLAT 2022 exam:-
CLAT 2021
The CLAT 2021 exam was of moderate difficulty and consisted of 150 questions in total. The closing ranks of CLAT 2021 were as follows:-
| CLAT Cut off 2021 | Closing Ranks |
|---|---|
| NLSIU Bangalore | 83 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 172 |
| NLIU Bhopal | 378 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | 241 |
| NLU Jodhpur | 356 |
| HNLU Raipur | 765 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 375 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | 676 |
| RGNUL Patiala | 1075 |
| CNLU Patna | 1312 |
| NUALS Kochi | 1144 |
| NLU Odisha | 1072 |
| NUSRL Ranchi | 1507 |
| TNNLU Tiruchirappalli | 1834 |
| DSNLU Visakhapatnam | 1473 |
| MNLU Mumbai | 453 |
| MNLU Nagpur | 1448 |
| MNLU Aurangabad | 2022 |
| NLUJA Assam | 1659 |
| DNLU Jabalpur | 1996 |
| HPNLU Shimla | 2009 |
| DBRANLU Sonepat | 2040 |
How to prepare for CLAT 2025?
As you know the CLAT UG exam consists of 5 sections with a total of 120 questions and each of the sections requires a good strategy to score good marks in that section. The majority of the questions are in the form of passages, therefore good reading abilities are essential. Similarly, when preparing for CLAT, there are a few points that you should focus on in order to score well on the exam. The following is the best CLAT Preparation Strategy:-
- Understand the Exam Pattern: Familiarize yourself with the CLAT Exam format, including the number of questions, marking scheme, and sections covered. The CLAT normally contains English Language, Current Affairs (including General Knowledge), Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques.
- Create a Timetable: Make a study timetable that allows enough time to cover all sections. Make sure to balance your time based on your strengths and shortcomings.
- Study Material: Gather all essential study materials, such as CLAT preparation books, practice tests, previous years’ question papers, and online resources. Ensure that your study materials cover all the sections thoroughly.
- Focus on the Basics: Focus on building a solid foundation in each section. Understand English’s fundamental concepts and principles, legal reasoning, logical reasoning, and quantitative methods.
- Regular Practice: Success in the CLAT UG exam requires regular practice. Set up time every day to complete practice questions and mock tests. This will improve your speed and accuracy.
- Mock Tests: Take regular CLAT Mock Tests to measure your progress and find areas for improvement. Analyze your performance after each mock test and concentrate on improving your weak points.
- Time Management: Improve your time management abilities to ensure that you complete the exam within the given time. To enhance your speed, practice solving questions under timed settings.
- Stay Updated: Keep up to speed on current events and general information by reading newspapers, periodicals, and online sources regularly. Stay up to date on recent legal developments, national and international events, and key people.
- Seek Guidance: If you are having difficulty in any section of the CLAT exam, do not be afraid to seek help from teachers, mentors, or classmates. Joining a CLAT Online Coaching or an online study group can also offer useful assistance and guidance.
CLAT UG Exam 2025 Important Dates
The following are the important dates for the CLAT UG exam for the year 2024:-
| Particulars | Important Dates |
|---|---|
| Application Form Out | July (tentative) |
| Last date to fill the application forms | November (tentative) |
| Admit Cards out | November (tentative) |
| CLAT UG exam date | December (tentative) |
| Results | January (tentative) |
| Commencement of Counselling Process | February (tentative) |
Also Read: CLAT Exam Myths
CLAT Vs AILET Vs SLAT
The most popular law entrance exams besides the CLAT exam are AILET and SLAT. The following are the major differences between the three exams:-
| Basis | CLAT | AILET | SLAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes | 120 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Mode of Examination | Pen and paper-based | Pen and paper based | Computer-based test |
| Marking Scheme | +1/-0.25 | +1/-0.25 | +1/ No Negative marking |
| Total No. of Questions | 120 | 120 | 60 |
| Syllabus/ Subjects Involved | English Language General Knowledge/CA Logical Reasoning Legal Reasoning Quantitative Techniques | English Language General Knowledge/CA Logical Reasoning | English Logical Reasoning Legal Reasoning Analytical Reasoning General Knowledge |
National Law Universities Counseling Process
The candidates who have appeared for the CLAT exam 2025 and have cleared the cutoffs or secured the minimum ranks will receive an invitation to the Admission Counseling process from the Consortium.
The students must keep checking their emails and the dashboard for admission-related information. The candidates need to fill out the admission counseling form within the specified date else they won’t be eligible for the counseling process. The Candidates also need to pay a registration fee of Rs 30,000 (for general category candidates) and Rs 20,000 (for the reserved category candidates).
Registration entails logging into the CLAT account, making a payment, and checking that it is successful. Candidates are urged not to postpone their payment to avoid last-minute problems, and no late payment requests will be accepted. Successfully registered candidates will be considered for seat allocation, but registration does not imply admission. Seats may be granted in later rounds based on vacancies in particular categories.
Also Read: NLU Admission Process
National Law Universities (NLUs) Placement
The following are the NLU Placements of all the National Law Universities (NLUs) in India:-
| CLAT Accepting Colleges | Average Placements |
|---|---|
| NLSIU Banglore | 17 LPA |
| NLU Delhi | 18 LPA |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 16 LPA |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | 15 LPA |
| NLU Jodhpur | 15 LPA |
| NLIU Bhopal | 16 LPA |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 11 LPA |
| HNLU Raipur | 6-7 LPA |
| NUALS Kochi | 9 LPA |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | 7 LPA |
| RGNLU Patiala | 7 LPA |
| CNLU Patna | 9 LPA |
| NLUO Odisha | 8 LPA |
| NUSRL Ranchi | 9 LPA |
| NLUJA Guwahati | 8 LPA |
| DSNLU Visakhapatnam | 6 LPA |
| TNNLU Tiruchirapalli | 5 LPA |
| MNLU Mumbai | – |
| MNLU Nagpur | 6 LPA |
| MNLU Aurangabad | 4 LPA |
| HPNLU Shimla | 4 LPA |
| DNLU Jabalpur | 4 LPA |
| DBRANLU Sonipat | – |
National Law Universities (NLUs) Fees Structure
The following are the NLU Fees of all the National Law Universities (NLUs) in India:-
| National Law Universities | NLU Fees (Per Annum) |
|---|---|
| National Law School of India University, Bangalore | INR 3,75,500 |
| National Law Univerity, Delhi | INR 3,75,000 |
| National Academy of Legal Study & Research, Hyderabad | INR 2,22,000 |
| National Law Institute University, Bhopal | INR 2,84,250 |
| West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata | INR 2,28,000 |
| National Law University, Jodhpur | INR 2,50,000 |
| Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur | INR 2,05,000 |
| Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar | INR 2,58,000 |
| Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow | INR 1,68,000 |
| Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala | INR 2,54,000 |
| Chanakya National Law University, Patna | INR 1,87,000 |
| National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi | INR 2,24,000 |
| National Law University Odisha, Cuttack | INR 2,46,890 |
| National University of Study & Research in Law, Ranchi | INR 2,59,700 |
| National Law University & Judicial Academy, Guwahati | INR 2,44,000 |
| Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University, Visakhapatnam | INR 2,09,000 |
| The Tamil Nadu National Law School, Tiruchirapalli | INR 2,23,500 |
| Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai | |
| Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad | INR 2,71,931 |
| Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla | INR 220500 |
| Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur | |
| Dr BR Ambedkar National Law University, Sonipat | INR 1,23,000 |
| Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur | INR 2,15,000 |
| National Law University, Meghalaya | INR 2,75,000 |
| Gujarat National Law University, Silvassa | INR 2,58,000 |
| National Law University, Tripura | INR 1,91,000 |
Total Seats in CLAT UG 2025
The CLAT 2025 exam will be conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs). The CLAT UG 2025 will be conducted in December 2025. The total number of CLAT Seats in all the National Law Universities is 4616, out of which 3243 are for the undergraduate programs (UG) and 1373 for post-graduate (PG) programs. The following is the total no. of seats in all the National Law Universities (NLUs) and their domicile reservation:-
| National Law University | Total NLU Seats | Domicile Reservation |
|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bengaluru | 240 | 25% |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 147 | 25% |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | 132 | 31% |
| NLIU Bhopal | 125 | 40% |
| NLU Jodhpur | 120 | – |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 172 | 25% |
| HNLU Raipur | 180 | 50% |
| GNLU Silvassa Campus | 66 | 25% |
| RGNUL Patiala | 180 | 10% |
| CNLU Patna | 138 (69 seats in BA LLB and BBA LLB each) | 50% |
| NUALS Kochi | 60 | 48% |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | 176 | 45% |
| NLUO Odisha | 180 (BA LLB-120, BBA LLB-60) | 25% |
| NUSRL Ranchi | 134 | 50% |
| NLUJA Guwahati | 60 | 50% |
| DSNLU Visakhapatnam | 138 | 48% |
| TNNLU Tiruchirappalli | 120 (BA LLB-60 , B.Com LLB-60) | 48% |
| MNLU Mumbai | 100 | 62% |
| MNLU Nagpur | 120 (BA LLB-60, BBA LLB-60) | 62% |
| MNLU Aurangabad | 120 (BA LLB-60, BBA LLB-60) | 62% |
| HPNLU Shimla | 120 (BA LLB-60, BBA LLB-60) | 25% |
| DNLU Jabalpur | 120 | 50% |
| DBRANLU, Sonipat, Haryana | 120 | 25% |
| NLUT Agartala | 60 | 30% |
| Total | 3243 |  |
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