The Consortium of NLUs prescribes CLAT eligibility criteria 2026 for five-year LLB, and LLM courses for academic requirements, minimum marks, and age limit. Read the updated CLAT exam 2026 eligibility requirements here.
CLAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: The Consortium of NLUs will conduct the CLAT Exam for admission to top NLUs in the country. The Consortium has not announced the CLAT Exam Dates yet. Along with the CLAT 2025 Official notification, the consortium will also release the CLAT 2026 eligibility criteria for undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The CLAT 2026 application process will likely begin in July 2025. Candidates who are interested in pursuing law from various NLUs in the country can apply by filling out the CLAT Application Form on or before the last date.
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Candidates interested in admission through CLAT 2026 must check the eligibility criteria for five year LLB and LLM courses respectively. The eligibility criteria for CLAT mention the educational criteria, minimum marks, as well as age limit, that an aspirant must fulfill in order to secure a seat among National Law Universities in India. Moreover, the top colleges accepting CLAT scores will have similar eligibility criteria for admission.
The CLAT Consortium follows the eligibility criteria for law courses as prescribed by the Bar Council of India, which is the regulatory authority for legal education and professional standards in India. The CLAT Consortium verifies the eligibility of shortlisted candidates during the counselling process, and candidates need to submit supportive documents ensuring their eligibility for admission. In this article, detailed CLAT 2025 eligibility criteria are mentioned, and candidates can check it before filling out the application form to avoid disqualification at a later stage in the exam.
Q: Who is eligible for CLAT exam?
All those candidates who have passed the 10+2 examination or an equivalent examination from a recognised board with a minimum percentage of marks as specified by the participating universities are eligible to apper for CLAT 2025. Candidates who will be appearing for Class 12th exam are also allowed to appear for CLAT Exam 2025. In order to pursue LLM, it is important for candidates to have an LL.B. degree or should have completed an equivalent examination from a recognised university with a minimum percentage of marks as specified by the participating universities.
Q: What are CLAT passing marks for the SC and ST category?
CLAT cut off is always released in the form of opening and closing ranks by each NLU after the conclusion of counseling rounds. CLAT 2025 Cut off is expected to range between 95-100 for the general category while for SC/ST and OBC category CLAT Cut off is likely to range between 80-85. CLAT 2025 cut-offs will be released separately for the UG and PG courses, as well as for each category (Open, PwD, SC, ST, OBC).
Q: What are CLAT 2025 qualifying marks for the OBC category?
CLAT Application form 2026 should be filled in accordance with the eligibility criteria or candidates may be declined admission on the grounds of ineligibility. CLAT 2026 will be held in a pen-paper-based test mode. CLAT 2026 scores will be used for admission to the academic year 2025-2026.
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CLAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria for UG Law Courses
Parameters that candidates need to meet in order to fulfill CLAT eligibility criteria for undergraduate (UG ) level law courses are mentioned below:
BCI standards for undergraduate law courses are as stated, "Bar Council of India may from time to time, stipulate the minimum percentage of marks not below 45% of the total marks in case of general category applicants and 40% of the total marks in case of SC and ST applicants, to be obtained for the qualifying examination, such as 2 Examination in case of Integrated Five Years’ course or Degree course in any discipline for Three years’ LLB course, for the purpose of applying for and getting admitted into a Law Degree Program of any recognized University in either of the streams.
Provided that such a minimum qualifying marks shall not automatically entitle a person to get admission into an institution but only shall entitle the person concerned to fulfill other institutional criteria notified by the institution concerned or by the government concerned from time to time to apply for admission.
Q: What is eligibility for CLAT 2025?
All those candidates who are willing to appear for the CLAT should meet the eligibility criteria as announced by the Consortium of National Law Universities. All eligible candidates must fill the CLAT application form before the last date.The consortium released the updated eligibility criteria of CLAT for admission to 5-year LLB and LLM courses on its official website. These criteria include parameters like academic qualification, minimum marks, age limit, etc.
Q: I have not cleared the CLAT exam. Can I appear for the exam again?
Yes, you can definitely appear for the CLAT exam again if you did not clear it in the first attempt. The CLAT exam is conducted once a year by the Consortium for enrolling students in various law courses offered at 24 NLUs in the country.
There is no limit on the number of attempts that you can make for the CLAT exam. However, you have to fulfill the eligibility criteria to appear in the exam. All those candidates who are willing to appear for the CLAT 2025 should meet the eligibility criteria as announced by the Consortium of National Law Universities. All eligible candidates must fill the CLAT 2025 application form before the last date.The consortium released the updated eligibility criteria of CLAT 2025 for admission to 5-year LLB and LLM courses on its official website. These criteria include parameters like academic qualification, minimum marks, age limit, etc.
Q: What is the age limit for CLAT 2025?
As per the official eligibility criteria of the CLAT 2025, there was no age-limit criteria for candidates to appear in CLAT UG 2025 or CLAT PG 2025 exam. However, it was mandatory for candidates to fulfill other basic educational requirements, to take part in the CLAT Exam 2025.
Candidates must pass Class 12 examination by April/May 2025 and submit the passing certificates at the time of admission.
To be eligible for the CLAT PG 2025, you must have a minimum percentage of 50 per cent in LLB or any other equivalent degree from a recognised university.
Q: Who is eligible to appear for CLAT 2025?
In order to be eligible for CLAT 2025, aspirants must have passed Class 12 exams or an equivalent examination from any recognised board or institution in the country. All those candidates who will be appearing in the Class 12 exam in April/ May 2025 are also eligible to appear for the CLAT 2025 Exam. However, such aspirants will have to produce the certificate of qualifying examination at the time of admission failing which their admission will be cancelled by the competent authority. Candidates are advised to carefully check the CLAT eligibility criteria 2025 before applying for the CLAT 2025 entrance exam.
Q: Is CLAT necessary to become a lawyer?
No, its not at all necessary to give CLAT to become a lawyer. Candidates can enroll in law courses offered by various universities and colleges to pursue UG and PG law courses. However, those who wish to take admission in one of NLUs except NLU Delhi will have to appear for Common National Admission Test (CLAT). Many private university conducts their own entrance exam having exam pattern similar to CLAT but with less difficulty level.
CLAT Educational requirements
- Candidates should clear Class 12 with a minimum 45 per cent aggregate (applicable for candidates belonging to General/ Other Backward Class (OBC)/ Person with Disability (PwD)/ Non-Resident Indian (NRI)/ Person of Indian Origin (PIO)/ Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) category)
- Candidates should clear Class 12 with a minimum 40 per cent aggregate (applicable for candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC)/ Scheduled Tribe (ST) category)
- Candidates appearing for their Class 12 board examinations in March/April are also eligible to apply for CLAT 2025 exam. However, such candidates need to produce proof of passing Class 12 or equivalent exam at the time of admission. Candidates unable to produce the evidence shall forfeit their right of admission through CLAT exam
Also Read:
| CLAT Exam Pattern | CLAT Syllabus | CLAT Sample Paper and Question Paper |
| CLAT Preparation Strategy | Tips to Prepare for English Section of CLAT Exam | Section-Wise CLAT Books to Read |
CLAT 2026 Eligibility: Age Limit
The exam authorities and universities in India set upper or lower age limit for admission to their courses. However, to cater a large number of law aspirants, BCI capped the age restriction the five-year LLB course admission. Therefore, now CLAT consortium follows the same for CLAT eligibility criteria.
- There is no upper age limit to appear for the CLAT 2026 exam as well.
- This means that candidates belonging to any age group can apply for the law entrance exam.
CLAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria for LLM Course
Postgraduate (PG) law programme in which candidates can secure admission through CLAT exam is LLM (Master of Law). Basic criteria that candidates need to fulfill in order to meet CLAT eligibility criteria for LLM course are mentioned below:
CLAT 2026 LLM Academic Eligibility
- Candidates belonging to General/ OBC/ PwD/ NRI/ PIO/ OCI category should possess an LLB or equivalent degree with minimum 50 per cent aggregate
- Candidates belonging to SC/ ST category should possess an LLB or equivalent degree with minimum of 45 per cent aggregate
- Candidates appearing for the final year examination of their qualifying degree are also eligible to apply for CLAT
CLAT 2025 LLM Eligibility: Age limit
Given that, there is no age limit for five-year and three-year LLB courses, BCI has relaxed age limit for LLM course admission as well. Therefore,
- There is no upper age limit to apply for the CLAT PG exam as well.
- However, candidates securing same rank and marks in CLAT LLM will be given preference, if they are higher in age than the others.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 4 days ago
If you want to go through flat exam in university so you had to wait for 1 year but if you want to do your course you can take admission in private and better colleges
R
Beginner-Level 1
Answered 6 days ago
To apply for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), follow these steps:
Step 1: Meet the Eligibility Criteria
Ensure you meet the eligibility criteria for CLAT, which typically includes:
- - For UG Programmes: Passed 10+2 or equivalent examination with a minimum of 45% marks (40% for SC/ST candidates)
- -
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
The CLAT ranks below 1000 are enough for getting INLU of Nirma University.
Scholar-Level 18
Answered a week ago
No, its not at all mandatory to give CLAT to become a lawyer. Candidates can enroll in Law courses offered by various universities and colleges to pursue UG and PG law courses. However, those who wish to take admission in one of NLUs except NLU Delhi will have to appear for Common National Admission
M
Beginner-Level 4
Answered a week ago
Yes, Gujarat National Law University, accepts CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) scores for admission to its various undergraduate and postgraduate law programs, including the BA LLB, BCom LLB, BBA LLB, BSc LLB and LLM courses. CLAT is a common entrance test used by many of the top law schools in Indi
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a week ago
Your prospects of getting into a National Law University (NLU) with an All India Rank of 37,778 and a SC category rank of 2452 in the CLAT rely on a number of variables including seat availability, cutoff trends and reservation rules
elite NLUs: Because of higher cutoffs admission to elite NLUs such
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
Chances of getting the following NLUs CA be made.
- NLU Kochi
- NLU Assam
- NLU Tripura
Scholar-Level 18
Answered 2 weeks ago
NLUs are not possible on this rank. Please try some private colleges.
Scholar-Level 18
Answered 2 weeks ago
The National Law University (NLU) admission prospects are slim in view of a CLAT rank of 7616 and an EWS rank of 640. Most of the NLU cut-off ranks tend to be exceptionally lower as compared to general category and EWS candidates, even in some of the most sought-after courses like BA LLB.
Factors inf
R
Contributor-Level 10
I am currently pursuing B.Sc Medical 1st semester. Now I want to do B.A LL.B but have missed CLAT 2025 exam. What should I do now?