CLAT 2021 Eligibility

CLAT 2021 Dates and Events

The exam calendar of CLAT 2021 is out now, and the exam will be held as per the schedule below:

Events	Dates	Salient Features
CLAT 2021 official notification for exam date
CLAT 2021 detailed notification
Online registrations for CLAT 2021 begins
Last date of application submission
Release of admit cards
CLAT 2021 exam date
Display of CLAT 2021 results and merit list

Keep a track of latest news and updates on CLAT 2021 here.

CLAT 2021 Exam Process

CLAT 2021 Highlights

Exam Name	Common Law Admission Test
Exam Frequency	Once a year
Exam Mode	Offline
Exam Duration	2 hours
Test Takers	Approx. 59,000
Accepting Colleges	121 colleges
Official Website	https://clatconsortiumofnlu.ac.in/

 

CLAT Process 

Candidates seeking admissions to NLUs or law schools accepting CLAT scores have to follow the process as under: 

Step 1: Online application - The CLAT consortium opens the application window in online mode on the official website. Candidates seeking admissions through CLAT exam have to apply before the last date of application after completing each step including, registration, filling up the form, uploading documents and fee payment.

Step 2: Issuing of admit card - The candidates who have successfully filled and submitted the application form of CLAT will be issued admit card to appear for the examination. The admit card of CLAT 2021 will mention details about the test-taking candidate, exam centre name and location, and test schedule.

Step 3: Appearing for the exam - Candidates have to appear for the entrance exam at the allotted test centres of CLAT 2021. The test timings for CLAT 2021 are 3 pm to 5 pm, however, candidates should report to their test centre by 2 pm. They should their admit card and a valid photo ID proof with them.

Step 4: Declaration of results - The consortium will announce results of CLAT 2021 on the official website along with a provisional merit list for each NLU. 

Step 5: Admission process - The counselling process of CLAT 2021 will begin in online mode with provisional seat allotment on the basis of the first merit list. The candidates have to confirm their seat after document verification and payment of counselling-cum-admission fee. 

 

CLAT 2021 Syllabus

The Consortium of the National Law Universities (NLUs) has mentioned the syllabus for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2021 along with the exam pattern. This year, the consortium has modified the exam pattern of CLAT by reducing the total number of questions to 150 and, increasing the comprehension type of question in each section. Moreover, the consortium has shared the type of question to be asked in each section of CLAT syllabus. Candidates can go through the CLAT 2021 syllabus for each section as mentioned on this page below. 

Highlights of CLAT 2021 Syllabus

As the exam committee has approved and confirmed some changes in the exam pattern, they also described the following features about the syllabus of upcoming examination: 

Subjects - The question paper will be based on the English language, Quantitative Techniques, Current Affairs including General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning and Logical Reasoning

Level of questions - The level of CLAT syllabus for each section of CLAT question paper will be as under: 

• English language - Class 12^th level
• Current affairs including General Knowledge - Class 12^th level
• Legal Reasoning - Class 12^th level
• Logical Reasoning - Class 12^th level
• Quantitative Techniques - Class 10^th level

Section-Wise CLAT Syllabus 2021

Candidates can check below the syllabus for each section of CLAT 2021 as mentioned by the consortium:

Section 1: English including Comprehension

In this section, proficiency in English is tested on the basis of questions related to comprehension passages and grammar. In the comprehension section, candidates are evaluated on the basis of their understanding of the passage, the central theme, meanings of words used in the passage etc. The grammar section requires correction of incorrect grammatical sentences, filling of blanks in sentences with appropriate words, etc.

• The will be passages of 450 words based on the contemporary, historically significant fiction and non-fiction writing
• The passages will consume 5-7 mins to read and comprehend it and candidates have to compare and contrast different viewpoints, draw out inferences and conclusions, and also understand the meaning of words and phrases from the passage to attempt the questions. 

Section 2: General Knowledge and Currents Affairs

In this section, candidates are evaluated on the basis of their general awareness including static general knowledge. Current affair questions test a candidate’s knowledge about the events happening nationally as well as internationally. To prepare for this section, candidates are advised to be up-to-date with news and other topics discussed in mainstream media from March 2019 to April 2021.

• This section will also carry passages of around 450 words and will be based on news, journalistic sources and other non-fiction writings
• The passages will carry legal information and knowledge besides contemporary events in India and the world, arts and culture, world affairs as well as historical events of continuing significance.

 

Section 3: Quantitative Techniques

In this section, the candidate’s knowledge of elementary mathematics i.e. up to Class 10^th standard will be tested. The section will carry passages based on short sets of facts, propositions, graphs, pictorials, textuals or diagrammatic representation of numerical data. Candidates have to attempt the objective-type of questions based by calculating the information. The candidates have to derive, infer and manipulate the numerical data which will be based on ratios and proportions, basic algebra, mensuration, and statistics. The books candidates can refer to prepare well for this section are: 

• Class 10^th _{NCERT book}
• _{S Chand’s 30 Days Wonder for Maths}

Section 4: Legal Aptitude

The section will carry passages of around 450 words and will be based on the legal matters, public policy questions or moral philosophical enquiries. The questions will be based on general awareness of contemporary legal and moral issues, therefore, candidates with little or no knowledge of law subjects can attempt the section easily. They will be required to read and infer the rules and principles and facts based situations to attempt the questions.

Section 5: Logical Reasoning

The logical reasoning section of CLAT 2021 will carry passages of around 300 words based on relationships, analogies, logical sequences and arguments. Candidates will be required to critically analyse the arguments, the pattern of reasoning, identify contradictions and then conclude the arguments.

CLAT 2021 Exam Pattern

CLAT Exam Pattern 2021 

 

What's new in CLAT exam pattern 2021?

1. The number of questions has been reduced to 150 from earlier figure of 200.
2. The reduction in the number of questions has been done because "asking students to answer 200 questions in 120 minutes is not right as it puts students under a lot of mental stress" said Prof. Faizan Mustafa, Vice-Chancellor, NALSAR
3. The standard of entrance test for CLAT - IG will be of 12th standard.
4. Quantitative aptitude will be of class 10th standard.
5. Comprehension-based questions from Quantitative Techniques, English, Current Affairs, Deductive Reasoning and Logical Reasoning will be part of the paper.
6. Under CLAT 2021 LLM, the conducting body has, from this year, introduced the minimum cut off marks as 40% (35% for SC/ST/PWD candidates) for objective test paper. The evaluation of descriptive/essay type paper is now subject to the candidate's qualification status in the objective test paper, ie. candidates will now have to secure at least minimum cut off marks to be considered for evaluation of the subjective paper.
7. The changes in exam pattern have been made with an eye on attracting students who have improved competence in reading texts and who have demonstrated skills in inferential reasoning.

Here are the main features of the new exam pattern with details about the type of questions, test medium and other details.

Features	Details
Exam mode	Pen-paper mode test
Exam duration	120 minutes
Test Language	English
Type of questions	Multiple choices based questions
Subjects	Five subjects
Total questions	150 questions.
Are there any subjective questions?	There will be no descriptive questions for CLAT UG paper.
Total Marks	150 marks

 

CLAT UG 2021 Sectional Weightage

The question paper of CLAT 2021 will comprise a total of 150 questions and the section-wise allotment is as under:

Sections	Questions per section	Percentage weightage	Marks per section
English including Comprehension	28 - 32 MCQs	20%	28 - 32 marks
Current Affairs including General Knowledge	35 - 39 MCQs	20%	35 - 39 marks
Logical Reasoning	35 - 39 MCQs	20%	35 - 39 marks
Legal Reasoning	28 - 32 MCQs	25%	28 - 32 marks
Quantitative Techniques (Elementry mathematics up to class 10th)	13 - 17 MCQs	10%	13 - 17 marks
Total Questions*	150 MCQs		150 marks

 

 

CLAT 2021 Marking Scheme 

Unlike the exam pattern. the marking scheme of CLAT will remain the same as earlier, i.e.

• For every correct answer, candidates are awarded one mark.

• However, for every wrong attempt, 0.25 marks are deducted from their total score. 

• No marks will be awarded or deducted for questions not attempted.

 

 

Marks Distribution for CLAT (PG) (MCQs only)

Subjects	Number of MCQ questions	Marks
Constitutional Law	40	40
Other Law Subjects including Contract, Torts, Criminal Law, International Law, IPR and Jurisprudence.	60	60
Total	100	100

 

Read More: 

CLAT 2021 Syllabus

CLAT Preparation Strategy 2021

CLAT Prep Tips and Strategies

 

 

CLAT sections for UG/PG Law

Undergraduate Law Programme (LL.B)	Postgraduate Law Programme (LL.M)
English (Comprehension & grammar-based)	Law of Torts
Legal Aptitude	Family Law
Logical Reasoning	Criminal Law
Elementary Mathematics (Including Numerical Ability)	International Law
General Knowledge and Current Affairs	Property Law
	Jurisprudence
	Law of Contracts
	Intellectual Property Law

 

 

FAQs regarding CLAT 2021 Exam Pattern

Q: When will be the CLAT exam held?

A: The national-level law entrance exam will be held on May 24 in pen-paper based test mode. 

Q: Is CLAT an online exam or offline exam? 

A: CLAT, as per the change in the exam mode last year remains an offline exam i.e. candidates will get question papers and OMR sheets to attempt the CLAT 2021 exam. 

Q: Is CLAT a tough exam? 

A: The national-level law entrance exam is considered to be one of the toughest admission tests in India because of various reasons such as competition, exam pattern, number of seats and cut off marks. However, this year, the Consortium of NLUs has made some changes in the exam pattern of CLAT 2021 to make it less difficult for candidates. 

Q: Is mathematics compulsory for CLAT? 

A: No, it is not compulsory to have studied mathematics at Class 12th level as per the eligibility criteria of CLAT 2021, however, the question paper does have a section based on the subject. Though, the section of 'Elementry Mathematics' will be based on class 12th/ basic numerical ability only. 

Q: Where can I download question papers of CLAT 2021? 

A: The candidates can request for previous years papers of CLAT exam while filling up the application form on payment of an additional fee. Also, Shiksha has a collection of CLAT previous year papers which are available free of cost.

Q: Which is the most difficult section of the CLAT exam? 

A: The upcoming CLAT exam will have four sections including, Quantitative Techniques, English, Current Affairs, Deductive Reasoning and Logical Reasoning. It depends on the preparation level of the candidates, in which section they will find difficulty in attempting. However, this year as per the announcement made by the Vice-Chancellor of NALSAR, Hyderabad, there will be more comprehensive questions in all the sections.

Q: Is the legal aptitude section of CLAT question removed?

A: No, the question paper of CLAT 2021 will carry questions from 'Legal Reasoning' section. 

Q: Which NLU will conduct CLAT 2021? 

A: This upcoming CLAT exam will be conducted by NUSRL, Ranchi. The Consortium of NLUs will be headed by Prof. V. Vijayakumar, the Vice-Chancellor of NLIU Bhopal - The National Law Institute University.

Q: Is the exam pattern of CLAT PG changed? 

A: As per the latest announcement by the consortium, there will be no changes in the exam pattern of CLAT PG question, it will be same as last year with descriptive questions. 

Q: What are the subjects for CLAT LLM? 

A: The subjects asked in CLAT LLM/ PG question paper includes Constitutional Law, Contract, Torts, Criminal Law, International Law, IPR and Jurisprudence, Law topics and Contemporary Issues. Also Read: Syllabus for CLAT LLM paper

Q: How to prepare for CLAT exam? 

A: To prepare for CLAT exam, candidates should take note of the changed exam pattern besides syllabus and subjects that will be asked in the question paper. Also, they should consistently prepare for all the sections for at least 6 months. A good preparation strategy should be made before starting the exam preparation.

CLAT 2021- Strategy of Preparation

CLAT Preparation Strategy 2021

The CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is considered by and large one of the toughest examinations to crack in India. While the number of aspirants, is still much lower than some of the other leading examinations at the after XII level such as the JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) or the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test), the number of seats on offer, too is on the lower side. This makes the task of securing a seat at any of the leading NLUs (National Law Universities), such as in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata or the others, amongst the toughest. With CLAT 2019 results having just been declared, now is the perfect time to reflect on how to prepare for next year’s edition. CLAT 2021 is less than a year away, and typically, this is the time that students start preparing for it. There are some who go for two-year prep periods, while some even crack the exam during a month’s preparations after their boards, but one year is usually considered the best time duration of study for CLAT.

Let us tackle each of the five areas within CLAT individually:

General Knowledge (GK)

GK is possibly the toughest topic for most, but also the one that has the highest weightage. There are 50 questions directly from it, with another 15 odd questions from Legal GK asked in the Legal Aptitude portion. In recent years questions from Static GK have dwindled in number, but we can’t totally leave it out either. So, students must go through History, Geography, Economy and General Science from any national level publication such as Arihant, Pearson, Lucent or Manorama. Polity and Miscellaneous will need greater degree of study due to their relevance in Legal and Current Affairs respectively. Current Affairs forms the vast majority of questions nowadays in CLAT. Although the time duration of twelve months prior to the exam are considered, most of the questions are asked from the October to March duration. One needs to thoroughly go through newspapers such as The Hindu, especially its Editorial and National pages. Plus, online portals such as GK Today, TCY and Cloud Affairs are of much help.

Legal Aptitude

This is another crucial segment, with fifty marks of weightage. In case of any tie between two students, the scores of this section are considered as the tie- breaker. Besides the earlier discussed Legal Knowledge, there are three major sections to this subject - Torts, Contracts and Criminal Law. Students must go over thoroughly from books on Legal Aptitude and Legal Reasoning. Universal, Arihant and Truemen are good books in this regard.

English

For many students, this becomes the easiest segment to approach. Unlike say GK which requires continuous study, or Legal which is a new concept, English is something students are constantly in touch with. While a good reading habit helps, regular practice is needed to hone the skills. For grammar, editions of Wren & Martin and Geraldine Woods are considered the best. Reading Comprehensions (RCs) often act as the time killers. So, these need to be treaded with much caution. Regular practice from across the topics will ensure, that the least amount of time is needed. The most popular topics for RCs are from philosophy, history, wildlife, art, literature, business and economy. Thorough reading of the passage is needed, as questions are mostly inference based.

Elementary Mathematics

Like English, this is also a fairly easy segment. The weightage is for a mere twenty marks, and no questions are ever asked which require higher mathematics, from beyond class X. Tenth standard R.S. Aggarwal or R.D. Sharma will suffice for this. Arithmetic and Algebra usually cover the larger segments of the paper.

Logical Reasoning

Reasoning is actually a combination of both verbal logic, as well as analytical reasoning. So, one part is full of numbers and data, while the other is made of words and puzzles. Reasoning needs ample practice. Books by M.K. Pandey and R.S. Aggarwal will suffice. For Data Interpretation (DI) questions, the trick lies in forming the table. Once this is done, the rest of the questions flow automatically.

Besides these individual segment prep styles, there needs to be an overarching strategic idea, for the bigger picture. Since GK is something that cannot be skipped for too long, regular newspaper - reading habits will need to be inculcated. Beyond passive reading, one needs to form one’s own notes for the same. The legal concepts too will need to be grasped thoroughly. Interspersed between them, have to be the other areas. Needless to say, students need to work harder on areas of their weakness.

Test taking is also an art. The CLAT reverted to its earlier offline mode this year. Assuming it stays the same, students need to prepare with as many such offline tests as possible. Due to notifications being late, one cannot take a complete chance. So, some tests will also need to be taken on an online mode. Students also need to prepare for scenarios on which section to start with, which to end, and the general order. Such trends differ from one student to another, but the general consensus is that one may start from an area where the student is strong at. GK obviously requires the least amount of time due to the fact that, students either know or do not. There is no middle ground here. Whatever extra time a student gets, needs to be given to legal, as this is the make- or- break section.

RCs in English and the table-based DI questions are usually lengthier. So, students must divide their time adroitly, to make sure they aren’t spending too much time on one topic alone. The time of the test also matters. The CLAT exam typically takes place between 2 and 5 pm on a Sunday. Students must prepare at this time period especially. Mock papers need to be given during this time slot. This is to acquaint the body along the clock. Some students have a habit of taking an afternoon nap. So, this timing could affect them psychologically, that needs rectification.

Test givers must also seek continuous improvement in their CLAT mock papers. Too many mocks, especially at the start and the end may simply complicate matters. Instead, one could start off with topic-wise tests, to master individual areas. A year remains on from CLAT 2021. An early start will ensure they remain ahead of their competition. Lastly, no 2021 aspirant must get worried about the unusually high CLAT cut-offs this year. Such a scenario, need not repeat each year.

 

CLAT 2021 - Courses Offered

Courses offered through CLAT 2021

The National Law Universities (NLUs) in India (except for the NLU Delhi) and other top law colleges offer admissions to five-year integrated LLB courses, as well as LLM courses on the basis of CLAT scores. The courses offered are:

• BA LLB (Bachelor of Arts LLB)
• BSc LLB (Bachelor of Science LLB)
• BCom LLB (Bachelor of Commerce LLB)
• BBA LLB (Bachelor of Business Administration LLB)
• BSW LLB (Bachelor of Social Work LLB)
• LLM (Master of Laws)

CLAT 2021 - Colleges Accepting CLAT score

Colleges accepting CLAT scores

CLAT is conducted for admissions to 22 NLUs and more than 50 private law colleges in India. Below is the list of colleges participating in CLAT Scores:

CLAT participating National Law Universities (NLUs)
National Law School of India University, Bangalore	National Academy of Legal Study & Research (NALSAR) University of Law, Hyderabad
The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata	National Law Institute University, Bhopal
National Law University, Jodhpur	Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur
Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar	Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow
Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala	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, Assam
Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU) Visakhapatnam	The Tamil Nadu National Law School, Tiruchirapalli
Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai	Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur
Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad	Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla
Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur	Dr B R Ambedkar National Law University Sonipat, Haryana

Read More: List of colleges accepting CLAT scores with seat intake and other details.