CLAT is one of the most competitive entrance exams for undergraduate and postgraduate law programs. 92,344 students registered for the exam in 2026, setting a record for participation. This year the number of students appearing for the CLAT exam is expected to surpass last year's numbers.Therefore, candidates should check the CLAT eligibility criteria before applying to avoid issues during the application or admission process.
The Consortium of National Law Universities has clearly defined the eligibility criteria for CLAT. Before applying, candidates should check their educational qualification, minimum marks, qualifying-examination status and applicable category or nationality requirements.
However, meeting the basic eligibility criteria to appear for CLAT does not mean that the candidate meets all the requirements for admission to every NLU. Some NLUs may have additional conditions related to domicile, reservation, documents or specific admission categories. So, are you eligible for CLAT 2027? What requirements must you meet for your preferred NLU? The eligibility criteria are explained in detail below.
|
Eligibility Requirement |
CLAT UG |
CLAT PG |
|
Qualifying Examination |
10+2 or equivalent |
LL.B or equivalent law degree |
|
Minimum Marks |
45% |
50% |
|
Relaxation |
40% for SC/ST/PwD |
45% for SC/ST/PwD |
|
Appearing Candidates |
Yes, subject to passing |
Yes, subject to passing |
|
Upper age limit |
No upper age limit |
No upper age limit |
|
Stream restriction |
No specific stream restriction |
Law degree required |
|
NLU specific conditions |
May apply |
May apply |
Please note that meeting the Consortium’s basic eligibility does not automatically guarantee admission. Students are advised to cross check individual NLUs additional conditions.
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Before applying for CLAT UG 2027 is necessary for candidates to ensure they meet the admission criteria set by the Consortium of NLUs. Check the complete breakdown of the academic,category-wise marks, and other requirements that candidates must satisfy.
For CLAT UG, candidates must have passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination from a recognized board or institution. Candidates appearing for their Class 12 examination in the year of admission can also apply, however, they must provide the proof of passing at the time of admission. The basic eligibility criteria do not prescribe a specific subject stream. Therefore, students from different academic streams can apply for CLAT 2027.
Candidates who have completed their schooling through open schooling or an equivalent qualification should ensure that their qualification is recognised and accepted for admission. Also, candidates from academic backgrounds that do not follow the standard Class 12 route should verify their eligibility before applying.
Candidates must meet the minimum percentage or equivalent grade prescribed for the qualifying examination. Candidates whose board awards grades or CGPA should follow the board's official method for determining the equivalent percentage, where applicable.
|
Category |
Minimum Marks |
|
General and other applicable categories |
45% |
|
SC/ST/PwD |
40% |
Each candidate must meet the minimum percentage based on their aggregate marks in the qualifying examination. Some education boards award grades or CGPA instead of percentage marks. In this case, candidates must follow the official conversion method prescribed by the respective board to determine the equivalent percentage. Only the prescribed conversion formula specified by the board must be used to avoid any errors.
Candidates should keep the relevant conversion document or certificate issued by the board as it may be required to establish their qualifying marks.
If any candidate wants to claim relaxation based on a reserved category they must have a valid and applicable category documentation. The certificate should meet all the requirements prescribed by the relevant category and must be available during the admission and counselling process. An invalid certificate may affect the candidate’s eligibility for the applicable category-based relaxation.
Class 12 stream does not restrict students from applying for CLAT. Students from Science, Commerce, Humanities/Arts and other recognised streams can apply, provided they meet the prescribed eligibility requirements.
Yes, students are allowed to apply for CLAT UG 2027 who are appearing for their Class 12 or equivalent qualifying examination in 2027. However, they must meet all the required eligibility criteria and pass the qualifying exam with required marks before admission. Students awaiting their Class 12 results should provide a proof of passing the examination at the time of admission or counselling, as required by the concerned authorities.
If any student is appearing for a supplementary or compartment examination they should carefully check the deadlines and requirements of the NLUs concerned.
There is no upper age limit for candidates appearing for CLAT UG 2027. Students must match the prescribed educational qualification and minimum marks requirements. However, candidates must check the latest admission brochure of the individual NLU as some may have additional programme-specific admission criteria.
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Your CLAT PG eligibility primarily focuses on the undergraduate law degree qualifications and the minimum graduation requirements. As there is no upper age restriction specified by the Consortium of NLUs the eligibility depends majorly on the recognised LL.B. degree. Check the detailed breakdown of marks, category based relaxations, and special provisions for final year law students mentioned below.
Candidates applying for CLAT PG 2027 must have an LL.B. degree or an equivalent law degree recognised for admission. Also, candidates who have completed either a three-year LL.B. programme after graduation or a five-year integrated law degree can meet the basic educational qualification for admission through CLAT PG.
Those candidates who have obtained their degree from institutions outside India, an equivalent or non standard route must verify if their degree certificate and institute is recognized and accepted for admission.
|
Category |
Minimum Marks |
|
General and other applicable categories |
50% |
|
SC/ST/PwD |
45% |
Candidates whose marks are awarded as grades or CGPA should refer to their university’s prescribed conversion method to determine the equivalent percentage of marks. Also, candidates claiming category-based relaxation should have valid supporting documents.
If the students fulfil the prescribed eligibility criteria, they can apply for CLAT PG 2027. Candidates who are awaiting their final year results may appear for the examination, however, they must pass the qualifying LL.B. examination and provide the proof of passing at the time of admission.
Candidates awaiting their final-year LL.B. results may apply, subject to the applicable eligibility requirements. They must provide proof of having passed the qualifying examination at the time required for admission. Candidates with pending back papers or supplementary examinations should also check the admission requirements of the concerned NLU. Once the result is declared, the candidate should keep their final marksheet and degree or provisional degree certificate ready for document verification.
No, there is no upper age limit for candidates appearing for CLAT PG 2027. However, the candidates must meet the prescribed educational qualification and minimum marks requirements to be eligible for applying.
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Candidates belonging to categories such as SC, ST, PwD, OBC and EWS may be eligible for reservation benefits depending on the rules of the concerned NLU. Candidates should distinguish between category-based relaxation in minimum marks and reservation of seats, as these are separate admission provisions. Additionally, each NLU may have its own reservation policy, seat allocation, domicile rules and documentation rules. Therefore, candidates must check the latest brochure of the NLU they wish to apply for before claiming any reservation benefit.
The extent and conditions of SC/ST reservation can vary across NLUs at the time of admissions. SC and ST candidates are eligible to apply for CLAT as far as they meet general educational qualifications and applicable minimum marks requirements. Candidates claiming the reservation must provide a valid category certificate issued by the competent authority.
PwD candidates must meet the applicable academic eligibility requirements and provide the required disability certificate. Eligible PwD candidates may also receive examination accommodations as specified by the Consortium.
NLUs may have different reservation rules for OBC and EWS candidates. Candidates must cross check the NLU before claiming the reservation since the applicable category, certificate requirements, domicile conditions and number of reserved seats may differ between universities.
Candidates claiming a reservation benefit may be required to provide documents such as
The candidates must produce the relevant certificates prescribed by the government and respective NLU at the time of admission.
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