Common Law Admission Test for Post Graduates Exam Pattern 2026
Common Law Admission Test for Post Graduates Exam Pattern
CLAT PG 2026 Exam Pattern: Overview
CLAT PG 2026 is a 120-minute offline exam conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLU Consortium) for LLM admissions at National Law Universities across India. The paper carries 120 passage-based MCQs for 120 marks, with every passage drawn from primary legal texts, court judgments, and statutes.
The exam follows a single-section, pen-and-paper format. The Consortium has kept the structure stable since 2025. Every question carries equal weight — one mark — and tests legal comprehension from real court decisions, statutes, and regulations.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Consortium of National Law Universities (NLU Consortium) |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen and Paper / OMR) |
| Duration | 120 minutes (2 hours); 160 minutes for PWD students |
| Total Questions | 120 |
| Total Marks | 120 |
| Question Type | Passage-based MCQs (4 options, 1 correct answer) |
| Marking Scheme | +1 correct; -0.25 wrong; 0 unattempted |
| Medium | English only |
| Sectional Time Limit | None |
| Number of Passages | Approximately 24 (150–200 words each) |
| Questions per Passage | 5 |
| Subjects Covered | 13 compulsory UG law subjects |
CLAT PG 2026 is a 120-minute offline test with 120 passage-based MCQs for 120 marks — one mark per question, with 0.25 marks deducted for every wrong answer.
CLAT PG 2026: Important Dates
The CLAT PG 2026 cycle has concluded. The exam was held on December 7, 2025, and results were declared on December 16, 2025.
The CLAT PG 2027 notification is expected from the Consortium around July 2026. Students should use the confirmed 2026 pattern as the benchmark for upcoming preparation.
CLAT PG Marking Scheme 2026
The marking scheme for CLAT PG 2026 is straightforward. A correct answer earns +1 mark, a wrong answer deducts 0.25 marks, and unattempted questions attract zero penalty.
- A correct answer earns +1 mark.
- A wrong answer deducts 0.25 marks.
- Unattempted questions attract zero penalty — no marks are awarded or deducted.
CLAT PG Subject-Wise Exam Pattern 2026
The exam covers 13 compulsory UG law subjects, including Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, and Criminal Law. All questions are passage-based and drawn from primary legal texts.
- Constitutional Law
- Jurisprudence
- Criminal Law
CLAT PG Question Types 2026
All 120 questions in CLAT PG 2026 are passage-based MCQs. Each passage has 5 questions, and there are approximately 24 passages in total.
- Every passage is drawn from primary legal texts, court judgments, and statutes.
- Each MCQ has 4 options with 1 correct answer.
- Reading speed and legal comprehension are the key differentiators; many answers are traceable within the passage itself.
CLAT PG Exam Pattern: Changes in 2026 vs Previous Year
The Consortium of NLUs has kept the structure stable since 2025. There is no sectional time limit — candidates manage the full 120 minutes freely across all passages.
How to Prepare Based on CLAT PG Exam Pattern
Preparation should focus on reading speed and legal comprehension, as many answers are traceable within the passage itself. Candidates should practice with passage-based questions from primary legal sources.
CLAT PG Exam Pattern FAQs
CLAT PG 2026 is a 120-minute pen-and-paper test with 120 questions for 120 marks. The paper contains approximately 24 passage-based comprehension sets, with 5 questions each.
The exam is conducted in English only. There is no sectional time limit — candidates manage the full 120 minutes freely across all passages.
CLAT PG 2026: Important Dates
The CLAT PG 2026 examination cycle has concluded. All key events, from the release of the notification to the declaration of results, are over.
| Event | Date (CLAT PG 2026) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Official Notification Released | July 20, 2025 | Over |
| Application Form Opens | August 1, 2025 | Over |
| Application Form Closes (Original) | October 31, 2025 | Over |
| Application Form Closes (Extended Deadline) | November 7, 2025 | Over |
| Admit Card Released | November 22, 2025 | Over |
| Exam Date | December 7, 2025 (2:00 PM – 4:00 PM) | Over |
| Provisional Answer Key Released | December 10, 2025 | Over |
| Result Declared | December 16, 2025 | Over |
Source: Consortium of National Law Universities — CLAT 2026 Official Page.
CLAT PG 2026: Detailed Exam Pattern
The CLAT PG 2026 paper is based on approximately 24 reading comprehension passages. Each passage is 150 to 200 words long and carries 5 MCQs, making a total of 120 questions.
Passages are sourced from court decisions, statutes, regulations, and legal commentaries across all 13 compulsory UG law subjects. There are no separate timed sub-sections; the full paper runs as one continuous block.
| Component | No. of Questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passage-Based MCQs (~24 passages × 5 questions) | 120 | +1 | 120 | 120 minutes |
| Total | 120 | — | 120 marks | 120 minutes |
CLAT PG 2026 has no internal section breakup. The entire paper is one continuous block, and candidates can attempt passages in any order.
Passages in CLAT PG 2026 are drawn from:
- Landmark Supreme Court and High Court judgments across law subjects
- Central Acts, Statutes, and subordinate legislation
- Legal treatises, commentaries, and academic articles on law
- International conventions and treaties (for Public International Law passages)
The CLAT PG 2026 paper ran to over 40 pages due to the passage-heavy format. Reading stamina is as critical as legal knowledge in managing the full 120-minute exam.
CLAT PG Marking Scheme 2026
CLAT PG 2026 applies a uniform marking scheme across all 120 questions. Every correct answer earns +1 mark, and every wrong answer deducts 0.25 marks.
Unattempted questions carry zero marks, with no penalty for skipping. Since all questions are single-correct MCQs, no partial marking applies.
| Question Type | Marks for Correct Answer | Marks for Wrong Answer | Marks for Unattempted |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCQ — Passage-Based (all 120 questions) | +1 | -0.25 | 0 |
Negative marking of 0.25 marks applies to every wrong MCQ answer in CLAT PG 2026 — avoid random guessing.
At −0.25 per wrong answer, four incorrect responses cancel one correct one. If you can eliminate two of the four options, the expected value of guessing turns positive. Skip a question only when all four choices are entirely unfamiliar. The zero-penalty rule for unattempted questions means leaving a blank is always better than a random attempt with no basis for elimination.
CLAT PG Subject-Wise Exam Pattern 2026
CLAT PG 2026 covers 13 compulsory undergraduate law subjects as defined in the Consortium’s official PG syllabus. The Consortium does not publish a fixed per-subject question count — distribution varies by year based on passage selection.
The breakdown below reflects subject prominence based on the official syllabus and post-exam analysis of recent CLAT PG papers.
Constitutional Law
Constitutional Law is the highest-weight subject in CLAT PG. Passages typically come from Supreme Court decisions on fundamental rights, judicial review, the basic structure doctrine, federal structure, and constitutional amendments.
Based on past exam trends, Constitutional Law typically contributes the largest cluster of passages in any given year.
| Focus Area | Key Topics |
|---|---|
| Fundamental Rights | Articles 12–35, enforcement, writs, exceptions |
| Judicial Review | Writ jurisdiction, separation of powers, basic structure doctrine |
| Federal Structure | Centre-State relations, legislative powers, concurrent list |
| Constitutional Amendments | Article 368, landmark amending cases |
Jurisprudence
CLAT PG 2026 Syllabus: Subject-Wise Breakdown
Jurisprudence is consistently the second-most tested subject in CLAT PG. Passages draw from legal philosophy — natural law, legal positivism, legal realism, sociological jurisprudence, and critical legal theory. Familiarity with major legal thinkers such as Hart, Kelsen, Dworkin, Austin, and Rawls is essential for this section.
| Focus Area | Key Topics |
|---|---|
| Theories of Law | Natural law, positivism, realism, sociological school |
| Sources of Law | Legislation, precedent, custom, equity |
| Rights and Duties | Hohfeldian analysis, legal personality, liability theories |
Criminal Law
Criminal Law passages address offences, defences, and procedure. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which replaced the IPC and CrPC respectively, now form the primary legislative base for criminal law passages in CLAT PG.
| Focus Area | Key Topics |
|---|---|
| Substantive Criminal Law | Offences, mens rea, general defences under BNS |
| Procedural Law | FIR, arrest, trial, bail, sentencing under BNSS |
| Evidence | Admissibility, burden of proof, witness examination |
Law of Contract and Torts
Contract Law passages draw from the Indian Contract Act, 1872, the Specific Relief Act, and commercial dispute decisions. Torts passages cover negligence, strict liability, nuisance, and defamation. Together, Contract and Torts form a significant portion of the paper alongside the primary law subjects.
| Focus Area | Key Topics |
|---|---|
| Contract Formation | Offer, acceptance, consideration, capacity, free consent |
| Breach and Remedies | Damages, specific performance, injunction, rescission |
| Torts | Negligence, strict liability, nuisance, defamation |
Administrative Law
Administrative Law passages cover delegated legislation, natural justice principles, and judicial review of administrative action. Passages are typically drawn from High Court or Supreme Court rulings on decisions by public authorities, tribunals, and regulatory bodies.
Family Law
Family Law passages address personal laws — Hindu, Muslim, and Christian — along with the Special Marriage Act and succession statutes. Questions typically arise from disputes on marriage validity, divorce, maintenance, adoption, and inheritance rights.
Property Law, Company Law, Public International Law, Tax Law, Environmental Law, and Labour and Industrial Law
These subjects appear as individual passage clusters on a rotating basis. In CLAT PG 2026, Tax Law featured as a full dedicated passage for the first time — underscoring that any subject from the 13-subject official list can appear without prior signal. Environmental Law and Public International Law have also featured in recent years. You should cover every subject in the official syllabus without treating any as safely skippable.
CLAT PG Question Types 2026
CLAT PG 2026 uses a single question format: passage-based multiple-choice questions with four options and one correct answer. There are no subjective questions, no numerical or integer-type questions, no assertion-reason format, and no multiple-select questions. All 120 questions follow a comprehension structure tied to the legal passage provided.
| Question Format | Description | Present in CLAT PG 2026? |
|---|---|---|
| Passage-Based MCQ (Single Correct) | Extract from a judgment, statute, or regulation; MCQs test comprehension and legal reasoning | Yes — all 120 questions |
| Standalone Theory MCQ | Direct question on a legal concept without a passage | No |
| Essay / Descriptive Answer | Written answer testing analysis | No |
| Numerical / Integer Type | Calculation-based answer required | No |
| Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) | More than one correct option | No |
Most CLAT PG 2026 questions are answerable from within the passage itself — strong comprehension skills outweigh deep subject-knowledge recall.
Within the passage-based MCQ format, questions in CLAT PG 2026 test four competencies:
- Comprehension — answer is directly traceable in the passage text
- Inference — answer requires drawing a logical conclusion from the passage's argument
- Application — apply the legal principle in the passage to a stated fact situation
- Knowledge recall — requires recall of a legal fact alongside the passage cue (least common)
CLAT PG 2026 Exam Pattern: Key Facts
The Consortium officially confirmed no structural changes to the CLAT PG 2026 pattern compared to 2025. The 24-passage, passage-based MCQ format introduced in the 2024 reform cycle continued unchanged.
The primary observable shift in 2026 was denser and longer passage content, making reading stamina a greater differentiator. Additionally, Tax Law featured as a dedicated full passage for the first time in 2026.
CLAT PG 2025 vs 2026: Pattern Comparison
| Parameter | CLAT PG 2025 | CLAT PG 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Questions | 120 | 120 (No change) |
| Total Marks | 120 | 120 (No change) |
| Duration | 120 minutes | 120 minutes (No change) |
| Mode | Offline — Pen and Paper | Offline — Pen and Paper (No change) |
| Negative Marking | -0.25 per wrong answer | -0.25 per wrong answer (No change) |
| Question Format | Passage-based MCQs | Passage-based MCQs (No change) |
| Approx. Number of Passages | ~24 | ~24 (No change) |
| Questions per Passage | 5 | 5 (No change) |
| Sectional Time Limit | None | None (No change) |
| Notable Subject Development | — | Tax Law appeared as a full passage (first occurrence) |
Structural Stability and Its Impact
The most significant structural reform in recent CLAT PG history occurred in 2025, when the Consortium reduced the total question count from 150 to 120. That change carried forward unchanged to 2026.
The CLAT PG pattern has been structurally stable for two consecutive years. Students preparing for CLAT PG 2027 can use the 2026 pattern as a reliable reference, and prior year papers from 2025 and 2026 are the most relevant practice material.
How to Prepare Based on CLAT PG Exam Pattern
The CLAT PG 2026 pattern rewards reading speed, legal comprehension, and selective subject depth over rote memorisation. Since all 120 questions are passage-based, extracting legal principles from dense primary texts quickly is the core skill to build.
- Lead with Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence: These subjects consistently generate the most passages in CLAT PG. Cover landmark fundamental rights judgments, judicial review doctrines, and key jurisprudential thinkers before moving to secondary subjects.
- Read primary legal texts regularly: Passages in CLAT PG come directly from Supreme Court judgments, statutes, and legal treatises. Practise reading original legal texts — not summaries — so you are comfortable with the style and density of exam passages.
- Build 120-minute reading stamina: The 2026 paper ran to over 40 pages across 24 passages. Train by attempting full-length mocks in one unbroken sitting to build the concentration needed for the complete exam.
- Cover all 13 subjects — do not skip any: Tax Law appeared as a full passage for the first time in 2026. The Consortium can increase any subject's presence without advance notice — gaps in your preparation directly become scoring risks.
- Apply a calibrated negative-marking strategy: At −0.25 per wrong answer, four errors cancel one correct response. Attempt confidently when you can eliminate two options. Leave a question blank only when all four choices are equally unfamiliar.
- Practise OMR bubble-filling under time pressure: CLAT PG uses an OMR answer sheet. Use a ballpoint pen, darken bubbles firmly, avoid stray marks, and reserve at least 10 minutes at the end to verify your OMR against rough work before submission.
- Solve CLAT PG papers from 2022 to 2026: The passage-based format is consistent across years. Timed full-length practice with prior papers sharpens reading speed, reveals subject-wise gaps, and acclimatises you to the Consortium's passage and question style.
CLAT PG Exam Pattern FAQs
How many questions are there in CLAT PG 2026?
CLAT PG 2026 has 120 questions in total. All questions are passage-based MCQs worth 1 mark each. The paper contains approximately 24 passages of 5 questions each, adding up to 120 questions for 120 marks.
What is the marking scheme of CLAT PG 2026?
Each correct answer in CLAT PG 2026 earns +1 mark. Each wrong answer deducts 0.25 marks. Unattempted questions carry zero marks — no penalty applies for skipping. The scheme is uniform across all 120 questions.
Is there negative marking in CLAT PG 2026?
Yes. CLAT PG 2026 deducts 0.25 marks per wrong MCQ answer. Avoid random guessing. If you can eliminate two of the four options, attempting the question is statistically beneficial despite the penalty. Four wrong answers cancel out one correct answer.
What is the mode and duration of CLAT PG 2026?
CLAT PG 2026 is conducted offline in pen-and-paper mode. The total duration is 120 minutes, with no sectional time limit.
CLAT PG 2026 Exam Format
CLAT PG 2026 is an offline pen-and-paper (OMR-based) exam lasting 120 minutes. Students with benchmark disabilities (PWD) receive 160 minutes for the same paper. There is no sectional time limit — the 120 minutes can be managed freely across all passages.
Subjects Covered in CLAT PG 2026
CLAT PG 2026 covers 13 compulsory UG law subjects. Any of these subjects can appear as passages in any given year.
- Constitutional Law
- Jurisprudence
- Administrative Law
- Law of Contract
- Torts
- Family Law
- Criminal Law
- Property Law
- Company Law
- Public International Law
- Tax Law
- Environmental Law
- Labour and Industrial Law
Number of Passages and Questions
CLAT PG 2026 contains approximately 24 passages, each roughly 150–200 words long, followed by 5 MCQs each. Passages are drawn from court judgments, statutes, regulations, and legal commentaries covering the 13 official law subjects.
Sectional Time Limit
No. CLAT PG 2026 has no sectional time limit. You receive 120 minutes to complete all 24 passages in any order. You can move between passages freely and return to earlier ones if time permits.
Types of Questions Asked
All 120 questions in CLAT PG 2026 are passage-based MCQs with four options and one correct answer. Questions test comprehension, inference, and legal application from the passage. There are no subjective, numerical, assertion-reason, or multiple-select questions.
Changes in CLAT PG 2026 Compared to 2025
The Consortium confirmed no structural changes to CLAT PG 2026. Both years featured 120 questions, ~24 passages, offline mode, and −0.25 negative marking. The notable development was that Tax Law appeared as a full dedicated passage for the first time in 2026, broadening the observable subject coverage within the unchanged format.
Can You Attempt Without Deep Legal Knowledge
Many CLAT PG 2026 questions are answerable through careful passage reading alone. However, foundational knowledge of UG law subjects — especially Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence — significantly improves accuracy on inference-based and application-based questions, where surface reading alone may not be sufficient to distinguish between closely worded options.
How to Fill the OMR Sheet
CLAT PG uses an OMR answer sheet. Use a ballpoint pen to darken the correct bubble firmly and completely. Avoid stray marks on the sheet and do not overwrite a darkened bubble. Set aside the last 10 minutes of the exam to verify your OMR against your rough work before the invigilator collects the sheet.
Total Marks and Marking Scheme
The total marks in CLAT PG 2026 is 120. Each of the 120 questions carries 1 mark. Negative marking of 0.25 applies for wrong answers, so your final net score reflects the number of correct answers minus one-quarter of wrong attempts.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam mode | Offline pen-and-paper (OMR-based) |
| Duration | 120 minutes (160 minutes for PWD) |
| Total questions | 120 |
| Total marks | 120 |
| Marks per question | 1 |
| Negative marking | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Number of passages | Approximately 24 |
| Passage length | 150–200 words each |
| Questions per passage | 5 |
| Sectional time limit | None |
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
CLAT PG 2026 Exam Pattern
CLAT PG 2026 has 120 questions in total. All questions are passage-based MCQs worth 1 mark each.
The paper contains approximately 24 passages of 5 questions each. This adds up to 120 questions for 120 marks.
CLAT PG 2026 Marking Scheme
Each correct answer in CLAT PG 2026 earns +1 mark. Each wrong answer deducts 0.25 marks.
Unattempted questions carry zero marks, with no penalty for skipping. The scheme is uniform across all 120 questions.
Negative Marking in CLAT PG 2026
Yes, CLAT PG 2026 deducts 0.25 marks per wrong MCQ answer. Avoid random guessing.
If you can eliminate two of the four options, attempting the question is statistically beneficial despite the penalty. Four wrong answers cancel out one correct answer.
Mode and Duration of CLAT PG 2026
CLAT PG 2026 is an offline pen-and-paper (OMR-based) exam lasting 120 minutes. Students with benchmark disabilities (PWD) receive 160 minutes for the same paper.
There is no sectional time limit. You manage the 120 minutes freely across all passages.
Subjects Covered in CLAT PG 2026
CLAT PG 2026 covers 13 compulsory UG law subjects. Any of these subjects can appear as passages in any given year.
- Constitutional Law
- Jurisprudence
- Administrative Law
- Law of Contract
- Torts
- Family Law
- Criminal Law
- Property Law
- Company Law
- Public International Law
- Tax Law
- Environmental Law
- Labour and Industrial Law
Passages in CLAT PG 2026
CLAT PG 2026 contains approximately 24 passages, each roughly 150–200 words long, followed by 5 MCQs each. Passages are drawn from court judgments, statutes, regulations, and legal commentaries covering the 13 official law subjects.
Sectional Time Limit in CLAT PG 2026
No, CLAT PG 2026 has no sectional time limit. You receive 120 minutes to complete all 24 passages in any order.
You can move between passages freely and return to earlier ones if time permits.
Type of Questions in CLAT PG 2026
All 120 questions in CLAT PG 2026 are passage-based MCQs with four options and one correct answer. Questions test comprehension, inference, and legal application from the passage.
There are no subjective, numerical, assertion-reason, or multiple-select questions.
Changes in CLAT PG 2026 Compared to 2025
The Consortium confirmed no structural changes to CLAT PG 2026. Both years featured 120 questions, ~24 passages, offline mode, and –0.25 negative marking.
The notable development was that Tax Law appeared as a full dedicated passage for the first time in 2026. This broadened the observable subject coverage within the unchanged format.
Attempting Questions Without Deep Legal Knowledge
Many CLAT PG 2026 questions are answerable through careful passage reading alone. However, foundational knowledge of UG law subjects, especially Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence, significantly improves accuracy on inference-based and application-based questions.
Surface reading alone may not be sufficient to distinguish between closely worded options.
Filling the OMR Sheet in CLAT PG 2026
CLAT PG uses an OMR answer sheet. Use a ballpoint pen to darken the correct bubble firmly and completely.
Avoid stray marks on the sheet and do not overwrite a darkened bubble. Set aside the last 10 minutes of the exam to verify your OMR against your rough work before the invigilator collects the sheet.
Total Marks in CLAT PG 2026
The total marks in CLAT PG 2026 is 120. Each of the 120 questions carries 1 mark.
Negative marking of 0.25 applies for wrong answers. Your final net score reflects the number of correct answers minus one-quarter of wrong attempts.