Upcoming Changes to CLAT Exam Structure and Syllabus
Significant Revisions Proposed for CLAT
An expert committee established by the Consortium of National Law Universities, which oversees the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), has put forth recommendations for modifications to the exam's structure, syllabus, and question types.
Preparations are in progress for substantial changes to CLAT, the largest law entrance examination in India. The committee's suggestions have sparked numerous inquiries among students; however, the Consortium has reassured that there is no cause for immediate concern, as the CLAT 2027 will follow the current format, with significant alterations anticipated for 2028 and beyond.
Last year, the Supreme Court raised serious concerns regarding inaccuracies in certain questions and answer keys during the CLAT, prompting an advisory board led by former Supreme Court Justice Indu Malhotra to form a five-member expert committee. This committee has compiled its findings and submitted them to the Consortium, which has now made the report public and is inviting feedback from students, educators, and legal professionals until August 31, 2026.
During a meeting on July 18, 2026, the governing body of the Consortium confirmed that the CLAT UG and PG 2027 exams would adhere to the existing syllabus and exam format. Consequently, candidates can maintain their current preparation strategies. While the question-setting team may implement minor enhancements to question quality and layout based on some recommendations from the expert committee, the core structure of the exam will remain intact.
Candidates taking the exams next year will experience the familiar format. The exam will be conducted on a computer over two hours, featuring 120 multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Each correct answer will earn one point, while incorrect answers will incur a penalty of 0.25 points. The exam will encompass five subjects: English Language, Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques.
The committee has observed that the current CLAT often includes questions with answers readily available in the text, which assesses a student's ability to find information rather than their analytical skills. Additionally, the General Knowledge section sometimes relies on overly simplistic or excessively complex facts, detracting from the exam's purpose. Therefore, the committee has proposed a revised format for the CLAT UG exam.
One of the most notable recommendations is the complete elimination of the General Knowledge and Current Affairs sections. The committee also suggests rebranding the English Language section to 'Language and Comprehension' to more effectively assess candidates' language understanding and communication skills.
Moreover, the report advocates for the integration of Legal Reasoning and Logical Reasoning into a new aptitude section, limiting each section to 10–15 questions. This change aims to alleviate the pressure on students to answer a large volume of questions quickly, allowing for a more accurate evaluation of their analytical capabilities.
Additionally, the report proposes the introduction of a subjective essay component to the exam for the first time, facilitating an assessment of candidates' writing abilities, reasoning skills, and expression.