CLAT Full form, Eligibility Criteria 2025, Age Limit, Qualification, Minimum Qualifying Marks

26 September,2024  |  By Brainwonders

The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a centralised national-level entrance examination administered by the Consortium of National Law Universities for admission to 22 premier law universities in India. The test is administered after the completion of grade 12 or Higher Secondary Examination, granting admission to integrated Undergraduate programs, while after graduation in law, it grants admission to the LLM (Law for Master of Laws) courses at law schools. Furthermore, many private and self-financed law schools also use CLAT scores to assess candidates for admission. Additionally, public sector corporations such as Coal India, ONGC, BHEL, the Indian Steel Authority, and Oil India have employed the exam's Postgraduate scores to fill their legal positions.

What is the full form of CLAT?

The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a comprehensive all-India entrance exam administered by 18 National Law Universities (NLUs). It is designed to assess students' knowledge and skills to provide a fair and objective evaluation for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate programs (LL.B. and LL.M). The test comprises a variety of questions that measure a student's ability across legal knowledge, logical reasoning and analytical abilities, English proficiency, and other topics related to law.

What are the eligibility criteria for CLAT 2025?

The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) has confirmed the eligibility requirements for CLAT 2025. Candidates wishing to pursue a 5-year LLB or LLM degree must satisfy all the criteria of CLAT 2025 before submitting their application form.

To be eligible, applicants must fulfil the required educational qualifications, obtain the minimum qualifying marks, and meet specific age limits and other prerequisites established by the NGUs. It is important to note that the eligibility criteria for both law programmes differ.

This announcement allows eligible candidates to participate in one of the nation's leading law entrance examinations. We encourage all interested individuals to review the official eligibility criteria before registering for the exam.

CLAT 2025 is the entrance examination for admission to 5-year integrated LLB programmes and one-year LLB programmes offered by 22 national law universities and over 70 affiliated law colleges throughout the country. The test measures an applicant's aptitude, knowledge, and skills to determine their capability to successfully complete legal studies.

Eligibility criteria for UG-CLAT 2025

To be eligible for undergraduate law programmes in CLAT 2025, applicants must meet the following criteria: 

1. Education Qualification :

• To be eligible for admission to the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2025, all candidates must have passed the Class 12 exam or its equivalent from an accredited board or institution. 
• Candidates taking the Class 12 examination in April/May 2025 and wishing to take CLAT may also apply; however, they must supply their qualification certificate at the time of admission, or their admission will be forfeited.

2. Minimum Qualifying Marks Needed for UG-CLAT 2025

• Candidates must have achieved an aggregate grade of 45% or higher in their qualifying exam (Class 12) to be eligible for this position. 
• For SC and ST applicants, a minimum score of 40% or its equivalent is required.

3. Age Limit : 

• There is no age limit for eligibility to take the UG CLAT 2025 exam or pursue an LLB course at any national law university.

Eligibility criteria for PG-CLAT 2025

To be eligible for undergraduate law programmes in CLAT 2025, applicants must meet the following criteria: 

1. Education Qualifications 

• Applicants must possess a 5-year or 3-year LLB from an institution recognised by the Bar Council of India to be eligible for CLAT LLM 2025. 
• Individuals currently enrolled in their final year of LLB will also be considered for admission but must submit proof of qualification upon acceptance.

2. Minimum Qualifying Marks Required For CLAT LLM 2025

• Candidates must achieve a minimum of 50% or the equivalent grade in their LLB graduation to be considered for admission. For SC and ST candidates, a minimum of 45% marks must be attained in the qualifying examination.

3. Age Limit 

• Applicants interested in applying for the LLM program of CLAT 2025 do not need to worry about age limitations, as there is no upper limit. All applicants are encouraged to apply regardless of their age.

CLAT Application Form 2025

The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) has announced the availability of the CLAT 2025 application form. Candidates can access the form by visiting the official website consortiumofnlus.ac.in. To register, individuals must provide their details, contact information, educational background, desired NLU preferences, and other requirements as outlined in the form.

Once the application is successfully submitted, individuals will gain eligibility for the CLAT examination. All candidates are required to pay an application fee of Rs. 3500 (Rs. 3,000 for SC and ST applicants). Payment must be made online via a secure payment gateway on the Consortium of NLUs website.

CLAT Preparation Tips and Tricks

1. To succeed in the CLAT examination, knowing the exam pattern and syllabus is important. 
2. It is strongly recommended that students practise a large number of previous year question papers to gain an understanding of the level of difficulty of the exam and the types of questions asked. 
3. To further improve their performance, candidates should analyse their mistakes and focus their efforts on boosting their weaker areas. 
4. Additionally, developing good time management skills is paramount to success. For each subject, a maximum of two books should be referred to, along with class notes and handwritten notes.

Procedure for CLAT

Candidates applying for admission to NLUs or graduate schools approved by CLAT must follow the following steps: 

1. Online Application - Candidates must complete the registration process and log in to access the application form with a user ID and password. All essential fields, such as personal details, address, education, nationality, gender and preferred course of study, must be filled out accurately. 
2. Admit Card Issuance - After submitting their application for CLAT, candidates will receive an admit card to appear for the examination. This card can be used as identification at the exam centre and contains details such as roll number and venue.
3. Exam Appearing- It is mandatory for candidates to bring their admit cards, along with valid identification documents, to the exam centre on time. 
4. Result Declaration - The results of the selected CLAT candidates are declared on the official website.
5. Admission Process - The admission process for CLAT starts with a provisional seat allotment based on the merit list. To secure the allocated seat, candidates must act within the given time frame and complete any additional formalities required for admission.

CLAT Exam Pattern

Aspect	UG CLAT 2025	PG CLAT 2025
Mode of Examination	Offline (Pen-and-Paper)	Offline (Pen-and-Paper)
Duration	2 hours (120 minutes)	2 hours (120 minutes)
Total Number of Questions	120 MCQs	120 MCQs
Marking Scheme	+1 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect, 0 for unattempted	+1 for correct, -0.25 for incorrect, 0 for unattempted
English Language	22-26 Questions (20%)	-
Current Affairs/General Knowledge	28-32 Questions (25%)	-
Legal Reasoning	28-32 Questions (25%)	60 Questions
Logical Reasoning	22-26 Questions (20%)	-
Quantitative Techniques	10-14 Questions (10%)	-
Subject Focus	English, General Knowledge, Legal Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques	Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Criminal Law, Family Law, and other law subjects
Total Marks	120	120

Candidates will be awarded one point for every correct answer, and 0.25 points will be deducted from the total score for each incorrect response.

CLAT Participating NLUs 2025

The CLAT 2025 is the main entrance exam for getting into the National Law Universities (NLUs) in India. As of 2025, there are 24 NLUs that use the CLAT. Here's the list:

• National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru
• NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad
• National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal
• The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata
• National Law University (NLU), Jodhpur
• Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur
• Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar
• Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow
• Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Patiala
• Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna
• National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi
• National Law University Odisha (NLUO), Cuttack
• Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai
• Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Nagpur
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University (DBRANLU), Sonipat
• National Law University and Judicial Academy (NLUJA), Assam
• National Law University, Tripura
• Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU), Visakhapatnam
• Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU), Tiruchirappalli
• National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi
• National Law University, Jabalpur (NLIU)
• Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla
• National Law University, Delhi (NLUD)
• National University of Law, Shimla (NULS)

Keep in mind that NLU Delhi and NLU Meghalaya don't use CLAT. They have their own tests:

• NLU Delhi: All India Law Entrance Test (AILET)
• NLU Meghalaya: NLU Meg Undergraduate Admission Test (MEG UAT)

Plus, some private law schools in India accept CLAT scores too. For the latest info, check out the official CLAT 2025 notification from the Consortium of National Law Universities.

FAQs

Q.1: Can I apply for CLAT 2024 if I am studying in 12th STD?

Ans: It is possible to apply for CLAT 2024 provided that you have achieved a successful completion of your Class 12 examination. The passing certificate for this must be presented at the time of admission and should be dated no later than April/May of 2024.

Q.2 What is the upper age requirement to take CLAT 2024?

Ans: No age restrictions apply to the taking of the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2024. Candidates of all ages are always welcome to take the examination. The CLAT 2023 Examination Board encourages interested applicants from all backgrounds, regardless of their age, to learn more about and apply for the exam.

Q.3 CLAT 2024 will be held in which mode?

Ans: CLAT 2024 will happen in a traditional pen-and-paper format.

Q.4 How Can Mock Tests Help for CLAT Preparation?

Ans: Regular practice is essential for success in any exam. Mock tests provide candidates with the opportunity to assess their abilities and develop the confidence needed to excel on the main exam. By taking mock tests daily, candidates can increase their accuracy, improve their time management skills, and gain an edge over other test-takers.