The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a national-level entrance test that is used to gain admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law programs in National Law Universities (NLUs) in India.
The academic qualification, minimum marks, and age criteria to apply to the exam are outlined in CLAT eligibility 2027.
The eligibility terms are also necessary to know since those candidates that do not satisfy the official requirements are not allowed to take part in the admission process despite their performance in the entrance exam.
The Consortium of National Law Universities determines the eligibility criteria of CLAT and is equally applicable to all participating NLUs.
What Is CLAT?
CLAT is the abbreviation of Common Law Admission Test, an entrance test used to admit students to 5-year integrated law courses (BA LL.B., BBA LL.B., BSc LL.B., BCom LL.B.), and postgraduate LL.M. programs at National Law Universities.
It is among the most competitive law entrance exams in India and it receives over 70,000 applicants annually.
A number of government and private universities that provide law programs also accept CLAT scores.
CLAT Eligibility 2027: Overview
The eligibility criteria are largely based on three factors, including educational qualification, minimum marks, and age criteria.
|
Eligibility Factor |
Requirement |
|---|---|
|
Exam Level |
Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) |
|
Qualification |
Class 12 or equivalent |
|
Minimum Marks |
45% (General), 40% (SC/ST) |
|
Age Limit |
No upper age limit |
|
Final Year Students |
Eligible |
These requirements have made sure that students in various educational boards can be able to apply the exam without any age limit.
What Are the Educational Qualifications for CLAT 2027?
The undergraduate CLAT exam has a minimum educational requirement of completion of Class 12 or equivalent examination by a recognized board.
Applications are also open to candidates who are pursuing their Class 12 and will be taking their board exams in 2027. Nevertheless, they have to submit evidence of having passed the qualifying examination during admission.
In case a candidate does not pass the Class 12 examination, his or her admission will be cancelled despite passing CLAT.
In the case of postgraduate CLAT, the candidate should have a degree of LL.B. or its equivalent in a reputed university.
CLAT Minimum Marks Requirement
The qualification criteria of CLAT indicate a minimum percentage in the qualifying exam.
|
Category |
Minimum Marks Required |
|---|---|
|
General / OBC |
45% |
|
SC / ST |
40% |
|
PwD |
As per category |
The percentage requirement is determined on the total marks in the qualifying examination.
Other NLUs can also use other criteria when admitting students although the minimum marks requirement is the same in all institutions.
CLAT Age Limit Criteria
The CLAT exam does not have an upper age limit and this is one of the most student friendly features of the exam.
|
Program |
Age Limit |
|---|---|
|
Undergraduate CLAT |
No upper age limit |
|
Postgraduate CLAT |
No upper age limit |
In the past, CLAT had age limit requirements on its applicants, but this was abolished after the Supreme Court and the Consortium of NLUs decided.
This implies that any student regardless of their age can take the exam provided they are qualified by education.
Read More - What Are the 5 Main Subjects in CLAT for Law Aspirants?
Can Final-Year Students Apply for CLAT 2027?
Yes, students in Class 12 can now take the CLAT 2027 exam.
They are however required to pass the qualifying examination prior to the commencement of the admission process. In counselling and admission verification, candidates are required to provide valid documents that indicate that they have undergone their Class 12 education.
Lack of submission of evidence of qualification will lead to the cancellation of the offer of admission.
Is There Any Attempt Limit for CLAT?
There is no restriction on the number of attempts for CLAT.
CLAT does not have a limit to the number of attempts.
Applicants are allowed to take the exam more than once provided that they qualify. There is no age restriction hence candidates are able to take CLAT even after gap years or after attaining other degrees.
This is because CLAT is open to a large number of students in India.
CLAT Eligibility for Foreign Students
Admission to National Law Universities can also be done by foreign nationals and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs).
Nevertheless, the majority of NLUs provide special admission paths to foreigners. They are not required to attend CLAT, but they can be admitted on the basis of their qualifying examination scores or through a different process of admission.
The interested students are advised to visit the specific NLU admission guidelines.
Subjects Required for CLAT Eligibility
In contrast to most of the entrance tests, CLAT does not make students study certain subjects in Class 12.
Any student, regardless of their academic stream Science, Commerce or Arts can apply to the exam.
This renders CLAT to be one of the most accommodative law entrance exams in India.
Nevertheless, the candidates should be ready to the exam pattern that comprises of the English comprehension, logical reasoning, legal reasoning, general knowledge, and quantitative techniques.
Best Books for CLAT Preparation 2026
The selection of study material is significant in order to score well in CLAT exam. A combination of conceptual books and practice mock tests is suggested by most toppers.
Recommended Study Resources
These materials assist the candidates in developing good reading comprehension, reasoning skill, and strategy in the exam.
How to Prepare for CLAT After Checking Eligibility
After the candidates have ensured that they are eligible to take the CLAT 2027 exam, they should prepare to work on their reading speed, reasoning capacity, and knowledge in the current affairs.
CLAT is a non-subjective exam. The majority of questions are passage-based and demand to be read carefully and then analyzed logically.
The preparation should begin at least 8-12 months prior to the exam. The reading of daily newspapers and frequent mock tests are necessary to enhance performance.
Regular training on clat logical reasoning mock tests also enable candidates to acquire the analytical skills needed to solve exam questions within a short period of time.
Why Understanding CLAT Eligibility Is Important
Most applicants are only concerned with the preparation of exams and do not pay attention to the eligibility requirements. Nevertheless, one can only be admitted to NLUs when he or she satisfies the official requirements.
The eligibility of CLAT makes it clear that every candidate is at least of the required educational level to be able to obtain legal education.
Premature eligibility checking will assist students to eliminate errors in the application process and to have a hassle-free admission process.
Conclusion
The eligibility of CLAT 2027 is simple and open to the majority of students who have already completed or are taking Class 12. The test takes a minimum percentage in the qualifying examination and has no age limit.
Knowledge of CLAT eligibility 2027, qualification and admission rules can assist the candidate in preparing properly. Having the right study plan, correct clat preparation books and regular practice in the mock tests, the students can have a better opportunity of getting admission in the best National Law Universities in India.
Frequently Asked Questions - Clat Eligibility 2027
The students who have successfully completed or are appearing in Class 12 with a minimum of 45% marks (40% in the case of SC/ST) in a recognized board are eligible to attend CLAT 2027.
No. There is no upper age limit to CLAT age limit criteria of undergraduate or postgraduate applicants.
Yes. Science, Commerce or Arts stream students are eligible to apply to CLAT since there is no subject limit in Class 12.
Yes. Graduates are also eligible to take CLAT to study a five year integrated law course since there is no age restriction.
CLAT has no limit on attempts. The exam can be taken by the candidates more than once provided they satisfy the eligibility requirements.




