CLAT Eligibility Criteria 2027 – Qualification Requirements for Law Admission

Before filling the CLAT 2027 application form, every candidate must carefully verify that they meet the eligibility criteria prescribed by the Consortium of National Law Universities. Applying without meeting the eligibility requirements can lead to cancellation of candidature at any stage, including during counselling or after admission.

CLAT 2027 is expected to be conducted on 6 December 2026. The official notification, including detailed eligibility criteria, is expected to be released in July 2026 on consortiumofnlus.ac.in

CLAT 2027 Eligibility – Quick Summary

CLAT UG 2027 Eligibility Criteria

1. Educational Qualification

Candidates must have passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination from a recognised board (CBSE, ICSE, state boards, or any board recognised by the Association of Indian Universities).

Equivalent qualifications accepted include:

• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

• Cambridge International AS & A Level (equivalent to Class 12)

• Any other Class 12 equivalent recognised by the respective state or central board

2. Minimum Marks Required

Note: Some NLUs also offer domicile-based reservations. Candidates from the state in which the NLU is located may benefit from state quota seats with potentially different cut-offs.

3. Candidates Appearing in Class 12 (2027)

Students who are yet to appear in or are awaiting results of Class 12 board examinations in March/April 2027 are also eligible to apply for CLAT 2027. However, such candidates must:

• Produce proof of having passed with the required minimum marks at the time of CLAT counselling

• Failure to submit qualifying documents will lead to cancellation of admission

4. Number of Attempts

The Consortium of NLUs does not restrict the number of attempts a candidate can make for CLAT UG. Candidates can appear as many times as they wish, provided they meet the eligibility criteria each time.

5. Age Limit

There is no upper or lower age limit for CLAT UG 2027. This policy was established following a Supreme Court ruling that struck down age restrictions on legal education.

CLAT PG 2027 Eligibility Criteria

1. Educational Qualification

Candidates must hold an LLB degree (3-year programme) or an integrated 5-year LLB from a recognised university, or any other degree equivalent to an LLB from an institution recognised by the Bar Council of India (BCI).

2. Minimum Marks Required

3. Final-Year Students

Candidates appearing in their final year of LLB in 2027 are also eligible to apply. They must submit their degree/provisional certificate and marks during counselling.

Category-Wise Documents Required at Counselling

Nationality Criteria

NRI, OCI, and PIO candidates typically apply under a separate NRI quota and may be required to pay higher fees. Each NLU sets its own NRI seat policy.

NLUs Participating in CLAT 2027

A total of 26 National Law Universities participate in CLAT 2027 for UG and PG admissions, including:

Note: NLU Delhi conducts its own entrance exam (AILET) and does not accept CLAT scores.

Common Eligibility Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying under the wrong category (cannot be changed after submission)

• Not verifying that your Class 12 board is recognised

• Assuming that a diploma is equivalent to Class 12 (it may not be accepted)

• Missing the document verification deadline during counselling

• Forgetting to arrange a valid caste/domicile certificate before applying

Always double-check your eligibility against the official CLAT 2027 notification when it is released. The Consortium's decision on eligibility is final.

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