CLAT Eligibility Criteria 2027: UG and PG Guide

The CLAT eligibility criteria 2027 decide whether you can sit the Common Law Admission Test on 6 December 2026 and, later, whether an NLU will confirm your seat. The Consortium of National Law Universities sets two sets of rules: one for the five-year integrated LLB (UG) and one for the one-year LLM (PG). Applications are open until 31 October 2026 on the Consortium website.

This page covers the qualifying exam, minimum marks for each category, the rules for Class 12 and final-year LLB students, the age limit, PwD and nationality conditions, and the common reasons candidates turn out to be ineligible. It also corrects a few errors that appear on other websites, such as the minimum marks for PwD candidates.

Table of Contents

• CLAT Eligibility 2027 at a Glance

• CLAT UG Eligibility Criteria

• CLAT PG Eligibility Criteria

• CLAT Age Limit and Number of Attempts

• Category, Reservation and Domicile Rules

• Eligibility for PwD Candidates

• Nationality: Indian, NRI, OCI and Foreign Candidates

• Eligibility Check: Common Cases

• When Your Eligibility Is Checked

• Who Is Not Eligible

• Application Fee and Documents

• After You Confirm Eligibility

CLAT Eligibility 2027 at a Glance

CLAT UG Eligibility Criteria 2027

Educational Qualification

To apply for the five-year integrated LLB, you must have passed the 10+2 or an equivalent examination. The Consortium does not prescribe a stream, so students from Arts, Commerce and Science can all apply for the BA LLB.

Minimum Marks in Class 12

The official CLAT 2027 UG eligibility page names only SC, ST and PwD candidates for the lower 40% requirement. OBC, EWS and NRI candidates do not get a relaxation in marks and need 45%. Several websites place PwD candidates in the 45% group, which does not match the Consortium's notice.

Class 12 Students Appearing in 2027

Candidates who will take the qualifying examination in March or April 2027 can apply for CLAT 2027 and sit the exam in December 2026. At the time of admission, they must produce proof of passing with the required percentage. A candidate who cannot show this evidence loses the right to be considered for admission, even after being allotted a seat.

Percentage, Grades and CGPA

• Equivalent grade is accepted: If your board awards grades or CGPA, the eligibility rule applies to the equivalent percentage.

• Use your board's conversion: Convert CGPA to percentage with the formula your board officially prescribes, and keep that document ready for counselling.

• Do not assume rounding: The Consortium's eligibility pages do not mention rounding off. If your score is just below the cut, such as 44.8% for a General candidate, treat it as a risk and check with the NLU before counting on a seat.

Programme-Specific Conditions

CLAT scores are used for several five-year programmes, including BA LLB, BBA LLB, BSc LLB, BCom LLB and BSW LLB, though not every NLU offers every programme. Some NLUs set extra subject conditions, for example a Science background in Class 12 for BSc LLB. Read each NLU's admission brochure before ranking it in your counselling preferences.

CLAT PG Eligibility Criteria 2027

Educational Qualification

To apply for the one-year LLM, you must hold an LLB degree or an equivalent examination. Both three-year LLB graduates and five-year integrated LLB graduates are covered by this rule.

Minimum Marks in LLB

Final-Year LLB Students

Candidates who are appearing for their LLB qualifying examination in 2027 can apply for CLAT 2027 PG. As with UG, they must produce evidence of passing with the required marks at the time of admission, failing which they lose their claim to a seat.

CLAT PG scores are also used by some public sector undertakings to shortlist candidates for legal posts. Each PSU sets its own eligibility conditions, so read the PSU's recruitment notice separately.

CLAT Age Limit and Number of Attempts

There is no upper age limit for CLAT 2027, for either the UG or the PG programme. A candidate who finished school years ago, or who is changing careers, can apply as long as the qualifying marks are met.

• No cap on attempts: The Consortium does not limit the number of times you can take CLAT. Many candidates take a drop year and attempt again.

• Age can matter in a tie: Although there is no age limit, age is used as a tie-breaker. In UG, after Legal Aptitude marks, the older candidate is placed higher; in PG, age is the first tie-breaker.

Older pages may still mention an upper age limit for UG from earlier years. No such limit applies to CLAT 2027, so follow the current official notice.

Category, Reservation and Domicile Rules

CLAT is a common test, but seats belong to individual NLUs. Each university applies its own reservation policy under central or state rules, so the same category can carry different benefits at different NLUs.

• Category is fixed at application: Once the form is submitted and the fee paid, you cannot change your programme, category or BPL status. Choose carefully.

• Certificates must be valid: Reserved-category candidates must produce certificates in the format prescribed by the Government of India or the state government at admission. A claim you cannot prove means losing the reserved seat.

• Domicile quotas vary: Several NLUs reserve seats for students from their home state, often with separate state-level category quotas. A domicile seat at one NLU does not carry over to another.

• Seat matrix can change: Universities may adjust their seat numbers and category break-up before final allotment. Check the seat matrix published at counselling.

• BPL is for fees: BPL status reduces the application fee but does not lower the minimum marks required.

CLAT Eligibility for PwD Candidates

Keep a valid disability certificate or UDID card ready, since you will need it both for exam-day facilities and for a PwD seat at counselling. Scribe rules were revised and then restored during the CLAT 2026 cycle, so read the CLAT 2027 PwD notification before applying for one.

Nationality: Indian, NRI, OCI and Foreign Candidates

The Consortium's instructions state that foreign nationals are not eligible to appear for CLAT. If you hold a foreign passport without OCI status, check each NLU's foreign national admission notice instead of registering for CLAT.

CLAT Eligibility Check: Common Cases

When Your Eligibility Is Checked

The Consortium accepts your application on the details you declare. The real check comes later, which is why a mistake in the form can surface only after you have a rank.

Check every field before you pay, because programme, category and BPL details cannot be edited after submission.

Who Is Not Eligible for CLAT 2027

• Below the minimum marks: A General, OBC or EWS candidate with less than 45% in 10+2 (or less than 50% in LLB for PG).

• Results after the admission deadline: A candidate who cannot produce the qualifying result at the time of admission loses the seat.

• Foreign nationals: They cannot take CLAT and must use the direct admission route.

• Wrong category claims: A candidate who cannot prove a reserved category or PwD status at admission loses the reserved seat, and false information can lead to cancellation.

• Programme-specific mismatch: A candidate who meets CLAT eligibility but not an NLU's subject requirement for a programme like BSc LLB cannot take that seat.

CLAT 2027 Application Fee and Documents

The fee is paid online, is non-refundable and does not include bank charges. While applying, keep a recent passport-size photograph, your signature and, where they apply, category, PwD and BPL certificates ready. At counselling, you will also need your Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets (or LLB mark sheets for PG) and domicile certificates for state quota seats.

Your name in the form must match your certificates exactly. If you submit more than one application, only the latest one is considered. Full steps to apply are on the CLAT 2027 exam overview page.

After You Confirm Your CLAT Eligibility

Meeting the eligibility criteria only gets you into the exam hall. Your NLU seat depends on your rank, so the next step is to understand the paper and practise in its format.

1. Learn the structure: The CLAT exam pattern 2027 page explains the 120-question paper, negative marking and a section-wise time plan.

2. Map the syllabus: The CLAT syllabus page breaks down what each section tests.

3. Set a target rank: The CLAT cut-off page shows recent NLU closing ranks by category.

4. Practise under time: Attempt CLAT mock tests on Testkart in the current pattern and use the section-wise analysis to find where you lose marks.

The final word on eligibility is the Consortium's official notice. Read the CLAT 2027 UG eligibility page and the CLAT 2027 PG eligibility page before you pay the fee, since the fee cannot be refunded if you turn out to be ineligible.