CLAT 2028: Exam Date, Syllabus, Eligibility & Prep

Planning to join a National Law University (NLU) in 2028? Then CLAT 2028 is your exam and you have roughly 13 months to get ready.

There is one catch. A reform panel has proposed big changes to the paper. So the real question for every CLAT 2028 aspirant is simple: what is confirmed and what is not?

This guide from NLTI answers that and gives you a CLAT 2028 preparation plan you can start today.

Best CLAT  Coaching Online 2027–2028 by NLTI   

CLAT 2028: Where Things Stand

CLAT 2028 Exam Date: What to Expect

The Consortium of NLUs has not announced the CLAT 2028 exam date. Recent cycles show a clear pattern:

• CLAT is held on a Sunday in early December.

• Registration opens in August and closes around the end of October. For CLAT 2027, it ran from 3 August to 31 October 2026.

• The notification comes in July. For CLAT 2027, it was released on 22 July 2026.

So CLAT 2028 will most likely be held in early December 2027. It is projected to be held on Sunday, 5 December 2027 . Treat that as an estimate, not an official date.

The exam is named for the admission year, which is why CLAT 2028 is held in 2027.

CLAT 2028 Eligibility Criteria

The rules for CLAT 2028 are not out yet. The CLAT 2027 rules are the best guide:

• Qualification: Class 12 or equivalent.

• Minimum marks: 45% for General and OBC candidates, 40% for SC and ST candidates.

• Appearing students: If you write your Class 12 boards in 2028, you can apply. You must show proof of passing later.

• Age and attempts: No upper age limit and no cap on attempts.

CLAT 2027 Question Selection Strategy: Attempt or Skip  

CLAT 2028 Syllabus and Pattern: Current vs Proposed

The CLAT 2028 syllabus is understood through the sections of the current paper.

Current format: 120 passage-based questions, 2 hours, offline. Each correct answer earns 1 mark, and each wrong answer costs 0.25.

The Consortium gives a range for each section, so the exact split changes slightly every year. The total has stayed at 120 questions since CLAT 2024.

CLAT 2027: How to Complete the Paper in 2 Hours   

What May Change for CLAT 2028

In July 2026, the Consortium published an Expert Committee report. It proposes:

• Cutting the UG paper from five sections to three: Language and Comprehension, Logical Reasoning and Legal Aptitude and Quantitative Techniques.

• Removing Current Affairs and GK as a separate section.

The Consortium said CLAT 2027 will not change. The proposals will be examined by a separate committee, along with public feedback, before any decision for CLAT 2028. Nothing is final yet.

Good news: reading, reasoning and basic maths matter under both versions of the CLAT 2028 syllabus.

How to Study the CLAT 2028 Syllabus

• English: Read editorials and newspapers to build a reading habit. Practice understanding the tone and purpose.

• Legal Reasoning: Practice applying a stated principle to a set of facts and stay updated on legal current affairs.

• Logical Reasoning: Break down arguments to identify inferences, assumptions, strengths and weaknesses.

• Quantitative Techniques: Memorise tables, square roots and cubes for faster calculation. Learn the basic concepts and practise topic-wise questions.

• Current Affairs: Keep short monthly notes for now.

CLAT 2028 Preparation: A 4-Phase Plan

Three habits make CLAT 2028 preparation work:

• Read at least two editorials daily, for example from The Hindu or The Indian Express and summarise each in three lines.

• Keep an error log from the start of your preparation. Write why each answer went wrong and look for a pattern in your weak points.

• Solve one timed sectional test every week to build time management.

A simple daily routine: 30–45 minutes of newspaper reading, 60 minutes of sectional practice and 20-30 minutes on your error log, analysing your mistakes.

Improve Reading Speed for CLAT 2027  

4 Mistakes CLAT 2028 Aspirants Should Avoid

1. Waiting for the final pattern. Reading speed takes months to build, so start now and adjust later.

2. Dropping current affairs too early. GK may or may not stay a separate section but newspaper reading still builds comprehension and legal awareness.

3. Taking mocks without review. Spend as long analysing a mock as you spent writing it.

4. Trusting rumours. Many social media posts about the CLAT 2028 pattern are unverified. Follow only the Consortium.

Your Free Trial Run for CLAT 2028

Class 11 students cannot apply for CLAT 2027 because it needs Class 12. But you can still rehearse.

On the CLAT 2027 weekend in December 2026, take a past CLAT paper. Sit it for two hours, offline, with negative marking.

Score does not matter. You learn your timing, your weak sections and how it feels to sit a full paper. That is the most useful CLAT 2028 preparation you can do this winter.

CLAT English Preparation 2027: Tips to Score Higher

How NLTI Supports CLAT 2028 Preparation

NLTI (National Law Training Institute) is an initiative by NLSIU students. We help you:

• Learn from NLSIU students and alumni of top NLUs.

• Follow a structured plan with mock analysis.

• Clear doubts one-on-one.

• Stay updated the moment the Consortium announces anything about CLAT 2028.

Check out the NLTI CLAT coaching programs for 2027-28.

CLAT 2028 FAQs

1. When is the CLAT 2028 exam? 

It is not announced. Sunday, 5 December 2027 is expected but this is an unofficial estimate.

2. Will CLAT 2028 have three sections? 

Three sections are proposed but not confirmed.

3. Is GK removed from CLAT 2028? 

Not yet. The committee recommends removing it as a separate section. This is not final.

4. Who can apply for CLAT 2028? 

Based on CLAT 2027 rules, Class 12 passed or appearing students with the minimum marks. There is no age limit.

5. When should I start CLAT 2028 preparation? 

Now. A 12 to 18 month window gives time for basics, practice and mocks.

Always confirm dates and rules on the official Consortium website, consortiumofnlus.ac.in.