CLAT Eligibility Criteria 2027 - UG, PG Marks & Age

CLAT 2027 is the national exam that decides admission to the 5-year integrated LLB and the LLM at India's National Law Universities. Also called CLAT 2027, it is conducted once a year by the Consortium of NLUs, with the exam expected in December 2026 for admissions the following year at 24 or more National Law Universities. Eligibility differs between the undergraduate and postgraduate tracks, and each has its own marks and qualifying-degree condition. This page covers the age, qualification, marks, and attempt rules for CLAT 2027, split clearly by UG and PG, along with the nationality conditions and how this cycle differs from CLAT 2026.

CLAT 2027 Eligibility Overview

CLAT 2027 eligibility splits early into two separate tracks, and the conditions for one do not carry over to the other, so confirming the right track first avoids checking the wrong set of rules entirely. The table below sums up both before the detailed sections.

Nationality Rules for CLAT 2027

Citizenship opens CLAT 2027 to a wide pool of applicants, wider than most domestic entrance exams, though the exact admission path can differ by category.

• Indian nationals can apply through the standard CLAT 2027 process.
• NRI, OCI, and PIO candidates can also apply, and several NLUs keep dedicated seats for NRI-sponsored candidates.
• Foreign nationals may apply, but a valid passport is required, and seat allotment for this category follows the specific NLU's own brochure.

CLAT 2027 Age Limit

CLAT 2027 removed the age question entirely years ago, and this has held steady since, making it one of the more open entrance exams for candidates returning to education after a break.

• There is no upper age limit for CLAT UG or CLAT PG.
• The Consortium of NLUs removed the earlier age cap in 2017, and courts have since confirmed that age restrictions on legal education are not enforceable.

Educational Qualification for CLAT 2027 UG

The undergraduate track accepts candidates straight out of school, and the stream studied at Class 12 does not narrow eligibility the way it does for science-based entrance exams.

• A pass in Class 12, or an equivalent exam, from a recognised board is required for the 5-year integrated LLB through CLAT 2027.
• There is no restriction on academic stream; candidates from Science, Commerce, or Arts backgrounds can all apply.

The minimum marks required vary by category, as shown below.

CLAT 2027 Educational Qualification for PG

CLAT 2027's postgraduate track requires a completed law degree already, not just a general graduation, and this is where it differs most sharply from the UG process.

• An LLB degree, either the 3-year programme or the 5-year integrated programme, from a university recognised by the Bar Council of India, is required for the LLM through CLAT 2027.

The minimum marks required vary by category, as shown below.

Appearing Candidates and CLAT 2027 Eligibility

Neither track demands the final result in hand at the time of registration, which lets candidates apply while their board exam or final-year LLB result is still pending.

• Candidates appearing for Class 12 in March or April 2027 can apply for CLAT UG 2027, subject to submitting proof of the qualifying marks at counselling.
• Candidates in the final year or final semester of LLB can apply for CLAT PG 2027, subject to submitting the final-year mark sheets at the time of admission.

CLAT 2027 Number of Attempts

CLAT 2027 places no ceiling on how many years a candidate can try, unlike a number of competitive exams that cap attempts within a fixed window.

There is no restriction on the number of attempts for CLAT UG or PG. Candidates can appear in as many years as they wish, provided the qualification and marks conditions are met each time.

CLAT 2027 Rounding of Marks and Exact Percentage Rule

A small technical detail affects candidates sitting right at the border of the minimum marks requirement, and it is worth stating precisely rather than assuming any flexibility exists.

The Consortium of NLUs does not round off percentages for eligibility. A candidate scoring 44.9% where 45% is required does not meet the CLAT 2027 minimum marks condition, since the exact percentage obtained is what counts.

CLAT 2027 Tie-Breaking Rule

CLAT 2027 uses a fixed order to separate candidates who finish with identical scores, since a rank list cannot have ties carried forward into counselling.

• In case of a tie, the candidate with a higher age is ranked above the younger candidate.
• If the tie persists even after comparing age, the final rank is decided by a draw of lots.

Applying for Both CLAT 2027 UG and PG in the Same Year

A candidate does not have to pick just one track if both apply to their situation, since the two applications are treated as fully independent processes.

Candidates can apply for both CLAT UG and CLAT PG in the same year, provided the eligibility conditions for each are met separately and separate application forms are submitted.

About the Consortium of NLUs - CLAT 2027's Conducting Body

CLAT 2027 is run by a body made up of the very institutions it admits students to, a structure that differs from how most national entrance exams are organised.

• The Consortium of National Law Universities, made up of participating NLUs, conducts CLAT 2027 and manages centralised counselling and seat allocation.
• The Consortium releases the yearly notification, sets the exam and application dates, and coordinates document verification across all member universities.
• All official CLAT 2027 updates are published on consortiumofnlus.ac.in, and candidates should always cross-check details there.

CLAT 2027 and the 3-Year LLB

A common point of confusion is whether every law degree in India needs this exam, and the answer depends entirely on which LLB programme a candidate is targeting.

CLAT is required only for the 5-year integrated LLB and the LLM at NLUs. It is not required for the 3-year LLB offered by other law colleges, which typically use separate state or university-level admission processes.

CLAT 2027 vs CLAT 2026, Which Cycle Applies

CLAT 2027 is easy to mix up with the exam that already happened, and this confusion is common enough to deserve its own clear answer before anything else on this page.

• CLAT 2026 refers to the exam held on December 7, 2025, which has already been through results and is currently in counselling.
• CLAT 2027 refers to the upcoming exam, expected in December 2026, for candidates seeking admission in the 2027-28 academic session.
• Applicants preparing now, ahead of a December 2026 exam, should follow CLAT 2027 eligibility, notification, and application timelines specifically.

CLAT 2027 eligibility splits cleanly by track: Class 12 with 45% (40% SC/ST) for UG, and an LLB with 50% (45% SC/ST) for PG, with no age or attempt limit on either side. Confirming the correct cycle, 2027 rather than the already-completed 2026 exam, is the first thing worth getting right before checking any other condition.

CLAT Eligibility Criteria 2027 FAQs

Ques: Is there a sectional time limit in the CLAT 2027 UG exam?

Ques: Is an LLB earned through distance education valid for CLAT PG 2027?

Ques: Will CLAT 2027 be conducted in a language other than English?

Ques: Can a candidate with a backlog in one Class 12 subject apply for CLAT UG 2027?

Ques: Do private universities that accept CLAT scores also follow the same eligibility criteria?