Reading + language skills
News-based awareness
Legal principles, no law background needed
Argument-based critical thinking
Class 10-level maths, applied
Key syllabus insights
Get the complete CLAT syllabus PDF, detailed section-wise topics for all 5 subjects, so you always know exactly what to study.
Download CLAT Syllabus 2027 PDF|
Parameter |
Details |
|
Exam Name |
Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2027 |
|
Conducting Body |
Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) |
|
Question Type |
All MCQs, passage-based |
|
Total Questions |
120 |
|
Total Marks |
120 |
|
Duration |
2 Hours, single sitting |
|
Marking Scheme |
+1 for correct, −0.25 for incorrect |
|
Medium |
English |
Here's how the 120 questions break down across sections, useful for deciding where to spend your prep hours first.
|
Section Name |
No of Questions |
Weightage (%) |
|
English Language |
22-26 |
20% |
|
Current Affairs, including General Knowledge |
28-32 |
25% |
|
Legal Reasoning |
28-32 |
25% |
|
Logical Reasoning |
22-26 |
20% |
|
Quantitative Techniques |
10-14 |
10% |
|
Total |
120 |
100% |
Current Affairs & General Knowledge and Legal Reasoning carry the highest weightage in CLAT, making them two of the most important sections for aspirants.
Every section in CLAT is passage-based; here's what each one actually tests.
The CLAT English syllabus checks how accurately you read, infer, and use language through comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary questions built entirely around passages.
|
Category |
What is Tested |
|
Reading Comprehension |
Main idea, central argument, author's purpose and tone |
|
Inference & Conclusions |
Drawing logical inferences directly from the passage |
|
Summary & Paraphrasing |
Identifying the best summary of the passage or a paragraph |
|
Argument Analysis |
Comparing, contrasting, strengthening or weakening arguments |
|
Vocabulary in Context |
Meaning of words/phrases as used in the passage, not word lists |
Read More: Preparation tips for the CLAT English language
Best Preparation: Daily reading of The Hindu or Indian Express editorials; CLAT passages closely mirror this style and complexity.
Evaluate your CLAT preparation with a full-length free mock test. Get detailed performance analysis.
Take Free CLAT Mock TestCLAT Current Affairs & GK syllabus rewards aspirants who track the news, not just those who memorise a GK manual; passages are pulled straight from recent events, not textbooks.
Turn daily GK revision into a habit with the GK Ninja Game.
Play Today's GK Challenge|
Category |
What is Actually Tested |
|
National Affairs |
Indian government, legislation, Supreme Court judgements, major policy decisions |
|
International Affairs |
Geopolitical events, international organisations (UN, WTO, IMF), and global treaties |
|
Arts & Culture |
Awards, cultural events, books, heritage, and sports achievements |
|
Environment & Climate |
Major environmental events, climate summits, and conservation news |
|
Science & Technology |
Space, AI, and health breakthroughs, as covered in mainstream news |
|
Historical Events |
Events of continuing relevance, not ancient/medieval history |
|
Economy & Business |
Major economic developments, RBI decisions, and budget highlights |
Read: Preparation tips for CLAT Current Affairs
CLAT Legal Reasoning syllabus is less about knowing the law and more about applying a rule you're handed; every passage gives you the principle upfront, so reasoning matters more than memorised sections.
450-word passages containing legal rules and principles. No prior legal knowledge is required. Each passage is followed by questions requiring you to:
|
Category |
What is Tested |
|
Constitutional Law |
Fundamental Rights, DPSPs, landmark Supreme Court judgements |
|
Law of Torts |
Negligence, liability, damages - frequently appears in passages |
|
Indian Contract Act |
Offer, acceptance, consideration, breach |
|
Criminal Law |
Basic IPC principles: mens rea, actus reus, offences |
|
Family Law |
Marriage, divorce, inheritance in moral/legal scenario passages |
|
Legal Maxims & Terminology |
Common Latin maxims and terms that help understand passages faster |
|
Recent Supreme Court Judgements |
Recent landmark judgments frequently form passage bases |
|
Public Policy & Moral Philosophy |
Newly added focus area per official Consortium syllabus |
Read: CLAT Legal Reasoning preparation tips
CLAT Logical Reasoning syllabus centres on argument-based passages, but a growing share of questions now test pattern-based analytical reasoning too; so both need equal prep time.
Questions based on a 300-word passage. Each passage is followed by questions requiring you to:
|
Category |
What is Tested |
|
Identifying Arguments |
Spotting the main argument, premises, and conclusion |
|
Strengthening & Weakening Arguments |
Most frequently tested - how new information affects a conclusion |
|
Inference & Implications |
What logically follows from the passage |
|
Analogies & Relationships |
Drawing parallels between situations |
|
Contradictions & Equivalence |
Identifying inconsistencies or logically equivalent statements |
Read: Preparation tips for CLAT Logical Reasoning
CLAT Quantitative Techniques syllabus stays at Class 10 level, but wraps every question inside a short data passage; so speed with basic maths matters more than knowing advanced formulas.
Short passages with numerical information, graphs, or charts. Always data-interpretation style - never standalone math problems. Based entirely on 10th-standard mathematics.
|
Topic |
What is Tested |
|
Ratios & Proportions |
Core topic: frequently appears in data-based passages |
|
Basic Algebra |
Explicitly mentioned in the official Consortium syllabus |
|
Statistical Estimation |
Explicitly mentioned in the official Consortium syllabus: mean, median, mode |
|
Data Interpretation |
Graphs, charts, tables; deriving and comparing numerical information |
|
Arithmetic |
Percentages, averages, profit & loss, time & work, ratio & proportion |
|
Mensuration |
Areas and volumes; basic 10th standard level only |
|
Commercial Mathematics |
Interest, discounts, partnership |
Read: Preparation tips for CLAT Maths
Here are the following CLAT preparation books to help aspirants prepare for each section effectively.
|
Subject |
Book Name |
Author/Publisher |
|
English Language |
Word Power Made Easy |
Norman Lewis |
|
High School English Grammar & Composition |
Wren & Martin |
|
|
English is Easy |
Chetan Anand Singh |
|
|
Current Affairs & GK |
Pearson General Knowledge Manual |
Pearson |
|
Lucent's General Knowledge |
Lucent |
|
|
Manorama Year Book |
Malayala Manorama |
|
|
India Year Book |
- |
|
|
Legal Reasoning |
Universal's CLAT Preparation Guide |
Universal |
|
Legal Awareness and Legal Aptitude |
A.P. Bhardwaj |
|
|
CLAT 2027: Legal Aptitude Study Guide |
||
|
Logical Reasoning |
Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning |
R.S. Aggarwal |
|
Analytical Reasoning |
M.K. Pandey |
|
|
Analytical and Logical Reasoning |
R.S. Aggarwal |
|
|
Quantitative Techniques |
Quantitative Aptitude |
R.S. Aggarwal |
|
CLAT 2027: Topic-wise Practice Sets |
Gautam Puri |
|
|
Class 10th NCERT Textbook |
NCERT |
Looking for more preparation resources? Explore these CLAT books to find the right study material for your preparation.
The CLAT 2027 syllabus stays unchanged, but the Consortium's Expert Committee has recommended a set of reforms that could apply from CLAT 2028 onward, once reviewed and confirmed:
None of this is confirmed yet; the Office of the Chief Justice of India will review the recommendations further, and any changes would apply from CLAT 2028 onward. For the full breakdown, read: CLAT 2028 Reforms Explained.
Since every CLAT section is passage-based, the syllabus alone won't get you far; how you build reading and application skills around it matters more than memorising topic lists. Here's how to approach each section:
Start with reading, not topics. English, Current Affairs, and Legal Reasoning together make up 65% of the paper, and all three reward the same underlying skill: fast, accurate comprehension. Daily editorial reading (The Hindu, Indian Express) builds this across sections simultaneously, rather than treating each as a separate subject to cram.
Treat Legal Reasoning as logic, not law. You don't need a legal background; every passage gives you the rule or principle you need. Focus on practising how facts change outcomes when a rule shifts slightly; that's the actual skill being tested, not memorising the Indian Contract Act or IPC sections.
Don't skip Quant because of low weightage. At just 10%, it's tempting to deprioritise, but it's also the section where a shaky foundation costs the most time under exam pressure. A quick refresh of Class 10-level ratios, percentages, and data interpretation goes a long way.
Use PYQs to decode the pattern, not just practice. Previous year papers show you exactly how the Consortium turns these syllabus topics into passage-based questions; which is very different from how textbooks present the same topics.
Make mocks non-negotiable once 60-70% of the syllabus is covered. Start with sectional tests, then move to full-length, CLAT-pattern mocks. Free mock tests with detailed analysis matter more at this stage than adding more books to your list.
Structured guidance helps convert this into consistent progress. A well-planned CLAT coaching program, keeps preparation trackable instead of scattered, especially useful once mock scores plateau and you need targeted correction rather than more content coverage.