CLAT Full Form

What is the Full Form of CLAT?

The full form of CLAT is the Common Law Admission Test. CLAT is a centralized national-level government entrance test for admissions to 22 national law universities in India. Most self-financed and private law schools in India also use these scores for admissions to the law. Indian public sector companies such as Coal India, ONGC, BHEL, the Indian Steel Authority, Oil India, etc. also use CLAT Postgraduate scores to fill company legal positions. The test is carried out in law schools after the 12th grade or Higher Secondary Examination for admission to integrated U.G. programs and after graduation in law LLM (Law for Master of Laws) in law schools.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be an Indian citizen or NRI may appear at the exam.
• Foreign nationals who wish to enrol in any program at any of the participating Law Universities can approach the College directly with several seats available for foreigners.
• For U.G. course Senior Secondary School or Intermediate (12th) or its corresponding credential from a recognized board with an aggregate mark of not less than 45 per cent. Whereas for S.C. and S.T. applicants aggregate marks is more than 40 per cent.
• No upper age limit for the examination.
• For P.G. course B.L. or L.L. B University degree or a similar degree from a recognized University with an aggregate mark of not less than 55 per cent, whereas for S.C. and S.T. candidates aggregate score is 50%.
• Applicants who have passed the qualifying assessment by supplementary and repeat attempts are also entitled to participate in the test.

CLAT Exam Full Form – Exam Pattern

This law entrance exam has a duration of 120 minutes. The CLAT question paper is composed of 150 questions of multiple choice.

CLAT examination paper includes five parts – English language, Current Affairs including General Knowledge, Logical Reasoning, Legal Reasoning and Quantitative Techniques where students need to answer questions from topics such as

• G.K.
• Legal GK
• Current affairs
• Elementary Mathematics is based on Numerical Ability.
• Legal Aptitude
• Syllogism
• English including Comprehension
• Quantitative Aptitude
• Legal Reasoning

All the questions starting with CLAT 2020 will be focused on paragraphs. 5-6 questions will carry on from one paragraph. Overall, the score breakdown is shown below.

• English – 30 marks
• G.K. questions – 37 marks
• Mathematics -15 marks
• Logical Reasoning – 30 marks
• Legal Aptitude – 38 marks

The marking system is for each correct answer, one mark is given to the candidates and 0.25 marks are deducted from their total score for each wrong answer.

CLAT Exam Syllabus

The CLAT exam syllabus for the 2024 exam is as follows:

English Language

The English language section comprises passages of about 450 words followed by a series of questions that will try to evaluate the comprehension and language skills, ability to comprehend the main point, arguments and viewpoints, draw inferences and conclusions, summarise the passage, understand the meaning of different phrases and words etc.

Current Affairs

Candidates need to show their awareness of various aspects of current affairs and general knowledge, including Arts and Culture, International Affairs, Historical events and their importance, and contemporary events of significance from India & world.

Legal Reasoning

This section will comprise passages of about 450 words, just like English and current affairs. Passages will be based on “fact situations or scenarios” involving legal matters, public policy questions or moral philosophical enquiries.

Logical Reasoning

Logical reasoning section will comprise passages of about 300 words followed by questions that will focus on Identifying an argument, its premises and conclusions, Critically analysing patterns of reasoning, and assess how conclusions may depend on particular premises or evidence, etc.

To know the CLAT syllabus 2024 in detail, check the linked article.

National Law Universities list

As of CLAT 2020, 22 law schools are attending. 37 Other partner law schools can use the scores, but other law schools can use the scores as well. Moreover, many institutions in the public sector, including Oil India and Oil and Natural Gas Company, are likely to use CLAT PG scores for candidates. The list of 22 national law universities are:

• National Law School of India University (NLSIU)
• National Academy of Legal Study and Research (NALSAR) University of Law
• National Law Institute University, Bhopal
• The West Bengal National University of Judicial Sciences (WBNUJS)
• National Law University, Jodhpur
• Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU)
• Gujarat National Law University (GNLU)
• Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Silvassa
• Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMNLU)
• Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNLU)
• Chanakya National Law University
• National Institute of advanced legal Sciences (NUALS)
• National Law University, Orissa
• National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL)
• National Law University and Judicial Academy (NLUJAA)
• Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU)
• The Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU)
• Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai
• Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU)
• Dharmashastra National Law University
• DR. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University (DBRANLU)
• National Law University Tripura (NLUT)

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