Law aspirants across the country are watching one release closely today. The Consortium of National Law Universities is expected to publish the official CLAT 2027 exam notification PDF today, based on the timeline exam trackers have pointed to throughout July. As of this morning, the notification has not been officially confirmed as live, so candidates should keep checking the portal directly rather than assuming it's already out.
CLAT remains the single centralised entrance exam for undergraduate and postgraduate law admissions at India's National Law Universities, and its scores are also accepted by numerous private law schools nationwide. Once the notification is out, candidates can start planning their preparation using the Law College Predictor to get an early sense of realistic NLU options, and candidates open to Delhi-based options via GGSIPU can check the GGSIPU LLB Predictor as well.
Expected CLAT 2027 Important Dates
| Event | Expected Date |
|---|---|
| Notification release | Today |
| Registration window opens | August 1, 2026 (tentative) |
| Registration closes | October 2026 (tentative) |
| Admit card release | Mid-to-late November 2026 |
| CLAT 2027 exam date | December 6, 2026 (Sunday, tentative) |
| Result declaration | December 2026 / January 2027 |
These dates reflect the Consortium's usual pattern of holding CLAT on the first Sunday of December, roughly four to five months after the notification is issued. None of these are officially locked in until the notification itself confirms them, so candidates should treat this table as a planning guide rather than a final schedule.
How to Download the Notification and Register
- Visit the official Consortium of NLUs website at consortiumofnlus.ac.in
- Click on the 'CLAT 2027' tab on the homepage
- Locate and open the CLAT 2027 notification / information brochure PDF
- Read through the exam date, eligibility, fee, and pattern details carefully
- Once registration opens, register using a valid mobile number and email ID
- Complete OTP verification, then log in to fill the full application form
Candidates who don't want to miss the exact release should also keep an eye on the CaderaEdu education news section, which will be updated as soon as the official PDF is confirmed live. Those wanting personalised guidance on planning their CLAT prep and college shortlist can also book a free session through CaderaEdu's counselling programme.
Expected Eligibility Criteria
Based on established Consortium norms, the CLAT 2027 UG programme is expected to require candidates to have completed Class 12 (or be appearing in 2027) with a minimum of 45% marks for General, OBC, PWD, NRI, PIO, and OCI categories, and 40% for SC/ST candidates, with no upper age limit. For the PG programme, candidates typically need an LLB degree or equivalent, with a minimum of 45% marks for SC/ST candidates, and again no upper age limit.
Expected Application Fee
| Category | Expected Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC | ₹4,000 |
| SC / ST / BPL / PwD | ₹3,500 |
This is one of the most significant developments for law aspirants in recent years, and it may directly affect the CLAT 2027 exam pattern, question quality, and syllabus.— Consortium of NLUs Advisory Board Update
Exam Pattern: What to Expect
Based on the previous year's format, the CLAT 2027 paper is expected to consist of 120 multiple-choice questions to be completed within two hours, carrying one mark per correct answer and a penalty of 0.25 marks for every incorrect response. Questions are typically drawn from five sections: English Language, Current Affairs & General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. A notable factor this cycle is that the Consortium has constituted a Committee of Independent Academic Experts, chaired by Justice Indu Malhotra, to recommend reforms to the CLAT format, with changes potentially rolling out from CLAT 2027 onward, so this year's actual pattern should be confirmed carefully once the notification is out.
A Larger Consortium This Cycle
CLAT 2027 is also set to expand in scale. Reports indicate the Consortium's executive committee has cleared the induction of NLU Tripura (Agartala) and NLU Meghalaya (Shillong) into the all-India CLAT seat-sharing pool, taking the total number of participating NLUs to 26, up from 24 in CLAT 2026. This comes on the back of a competitive CLAT 2026 cycle, where registrations reportedly touched 92,344 candidates, including 75,009 for UG and 17,335 for PG programmes.
How to Prepare While You Wait
With the notification expected any time, aspirants don't need to wait for the official PDF to begin preparation. Building consistency in English comprehension, current affairs, and legal reasoning now can create a real head start once registration opens. Candidates already exploring their options can compare specific colleges using the College Compare tool, browse the broader CaderaEdu College Predictor hub, or check the AILET College Predictor and NLU LLB Predictor to understand how different score ranges have historically translated into admission outcomes.
Beyond the NLUs: Other CLAT-Accepting Options
Beyond the 26 NLUs, a wide range of private and affiliated institutions also accept CLAT scores for law admission, giving candidates a wider safety net if the top NLUs prove too competitive. Institutes such as Dr. Akhilesh Das Gupta Institute of Professional Studies, New Delhi and Fairfield Institute of Management and Technology, New Delhi are among those offering BA-LLB and BBA-LLB programmes through CLAT scores, worth exploring for candidates building a broader preference list.
The Takeaway
The CLAT 2027 notification will mark the official start of one of India's most closely watched law entrance cycles, made more significant this year by an expanded Consortium and an expert committee reviewing the exam's very structure. Until the PDF is actually confirmed live, every date, fee, and pattern detail should be treated as an expectation rather than a locked-in fact. Aspirants are best served checking the official Consortium portal directly today, and following the CaderaEdu homepage for continuously updated, verified coverage through registration, admit card, exam day, and counselling.