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Updated On - Sep 12, 2025
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If you are planning to appear for the CLAT PG Exam 2026, then it is very important to understand the CLAT PG Exam Pattern before starting your preparation. The CLAT PG exam paper mainly tests your understanding of core law subjects from the LLB syllabus and checks how well you can apply legal knowledge in a given context. So, the exam pattern gives you a clear idea about how the question paper will be set, what type of questions will be asked, and how much time you'll get to solve them.

The Consortium of NLUs sometimes makes small changes to the exam pattern, so staying updated is important. In this article we have discussed everything related to CLAT PG Exam Pattern 2026 in detail like- number of questions, time limit, marking scheme, and much more. So read the full article and know everything without any confusion. Click here to get complete exam details on CLAT PG 2026. 

CLAT PG Exam Pattern 2026: Highlights

CLAT PG Exam Pattern 2026 related all important information are table below. Please check it out:

ParticularsDetails
Exam NameCommon Law Admission Test- Postgraduate (CLAT PG)
Conducting BodyConsortium of National Law Universities (NLUs)
Level of the ExamNational-level entrance test for LLM admissions
Mode of ExaminationOffline (Pen and Paper-based)
Medium of Question PaperEnglish
Type of QuestionsObjective-type comprehension-based questions
Total Number of Questions120 questions
Total Marks120 marks
Duration of the Exam120 minutes (2 hours)
Marking Scheme+1 mark for each correct answer
Negative Marking0.25 mark deducted for each wrong answer
Subjects CoveredConstitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Administrative Law, Law of Contract, Torts, Family Law, Criminal Law, Property Law, Company Law, Public International Law, Tax Law, Environmental Law, Labour and Industrial Law
Question FormatEach question will be based on a passage drawn from recent judgments, statutes, or legal opinions. Candidates must read and interpret the passage to answer the related objective-type questions.
Nature of EvaluationEmphasis on reading comprehension, application of law, and analysis of legal issues. No descriptive or essay-type questions will be asked.
Purpose of the ExamAdmission to LLM programs offered by participating National Law Universities (NLUs) in India

Also Check: CLAT PG Syllabus 2026

CLAT PG Exam Pattern 2026: Section-wise Weightage

The expected section-wise weightage of CLAT exam for the year 2026 is given in the table below.

Subject / Topic AreaExpected Number of QuestionsWeightage Description
Constitutional Law35- 40 QuestionsHighest weighted section. Focus on FRs, DPSPs, emergency provisions, separation of powers, and recent landmark SC rulings.
Jurisprudence20- 25 QuestionsEmphasis on legal theories, justice, positivism, natural law, rights, duties, and jurisprudential analysis within legal texts or court opinions.
Administrative Law5- 8 QuestionsIncludes topics like delegated legislation, natural justice, administrative tribunals, and judicial control.
Law of Contract5- 7 QuestionsBased on core principles, breach of contract, specific relief, and key judgments.
Law of Torts4- 6 QuestionsCovers strict liability, negligence, nuisance, vicarious liability, and current tort developments.
Criminal Law5- 7 QuestionsQuestions drawn from IPC sections, general exceptions, key offences, and landmark criminal cases.
Family Law3- 5 QuestionsIncludes both Hindu and Muslim laws on marriage, divorce, maintenance, and succession.
Property Law3- 5 QuestionsEmphasizes transfer of property, lease, sale, mortgage, and doctrines like part performance.
Company Law3- 5 QuestionsTopics include company formation, corporate governance, director roles, and SEBI-related provisions.
Public International Law3- 5 QuestionsFocus on treaties, international organizations, state recognition, jurisdiction, and ICJ-related cases.
Tax Law2- 3 QuestionsIncludes basics of GST, income tax principles, and constitutional taxation provisions.
Environmental Law2- 4 QuestionsBased on statutory frameworks (EPA, Forest Act), NGT rulings, and environmental case law.
Labour & Industrial Law2- 3 QuestionsLabour codes, industrial disputes, trade unions, and constitutional labor protections.

By looking at the past CLAT PG Question Papers, you will get an idea of which topics are generally given more importance. A quick topic-wise analysis of the question trends of the last few years is given in the table below to guide your preparation better. 

Subject / Area20202021202220232024Weightage Insights
Constitutional Law503628603529-50%, always the heaviest section
Jurisprudence2061210155-20%, varies but steady presence
Administrative Law10001080-10%, depending on year
Law of Contract018141080-15%, moderate but important
Law of Torts-----Subsumed in "other laws"- included within those 60 ques.
Criminal Law102424585-20%, fluctuates across years
Family Law1012101010Steady at 8-15%
Property Law0----Grouped under miscellaneous "other laws"
Public International Law1018125155-15%, sees regular inclusion
Environmental Law01810560-15%, influenced by NGT/upcoming rulings
Labour Law10010585-10%, present but light
Other Laws (Company, Tax)-----Included in "other laws" pile, typically within 60-question block

Important Note:

  • Constitutional Law consistently carries the most weight, with around 30 to 50 percent of the total questions in most years. It's the most dominant subject in the paper.
  • The remaining 60 questions typically cover a mix of other important law subjects, such as:
    • Jurisprudence
    • Law of Contract
    • Criminal Law
    • Family Law
    • Public International Law
    • Environmental Law
    • Labour and Industrial Law
    • Company Law
    • Tax Law
  • On average, these subjects get about 5 to 15 questions each, depending on the year and legal relevance.
  • Administrative Law shows variation in its weightage. In some years, it's not included at all, while in others, it appears with up to 10 questions.
  • This trend highlights the importance of staying updated with recent judgments and current legal developments, as the focus of the paper may shift slightly from year to year.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Ans: The difficulty level of CLAT PG exam is generally considered to be moderate to difficult. Since this exam is for students who have already completed their LLB, the questions are based on constitutional law, jurisprudence, criminal law, and many other important law topics. The questions are not very long, but they are designed to test how well you understand legal topics and how you apply them in different situations.

Some questions may seem complicated, especially if you are not clear about the basics. This is why it is important to revise all the basics properly and solve previous year's question papers to get used to the question style. If one studies regularly and understands the legal concepts, then the exam becomes much easier to handle.

Ans: In CLAT PG exam, all the questions are multiple choice questions (MCQs). Each question has four options, and you have to choose the correct one. The questions are mainly based on important legal topics like constitutional law, jurisprudence, criminal law, contract law and international law.

These questions do not just test how much you remember, but also how well you understand legal issues and how you apply legal rules in different situations. Some questions may be based on short legal passages or real examples. You have to read them carefully and choose the most appropriate answer.

The total number of questions is 120, and you will get 1 mark for each correct answer. However, remember, 0.25 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer, so it is better not to guess randomly.

Ans: Till now, there has been no official announcement from the consortium of NLUs about any major changes in the CLAT PG 2026 exam pattern. The paper is still expected to follow the same format as last year, with 120 multiple choice questions (MCQs) and a total time limit of 2 hours. However, candidates should check the official CLAT website for any updates. Sometimes, there can be minor changes in the focus of the syllabus or the question pattern, so it is important to stay informed for proper preparation.

Ans: CLAT UG and CLAT PG are different because they are designed for different levels of law studies. CLAT UG is for students joining BA LLB after class 12, while CLAT PG is for law graduates who want to do LLM.

In CLAT UG, the questions are mostly comprehension-based. You will get long passages from English, current affairs, legal reasoning and other subjects. Students have to read the passage carefully and then answer questions based on it. It tests reading ability, reasoning and general awareness.

But in CLAT PG, there are 120 multiple choice questions (MCQs) based on core law topics like constitutional law, jurisprudence, criminal law, etc. There is no paragraph. Instead, it tests your understanding of legal concepts and how well you remember and apply what you have learned in LLB.

In short, CLAT UG focuses on general reading and logic, while CLAT PG tests your legal knowledge and subject understanding from your law degree.

Ans: There is no official qualifying mark for CLAT PG. Admission depends on your rank, which is based on your score and the performance of others in the same year. However, based on past trends, candidates who score more than 70-80 marks out of 120 generally have a better chance of getting a place in top NLUs for LLM. For reserved categories, the score requirement may be slightly lower. But again, it changes every year based on the difficulty and cut-off trend.

Ans: No, there is no sectional time limit in CLAT PG exam. You will get a total of 2 hours to solve 120 questions. You can attempt the questions in any order and switch between topics freely. This helps the candidates manage their time as per their comfort. It is still important to practice time management during mock tests so that you don't spend too much time on any one section during the actual exam.