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:
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | Common Law Admission Test- Postgraduate (CLAT PG) |
| Conducting Body | Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) |
| Level of the Exam | National-level entrance test for LLM admissions |
| Mode of Examination | Offline (Pen and Paper-based) |
| Medium of Question Paper | English |
| Type of Questions | Objective-type comprehension-based questions |
| Total Number of Questions | 120 questions |
| Total Marks | 120 marks |
| Duration of the Exam | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
| Marking Scheme | +1 mark for each correct answer |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 mark deducted for each wrong answer |
| Subjects Covered | Constitutional 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 Format | Each 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 Evaluation | Emphasis on reading comprehension, application of law, and analysis of legal issues. No descriptive or essay-type questions will be asked. |
| Purpose of the Exam | Admission 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 Area | Expected Number of Questions | Weightage Description |
| Constitutional Law | 35- 40 Questions | Highest weighted section. Focus on FRs, DPSPs, emergency provisions, separation of powers, and recent landmark SC rulings. |
| Jurisprudence | 20- 25 Questions | Emphasis on legal theories, justice, positivism, natural law, rights, duties, and jurisprudential analysis within legal texts or court opinions. |
| Administrative Law | 5- 8 Questions | Includes topics like delegated legislation, natural justice, administrative tribunals, and judicial control. |
| Law of Contract | 5- 7 Questions | Based on core principles, breach of contract, specific relief, and key judgments. |
| Law of Torts | 4- 6 Questions | Covers strict liability, negligence, nuisance, vicarious liability, and current tort developments. |
| Criminal Law | 5- 7 Questions | Questions drawn from IPC sections, general exceptions, key offences, and landmark criminal cases. |
| Family Law | 3- 5 Questions | Includes both Hindu and Muslim laws on marriage, divorce, maintenance, and succession. |
| Property Law | 3- 5 Questions | Emphasizes transfer of property, lease, sale, mortgage, and doctrines like part performance. |
| Company Law | 3- 5 Questions | Topics include company formation, corporate governance, director roles, and SEBI-related provisions. |
| Public International Law | 3- 5 Questions | Focus on treaties, international organizations, state recognition, jurisdiction, and ICJ-related cases. |
| Tax Law | 2- 3 Questions | Includes basics of GST, income tax principles, and constitutional taxation provisions. |
| Environmental Law | 2- 4 Questions | Based on statutory frameworks (EPA, Forest Act), NGT rulings, and environmental case law. |
| Labour & Industrial Law | 2- 3 Questions | Labour codes, industrial disputes, trade unions, and constitutional labor protections. |
CLAT PG Previous Year Question Trends: Section-wise Weightage
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 / Area | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Weightage Insights |
| Constitutional Law | 50 | 36 | 28 | 60 | 35 | 29-50%, always the heaviest section |
| Jurisprudence | 20 | 6 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 5-20%, varies but steady presence |
| Administrative Law | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 0-10%, depending on year |
| Law of Contract | 0 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 0-15%, moderate but important |
| Law of Torts | - | - | - | - | - | Subsumed in "other laws"- included within those 60 ques. |
| Criminal Law | 10 | 24 | 24 | 5 | 8 | 5-20%, fluctuates across years |
| Family Law | 10 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Steady at 8-15% |
| Property Law | 0 | - | - | - | - | Grouped under miscellaneous "other laws" |
| Public International Law | 10 | 18 | 12 | 5 | 15 | 5-15%, sees regular inclusion |
| Environmental Law | 0 | 18 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 0-15%, influenced by NGT/upcoming rulings |
| Labour Law | 10 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 5-10%, 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.
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