CLAT Exam Date 2027 — Complete Schedule, Timeline & Key Deadlines

• ✓First Sunday of December for the exam
• ✓Registration opens in July
• ✓Pen-and-paper, offline format
• ✓120-minute, 120-question structure
• ✓0.25 negative marking
• ✓Registration fee structure (₹4,000 general, ₹3,500 reserved)
• ✓Result within 3–4 weeks of exam

• —Exact registration open/close dates (typically within a 2-week range)
• —Question weightage within sections (stays within announced ranges)
• —Number of participating NLUs (new NLUs added periodically)
• —Total seats available (increases with new NLUs)
• —Specific exam centres (new cities added each cycle)
• —Application portal interface and process steps
• —Minor updates to syllabus emphasis

When Notification is Released (July 2026)

• —Read the official notification in full — do not rely on summaries
• —Verify your eligibility against the stated criteria (see our guide on CLAT 2027 eligibility)
• —Note all deadlines in a calendar with buffer reminders (3 days before each deadline)
• —Confirm your Class 12 marksheet, ID proof, and photo meet the stated specifications
• —Prepare your scanned documents in advance — do not wait until the last week

Registration Phase (July – October 2026)

• —Register as early as possible — within the first two weeks of the portal opening
• —Use an email address you actively check — all official communication comes here
• —Double-check your name spelling, date of birth, and category against your ID proof
• —Upload photos and documents in the exact format specified (dimensions, file size, type)
• —Complete fee payment and save the payment confirmation receipt
• —Download and save the application form PDF for future reference

Form Correction Window (October 2026)

• —Review your submitted application carefully before the correction window closes
• —Correct only what genuinely needs correction — unnecessary edits risk introducing errors
• —If correcting category, ensure supporting documents are ready for verification at counselling
• —Do not change your exam centre preference unless absolutely necessary

Admit Card Phase (November 2026)

• —Download your admit card on the day it is released — do not delay
• —Verify all details on the admit card (name, roll number, centre address, photo)
• —Print at least 2 copies in A4 size on clear, white paper
• —Visit your exam centre location in advance if you are unfamiliar with it
• —Prepare all items you need to carry: admit card, valid photo ID, stationery (as permitted)

Exam Day (6 December 2026)

• —Report to the centre at least 90 minutes before exam start time
• —Carry both your admit card and original valid photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, or PAN card)
• —Do not carry mobile phones, electronic devices, wallets, or bags inside the exam hall
• —Write down rough answers in the question paper margins for post-exam key matching
• —Attempt all questions you are reasonably confident about — do not leave easy marks on the table

Post-Exam: Answer Key & Results (December 2026)

• —Download the provisional answer key and calculate your expected score range
• —If you find a genuinely incorrect answer, file an objection with proper references within the window
• —Do not base college decisions on the provisional key — wait for the final key
• —Prepare your documents for counselling while waiting for results

Consequence: Technical glitches, server load, and payment failures are dramatically more common in the last 48 hours. A failed payment that is not resolved before the portal closes means you lose the year.

Fix: Register within the first two weeks of the portal opening. Treat the stated deadline as a hard constraint, not a target.

Consequence: Name discrepancies between your application, admit card, and ID proof can result in you being denied entry at the exam centre or your candidacy being cancelled at counselling.

Fix: Fill your name exactly as it appears on your Class 10 certificate and Aadhaar card. If your official documents are inconsistent with each other, resolve this before registration opens.

Consequence: Non-compliant uploads are rejected during form verification, often without individual notice. You discover the problem only when your application is flagged or your admit card is not generated.

Fix: Read the document specification table in the official notification precisely. Prepare photos in the exact pixel dimensions, file size, and background colour specified.

Consequence: Errors in your application — wrong category, misspelled name, incorrect date of birth — cannot be corrected after the correction window closes. These errors follow your application through counselling.

Fix: Review your submitted application the day after registration. Do not assume everything is correct. Set a calendar reminder for the correction window open date.

Consequence: The objection window is narrow — typically 3 to 4 days. Aspirants who notice the answer key late have less time to research and file valid objections, costing them marks they are legitimately owed.

Fix: Check the Consortium website every day in the 72 hours following the exam. Set up news alerts for "CLAT answer key" during that window.

Consequence: The provisional merit list can shift after the objection resolution and final answer key publication. Aspirants who plan their counselling preferences around provisional ranks occasionally find their actual rank is materially different.

Fix: Prepare your counselling preference list using the provisional result as an estimate. Finalise only after the official merit list is published.

The Consortium of NLUs has not yet released the official notification for CLAT 2027. Based on the consistent pattern of recent years — CLAT 2025 on 1 December 2024, CLAT 2026 on 7 December 2025 — the CLAT 2027 exam is expected on the first Sunday of December 2026, which falls on 6 December 2026. Aspirants should monitor consortiumofnlus.ac.in for the official announcement, typically released in July.

It is rare but possible. The Consortium has the authority to reschedule the exam in cases of natural disasters, national emergencies, or significant administrative reasons. In practice, the announced date has held in all recent cycles. Once the official notification is out, treat that date as fixed and plan your preparation accordingly.

The Consortium of NLUs does not accept late registrations or grant individual extensions under any circumstances. If you miss the deadline, you must wait for the next annual cycle. There is no grace period. Register as early as possible — ideally in the first two weeks after the portal opens — to avoid last-minute technical issues.

No. The registration portal closes at the published deadline. There is no grace period. Candidates who fail to complete registration, including fee payment confirmation, before the deadline are not permitted to appear for the exam. This has been the consistent position of the Consortium across all recent CLAT cycles.

CLAT is a 120-minute (2-hour) exam. In recent years it has been conducted in the afternoon — the most common slot has been 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM IST. The exact reporting time and exam timing are printed on the admit card. Candidates are typically required to report at the centre at least one hour before the exam start time.

The admit card is typically released approximately 2 to 3 weeks before the exam date. For CLAT 2027, if the exam is on 6 December 2026, expect the admit card in the second or third week of November 2026. Candidates must download and print their admit card from the Consortium portal — it is not sent by post.

CLAT results are typically declared within 2 to 4 weeks of the exam. Based on the recent pattern, if the exam is in early December 2026, provisional results are expected by late December 2026. After the objection window and final answer key, the merit list is usually published in the last week of December or first week of January.

Centralised counselling for CLAT 2027 is expected to begin in January 2027, following the declaration of the final merit list. The Consortium conducts counselling in multiple rounds. Candidates must keep their documents ready and participate in the online counselling process promptly — missing a counselling round can forfeit your seat.