CLAT 2026 Exam Date (Out), Registration Started, Check Important Dates

CLAT 2026 Admit Card Release Date

Based on the previous year’s CLAT exam schedule, it is likely that the CLAT admit card 2026 will be released in November 2025, about 2-3 weeks before the exam. Candidates must use their CLAT login credentials to download the admit card from the official website of the Consortium of NLUs. The admit card will contain important details such as the candidate’s name, exam center, date, and instructions. It is mandatory to carry it to the exam center for entry. 

CLAT 2026 Exam Date

CLAT 2026 exam held will be scheduled on 7 December 2025. The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities for admission to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law programs at various NLUs and several other top law colleges in India. 

CLAT 2026 Answer Key Dates

The CLAT 2026 answer key release will follow a two-stage process. The consortium will release the provisional answer key first. It is expected to be published in December 2025, the same day as the exam or within 1-2 days after. Candidates will have a brief window to raise objections to the provisional key online. After considering all objections, the Consortium of NLUs is expected to release the final answer key around the second or third week of December 2025. Based on the conclusion of the answer key, the final result will be prepared. 

CLAT 2026 Result Announcement Date

The CLAT 2026 result is expected to be announced around a week after the conclusion of the CLAT 2026 exam. It will be announced shortly after the release of the final answer key. Candidates will be able to access their results online through the official CLAT website by logging in with their credentials. The result will include the candidate’s score, All India Rank (AIR), and category rank. These details are crucial for the subsequent counselling and seat allotment process. 

CLAT 2026 Merit List Release Dates

Once the CLAT results are declared, the Consortium will publish the CLAT merit list on the official website. For 2025, it is likely to be announced in mid-December. The merit list will include candidates’ All India Rank (AIR), category rank, and other relevant details. Merit lists will be released in multiple rounds, corresponding with each phase of the counselling and seat allotment process. Candidates should regularly check the official CLAT portal for updates and ensure they participate in all required counselling rounds as per the published schedule. 

CLAT 2026 Counselling Dates

CLAT 2026 counselling is expected to begin in mid-December 2025, just a few days after the result announcement. The counselling process will be conducted online and will include five rounds of seat allotment. Eligible candidates must register, pay the counselling fee, and indicate their preferences for NLUs and courses. Only candidates who make it to the merit list will be eligible to participate, and they must complete all steps within the specified deadlines to secure their admission. The official schedule, including registration and allotment dates, will be released by the Consortium of NLUs after the result declaration. 

CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern

The CLAT 2026 exam is conducted offline for 2 hours and consists of five main sections. Each section has a fixed number of questions and covers different abilities like English, general knowledge, legal reasoning, logical reasoning, and basic math skills. All questions are multiple choice, and each right answer gives +1 mark, while each wrong answer takes away 0.25 mark.