What is CLAT UG?
CLAT is a gateway for admission to the UG courses like BA LLB, BBA LLB, and BCom LLB offered by 26 NLUs and other participating institutions. The exam is monitored by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) for admission to 5-year LLB programs. The exam assesses candidates in areas such as English, logical reasoning, legal aptitude, current affairs, and quantitative techniques.
What is CLAT PG?
CLAT PG is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities for admission to LLM (Master of Laws) programs across leading NLUs in India. It is designed for law graduates who wish to pursue advanced studies and specialization in law. The exam evaluates candidates on their comprehension, analytical abilities, and in-depth knowledge of core legal subjects at the graduate level.
CLAT UG Vs CLAT PG Overview
The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a national-level entrance exam in India, but it is conducted at two distinct levels: CLAT UG (Undergraduate) and CLAT PG (Postgraduate). The primary difference between the two lies in the academic stage and the purpose they serve. CLAT UG is focused on students who have completed their 12th grade and wish to pursue integrated five-year undergraduate law programs such as BA LLB, BCom LLB, or BBA LLB at National Law Universities (NLUs).
While CLAT PG is designed for law graduates seeking admission to postgraduate LLM programs, focusing on advanced and specialized areas of law.
The following table highlights the key differences between CLAT UG vs CLAT PG.
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CLAT UG Vs CLAT PG Overview
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Particulars
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CLAT UG
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CLAT PG
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Conducting Body
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The Consortium of National Law Universities
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The Consortium of National Law Universities
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Exam Level
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National-level
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National-level
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Number of Participating Institutes
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26 NLUs + Private Colleges
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26 NLUs + Private Colleges
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Educational Qualification
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Class 12 or equivalent exam
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Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB)
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Minimum Qualifying Marks
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General – 45%, SC/ST – 40%
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General – 50%, SC/ST – 45%
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Age Limit
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No upper age limit
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No upper age limit
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Application Mode
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Online
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Online
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Application Fee
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₹4000
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₹4000
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Subjects
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English Language, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Current Affairs, Quantitative Techniques
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Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, and other law subjects, including Contemporary issues
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Difficulty Level of Exam
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Moderate
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Moderate-Difficult
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CLAT UG Vs CLAT PG: Exam Pattern
The exam pattern for CLAT UG and CLAT PG is structured according to their target audiences. Though both exams are conducted by the Consortium of NLUs, there is a slight difference in their exam pattern. CLAT UG is structured to assess the aptitude, reasoning, and foundational legal awareness of students seeking admission to UG law programs. In contrast, CLAT PG is more inclined towards advanced legal subjects for PG candidates. Both exams are held offline and consist of 120 multiple-choice questions. The differences between the exam patterns of CLAT UG vs CLAT PG are detailed in the following table.
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CLAT UG Vs CLAT PG: Exam Pattern
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Particulars
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CLAT UG
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CLAT PG
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Exam mode
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CLAT UG is conducted in a paper-based test mode.
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CLAT PG is also conducted in a paper-based test mode.
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Test duration
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120 minutes
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120 minutes
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Type of questions
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Objective-type question-based. Reading comprehension passages of about 300-450 words.
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The questions are comprehension-based on various legal subjects at a graduate level.
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Total Questions
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120
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120
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CLAT Marking Scheme
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+1 for a correct answer
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+1 for a correct answer
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Negative Marking
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-0.25 for an incorrect answer
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-0.25 for an incorrect answer
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CLAT UG Vs CLAT PG: Exam Syllabus
CLAT UG and CLAT PG differ significantly in their exam syllabi. CLAT UG syllabus includes foundational subjects like English language, logical reasoning, current affairs, legal reasoning, and basic quantitative techniques. However, CLAT PG targets law graduates seeking postgraduate specialization and covers advanced legal subjects such as Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Contract Law, Criminal Law, International Law, and recent legal developments. CLAT UG assesses general aptitude and basic legal awareness, while CLAT PG evaluates in-depth legal understanding and analytical skills required for higher studies in law. The following table lists the key differences between the syllabi of CLAT UG vs CLAT PG.
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CLAT UG Vs CLAT PG: Exam Syllabus
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CLAT UG
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CLAT PG
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Current Affairs, including GK
Contemporary events of national and international significance, Arts and Culture
International affairs, Historical events of continuing significance
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Section A – Constitutional Law
Legislative Power, Procedure, Privileges
Judicial Power, Organisation of the Judiciary, The Jurisdiction of the SC of India
Federal Idea, Nature of Indian Polity, Co-operative Federalism, Freedoms of Inter-state Trade and Commerce, Impact of Emergency on Center-States Relations
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English Language
Correcting Incorrect Grammar Sentences, Synonyms & Antonyms, Tenses, Fill in the Blanks, Spotting Grammatical Errors, Active & Passive Voice
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Section B – Jurisprudence
Administrative Law, Law of Contract, Torts, Family Law, Criminal Law, Property Law, Company Law, Public International Law, Tax Law, Environmental Law, Labour & Industrial Law
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Logical Reasoning
Analogies, Relationships, Syllogism, Cause & Effect, Premises & Conclusion, Inferences
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Section C – Law Topics and Contemporary Issues
Important constitutional and legislative provisions, Recent judgments, Historical case law and amendments, Legal issues facts.
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Quantitative Techniques
Short sets of facts or propositions, Graphs
Other textual material, Pictorial or diagrammatic representations of numerical information, 10th standard mathematical concepts, including ratios and proportions, basic algebra, mensuration, and statistical estimation, Derive, infer, and manipulate numerical information
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Legal Reasoning
Legal Maxims, Important Supreme Court Judgments, Legal GK, Indian Constitution
Important Acts and Amendments of the Legislature, Current Affairs
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CLAT UG Vs CLAT PG: Eligibility Criteria
CLAT UG and CLAT PG have different eligibility criteria depending on the target audience. CLAT UG is meant for students who have completed or are appearing in their 10+2 (or equivalent) exams. For minimum qualifying marks, candidates must refer to the specific requirements of each degree before applying. Here are the major differences between the eligibility criteria for both CLAT UG and CLAT PG.
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CLAT UG Vs CLAT PG: Eligibility Criteria
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Parameters
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CLAT UG
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CLAT PG
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Minimum Educational Qualification
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10+2 pass or equivalent (students appearing in the final year are eligible)
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3-year LLB or 5-year integrated LLB (final year students eligible)
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Minimum Marks Required
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General/OBC/PWD/NRI/PIO/OCI: 45%
SC/ST: 40%
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General/OBC/PWD/NRI/PIO/OCI: 50%
SC/ST: 45%
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Age Limit
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No upper age limit
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No upper age limit
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Application Mode
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Online
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Online
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Eligible for
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Five-year integrated undergraduate law programs
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One/two-year postgraduate LLM programs
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CLAT UG Vs CLAT PG: Career Pathways
CLAT UG and CLAT PG open distinct career pathways in the legal field based on the academic level and specialization of each exam. CLAT UG serves as the entry point for students aspiring to build foundational legal knowledge and pursue diverse roles such as litigation, corporate law, public service, and alternative dispute resolution after completing their undergraduate law degree.
CLAT PG graduates with advanced knowledge in law have higher-level opportunities in academia, research, specialized legal practice, public sector undertakings (PSUs), and policy-making. As per your qualifications and experience, candidates can pursue diverse careers after completing their law degree.
