All about CLAT 2013 Exam

One of the most prestigious and key exams for law aspirants of the country, the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) was held on May 12, 2013. 

As many as 30,315 students appeared for CLAT 2013. The total aspirants for LLB are 29,530 while 1,385 had registered for LLM. Test takers stated that the entrance was fairly easy but lengthy.

This year, CLAT was held on Sunday, and was conducted by Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur (Chhattisgarh) in 20 cities across the country.

About CLAT

CLAT is an all India law entrance examination which is conducted by 14 National Law Schools / Universities. This exam helps students in getting admissions to various undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes (LL.B & LL.M) across the country.

The centralised admission process for CLAT is based on merit-cum-preference. All admissions will be done through the organising university, i.e. Hidayatullah National Law University. Information related to date of admission will be published on CLAT-2013 website (www.clat.ac.in).

The organising committee decided to allow candidates, whose applications were rejected on various grounds to take the scheduled entrance test on May 12. The news came as a ray of hope for hundreds of applicants.

To do so, the rejected applicant “should submit a notarised affidavit printed on non-judicial stamp paper worth Rs. 50 to the CLAT office before May 6,” informed CLAT committee members. Candidates can also submit an advanced soft copy of the affidavit (scanned PDF file) by e-mail ‘application@clat.ac.in’ to the CLAT office for reference.

A notice on the website further says, “Applicants who are being allowed to appear in the CLAT-2013 will not be entitled to claim any benefit on the basis of any information which they had not furnished in the OMR Application Form at the time of its submission.”

As many as 1,300 aspirants were rejected due to incomplete forms or not filled as per the norms.

Eligibility criterion for undergraduate programs:

• Candidate should have completed 10+2 or its equivalent qualification from a recognised board with at least 45% marks in aggregate (40% in case of SC/ST). Candidates awaiting results can also apply.
• Candidate should be 20 years of age as on 1st July 2013 (22 years in case of SC and ST candidates).

Eligibility criterion for postgraduate programs:

• Candidate should have completed a LLB/BL degree or an equivalent degree from a recognised University with at least 55% marks in aggregate (50% in case of SC/ST). Candidates awaiting results can also apply.
• Candidates who have passed the qualifying degree examination through supplementary/ compartment and repeat attempts are also eligible for appearing in the test and taking admission provided they produce proof of having passed the exam and met the eligibility marks on the date of their admission or within the time allowed by the respective universities.

How to apply..??

First step is to obtain the application form and information brochure through the following ways

The application forms of CLAT 2013 can be obtained from the various State Bank of India branches (refer-www.clat.ac.in) and in all the participating NLUs against payment of Rs.3000/- only (Rs.2500/- in case of SC/ST candidates on submission of proof) excluding the bank charges. Application forms fees can be paid through a ‘Challan’ by furnishing the required information about the candidate.

Forms and information brochure can be procured through registered/speed post by sending a requisition letter (with Father’s Name, Contact Numbers, detail Mailing Address and PIN Code) to the Convener, CLAT-2013, Hidayatullah National Law University, Post – Uparwara, Abhanpur, New Raipur – 493661 (Chhattisgarh) along with a Demand Draft of Rs 3100/- (Rs 2600/- in case of SC/ST candidates) drawn in favour of “Registrar, HNLU – CLAT 2013 A/C” to be payable at Raipur (Chhattisgarh).

Candidates can also apply online by visiting and following the instructions given in the CLAT-2013 website (www.clat.ac.in). Payment can be made through net-banking, debit card, credit card, etc. In case of online application, the candidates will have to bear the additional transaction costs for remitting the fees online through payment gateways.

Duly filled-in application Forms along with a copy of the bank Challan/Cash Receipt/Demand Draft can be submitted to the Convener, CLAT-2013, either in person (from 10:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m. on all working days) or through registered/speed post so as to reach the following address on or before March 30, 2013 (05:00 pm). The address for sending the forms is:

The Convener,

Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) – 2013

Hidayatullah National Law University

Post – Uparwara, Abhanpur

New Raipur – 493661 (Chhattisgarh)

Please note: As per CLAT’s website, students are encouraged to apply online since the conducting university’s campus is situated 30 kms away from the main city of Raipur and courier services are not up to the mark.

Participating institutes:

Below mentioned is the list of participating institutes:

• National Law School of India University, Bangalore (NLSIU)
• NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad (NALSAR)
• National Law Institute University, Bhopal (NLIU)
• The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata (WBNUJS)
• National Law University, Jodhpur(NLU)
• Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur (HNLU)
• Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar (GNLU)
• Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow (RMLNLU)
• Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala (RGNUL)
• Chanakya National Law University, Patna (CNLU)
• National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi (NUALS)
• National Law University, Orissa
• National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi
• National Law University & Judicial Academy, Assam

Dates to remember:

According to the CLAT website, “If a candidate, at any stage of the allotment process, wants to forego his claim for the next higher preference and wants to stay with and take admission in the allotted University/Institute, he/she will be given the option to do so; but only once. To exercise this option, the candidate will have to apply through email (helpdesk@clat.ac.in) to the Convener, CLAT-2013, within the prescribed time limit. However, this option exercised once by the candidate will be treated as final and irrevocable, and the candidate will be deemed to have been admitted in the University opted as such by him/her.”

Structure and pattern of CLAT for UG entrance

Subject weightage for UG entrance:

In the event of equal marks scored by two or more candidates, following procedure will be adapted: 

• Higher marks in the section of legal aptitude in CLAT-2013
• Higher age
• Computerised draw of lots

Structure and pattern of CLAT for PG entrance

In the event of equal marks scored by two or more candidates, following procedure will be adapted: 

• Higher marks in the Long Essay Type Descriptive Questions Section in CLAT-2013
• Higher age
• Computerised draw of lots

For more information, please visit the CLAT 2013 website.