CLAT 2021 topper interview: From a doctor’s family, Manhar Bansal, AIR 1, chooses a different path

Manhar Bansal, a native of Muktsar, Punjab, topped CLAT 2021 with AIR 1. Read below to know tips for his success and how he prepared for one of the toughest law exams amid the pandemic. 

Manhar Bansal, a student of Delhi Public School, RK Puram, New Delhi, scored 125.5 marks out of 149 to become CLAT 2021 topper. He is currently pursuing BA LLB (Hons) from the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) Bangalore. Manhar’s parents are doctors and elder brother is pursuing postgraduation in medicine, which is why he chose to go down a different route. He loves reading and believes that every person, irrespective of vocation, should develop an interest in reading. 

Shiksha got in touch with Manhar Bansal to learn more about his CLAT preparation strategy. Here are the excerpts of the interview.

Q. Congratulations on achieving this feat. Were you expecting AIR 1 in CLAT 2021?

A. One cannot expect to be a topper. One can only aim and hope for it and do one’s best to achieve that goal. I had calculated my marks from the answer key provided by the CLAT Consortium and expected to be among top 5 rank holders. I wished to get AIR 1, but it’s only once you see the actual results that you believe what has transpired.

Q. What is your CLAT 2021 score? Please do mention your score in all exam sections.

A. I scored a 125.5 marks out of 149 in CLAT 2021. Below is the section wise break-up. 

English: 27.5 

GK: 24: 

Legal reasoning: 35 

Logical reasoning: 27.5 

Maths: 11.5

Q. What was your preparation strategy that helped you crack CLAT 2021? Did you take any coaching for the exam?

A. I was associated with a private coaching institute that helped me in my CLAT preparation. Though it was a two-year programme, I started actual preparation only in the second year. My strategy was divided as per sections. For English and logical reasoning, I attended classes to understand the concepts. I used a private academy’s LSAT prep exercises to gain a better insight into such questions. I took mock tests and followed them up with analysis sessions with a faculty member. For legal reasoning and quantitative techniques, it was primarily mock tests, attending classes and clearing doubts as and when they arose. For current affairs and GK, I read newspapers, attended quiz sessions conducted by our GK faculty and prepared topic-wise list along with my friends. I also used flashcards for better retention of facts.

Q. What study plan did you follow for CLAT?

A. I did not have a strict study plan for CLAT. It was mostly small tasks for different sections such as taking mock tests, attending classes, reading newspapers to improve GK, etc, which I kept doing throughout the day. I maintained a digital diary to keep track of my progress.

Q. Which books did you read to prepare for CLAT 2021?

A. There are no specific books I referred to since CLAT is not a syllabus-based test. In the initial part of my preparation, I went through my coaching modules. After that, my focus shifted to mock tests as the primary tool of practice, which is why I also took an additional test series. I also read a fair amount of fiction during the past one year with a little bit of non-fiction every now andthen for leisure.

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Q. How did you deal with your strengths and weaknesses while preparing for CLAT?

A. I do not think that I had any strengths and weaknesses per se. My reading speed and comprehension were decent so I did not have to struggle with time management much. Legal reasoning and mathematics were more or less fine, so I merely kept track of my mock tests and addressed anything which went wrong. I did have a phase when my scores in English and legal reasoning were not very consistent, so I started sitting for doubt sessions with our faculty to have another perspective and understand where I was going wrong. GK was a continuous process but after starting with the event-based research and discussion with my friends, I began to see significant improvement.

Q. What other law entrance exams did you take or are planning to take?

A. Besides CLAT, I took the LSAT India and the AILET (NLU Delhi) tests. I scored 99.82 percentile in LSAT India 2021 and secured AIR 2 in AILET 2021.

Q. Was law always your first preference?

A. As I said before, I did not wish to study medicine, I had developed a deep interest in social science at school. As any student from a small city would tell you, “If not a doctor or an engineer, then an IAS officer.” When looking for options for graduation (to become eligible for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)), I came across the BA LLBprogrammeoffered by National Law Universities (NLUs) through one of my father’s colleagues. At that very moment, it made complete sense to me. A degree in both liberal arts and law would provide me with numerous opportunities.

Q. Any tips for students who are planning to take CLAT in future?

A. Understand the CLAT paper pattern. Work on small, meaningful tasks rather than putting in long hours without purpose. Keep reading whatever you like. Do not ignore any section (a lot of people commit the error of not even seeingmaths). Have a set of positive people around you. Keep your sources limited. And perhaps most importantly, enjoy the CLAT preparation process.

Q. What are your future plans?

A. As of now, I am just looking forward to the next five years at NLSIU. I do not have any rigid plans in terms of my career selection and I cannot even see myself arguing for an artificial entity like a corporate. I wish to do something that impacts people’s lives directly and that which allows me to answer that idealist child which still survives within me.

Read more: 

• CLAT 2021 topper: Sukarm, AIR 5, says improve reading speed to manage time 
• CLAT 2020 Topper Interview: Aprajita, AIR 1, says regular practice, consistency key to success  
• CLAT, AILET 2020 Topper Interview: Take mocks, manage time to score good, says Anhad Kaur  
• CLAT  2020 Topper Interview: Pratyay, AIR 10, says try to make the most of  your mock tests