The CLAT 2026 exam date was held on December 07, 2025. The exam, conducted from 2 PM to 4 PM. We have provided the CLAT exam day instructions, things that are prohibited to carry to the exam centre, things to carry, expected cut off, and more.
CLAT 2026 Exam: The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026, scheduled on December 07, 2025, has concluded. The Common Law Admission Test was conducted in pen-and-paper mode. The CLAT admit card was released on November 22, 2025. The Consortium had released the CLAT 2026 Exam Day Guidelines along with the hall ticket. The candidates had to strictly follow the exam day instructions on the exam day.
The CLAT exam analysis had released based on the candidate's reaction. The Consortium will release the CLAT 2026 Answer Key on December 10 at 5:00 pm at consortiumofnlus.ac.in/clat-2026. The Consortium will release the CLAT 2026 Question Paper with the answer key. Candidates who appear for the exam will also be able to download the CLAT OMR Sheet from the website.
Candidates had to be aware of the CLAT 2026 exam day guidelines concerning documents to be carried, things prohibited inside the center, and the schedule of exam. The scores of CLAT will be accepted by 24 National Law Universities for admission to various law courses like, BA LLB, BBA LLB, B.Com LLB and B.Sc LLB and LLM programmes. Read this article below to understand the complete CLAT 2026 exam day guidelines that will be required to be prepared for the exam day.
Also Read:
- CLAT 2026 Exam Day Bell Timings
- CLAT Exam Day Guidelines for CLAT Exam Centre 2026
- List of acceptable ID proofs on CLAT Exam day
- Things NOT to Carry to CLAT Exam Centre 2026
- CLAT 2026 Exam Day Guidelines & Instructions
- CLAT Exam Instructions 2026 inside the CLAT exam centre
- How to Use the CLAT 2026 OMR Response Sheet?
- CLAT 2026 - Must Know
- CLAT Exam Day FAQs
CLAT 2026 Exam Day Bell Timings
Candidates can check the bell timing for CLAT Exam 2026 below:
| Particulars | Bell type | Timings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry inside the examination hall begins | Long bell | 1:00 pm onwards |
| Entry of Candidates inside the hall/ classroom | Long bell | 1:30 pm |
| Distribution of the sealed Envelopes and announcement of Instructions by the Invigilators |
Short bell | 1:50 pm |
| Exam begins and candidates can open the seal of QB | Long bell | 2:00 pm |
| Last chance to enter inside the exam centre | Short bell | 2:15 pm |
| Completion of 60 minutes | Short bell | 3:00 pm |
| Warning bell for 10 minutes remaining for the exam | Short bell | 3:50 pm |
| Exam ends, except for PWD Candidates. (No candidate shall be allowed to write anything on the OMR Response Sheet/ Question Paper Booklet after this Bell). PWD Candidates shall get compensatory time of extra 40 minutes. |
Long bell | 4:00 pm |
Commonly asked questions
The CLAT PG Exam will be held for duration of two hours; i.e. from 2 pm to 4 pm. Candidates have to answer 120 questions in the given time frame. The scores of CLAT LLM 2027 score will be accepted by 19 NLUs in the country.
A good rank in the CLAT exam for general category students is under 1,000–1,500 to secure admission in top-tier National Law Universities (NLUs). A rank under 500 is considered excellent for the top 5 NLUs, while a rank up to 3,000–5,000 can still secure a seat in newer, mid-tier NLUs.
As of 2026, 26 National Law Universities (NLUs) participate in the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). These universities offer undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law programs, with over 5,600 seats available in total. NLU Delhi is the only exception, conducting its own entrance exam (AILET) rather than participating in CLAT
CLAT Exam Day Guidelines for CLAT Exam Centre 2026
On the exam day, candidates had to carry the following items to the allotted CLAT test center 2026:
- Download CLAT admit card 2026: The CLAT 2026 hall ticket will be a mandatory document to be carried to the test centre. Candidates can download the CLAT admit card from the official website of the exam by using their mobile number and password.
- Keep ID proof ready: Along with the admit card, candidates will be required to carry a valid and original photo ID proof to the test center. Both the ID proof and the admit card will be checked at the entry gate of the CLAT test center. Candidates can carry documents such as an Aadhaar Card, Driver's License, Passport, Voter ID, etc., as valid ID proofs.
- Attested photo: In case the photograph printed on the admit card was not clear, such candidates will be required to carry an attested photograph to the Common Law Admission Test center. The photo is required to match the photograph printed on the CLAT 2026 admit card.
- Disability certificate: For candidates belonging to Persons with Disability (PwD) category, it is also mandatory to carry their disability certificate
- Blue/black ball-point pen: Since CLAT 2026 is an offline exam, candidates are required to carry a ball-point pen of blue and black colour to the centre. Candidates will not be allowed to use a pen of any other colour for writing on the admit card or filling the details on the OMR sheet.
- Transparent water bottle: Water will not be offered to the candidates by the test centre authorities. Therefore, candidates can carry their water bottles. However, the water bottle is required to be transparent. Any other type of bottle will not be allowed inside the test centre premises.
- Analogue watch: Candidates will also be allowed to carry analogue watches inside the test centre
Also Read: CLAT Current Affairs and GK Section Preparation 2026: Syllabus, Important Topics, Books, Tips
List of acceptable ID proofs on CLAT Exam day
Candidates can check the list of ID proofs that will be accepted in CLAT Test Centres below:
- Aadhaar Card
- Passport
- PAN card
- Ration card/PDS photo card
- Voter ID card
- Driving license
- Photo ID issued by a recognised educational institution
- Photobank ATM card
- Kissan photo passbook
- CGHS/ECHS photo card
- Address card mentioning the name and photo issued by the department of posts
- Certificate of identity having photo issued by gazetted officer or tehsildar on letterhead
- Disability ID card/handicapped medical certificate issued by the respective State/UT governments/administrations
Also Read: CLAT 2026 Legal Reasoning: Legal Aptitude Questions, Preparation Tips & Tricks
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Things NOT to Carry to CLAT Exam Centre 2026
Apart from the items and documents mentioned above, candidates are not allowed to carry the following items inside the test centre:
| Calculator | Mobile Phone |
| Digital Watch | Bags |
| Headphones | Camera |
| Study material | Any kind of digital items |
Also Read: CLAT Dress Code for Male and Female Candidates
CLAT 2026 Exam Day Guidelines & Instructions
Check out the major CLAT exam day guidelines that candidates will have to follow before and after entering the test centre below:
Before entering the CLAT exam centre
Major instructions that candidates must follow before entering the test centre include-
- Reporting time: All candidates are required to report to the allotted CLAT exam center at least one hour before the commencement of the exam, i.e., by 1:00 PM. It is to be noted that no candidate is allowed to enter the exam hall 15 minutes after the commencement of the exam.
- Baggage: Candidates are advised to carry only minimal items to the CLAT test centre. All the baggage will be kept outside the centre, and the authorities will not be responsible for any loss or damage to items.
- Document verification: The admit card, along with the original photo ID proof, will be checked by the centre authorities at the entry gate. Therefore, candidates have to keep them ready and handy for verification.
- If a candidate is suffering from an illness, they will have to carry their medication. If the candidate needs an isolated facility to attempt the test due to illness they can write to nodalofficer-pwd@consortiumofnlus.ac.in
Also Read: How to clear CLAT 2026 in first attempt?
CLAT exam day guidelines for PWDs and Specially abled persons
Candidates appeared for CLAT Exam under PWD/ Specially-abled persons criteria had to follow the important instructions mentioned below:
- Total time provided to PwDs/SAPs in CLAT 2026 will be 40 minutes extra; i.e. 2 hours and 40 minutes.
- PwDs/ SAPs candidates will have to carry their original Disability Certificate to the Test Centre on the day of the CLAT 2026.
- PwDs/SAPs who wish to make arrangements for getting their personal scribe will have to inform the Consortium and bear the associated costs.
- PwDs/SAPs candidates who wish to avail the facility of a scribe through the Consortium will have to send an email to the consortium with the duly filled proformas given below within the prescribed deadline.
Documents to be kept by Candidates after CLAT Exam
Candidates must note throw or misplace the documents mentioned below after the CLAT Exam:
- Question paper of CLAT
- OMR sheet copy
- CLAT admit card
Also Read: How to Prepare for CLAT 2026 Logical Reasoning: Important Tips, Books, Topics & More
CLAT Exam Instructions 2026 inside the CLAT exam centre
Candidates had to follow the given protocols while reporting to the exam authorities at the exam centre. During the reporting, candidates have to follow the instructions as under:
- Invigilator instructions: Candidates must follow the instructions given by the invigilator inside the exam hall. No doubts relating to the CLAT questions 2026 were entertained during the exam.
- Admit card: All candidates had to sign their admit card in the exam hall in the presence of the invigilator
- Unfair means: During the exam, candidates should not be involved in any unfair means, as it can lead to their disqualification from the exam. Also, such candidates are liable to be prosecuted.
- Exit: Candidates were not allowed to leave the exam hall till the completion of the test, that is, till 4 pm. Also, candidates must leave the exam hall only after submitting the OMR response sheet.
- CLAT question paper and response sheet: The CLAT OMR response sheet is carbonised. Candidates were allowed to carry the carbonised copy along with the CLAT question paper 2026 outside the center after the completion of the paper. Candidates must keep the carbonised copy of the OMR sheet with care.
Also Read: Tips to Prepare for English Section of CLAT 2026 Exam: Books, Important Topics
How to Use the CLAT 2026 OMR Response Sheet?
While filling the CLAT OMR sheet 2026, candidates had to keep in mind the following points:
- Pen: Candidates should only use a black/blue ball-point pen to write on the admit card or mark their answers on the OMR sheet
- Marking the answer: Candidates should indicate only one answer by shading a circle from the given options
- Shading of circle: Candidates should shade the circle on the OMR sheet entirely without leaving any space. Incomplete circles will not be considered for evaluation. Questions in which candidates shade two circles will also not be evaluated.
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CLAT 2026 - Must Know
Important points regarding the CLAT question paper pattern that candidates must remember include:
- CLAT question paper for UG courses will contain 150 passage-based multiple-choice questions (MCQs) of 150 marks. There will be a negative marking of 0.25 marks.
- CLAT question paper for LLM will contain 120 MCQs of 120 marks. There will be a negative marking of 0.25 marks.
CLAT Exam Day FAQs
Q. What is the reporting timings for CLAT 2026?
A. CLAT 2026 Exam Timing is 2 pm to 4 pm. Candidates must report at least an hour before the exam timings to test centre. The exact timings for reporting and frisking are mentioned on CLAT admit card.
Q. What document can be carried as a photo identification proof along with CLAT 2026 admit card?
A. Candidates can carry any valid photo ID such as Aadhaar Card, Driver's Liscense, Voter Id, Passport, PAN Card. Note: Aadhaar Card Enrollment slip is not considered as a valid photo ID proof.
Q. Can I take breaks during the examination?
A. CLAT exam is of two hours duration, and a candidates is required to sit through the examination. Therefore, taking breaks midway is not allowed.
Q. When will the answer key of CLAT 2026 be released?
A. CLAT 2026 answer keys will be published on the official website within few hours after the examination.
Q. Will the exam centre officials provide test-taking material like pen?
A. No, the exam centre officials do not provide any test-taking items like pen or pencil. The candidates need to carry their own HB pencil and black/ blue inked pens to fill the OMR sheet.
Q. Was there any sectional time limit for CLAT 2026
A. No, there is no sectional time limit for CLAT 2026. The exam will begin at 2 pm and end at 4 pm, and the test-takers can manage the time between the sections as per their covenience.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a week ago
Yes, candidates who have registered for the CLAT exam can access the sample papers through their login credentials.
P
Contributor-Level 8
Answered a week ago
The practice the sample papers of CLAT released by the consortium follow these steps
Go to consortiumofnlus.ac.in
Login and click on attempt sample paper
You will now see instructions on your screen
Read the instructions and click on Start Mock Test
Attempt the question paper
M
Contributor-Level 8
Answered a week ago
Yes, students can take admissions to BITS Law School without appearing from CLAT exam. BITS Law School admissions also conducts its own entrance exam called BITS Law Admission Test. Shortlisted candidates need to appear for Personal Interview rounds for admissions.
P
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
No, CLAT is not compulsory to take admission in the law courses at Innovative Institute of Law. Candidates are shortlisted based on merit achieved in last qualifying exam. However, the institute accepts CLAT score as well.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
To check the merit list for NLU Silvassa, students can refer to the list of pointers below.
- Go to the official Consortium of NLUs website.
- Click on the CLAT OPTION in the top-right corner
- Scroll down to the notification section
- Check the merit list for all courses at the UG and PG levels.
Students shou
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
To get a seat at GNLU Silvassa for the UG and PG-level law courses, students have to appear for the CLAT entrance examination and then the counselling process to be considered eligible for admission.
The GNLU Silvassa CLAT cutoff 2026 was concluded after 5 rounds of seat allotment for the above-ment
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, you could get into GNLU Silvassa with a 4000 rank if you belong to the SC AI category. For this category, the overall cutoff range was 2843 to 8902. Hence, a rank of 4000 could get you a seat at this institute.
Students can see the table below to know the last round closing ranks for available
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
GNLU Silvassa CLAT cutoff 2026 concluded after the release of the final round of seat allotment for the BA LLB (Hons) and LLM courses. The cutoff was out for several AI and HS quota categories.
For the General AI category, the overall cutoff ranged from 336 to 1500 for both courses, with LLM course
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
To get a seat at Dr B.R. Ambedkar National Law University for the BA LLB and LLM courses, students have to first appear for the CLAT entrance exam and then sit for the CLAT counselling process to be considered eligible for admission to the above-mentioned courses.
The NLU Sonepat CLAT cutoff 2026 was
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, you could get into NLU Sonepat with a CLAT rank of 300 if you belong to the OBC AI category.
For this category, the overall cutoff ranged from 3409 to 4684 for the BA LLB and LLM courses. Students can refer to the table below to know the first and last round closing ranks for this category.
| Course | Round 1 | Last Round |
|---|---|---|
| B.A. LL.B. | 3409 | 3780 |
| Master of Legislative Laws (LL.M.) | 3526 | 4684 |
Not
N
Contributor-Level 10
Law Education & Competitive Exams Content Specialist
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