CLAT Exam: Supreme Court Extends Assistive Facilities for Visually Impaired Candidates

Visually impaired candidates appearing for upcoming editions of the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) will now be entitled to assistive facilities such as screen readers, customised devices, and the option of a scribe. The CLAT 2026 exam is scheduled for December 7, 2025, and the application process is currently open. Interested candidates can submit the CLAT 2026 application form until October 31, 2025.

CLAT Exam: Supreme Court Directs Equal Access for Visually Impaired Aspirants

The Supreme Court has directed that visually impaired candidates appearing in future editions of the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) must be provided with assistive facilities, including screen readers, customised devices, and the option of a scribe. CLAT 2026 is scheduled to be held on December 7, 2025. The CLAT Application Process is currently underway. The last day to fill CLAT Application Form is on or before October 31, 2025.

A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi ruled that interim directions issued in December 2024 for the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) will equally apply to CLAT. The Court emphasised that the purpose of these measures is to ensure meaningful participation of visually impaired candidates in national-level professional examinations.

The order stated: “Meanwhile, the interim directions issued by this Court on 05.12.2024 and 11.12.2024 shall apply mutatis mutandis in the CLAT Examination in future to be conducted by the respondents.” Additional Solicitor General Archana Pathak Dave informed the Court that fresh guidelines were issued on August 1, following earlier directions. The Court further instructed the Bar Council of India (BCI) and the CLAT Consortium to strictly comply with these guidelines.

It must be noted that in December, the Court had directed the BCI to provide facilities to visually impaired candidates appearing for AIBE. This included the availability of JAWS and NVDA screen readers, permission to use personal keyboards and customised mouse devices, and the option to complete software installation a day before the exam. Candidates were given the option to either type answers on a computer or opt for a scribe, with all costs borne by BCI.

Later, on December 11, the Court clarified that scribes must not be from humanities or law backgrounds and should have qualifications one level below that of the candidate, in line with the Government of India’s 2018 guidelines.

The petition was filed by visually impaired law students seeking equal access to both AIBE and CLAT. The matter will now be heard next on November 13.