The centralized entrance test for 24 National Law Universities (NLUs) in India.
Live Update:Registration for 2026 Session 1 is expected to open in November 2025. Stay tuned!
Context
Standard entrance for National Law Universities.
Ideal For
Students with high reading speed and interest in social/legal systems.
Key Lever
Network effect of NLUs and direct entry to top corporate law firms.
Pivot Point
"SLAT if you prefer a more balanced, multi-stage selection process."
10+2 with 45% marks (40% for SC/ST)
No upper age limit
Offline (Pen & Paper). 120 questions in 120 minutes. All passage-based.
Working at top firms handling mergers, acquisitions, and intellectual property.
The Risk
High stress; long hours in corporate firms; litigation takes years to pay off.
The Reward
Intellectually stimulating work, high social standing, and excellent pay in corporate sectors.
Persona: The Legal Eagle
Constitutional Law lecture involving a intense case law debate.
Library session researching for an upcoming Moot Court competition.
Participating in or judging a mock trial session.
Internship application drafting or legal aid clinic work.
Late-night group research on International Law or Human Rights.
"It's not just about the destination, it's about who you become during the journey."
"Law is about reading between the lines. CLAT has shifted to a purely comprehension-based format. Read newspapers religiously to build your stamina for long passages."
If you have a strong dislike for reading long texts or analyzing complex social arguments.
Myth
You need to memorize laws.
Reality
The current pattern gives you the law in the passage—you just need to apply it to a situation.
Myth
Only students with family background in law succeed.
Reality
Corporate law firms prefer merit; NLUs have a highly diverse student body.
Purpose
NLU Delhi Admissions
Key Difference
"Extremely tough Logical Reasoning section"
When to choose
If you want to stay in Delhi and have elite analytical skills.
Purpose
Jindal Global / Private Law
Key Difference
"Pure logic, no General Knowledge"
When to choose
If your logic is great but you hate memorizing current affairs.
| Exam | Scale | Core Focus | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLAT (Main) | Law | Comprehensive | Primary Goal |
| AILET | National | Extremely tough Logical... | NLU Delhi Admissions |
| LSAT India | Private | Pure logic, no... | Jindal Global / Private Law |
CLAT is the mainstay, but AILET is the badge of honor. Give both if you want to stay in the NLU ecosystem.
Yes, basic 10th level data interpretation, but it carries only 10% weightage.
Yes, science students often excel in the logic sections of CLAT.