Last Updated: May 2026
CLAT 2027 eligibility criteria are the threshold conditions every aspirant must satisfy before submitting the application form to the Consortium of National Law Universities. The 2027 cycle retains the no-upper-age-limit policy, the 45 percent qualifying-mark floor for general category, the 40 percent floor for SC/ST/PwD, and the appearing-students provision. This 1500-word guide breaks down age, qualification, percentage, reservation, NRI/foreign-national, and PwD requirements with worked examples and a checklist.
Why Eligibility Matters Now
The Consortium of National Law Universities (CNLU) typically opens CLAT 2027 applications in early August 2026 with a deadline in late October 2026. Eligibility errors are the single largest cause of application rejections — disproportionately so among Class 12 appearing students and reserved-category candidates. Get the eligibility right once and the rest of the application is mechanical.
CLAT 2027 — UG vs PG Eligibility at a Glance
| Parameter | CLAT UG (5-year B.A.LL.B.) | CLAT PG (LL.M.) |
|---|---|---|
| Age Limit | No upper age limit (since 2022) | No upper age limit |
| Qualifying Exam | Class 12 / 10+2 from recognised board | LL.B. (3-year or 5-year integrated) |
| Minimum Marks (General/OBC/PwD) | 45 percent | 50 percent |
| Minimum Marks (SC/ST) | 40 percent | 45 percent |
| Appearing Students | Allowed (subject to result before admission) | Allowed |
| Subjects in 10+2 | Any stream (Arts, Science, Commerce) | — |
| Number of Attempts | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Domicile Requirement | None at Consortium level (state quota varies by NLU) | None at Consortium level |
Age Eligibility — The Headline Change
Until CLAT 2017, the upper age limit was 20 years for general and 22 years for reserved candidates. The Bar Council of India removed the upper age limit through the Legal Education Rules 2008 amendment, and the Consortium codified this for CLAT from 2022 onwards. CLAT 2027 retains the no-upper-age policy: a 35-year-old retired professional can sit for CLAT and join an NLU on merit.
There is no minimum age either, but practical constraints apply: you must have cleared (or be appearing for) Class 12 by the time admission is granted (typically July of the admission year).
Qualifying-Examination Requirement
You must have passed (or be appearing for) Class 12 or its equivalent from a recognised Board: CBSE, ICSE, or any State Board listed by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). Equivalence certificates are required for IB (International Baccalaureate), Cambridge International (A-Levels), and overseas qualifications.
Stream — Any Stream Allowed
CLAT does not restrict by 10+2 stream. Aspirants from Arts (typical), Commerce (numerous), Science (substantial minority), and Vocational streams are equally eligible. Mathematics in Class 12 is not required (despite the quantitative-techniques section testing arithmetic).
Appearing Students
If you are writing your Class 12 board exams in March-April 2027, you can still apply for CLAT 2027 (test in December 2026). You must produce passing certificates by the date of admission counselling (typically July 2027).
Minimum-Marks Floor
The 45 percent (general/OBC/PwD) and 40 percent (SC/ST) floors apply to your aggregate Class 12 marks. State-board candidates whose boards award fewer marks should check the Consortium’s normalisation note in the prospectus.
Worked Example 1 — General Category
Riya scores 451/500 (90.2 percent) in CBSE Class 12. Eligibility: clearly satisfied (45 percent floor met).
Worked Example 2 — Borderline OBC
Aman scores 224/500 (44.8 percent). Eligibility: NOT satisfied (44.8 percent < 45 percent for OBC). He needs to clear an improvement exam.
Worked Example 3 — SC Candidate
Priya scores 205/500 (41 percent). Eligibility: satisfied (41 percent > 40 percent for SC). She qualifies despite the lower aggregate.
Reservation Categories
| Category | Reservation Quota (Consortium-Level) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SC | 15 percent | State-list at NLUs may differ |
| ST | 7.5 percent | State-list at NLUs may differ |
| OBC (Non-Creamy) | 27 percent | Central list applies; income ceiling Rs 8 lakh |
| EWS | 10 percent | Income/asset criteria per Government notification |
| PwD | 5 percent (horizontal) | Across all categories; benchmark disability 40 percent+ |
| NRI/NRI-Sponsored | Varies by NLU (typically 15-20 percent supernumerary) | NRI status documents required |
NRI / Foreign National Eligibility
NRI candidates must hold valid NRI status as defined under the Income Tax Act 1961 and submit supporting documents. Foreign nationals (OCI / PIO / passport-of-foreign-country holders) apply through the Direct Foreign National route at most NLUs, bypassing CLAT in favour of a personal-interview-based selection. Check the NLU prospectus for the exact route.
PwD Eligibility — Benchmark Disability
Persons with Disabilities are eligible if they have a benchmark disability of 40 percent or more, certified by a competent medical authority under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016. Eligible disabilities include: visual impairment, hearing impairment, locomotor disability, intellectual disability, mental illness, dwarfism, multiple disabilities, and others specified in RPwD Act Schedule. PwD candidates get the 40 percent qualifying-marks floor and a 5 percent horizontal reservation.
Eligibility Documents Checklist
- Class 10 mark-sheet (for date-of-birth proof);
- Class 12 mark-sheet OR appearing certificate;
- Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS — issued by competent authority, not older than the prescribed validity);
- PwD certificate (UDID card preferred);
- NRI documents (passport, NRI status certificate);
- Two recent passport-size photographs;
- Signature scan;
- Aadhaar card (optional but recommended for ID verification).
Common Eligibility Mistakes
1. Wrong category certificate format: OBC certificates older than 1 year, EWS certificates without income mention, SC/ST certificates not on the prescribed format — all cause rejection.
2. Borderline mark assumption: 44.5 percent does not round up to 45 percent. The Consortium uses raw aggregate.
3. Stream confusion: Vocational stream is eligible; some students self-reject.
4. Appearing-student paperwork: Submit appearing certificate from school principal in the prescribed format; a self-declaration is not enough.
5. Disability percentage error: Below 40 percent is not benchmark disability and does not qualify for PwD.
FAQ
Q1. Is there an upper age limit for CLAT 2027?
No. The upper age limit was removed in 2022 and remains absent for CLAT 2027.
Q2. Can I write CLAT 2027 if I am appearing for Class 12 in 2027?
Yes. Appearing students are eligible. You must produce passing certificates by the date of NLU counselling.
Q3. Do I need Mathematics in Class 12 to write CLAT?
No. Any stream (Arts, Commerce, Science, Vocational) is eligible.
Q4. What is the minimum percentage required in Class 12 for CLAT 2027?
45 percent for general/OBC/PwD; 40 percent for SC/ST.
Q5. How many times can I attempt CLAT?
Unlimited. There is no cap on the number of attempts.
Q6. Is domicile required to apply for an NLU through CLAT?
Not at the Consortium level. State-domicile reservation applies separately at NLUs that have state quota (e.g. NLSIU Bengaluru’s Karnataka quota).
Build your full prep stack with our CLAT 2027 Syllabus, exam pattern, all 22 NLUs guide, and important dates calendar. For preparation strategy, see how to prepare in 6 months.
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