What is CLAT?

CLAT, short for Common Law Admission Test, is India’s most prestigious entrance exam for law aspirants. It opens doors to elite legal education in the country, primarily in the National Law Universities (NLUs)—India’s version of the Ivy League for law.

It’s not just a test; it’s a career-defining milestone for those dreaming of donning the black robe and making an impact in the legal, corporate, or public policy world.

Purpose of CLAT: Why It Was Established

CLAT was introduced in 2008 to unify the fragmented admission process into the NLUs. Earlier, each NLU had its own exam, which was exhausting and inconvenient for students. The idea was to:

• Standardize legal education access in India
• Ease the admission process with one common exam
• Promote transparency and fairness in law school selections
• Create a centralized merit list based on a single test

Courses Offered via CLAT

CLAT UG Exam Structure

• Negative marking: -0.25 marks for each wrong answer
• No subjective writing—entirely multiple-choice

Mode of Examination

• Conducted offline (pen and paper)
• Language: English only
• Usually held in December each year

Application Fee Details

CLAT Cutoff (Trend)

• Top 3 NLUs (like NLSIU, NALSAR, WBNUJS): AIR 1 to 400
• Mid-tier NLUs: AIR 500 to 3000
• Lower-tier NLUs: AIR 3000 to 7000+

Cutoff depends on the difficulty level, number of applicants, and seat availability.

National Law Universities (NLUs) in India – 2025 Overview

This provides a detailed overview of the National Law Universities (NLUs) in India as of 2025, including their NIRF 2024 rankings, fee structures, and seat intake for both Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) programs.

NIRF 2024 Rankings

The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) by the Ministry of Education ranks institutions across India. Below are the NLUs featured in the 2024 NIRF Law Rankings:​

Note: Ranks beyond 18 are not listed here due to data availability.

Fee Structures (Approximate Annual Fees)

Note: Fees are indicative and may change. It is advisable to check official university websites for the most accurate and updated fee structures.​

Seat Intake

Note: Seat numbers include reserved categories and may vary annually.​

Summary

• Top NLUs: NLSIU Bengaluru, NLU Delhi, and NALSAR Hyderabad consistently rank at the top in NIRF rankings.​
• Fee Range: Annual fees for UG programs range from ₹1,00,000 to ₹4,55

Career Paths After CLAT

With a law degree from an NLU, you can:

Highlights of CLAT

• Conducted by the Consortium of NLUs
• Tests your reading, reasoning, and awareness
• Entry ticket to India’s most elite law campuses
• Strong placements and alumni network
• Law degree from top NLUs recognized internationally

NLU Alumni (India & Abroad)

Here is a unique and comprehensive list of notable alumni from various National Law Universities (NLUs) in India, showcasing individuals who have made extraordinary contributions in diverse fields such as law, politics, the corporate sector, public policy, literature, and entertainment, both in India and around the globe.

NLSIU, Bengaluru (Est. 1987) – India’s First NLU

1. Menaka Guruswamy – Senior Advocate, Supreme Court; Rhodes Scholar; instrumental in striking down Section 377.
2. Arundhati Katju – Advocate and Human Rights Activist; co-petitioner in the decriminalization of homosexuality.
3. Gautam Bhatia – Legal scholar and author of Offend, Shock, or Disturb; Columbia graduate.
4. Dr. Aparna Chandra – Legal academic and constitutional law expert, NLSIU & Yale alumna.
5. Rahul Matthan – Partner at Trilegal; leading expert on technology and privacy law in India.

NALSAR, Hyderabad (Est. 1998)

1. Apar Gupta – Executive Director, Internet Freedom Foundation; prominent voice in digital rights and privacy.
2. Shivprasad Swaminathan – Legal academic, authority on legal theory and interpretation.
3. Pallavi Shroff – Managing Partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, is among India’s top corporate lawyers.
4. Saurabh Kirpal – Senior Advocate; nominated as India’s first openly gay judge (pending confirmation).

NLU Delhi (Est. 2008)

1. Karan Lahiri – Prominent litigator in white-collar crime and arbitration matters.
2. Maitreyi Misra – Lead, Mental Health & Criminal Justice, Project 39A at NLU Delhi.
3. Divij Joshi – Tech policy researcher; fellow at Mozilla and the Internet Governance Forum.

WBNUJS, Kolkata (Est. 1999)

1. Shivangi Gangwar – Legal advisor, International Chamber of Commerce, Paris.
2. Neha Pathakji – Senior Associate, White & Case LLP, London.
3. Siddharth Narrain – Legal researcher, former journalist with The Hindu, and visiting fellow at Harvard.

GNLU, Gandhinagar (Est. 2003)

1. Mihir Rajamane – Legal Counsel, ICICI Bank.
2. Neelabh Mishra – Advocate, High Court of Gujarat.
3. Anuja Tiwari – Compliance head at Google India (Legal Affairs).

NLIU, Bhopal (Est. 1997)

1. Rohit Ranjan – Counsel at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal.
2. Yogesh Sharma – General Counsel at Amazon India (former).
3. Anurag Bhushan – Diplomat; Indian Foreign Service officer, served in multiple international missions.

RGNUL, Patiala (Est. 2006)

1. Sakshi Kakkar – Legal counsel at Ernst & Young.
2. Harsimran Kaur – Legal researcher focusing on women's rights and gender justice.

CNLU, Patna (Est. 2006)

1. Ankit Prakash – Advocate, Patna High Court.
2. Rashmi Kumari – Policy consultant at NITI Aayog.

NLU Odisha (NLUO), Cuttack (Est. 2009)

1. Ankit Agarwal – State counsel for Odisha, Supreme Court of India.
2. Ria Panda – Legal Fellow, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI).

Alumni in International Roles

Key Fields Dominated by NLU Alumni

• Judiciary & Litigation – High Court & Supreme Court Advocates.
• Corporate Law – Top law firms: AZB, CAM, Trilegal, Khaitan.
• Academia & Research – Faculty at Harvard, Yale, Oxford, and NLUs.
• Policy & Governance – Roles at NITI Aayog, UN, Internet Freedom Foundation.
• Tech & Data Law – Counsel at Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Mozilla Foundation.