Common Law Admission Test

2021-07-04T07:40:44Z

2409:4055:110:2664:A0E5:168E:D360:DC07:

{{Use Indian English|date=April 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox examination
| name = Common Law Admission Test
| image_name =
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| caption =
| acronym = CLAT
| type = Pen and Paper based
| test_admin = CLAT Consortium; [[Bar Council of India]]
| skills_tested = Legal Reasoning, Legal General Knowledge, [[Logical reasoning]], English Comprehension, [[General knowledge]], Quantitative Techniques & Mathematics, Current Affairs
| purpose = Entrance to National Law Universities, Self-financed law colleges and PSUs
| year_started = 
| year_terminated = 
| duration = 2 Hours
| score_range = -37.5 to 150
| score_validity = 1 year
| offered = Yearly
| attempt_restriction =None
| regions =India
| language = English
| prerequisite = Senior Secondary Exam [High School] in any stream (for UG courses)
;
Graduation in law ( for PG courses)
| fee = 4000 INR
| score_users = National Law Universities, Private Law Colleges, PSU's
| qualification_rate = 3%
| free_label =
| free =
| website =https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in/
| footnotes =
|test_takers=77,000 (approx.)}}

'''Common Law Admission Test''' ('''CLAT''') is a centralized national level entrance test for admissions to twenty two [[National Law University|National Law Universities]] (NLU) in [[India]].<ref>https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in/clat-2020/</ref> Most private and self-financed [[law schools]] in [[India]] also use these scores for law admissions. [[Public sector undertakings in India]] like [[ONGC]], [[Coal India]], [[BHEL]], [[Steel Authority of India]], [[Coal India|Oil India]] etc. use CLAT Post Graduation ( CLAT PG) scores for recruitment of legal positions in the companies.

The test is taken after the [[Higher Secondary Examination]] or the 12th grade for admission to integrated [[Undergraduate education|under-graduate]] degree in [[Law]] (BA LL.B) and after Graduation in Law for [[Master of Laws]] ([[LL.M]]) programs offered by these law schools.

==Background==
{{See also|Legal education#India|Autonomous law schools in India}}
Before the introduction of Common Law Admission Test, the [[National Law Universities]] conducted their own separate entrance tests, requiring the candidates to prepare and appear separately for each of these tests. The schedule of the administration of these tests sometimes conflicted with the other or with other major entrance tests such as the [[Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Examination]] and the [[All India Pre Medical Test]]. This caused students to miss tests and experience much stress.<ref>{{cite web | title = Why CLAT | url = http://www.clat.ac.in/images/brochure.pdf | format = PDF | access-date = 30 May 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080920161150/http://www.clat.ac.in/images/brochure.pdf | archive-date = 20 September 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

There are twenty-three National Law Universities in India, the first of which is the [[National Law School of India University]], which admitted its first batch of students in 1987. Out of twenty three, the [[National Law University, Delhi]] conducts its own separate entrance test known as All India Law Entrance Test.<ref>{{cite web | title = NLS History | url = http://www.nls.ac.in/about_history.html | access-date = 30 May 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080521022216/http://www.nls.ac.in/about_history.html | archive-date = 21 May 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref> With the emergence of other law schools, which also sought to conduct their admission tests at around the same time, students faced a hard time preparing for them. From time to time this issue to conduct a common entrance exam to reduce the burden of the students to give multiple test was raised, but given the autonomous status of each law school, there was no nodal agency to co-ordinate action to this regard.<ref name=brochure>{{cite web|title=CLAT 2008 Information Brochue|pages=3–4|url=http://www.clat.ac.in/images/brochure.pdf|format=PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226224919/http://www.clat.ac.in/images/brochure.pdf|archive-date=26 December 2008|access-date=30 May 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The matter drew national attention when a [[Public Interest Litigation]] was filed by Varun Bhagat against the [[Government of India|Union of India]] and various National Law Universities in the [[Supreme Court of India]] in 2006. The [[Chief Justice of India]] directed the Union of India to consult with the National Law Universities to formulate a common test. The move was strongly supported by the [[Bar Council of India]].<ref>{{cite news | title = CLAT History | url= http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/11/stories/2008011160131400.htm | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080112100254/http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/11/stories/2008011160131400.htm | url-status= dead | archive-date= 12 January 2008 | location=Chennai, India | work = [[The Hindu]] | date=11 January 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = About CLAT | url = http://www.clat.ac.in/index.aspx | access-date = 30 May 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080604224804/http://www.clat.ac.in/index.aspx | archive-date = 4 June 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Given the lack of a central nodal authority to bring forth a consensus on the issue, the [[Ministry of Human Resource Development (India)|Ministry of Human Resources Development]], ([[Government of India]]) and the [[University Grants Commission of India]] organised a meeting of the Vice-Chancellors of seven National Law Universities along with the Chairman of the Bar Council of India. After a few such meetings, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the Vice-Chancellors of the seven National Law Universities on 23 November 2007 to conduct a common admission test. The Common Law Admission Test was to be conducted each year by each of the law colleges and the responsibility of conducting the exam was to be rotated and given on the basis of seniority in the establishment. Nonetheless, the matter has not been resolved completely as there are other national law universities that were not taking part in CLAT. However, finally in 2015, a fresh MoU was signed by the sixteen National Law Universities, except for National Law University, Delhi for the CLAT 2015 being conducted by Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University, Lucknow whereby all the National Law Universities are now part of the centralized admission process without anyone being left out.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.legallyindia.com/201411035262/Pre-law-student/all-16-nlus-can-now-conduct-clat-unlike-earlier-7|title = NLUs enter into new CLAT MoU, ensuring full participation of all 16 NLUs (except NLU Delhi)|date = 3 November 2014|access-date = 19 December 2014|publisher = LegallyIndia|last = Shrivastava|first = Prachi}}</ref>

The Consortium of National Law Universities was established on 19th August, 2017 with the aim of improving the standard of legal education in the country and justice system through legal education with Prof. R. Venkata Rao, erstwhile Vice-Chancellor, NLSIU as President and Prof. Faizan Mustafa, Vice-Chancellor, NALSAR, as Vice-President.<ref>https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in/</ref>

==Eligibility==
Only [[India]]n nationals and [[Non-resident Indian and person of Indian origin|NRIs]] can appear in the test. The foreign nationals desirous of taking admission to any course in any of the participating Law Universities may directly contact the concerned University having seats for foreign nationals.<ref name=Instructions>{{cite web|title=Common Law Admission Test - Instructions|url=http://clat.ac.in/instruction.php|publisher=Common Law Admission Test Core Committee|access-date=23 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121231010057/http://www.clat.ac.in/instruction.php|archive-date=31 December 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The eligibility requirements are as follows:

===Under-Graduate Courses===
Senior Secondary School/Intermediate (10+2) or its equivalent certificate from a recognized Board with not less than 45% marks in aggregate (40% in case of SC and ST candidates). There is no upper age restriction for the test.<ref name=eligibility>{{cite web|title=Eligibility|url=http://www.clat.ac.in/eligibility.html|website=www.clat.ac.in|access-date=29 December 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228024810/http://clat.ac.in/eligibility.html|archive-date=28 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Post-Graduate Courses===
LL. B/B. L. Degree or an equivalent degree from a recognized University with not less than 50% marks in aggregate (45% in case of SC and ST candidates).
The candidates who have passed the qualifying degree examination through supplementary/ compartment and repeat attempts are also eligible for appearing in the test and taking Admission provided that such candidates will have to produce the proof of having passed the qualifying examination with fifty-five/fifty percent marks, as the case may be, on the date of their admission or within the time allowed by the respective universities.<ref name=eligibility />

== Exam Pattern ==
This law entrance exam is of two hours duration. The CLAT question paper consists of 150 multiple-choice questions. There are five sections in CLAT exam paper which are:<ref>{{Cite web|title=CLAT 2020|url=https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in/clat-2020/ug-syllabus.html|access-date=2020-09-27|website=consortiumofnlus.ac.in}}</ref>
* English including Comprehension
* Current affairs including General Knowledge
* Legal Reasoning
* Logical Reasoning
* Quantitative Techniques (Mathematics)

All the questions will be paragraph based starting from CLAT 2020. One paragraph will be followed by 5-6 questions.
The break up of marks is generally as follows - English 30, Current Affairs including General Knowledge:37, Quantitative Techniques:15, Logical Reasoning:30 and Legal Reasoning:38.

'''Marking Scheme:''' For every correct answer, aspirants are given one mark and for each wrong answer 0.25 marks are deducted from their total score.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CLAT 2020|url=https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in/clat-2020/ug-syllabus.html|access-date=2020-09-27|website=consortiumofnlus.ac.in}}</ref>

== List of National Law Universities ==
The list of National Law Universities in India according to their year of establishment :

# [[National Law School of India University]], [[Bangalore]]
# [[NALSAR University of Law]], [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]
# [[National Law Institute University]], [[Bhopal]]
# [[The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences]], [[Kolkata]]
# [[National Law University, Jodhpur]], [[Jodhpur]]
# [[Hidayatullah National Law University]], [[Raipur]]
# [[Gujarat National Law University]], [[Gandhinagar]]
# [[Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University]], [[Lucknow]]
#[[National University of Advanced Legal Studies]], [[Kochi, India|Kochi]]
# [[Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law]], [[Patiala]]
#[[Chanakya National Law University]], [[Patna]]
#[[National Law University Odisha]], [[Cuttack]]
# [[Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University]], [[Vishakhapatnam]]
#[[National University of Study and Research in Law]], [[Ranchi]]
# [[National Law School and Judicial Academy, Assam|National Law School and Judicial Academy]], [[Guwahati]]
# [[Tamil Nadu National Law University]], [[Trichy]]
# [[Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai]]
# [[Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur]]
# [[Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad]]
# [[Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla]]
# [[Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur]]
#[[Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonipat]]

==Method of allocation==
The CLAT form provides the students with a preference list.<ref>{{Cite web|last=https://www.careers360.com|date=2018-09-05|title=CLAT Seat Allotment 2020 (Round 1, 2, 3) - Download Here|url=https://law.careers360.com/articles/clat-seat-allotment|access-date=2020-09-27|website=law.careers360.com|language=en}}</ref> Each student fills the preference list, according to the colleges he/she desires.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CLAT Counselling 2020, Seat Allotment – Know Admission Procedure Here|url=https://www.sarvgyan.com/articles/clat-counselling}}</ref> On the basis of these preferences and ranks obtained, students are allocated colleges. As the NLUs are established by the respective state governments, therefore most NLUs also have reservations for their domiciled candidates.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Common Law Admission Test - CLAT|url=https://collegedunia.com/exams/clat/reservation|access-date=2020-09-27|website=Collegedunia|language=en}}</ref>

==Conducting organisation==
The first CLAT Core Committee consisting of Vice-Chancellors of the seven participating NLUs at that time decided that the test should be conducted by rotation in the order of their establishment.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About CLAT {{!}} What is CLAT {{!}} CLAT Entrance Exam {{!}} Clat History|url=http://rankersbuzz.com/clat-coaching/what-is-clat.html#:~:text=Following%20a%20few%20such%20meetings,Law%20School%20of%20India%20University.|access-date=2020-09-27|website=rankersbuzz.com}}</ref> Accordingly, the first CLAT was conducted in 2008 by the [[National Law School of India University]].<ref name=brochure/> Subsequently, CLAT-2009, CLAT-2010, CLAT-2011, CLAT-2012, CLAT-2013, CLAT-2014, CLAT-2015, CLAT-2016, CLAT-2017, CLAT-2018 and CLAT-2019 have been conducted<ref>{{Cite web|title=About CLAT {{!}} What is CLAT {{!}} CLAT Entrance Exam {{!}} Clat History|url=http://rankersbuzz.com/clat-coaching/what-is-clat.html#:~:text=Following%20a%20few%20such%20meetings,Law%20School%20of%20India%20University.|access-date=2020-09-27|website=rankersbuzz.com}}</ref> by [[NALSAR University of Law]], [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]], [[National Law Institute University]], [[The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences]], [[National Law University, Jodhpur]], [[Hidayatullah National Law University]], [[Gujarat National Law University]], [[Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University]], [[Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law]], [[Chanakya National Law University]], [[National University of Advanced Legal Studies]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shrivastava |first1=Prachi |title=CLAT 2018 was 98.5% smooth, says Nuals Kochi, promises to investigate, but many of 59,300+ candidates faced problems, some filed police complaints |url=https://www.legallyindia.com/pre-law-student/clat-2018-90-smooth-says-nuals-kochi-remaining-10-of-the-59300-candidates-devastated-20180514-9342 |access-date=14 July 2019 |work=www.legallyindia.com |date=14 May 2018 |language=en-gb}}</ref> and [[National Law University Odisha]]<ref>{{cite news |title=CLAT 2019 to be conducted today: Here is all you need to know |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/notification/story/clat-2019-to-be-conducted-today-here-is-all-you-need-to-know-1534831-2019-05-26 |access-date=14 July 2019 |work=[[India Today]] |date=25 May 2019 |language=en}}</ref> respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About CLAT {{!}} What is CLAT {{!}} CLAT Entrance Exam {{!}} Clat History|url=http://rankersbuzz.com/clat-coaching/what-is-clat.html#:~:text=Following%20a%20few%20such%20meetings,Law%20School%20of%20India%20University.|access-date=2020-09-27|website=rankersbuzz.com}}</ref> However, from 2019 , CLAT is conducted by Consortium of NLUs, a body consisting of Vice-chancellors of all the NLU's, which was formed in March, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Consortium of NLUs|url=https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in/|access-date=2020-09-27|website=consortiumofnlus.ac.in}}</ref>

==Controversies==
CLAT-2009, which was scheduled to be held on 17 May 2009 was rescheduled to 31 May 2009 due to leak of question papers.<ref>{{cite news|title=Law admission test postponed after paper leak|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mobile/report.php?n=1255874|access-date=4 June 2012|newspaper=DNA|date=14 May 2009}}</ref>

CLAT-2011 candidates were disappointed with the standard of exam, as up to 12 questions in the various sections had underlined answers due to the oversight of the organisers and students also found the paper lengthy in comparison to the time limit provided (i.e. 2 hours).<ref>{{cite web|title=Yesterday’s CLAT aspirants in a tizzy over difficulty, strange underlines|url=http://www.legallyindia.com/201105162082/Pre-law-student/yesterdays-clat-aspirants-in-a-tizzy-over-difficulty-strange-underlines|publisher=Legally India|access-date=4 June 2012}}</ref>

CLAT-2012 was marred by a number of controversies, which includes allegations of setting questions out of syllabus and out of the pre-declared pattern.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shrivastava|first=Prachi|title=CLAT to be PILed as NLU-J shocks with 2012 paper mismatch with prescribed syllabus|url=http://www.legallyindia.com/201205132813/Pre-law-student/clat|publisher=Legally India|access-date=4 June 2012}}</ref> The declared rank list also contained an error, due to which the first list was taken down and a fresh list was put up.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ganz|first=Kian|title=Download new, reshuffled 2012 CLAT University Allotment; NUJS now tops NLIU in prefs again|url=http://www.legallyindia.com/201206012863/Pre-law-student/download-new-reshuffled-2012-clat-university-allotment|work=1 June 2012|access-date=4 June 2012}}</ref> The declared question-answer keys contained several errors, which resulted in petitions being filed by the aggrieved students in different High Courts.<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/article2022509.ece Answers underlined in a part of CLAT paper]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://gyancentral.com/articles/graduate/law/law-entrance-exams/clat-committee-release-flawed-clat-2012-answer-key-students-baffled |title=CLAT committee release flawed CLAT 2012 answer key, Students baffled |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615192951/http://gyancentral.com/articles/graduate/law/law-entrance-exams/clat-committee-release-flawed-clat-2012-answer-key-students-baffled|archive-date=15 June 2012}}</ref>

CLAT-2014 was conducted by [[GNLU]], [[Gandhinagar]] and was also heavily criticized for being poorly conducted<ref name="LegallyIndia Ref 1">{{cite news | url=http://www.legallyindia.com/201406064780/Pre-law-student/clat-results-still-wrong-mixed-up-claim-students-despite-gnlu-s-new-reconciliated-results | title=CLAT results still wrong & mixed up claim students, despite GNLU’s new ‘reconciliated’(sic) results | date= 6 June 2014 | access-date=17 June 2014 | author=Ganz, Kian}}</ref> with results being withdrawn and declared again.<ref name="Times Of India Ref 1">{{cite news | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/entrance-exams/After-the-botch-up-CLAT-results-revised/articleshow/36167717.cms | title=After the botch-up, CLAT results revised | date=6 June 2014 | access-date=17 June 2014 | author=Times News Network}}</ref> Even lawsuits had been filed for re-examination.<ref name="LegallyIndia Ref 2">{{cite news | url=http://www.legallyindia.com/201406094784/Law-schools/clat-taker-files-legal-challenge-seeks-fresh-exam-and-halt-to-counselling | title=Update: CLAT to respond to challenge by 18 June {{!}} CLAT taker files legal challenge, seeks fresh exam and halt to counselling | date=9 June 2014 | access-date=17 June 2014 | author=Legally India}}</ref> The uploaded OMRs were then allowed to be physically verified in the GNLU Campus after students demanded the same.

CLAT-2017 the English paper had several errors.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tyagi |first1=Akshat |title=CLAT 2017: A Case of a Failed Question Paper |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/clat-2017-a-case-of-a-failed-question-paper |access-date=30 August 2018 |work=The Quint |date=19 May 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

CLAT-2018 students approached the Supreme Court since there were server problems during the examination. However the Court refused to order a re-examination.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jain |first1=Mehal |title=CLAT 2018: Supreme Court Rules Out Retest | url= https://www.livelaw.in/clat-2018-sc-rules-out-retest-asks-grievance-redressal-committee-to-file-final-report-by-june-16/ |access-date=30 August 2018 |work=livelaw.in |date=11 June 2018}}</ref>

In 2020, NLSIU announced that it would be withdrawing from CLAT, and conducting its own entrance test, the National Law Aptitude Test (NLAT).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2020-09-03|title=NLSIU Bangalore will not accept CLAT, to conduct own test for 2020-21, apply now|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/nlsiu-bangalore-will-not-accept-clat-to-conduct-own-test-for-2020-21-apply-now/story-8YY6ZaM24WImxg16K84LIM.html|access-date=2020-09-07|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=National Law School of India University|title=NOTICE FOR ADMISSIONS TO THE FIVE YEAR INTEGRATED B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) PROGRAMME, 2020-21|url=https://admissions.nls.ac.in/documents/Final_B.A_LL.B%20Admissions%20Notification%202020-21.pdf}}</ref> However, the Supreme court of India struck down the separate entrance test conducted by NLSIU and ordered it to re-join CLAT.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Top Court Cancels Bengaluru National Law School's Separate Entrance Exam|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/supreme-court-cancels-bengaluru-national-law-schools-nlsiu-separate-entrance-exam-nlat-2020-2298616|access-date=2020-09-27|website=NDTV.com}}</ref>

==See also==
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|

* [[List of law schools in India]]
* [[Autonomous Law Schools in India]]
* [[Legal education#India|Legal Education in India]]
* [[Law School Admission Test]]
* [[Law]]
* [[Rule of law]]
* [[Legal socialization]]
* [[Legal consciousness]]
* [[legal awareness]]
* [[Legal culture]]
}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in/ Consortium of NLUs]

{{Standardized tests in India}}

[[Category:Standardised tests in India]]
[[Category:Legal profession exams]]
[[Category:Legal education in India]]
[[Category:Year of establishment missing]]

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Common Law Admission Test