CLAT PG is the postgraduate paper of the Common Law Admission Test — the entrance for LLM admission at 24 National Law Universities. It is a two-hour, 120-question objective paper based on compulsory LLB subjects, and unlike CLAT UG it assumes you already know the law.
CLAT PG gets a fraction of the attention CLAT UG receives, which is odd given roughly 20,000 candidates sit it each year. Most published guidance is written for school-leavers and simply does not apply here. This one is for LLB graduates.
CLAT PG at a glance #
| For | LLM (one year) at 24 NLUs |
| Eligibility | LLB with 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST) |
| Age limit | None |
| Mode | Offline, pen and paper |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Questions | 120 objective |
| Marking | +1 correct, −0.25 incorrect |
| Held | Early December, with CLAT UG |
Final-year LLB students may apply, subject to producing results at admission.
What the paper actually tests #
CLAT PG draws on the compulsory subjects of the LLB syllabus. Since the 2022 revision it is fully objective — the earlier subjective section is gone.
| Area | What comes up |
|---|---|
| Constitutional Law | The largest single block; fundamental rights, federal structure, landmark judgments |
| Jurisprudence | Schools of thought, legal theory, concepts of rights and duties |
| Contract, Torts, Criminal Law | Core doctrines and their application |
| Family Law, Property Law | Personal laws, transfer of property |
| International Law, Environment, Labour, Tax, Company Law | Lighter but regularly examined |
Questions are commonly passage-based: an extract from a judgment or statute, followed by questions applying it. Recent Supreme Court judgments appear often enough that keeping up with them is not optional.
How CLAT PG differs from CLAT UG #
- Knowledge vs comprehension. UG tests reading and applied reasoning with no prior legal knowledge. PG tests whether you know the law.
- No sectional structure to game. PG is one 120-question paper; UG has five defined sections.
- Different competition. PG candidates are all law graduates, so the floor is much higher.
- The score is used differently. Several NLUs use CLAT PG scores for PhD shortlisting and for law-officer recruitment in PSUs.
A six-month plan #
Step 1: Rebuild Constitutional Law properly #
It is the largest block and the most examined. Work through the bare Act alongside a standard commentary rather than exam notes — PG questions reward precision about provisions.
Step 2: Revise from your own LLB notes, not fresh books #
You have already covered this syllabus. Revising material you first learned in is far faster than starting new texts in the final months.
Step 3: Track judgments monthly #
Maintain a running list of significant Supreme Court judgments from the last 12–18 months with the ratio in one line each. This is the highest-yield habit in PG preparation.
Step 4: Take full objective mocks under time #
Two hours, 120 questions, negative marking. PG candidates routinely over-attempt because the questions feel familiar — the −0.25 then does the damage.
What it leads to #
An NLM from an NLU opens academia, judicial services preparation, policy roles, and specialised practice. Several PSUs recruit law officers through CLAT PG scores directly, which is a genuinely underrated route.
CLAT PG — frequently asked questions
What is CLAT PG?
What is the CLAT PG syllabus?
Who is eligible for CLAT PG?
Is CLAT PG subjective or objective?
Is CLAT PG easier than CLAT UG?
Can CLAT PG scores be used for jobs?
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Disclaimer: Pattern and eligibility follow the latest Consortium of NLUs notification and change each cycle. Confirm on the official CLAT website before applying.
