You can make big gains fast. Imagine a law aspirant in Delhi who skimmed papers monthly and felt lost. Three weeks out, they switched to a tight plan: daily news from The Hindu, short monthly compilations, and focused review sessions. Scores rose quickly.
CLAT GK Preparation
This guide gives a clear, friendly roadmap to ace the general knowledge and current affairs section of the CLAT exam in just three weeks. You’ll learn what examiners test in passage-based questions and where to find high-yield information.
Expect practical timing tips, short revision loops, and mock-driven fixes. We also explain negative marking and how to use past papers to boost accuracy. If you want a coach, consider Lawgiccoaching for structure and feedback.
Key Takeaways
- Focus daily on one reliable newspaper and concise monthly summaries.
- Use spaced repetition and short revision loops to lock facts.
- Practice passage-based questions and review PYQs for patterns.
- Allocate a fixed time to this section without neglecting other parts.
- Use mocks to improve accuracy and learn to avoid negative marking.
- Stay flexible—missed days are recoverable with smart catch-up plans.
Why the GK section can make or break your CLAT 2026 score
The general knowledge and current affairs set can swing your overall score faster than any single reasoning block. It carries roughly 25% weightage—about 28–32 questions—so a steady run here moves your rank noticeably.
Because there’s no sectional time limit, you can finish this part quickly and reallocate minutes to tougher sections. That makes it a smart opener if you want early momentum.
General Knowledge Section News
Most questions are passage-driven and reward understanding of context, not rote facts. Read actively, and you’ll spot clear cues inside passages that guide confident answers.
“Start with current affairs sets for quick wins; they calm nerves and sharpen focus for the rest of the paper.”
- High weight and speed mean modest accuracy gains create big overall jumps.
- Consistent exposure to news and affairs prevents surprises on exam day.
- Simple cycles—daily reading, weekly consolidation, timely mocks—boost reliability.
| Feature | Impact | Action |
| Weightage (28–32 Qs) | 25% of the total score | Prioritize early in the paper |
| No sectional time cap | Flexible time use | Bank marks, then tackle reasoning |
| Passage-based cues | Contextual advantage | Practice active reading daily |
Tip: If you want structured drills and targeted mocks, consider Lawgiccoaching to sharpen your approach and track quick gains.
CLAT GK Preparation: exam pattern, weightage, and what’s tested
The section asks you to read ~450-word passages and answer linked questions that reflect recent events and legal developments.
Quick Facts: you’ll face roughly 28–32 MCQs, the weightage is about 25% of the paper, and the scoring is +1 for correct and −0.25 for wrong answers.
Exam Pattern
Passage-based questions
The current pattern favors passages tied to national policies, international affairs, and legal updates. You must read actively and map key facts to passage cues.
No Sectional Time Limit
There is no time cap per section, so attempt this section early to bank marks and free up time for tougher parts of the exam. Speed helps, but accuracy matters more because of negative marking.
- Expect a mix of direct and inference questions that test passage comprehension.
- Track recurring topics in your syllabus: policy, economy, science-tech, international relations, and legal developments.
- Use checkpoints—central issue, what changed, who’s involved, why it matters—before answering.
Tip: Build a compact info diet from reputed newspapers and monthly digests. For targeted drills, consider Lawgiccoaching to sharpen timing and accuracy on these tests.
Your Three-week Study Plan to Master Current Affairs and Static GK
Begin this three-week sprint by laying out a clear routine that balances daily reading, targeted notes, and timed practice. Keep the aim simple: quality reading, short notes, and frequent checks to turn news into reliable recall.
Week One: Build foundations
Spend 90–120 minutes daily on The Hindu or The Indian Express and a weekly magazine pick. Track legal updates from Supreme Court summaries and major bills.
Note-Making: Create concise sections—national, international, legal, economy, and science—and tag entries by date.
Week Two: CLAT GK Preparation Deep Dive and Past Papers
Focus on national and international events and solve PYQs from the last 2–3 years. Identify recurring themes and make one-page summaries per theme.
Week Three: High-yield Revision and Timed Drills
Shift to quick daily reviews, 2–3 sectional mocks, and timed drills to sharpen accuracy and speed. Use error logs after each practice and fix misses the same day.
Daily Schedule Template
Recommended block: 60–75 minutes reading, 20–30 minutes notes, 15–20 minutes recall/flashcards. Add 2–3 longer revision sessions weekly.
| Week | Focus | Daily time |
| Week 1 | Newspapers, legal updates, note-making | 90–120 minutes |
| Week 2 | Deep dive, PYQs, theme one-pagers | 90–120 minutes |
| Week 3 | High-yield revision, sectional mocks, timed drills | 90–120 minutes |
Quick Tips: Tag notes by date and theme to spot patterns. Keep static facts minimal—10–15 minutes daily on maps and constitution basics. For structured mocks and targeted feedback, consider Lawgiccoaching to speed your preparation and track progress.
Reading strategy that works: newspapers, magazines, and legal developments
Focus on analytical sources to build the comprehension skills exam passages demand. Start with depth, not volume. The goal is to turn long articles into quick, exam-ready takeaways.
Newspapers to Prioritise
Start your day with The Hindu or The Indian Express. Read editorials, explainers, and front-page highlights to mirror passage-style context.
Magazines and Portals
Add India Today and Outlook weekly for longer arcs and consolidated monthly context. Use reliable current affairs platforms for concise compilations and quizzes.
Legal News Focus
Track landmark judgments, new Acts and constitutional updates. These legal items often appear as passage themes and test your understanding of issues.
- Use this simple approach: headline → what changed → who’s involved → why it matters → likely impact.
- Maintain a watchlist of RBI moves, G7 outcomes, and climate pledges to follow international events over time.
- Write two-line takeaways per article; if you can summarise it, you can answer related questions under time pressure.
“Read for context first, facts second—comprehension beats cramming.”
Tip: Validate facts using PRS or PIB and consider Lawgiccoaching for targeted monthly compilations and drills that sharpen this reading approach.
High-Weight Topics You Can’t Skip For the General Knowledge Section
Not every topic carries equal weight; a tight list of high-impact themes will give you the best return on study time.
National and International Events, Policies, and Organizations
Prioritize ongoing national international events tied to policy shifts and multilateral bodies (UN, WHO, IMF).
Sports, Awards, Reports, Books, and Personalities
Track major tournaments, Padma/Nobel winners, key reports (HDI, GHI) and notable books with their authors.
Science & Technology, Economy, and Modern History
Follow ISRO missions, AI breakthroughs, budget highlights, RBI moves, and high-impact climate news.
Convert Topics Into a Checklist:
- What happened? Which body released it? What’s the impact?
- Note 2–3 testable facts and a one-line context for each theme.
- Keep art, history, and geography as targeted static fact banks.
| Theme | High-yield focus | Likely question type |
| Policy & Summits | Who, what, impact | Inference and detail |
| Reports/Indices | Publisher, rank, key finding | Data-based factual |
| Technology & Economy | Missions, budgets, schemes | Cause-effect and missions |
Tip: Use mocks and focused note lists. For curated monthly sets and quick drills, consider Lawgiccoaching to speed your progress on current affairs and facts.
Static GK vs Current Affairs: How to Balance your Preparation
A practical mix of fresh news and core static facts lets you decode passage cues faster on test day.
Give most of your daily time to current affairs, but keep a short, steady slot for static topics like Modern History and constitutional basics. This secures easy marks and strengthens context for passage inference.
Use a layered approach: build monthly current affairs themes, and add small daily doses of static facts—maps, key amendments, and cultural highlights. Over weeks, these tiny inputs compound into a reliable recall.
- Syllabus Tracker: cycle through topics so you don’t cram in the final week.
- Context First: when news cites a historical milestone or an article, pause and add a one-line static note.
- Practice Integration: use static knowledge to eliminate wrong options quickly in passage-based questions.
Tip: Aim for a 70–80% focus on current affairs and 20–30% on static content. Each week, pick one static theme to revise and link it to two recent events.
“Balance makes your review efficient — news drives the lead, static facts close the gaps.”
Consider Lawgiccoaching for curated monthly briefs and targeted drills that help you keep this approach simple and exam-ready.
Notes, Spaced Repetition, and Fast Revision Techniques
Smart note systems and short revision loops convert scattered information into usable knowledge. You want notes that are quick to scan and even quicker to review.
Layered Notes by Theme
Create concise layers: national, international, legal, economy, and science. Keep each entry to two lines and add a source tag for fast checks.
Spaced Repetition and Quick Recall
Use a simple cadence: Day 1 learn, Day 3 review, Day 7 recap, and Day 14 consolidate. This saves you time and builds durable memory.
- Turn high-yield facts into flashcards with a “Why it matters” line.
- Keep a 15-minute nightly revision loop to clear doubts while the material is fresh.
- Log errors from mocks and make micro-cards for every mistake.
- End each week with a one-page “Top 20” you can recite cold.
| Tool | Cadence | Benefit |
| Layered Notes | Daily | Fast lookup by topics |
| Spaced Review | Days 1,3,7,14 | Long-term retention |
| Flashcards | Weekly shuffle | Targets weak facts |
Quick Tip: Add short practice sessions to each loop and consider Lawgiccoaching for curated monthly sets to speed your preparation and boost knowledge.
Mock Tests and Previous Year Papers: Analyze, Optimize, and Accelerate
Frequent, focused tests let you spot weak spots and fix them before they cost you marks. Use mock tests and past questions as active study tools, not just assessment days.
How to Review Mocks
Map each passage: name the core theme, mark the most testable fact, and note where you hesitated.
Track accuracy by topic and error type—misread, recall miss, elimination error. This makes your follow-up practice precise.
Scheduling PYQs and sectional tests
- Take 2–3 GK sectional tests weekly and one full-length mock to build stamina and refine your opening strategy for this section.
- Solve PYQs from the last 3–5 years to spot recurring formats and question focus.
- Set fixed test days and treat them like appointments to build a steady exam rhythm.
Use Error Logs: Rewrite every mistake as a mini-card and review it within 24 hours and again on Day 7. After each mock, make a five-bullet improvement plan and act on it within 48 hours.
“Mock tests and past papers compound gains when reviews are structured and timely.”
Tip: For targeted CLAT feedback, use Lawgiccoaching’s mock tests, curated PYQ sets, and 24×7 doubt-solving to speed up your improvement loop.
Answering strategy on exam day: speed, accuracy, and smart elimination
Your strategy for tackling passage-based items will decide how many easy marks you bank early. Start by choosing current affairs sets; many toppers open with this section to gain quick, confident hits and steady momentum for the rest of the paper.
Start with Current Affairs Sets: Quick Wins and Momentum
Begin with passages that clearly link to news you reviewed. Read the lead paragraph to frame the theme, then scan for names, dates, bodies, and outcomes.
Tip: If a passage mentions a familiar report or body, cross-check with your notes before locking the answer. Early correct answers build calm and improve your accuracy across later questions.
Use Elimination Wisely and Avoid Random Guesses
Apply structured elimination: reject options that contradict the passage, misplace dates or institutions, or overstate claims. If two options remain, pick the one that best matches the passage’s central idea.
- Set micro time caps—about 60–75 seconds per item—and flag slow ones to return to later.
- Avoid blind guesses because of negative marking; only guess when you can rule out at least two choices.
- Keep your cool: a few early, confident answers lift your momentum for tougher questions in other sections.
“Bank easy marks first; use elimination and clear cues from the passage to make every question count.”
| Action | Why it Works | How to Apply |
| Start with current affairs | High confidence, quick marks | Scan leads and anchor names/dates |
| Structured elimination | Reduces error risk | Cross out contradicting options fast |
| Micro time caps | Prevents time-sink | Flag tough items; return later |
| Educated guessing | Preserves score under −0.25 | Guess only if two options can be removed |
Pro tip: Use Lawgiccoaching for drills that simulate this exam pace. Their curated sets help you practice elimination, sharpen your understanding, and build the habit of banking marks early.
Best Resources for CLAT GK 2026 and How to Use Them
Pick three roles: one set of books for static facts, one daily paper for recurring context, and one monthly/monthly-plus platform for consolidation.
Books That Pull Your Syllabus Together
Use General Knowledge 2025 (Arihant) for quick static refreshers and Current Affairs Yearly to close annual gaps. Add EPW pieces to deepen analysis on policy and economy topics.
Daily Reads and Monthly Consolidation
Read The Hindu or The Indian Express each morning. Save editorials and explainers for weekend re-reads to link national international events to context.
Pair those with India Today or Outlook for compressed monthly takeaways that speed revision.
Online Platforms, Quizzes, and Legal Tracking
Use reliable portals for weekly compilations and two short quizzes on weekdays, plus one longer mock on weekends. Track landmark judgments, major acts, and dates as one-line notes so law-linked news becomes easy to recall.
| Resource | Primary use | Top topics |
| Arihant / Current Affairs Yearly | Static + annual facts | reports, schemes, dates |
| The Hindu / Indian Express | Daily context | policy, diplomacy, economy |
| EPW / portals | Deep dives & quizzes | law, policy, data |
Tip: Build a mini syllabus map: assign each resource a single job and update notes weekly. For structured classes, curated monthly affairs, and CLAT-focused drills with fast doubt-solving and mock tests, consider Lawgiccoaching to streamline your CLAT preparation and keep study time highly efficient.
Conclusion
Make the last stretch count with short, repeatable routines that turn current events into testable answers.
Stick to a simple loop: read daily, make concise notes, and run quick revisions. This keeps you stay updated on events and trims the overwhelm.
Prioritize national and international events that matter now, link them to context, and keep static facts brief. Use spaced repetition and brief mock tests so knowledge converts into marks.
Build a 90–120-minute daily study window for this section. If you miss time, do a compact catch-up the next morning to protect momentum and keep revision flowing.
For focused resources and timed feedback, consider Lawgiccoaching—their curated monthly sets, PYQs and mock practice sharpen accuracy and calm you for the CLAT section.
FAQ
How many questions are there in the general knowledge section, and what is the marking scheme?
There are typically 28–32 multiple-choice questions in the general knowledge section, carrying about 25% of the paper. Each wrong answer usually attracts a −0.25 penalty, so focus on accuracy and avoid random guessing.
With no sectional time limit, when should you attempt the general knowledge questions?
Attempt the general knowledge sets early, ideally after you complete the easier sections, to build momentum. Starting GK early gives you time to handle passage-based items and reduces last-minute pressure.
What are the most effective daily reading sources for current affairs and analytical practice?
Prioritize The Hindu and The Indian Express for analytical coverage. Supplement with India Today or Outlook for a broader context. Track legal updates via Supreme Court and high court judgments, and follow reputable monthly compilations for revision.
How should you split three weeks to cover static facts and current events efficiently?
Week one: build foundations—read newspapers, make concise notes, and track legal updates. Week two: deep dive into national and international events and solve the previous year’s questions. Week three: focus on high-yield revision, timed mock tests, and error correction.
Which topics carry the highest weight and must not be skipped?
High-weight topics include national and international events, government policies, major reports and indices, awards and personalities, sports, economy, science & technology, and legal developments. Prioritize these in your notes and mocks.
How do passage-based questions change the way you prepare for general knowledge?
Passage-based questions test comprehension alongside factual recall. Practice reading for main ideas, author intent, and inference. Train with timed passages to improve speed and accuracy under exam conditions.
What’s the best way to make and revise notes for quick recall?
Build layered notes categorized by national, international, legal, economy, science, and modern history. Use spaced repetition and flashcards to reinforce facts. Keep summaries short and update them weekly with recent events.
How should you review mock tests and previous-year papers?
Review by mapping passages, tracking accuracy, and maintaining an error log. Focus on recurring topics and weak areas. Schedule PYQs alongside sectional tests to compound learning gains and monitor progress.
Can you recommend a concise book and online resources to study from?
Use reliable yearly compilations like Arihant’s General Knowledge volume and a good current affairs yearly. Read The Hindu and The Indian Express daily. Complement with monthly online compilations, quizzes, and targeted mock series from specialized platforms.
How should you approach answering on exam day to balance speed and accuracy?
Start with current-affairs sets for quick wins, then move to static or passage-heavy items. Use elimination techniques to improve odds, avoid random guesses, and keep track of time so you can revisit tough questions.
How many minutes per day should you allocate to general knowledge study during these three weeks?
Aim for 90–120 minutes daily for focused GK work, mixing reading, note-making, revision, and timed practice. Balance this with mock reviews and other sections so you maintain consistent progress.
What role do legal updates and judgments play in your study plan?
Legal news is high-value material. Focus on landmark Supreme Court judgments, major legislation, and constitutional developments. Summarize impact and relevance to national policy in your notes for quick revision.
How can spaced repetition and flashcards help with retention without causing burnout?
Use short, active recall sessions and spaced intervals to move facts into long-term memory. Limit each session to 20–30 minutes, rotate topics, and review high-error flashcards more frequently to avoid overload.
Are there any reputable coaching platforms for targeted mock tests and doubt-solving?
Several specialized platforms offer CLAT-focused mock tests and doubt-solving that can speed up improvement. Choose one that provides sectional analytics, curated current-affairs compilations, and personalized feedback to maximize gains.
