Last updated: July 7, 2026
Quick Answer: The CLAT PG syllabus covers twelve areas of law tested through comprehension-based passages drawn from judgments, statutes, and scholarly texts. The exam has 120 MCQs, lasts 2 hours, and is conducted offline by the Consortium of NLUs. Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence together make up roughly one-third of the paper and are your highest-priority subjects.
Key Takeaways
- CLAT PG 2027 is expected on 6 December 2026, conducted by the Consortium of NLUs alongside CLAT UG
- The paper has 120 MCQs (1 mark each), with 0.25 negative marking per wrong answer and no penalty for skipped questions
- Questions come through 22-24 reading passages from judgments, statutes, and policy documents, not direct memory-based questions
- Constitutional Law + Jurisprudence = roughly one-third of the paper; these are your non-negotiables
- Criminal Law is in active transition from the IPC to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), prepare both
- Eligibility: LLB degree or final year, minimum 50% marks (45% for SC/ST)
- A CLAT PG score opens doors to LLM programmes at 21 NLUs and has been used by several PSUs for legal officer recruitment
- The paper tests reading and application speed, not just LLB-level memory
- Students who practise with actual Supreme Court judgments consistently outperform those who only revise notes
- Start judgment-reading practice from month one, it’s the single biggest differentiator
What Is the CLAT PG Syllabus for 2027?
The CLAT PG syllabus for 2027 covers twelve subjects of law tested entirely through passage-based comprehension questions, not direct recall. Based on the CLAT 2026 cycle, the subjects are: Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Criminal Law, Contract Law, Law of Torts, Administrative Law, Family Law, Property Law, Company Law, Public International Law, Environmental Law, and Labour and Industrial Law. Tax Law also features.
Here’s what makes this different from your LLB exams. You won’t be asked to define “consideration” or list the elements of negligence from memory. Instead, you’ll read a passage, maybe a High Court judgment on a contractual dispute, and answer questions about what the court held, what legal principle it applied, and what a hypothetical variation might produce. Your LLB knowledge gives you the foundation, but the exam rewards those who can read fast and think on their feet.
Our CLAT PG mentors say it plainly: this paper is closer to a judgment-reading marathon than a memory test. Students who walk in expecting an LLB-style exam routinely run out of time in the first 45 minutes.
The official syllabus is published by the Consortium of NLUs at consortiumofnlus.ac.in, always verify the latest notification there before you finalise your study plan.
CLAT PG Exam Pattern 2027: How Is the Paper Structured?
The CLAT PG 2027 paper has 120 MCQs, a 2-hour time limit, and is conducted offline with pen and paper. Based on the CLAT 2026 cycle, the structure and marking scheme have remained consistent, so you can plan your preparation around these numbers with confidence.
How Many Questions Does CLAT PG Have?
CLAT PG has 120 multiple-choice questions, each carrying 1 mark. The total is 120 marks. The paper is 2 hours long, which works out to exactly 1 minute per question on average. In practice, some passages take longer to read, so time management is everything.
Is There Negative Marking in CLAT PG?
Yes, CLAT PG has negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer. There is no penalty for leaving a question unanswered. This means a smart skipping strategy matters. If you’re genuinely unsure about an answer after reading the passage, skipping is better than guessing randomly.
What Kind of Passages Appear in the CLAT PG Paper?
The paper contains roughly 22-24 passages, each followed by a set of MCQs. Passages are drawn from:
- Supreme Court of India and High Court judgments
- Constitutional texts and statutory provisions
- Scholarly legal writings and academic commentary
- Policy documents and law commission reports
Each passage is typically 400-600 words. The questions test whether you understood the legal reasoning in the passage, can identify the principle applied, and can extend that reasoning to a new fact situation. You don’t need to have read that specific judgment before, but if you’ve read similar ones in practice, you’ll read faster and understand the structure immediately.
For a deeper breakdown of the paper’s structure, see our CLAT PG exam pattern deep-dive.
Which Subjects Carry the Most Weight in CLAT PG?
Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence together account for roughly one-third of the paper, that’s approximately 40 questions out of 120, based on the CLAT 2026 cycle. No other subject pair comes close to this combined weight, which is why smart preparation always starts here.
Constitutional Law: The Biggest Scoring Subject
Constitutional Law is the single highest-yield subject in the CLAT PG syllabus. The key topics you must know deeply are:
- Fundamental Rights (Articles 12-35), with special focus on Article 21 and its expanding scope
- Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties
- Basic Structure doctrine and the landmark Kesavananda Bharati case
- Judicial Review, its scope, limits, and evolution
- Constitutional amendments and the interplay between Parliament and the judiciary
- Federalism, emergency provisions, and Centre-State relations
The Kesavananda Bharati case alone has generated multiple passage questions in past cycles. Know the judgment, the dissents, and what the Basic Structure doctrine means for constitutional interpretation today. Article 21 is similarly high-yield, the Supreme Court of India has expanded it to cover everything from the right to livelihood to the right to a clean environment.
Jurisprudence: The Second Pillar
Jurisprudence is the second most important subject in the CLAT PG syllabus, and it’s one where many students underperform because they treat it as abstract philosophy rather than applied legal theory.
Focus on these legal theorists and their core ideas:
- H.L.A. Hart, the concept of law, primary and secondary rules, the rule of recognition
- Hans Kelsen, the pure theory of law, the Grundnorm, hierarchy of norms
- Ronald Dworkin, law as integrity, rights as trumps, the critique of Hart’s positivism
- John Austin, command theory, the sovereign, positive law
- Natural law traditions, from Aquinas to Fuller
Passages in this section often present a legal scenario and ask you to identify which theorist’s framework the court is implicitly applying. That’s not something you can answer without actually understanding the theories.
Complete Subject-Wise CLAT PG Syllabus 2027
Here’s your master reference table. Priority ratings are based on historical passage frequency and mentor experience, not official Consortium data.
| Subject | Key Topics | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Law | Fundamental Rights, Basic Structure, Judicial Review, Article 21, Federalism, Kesavananda Bharati | 🔴 High |
| Jurisprudence | Austin, Hart, Kelsen, Dworkin, Natural Law, Sources of Law | 🔴 High |
| Criminal Law | IPC offences, BNS provisions, Mens Rea, Actus Reus, General Exceptions | 🔴 High |
| Contract Law | Indian Contract Act 1872, Offer & Acceptance, Consideration, Breach, Specific Relief | 🟡 Medium-High |
| Law of Torts | Negligence, Nuisance, Strict Liability, Vicarious Liability, Defamation | 🟡 Medium-High |
| Administrative Law | Judicial Review of admin action, Natural Justice, Delegated Legislation, Ombudsman | 🟡 Medium |
| Public International Law | Sources of PIL, Treaties, State Responsibility, UN Charter | 🟡 Medium |
| Family Law | Hindu & Muslim personal law, Marriage, Divorce, Succession | 🟡 Medium |
| Property Law | Transfer of Property Act, Easements, Mortgages | 🟡 Medium |
| Company Law | Corporate personality, Directors’ duties, Winding up | 🟠 Lower |
| Environmental Law | Constitutional provisions, key statutes, precautionary principle | 🟠 Lower |
| Labour & Industrial Law | Industrial Disputes Act, Workmen’s Compensation, Trade Unions | 🟠 Lower |
Criminal Law (IPC to BNS Transition)
Criminal Law is in active transition right now, and this is the one area where you genuinely need to prepare two frameworks simultaneously. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in 2023, but past judgments and scholarly passages will still reference IPC provisions. CLAT PG passages can draw from either.
Your preparation strategy should be:
- Learn the IPC structure and classic jurisprudence (especially on Mens Rea, Actus Reus, and General Exceptions) because most Supreme Court precedents still reference IPC sections
- Map the BNS provisions against their IPC equivalents, most offences have been renumbered and some have been restructured
- Focus on Mens Rea as a concept, not just a definition. Passages often ask you to apply it to novel fact situations
Don’t skip the IPC just because the BNS is now in force. The transition period means both will appear in passages for the foreseeable future.
Contract Law and Torts
The Indian Contract Act 1872 is the backbone of Contract Law questions. Focus on formation, enforceability, breach, and remedies. Specific Relief Act questions also appear. For Torts, the big topics are negligence (especially the neighbour principle from Donoghue v Stevenson), strict and absolute liability, and nuisance.
Passages here often come from High Court commercial disputes or consumer protection cases. If you’ve done litigation or corporate work, you’ll find this section more intuitive.
Administrative Law and Public International Law
Administrative Law passages typically come from judgments on natural justice, certiorari, and the scope of judicial review of administrative action. Know the distinction between jurisdictional and non-jurisdictional errors.
Public International Law passages draw from UN Charter provisions, treaty law under the Vienna Convention, and state responsibility. This is a lower-frequency subject but it does appear, don’t ignore it completely.
Family, Property, Company, Environmental and Labour Law
These subjects appear less frequently but can still influence your final score. For Family Law, know both Hindu and Muslim personal law basics. For Property Law, focus on the Transfer of Property Act. Environmental Law questions often connect back to Constitutional Law, Article 21 and the right to a clean environment is a common bridge topic.
Who Is Eligible for CLAT PG 2027?
Eligibility for CLAT PG 2027 requires an LLB degree (or enrolment in the final year of an LLB programme) with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks. For SC/ST candidates, the minimum is 45%. There is no upper age limit.
If you’re in the final year of your LLB, you can apply provisionally. You’ll need to submit your final marksheet before the NLU’s admission deadline if you’re selected.
One thing worth noting: each NLU may have additional eligibility conditions for their specific LLM programmes (such as a minimum percentage in a particular specialisation). Always check the individual NLU’s prospectus alongside the main Consortium of NLUs notification.
How Should You Prepare for the CLAT PG Syllabus?
The most effective preparation for the CLAT PG syllabus combines subject knowledge with daily passage practice, and it needs to start at least 4-6 months before the exam. Here’s a month-wise plan that works for both full-time aspirants and working professionals.
Month-Wise Preparation Plan (6 Months)
| Month | Focus |
|---|---|
| Month 1 | Constitutional Law theory + start reading 2 judgments per week |
| Month 2 | Jurisprudence (all major theorists) + Constitutional Law revision |
| Month 3 | Criminal Law (IPC + BNS mapping) + Contract Law |
| Month 4 | Torts, Administrative Law, PIL + full passage sets daily |
| Month 5 | Remaining subjects (Family, Property, Company, Environmental, Labour) + 2 mocks/week |
| Month 6 | Full mocks + weak subject revision + judgment reading sprint |
How Do You Read Judgments Effectively?
Read judgments by focusing on four things: the facts, the legal question, the court’s reasoning, and the final holding. Don’t try to memorise every paragraph. Toppers we coach at Lawgic read 2-3 full judgments a week from month one, not to memorise them, but to get comfortable with judicial language and reasoning patterns.
Start with landmark cases: Kesavananda Bharati, Maneka Gandhi v Union of India (Article 21), Vishaka v State of Rajasthan, and M.C. Mehta cases for environmental law. These are high-probability passage sources and they’ll also sharpen your reading speed for unfamiliar passages.
Which Books and Resources Work Best for CLAT PG?
The right books matter more than the number of books. Our detailed guide on best CLAT PG books covers this in full, but the short answer is: use subject-specific law texts for theory (not LLB notes alone), and supplement with past CLAT PG papers and passage sets for practice.
Key resources:
- M.P. Jain’s Indian Constitutional Law for Constitutional Law
- V.D. Mahajan’s Jurisprudence and Legal Theory for Jurisprudence
- K.D. Gaur for Criminal Law (with BNS updates)
- Avtar Singh for Contract Law
- Official past papers from consortiumofnlus.ac.in
How Many Mock Tests Should You Take?
Take at least 2 full mocks per week in months 5 and 6. Don’t just attempt them, analyse every wrong answer and every skipped question. The goal isn’t to accumulate mock scores. It’s to identify which passage types slow you down and which subjects still have gaps.
Students who only revise LLB notes without doing timed passage practice routinely run out of time in the actual exam. Mocks fix that.
Our CLAT PG online coaching programme includes structured mock series with detailed analysis, exactly the kind of feedback that makes the difference in the final weeks.
CLAT PG vs CLAT UG: What Is Different?
CLAT PG is a separate exam from CLAT UG, designed for LLB graduates rather than Class 12 students. The differences go beyond just the audience.
| Feature | CLAT UG | CLAT PG |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Class 12 (45-50%) | LLB degree/final year (50%) |
| Questions | 120 MCQs | 120 MCQs |
| Subjects | English, GK, Legal Reasoning, Maths, Logical Reasoning | 12 law subjects |
| Passage focus | General comprehension + legal reasoning | Law-specific judgments & statutes |
| Outcome | BA LLB/BBA LLB at NLUs | LLM at NLUs, PSU roles |
The passage difficulty in CLAT PG is significantly higher. UG passages are written to be accessible to Class 12 students. PG passages come directly from Supreme Court judgments and academic legal writing, the vocabulary, sentence structure, and reasoning density are all more demanding.
For a full comparison, see our article on UG vs PG CLAT differences.
What Can You Do With a CLAT PG Score?
A CLAT PG score primarily opens the door to LLM admissions and has also been used by PSUs for legal officer recruitment in past cycles.
LLM Admission at NLUs
CLAT PG scores are accepted by 21 National Law Universities for their LLM programmes. This includes top institutions like NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata, and NLU Jodhpur. Each NLU runs its own admission process after the scores are released, and some have specialisation-specific LLM programmes with additional requirements.
An LLM from a top NLU is a significant credential, it opens doors to academia, senior litigation, policy work, and international legal careers.
PSU Legal Officer Recruitment
Several Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have used CLAT PG scores for legal officer recruitment in past cycles. This is a route that many law graduates overlook. PSU legal roles offer structured career growth, competitive salaries, and job security. Based on past cycles, PSUs like ONGC, BHEL, and others have accepted CLAT PG scores as part of their recruitment criteria, but always verify the current cycle’s requirements directly with the PSU.
Your success is our mission at Lawgic, and we make sure our students know every opportunity their score can create. Explore our CLAT PG online coaching to see how we prepare you for both paths.
What Are the 5 Most Common CLAT PG Preparation Mistakes?
These are the mistakes our mentors see most often, and they’re almost entirely avoidable.
1. Treating it like an LLB exam
The biggest mistake. CLAT PG tests reading comprehension and legal reasoning through passages, not direct recall. Revising LLB notes is necessary but not sufficient. You must practise passage-based questions from day one.
2. Ignoring Jurisprudence
Many students skip Jurisprudence because it feels abstract. But H.L.A. Hart, Hans Kelsen, and Ronald Dworkin appear regularly in passages. If you can’t identify a positivist argument from a natural law argument in a passage, you’ll drop marks you could easily have scored.
3. Preparing only IPC, ignoring BNS
Criminal Law is in transition. Passages may reference IPC sections, BNS provisions, or both. Preparing only one framework is a real risk in 2026.
4. Starting mocks too late
Time pressure is the exam’s biggest challenge. Students who start timed practice only in the final month consistently underperform relative to their knowledge level. Start passage timing from month two.
5. Not reading the official syllabus
The Consortium of NLUs publishes the official syllabus and any updates at consortiumofnlus.ac.in. Some students prepare from third-party summaries that miss updates. Always cross-check.
For more preparation strategies and resources, browse our CLAT blog.
FAQs
Is there negative marking in CLAT PG?
Yes. CLAT PG has a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer. There is no penalty for unanswered questions. This means strategic skipping is a valid approach, if you’re genuinely unsure after reading the passage, leaving the question blank is better than guessing randomly.
Is the CLAT PG syllabus the same as LLB?
No, the CLAT PG syllabus covers similar subjects to LLB but tests them differently. LLB exams test direct recall of rules and cases. CLAT PG tests your ability to read passages from judgments and statutes and answer comprehension and reasoning questions. Your LLB knowledge is the foundation, but passage practice is what actually prepares you for the exam.
How many NLUs accept CLAT PG scores?
Twenty-one National Law Universities accept CLAT PG scores for LLM admissions. These include NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata, NLU Jodhpur, and 17 other NLUs. Each university runs its own admission process post-result, and some have specialisation-specific requirements beyond the CLAT PG score.
Is the CLAT PG syllabus the same every year?
The core subjects remain consistent year to year, but the Consortium of NLUs may update the syllabus or exam pattern. Based on the CLAT 2026 cycle, the twelve subjects and comprehension-based format have been stable. Always check the official notification at consortiumofnlus.ac.in before finalising your preparation.
Does CLAT PG have optional subjects?
No. The CLAT PG syllabus does not have optional subjects. All twelve subject areas are part of the same paper, and passages from any subject can appear. You cannot choose to skip a subject area, which is why building at least a working knowledge of all subjects matters.
How long does it take to prepare for CLAT PG?
Most students need 4-6 months of structured preparation. Working professionals who can only study part-time may need 6-8 months. The key variable isn’t total hours, it’s how early you start reading judgments and doing timed passage practice. Subject knowledge alone, without passage practice, is rarely enough.
Conclusion
The CLAT PG syllabus is broad, but it’s not unmanageable. You already have the legal knowledge from your LLB. What the exam actually tests is how quickly and accurately you can read a judgment or statute passage and extract the right legal reasoning under time pressure.
Start with Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence. Build your judgment-reading habit from month one. Map the BNS against the IPC for Criminal Law. And do timed passage practice long before the exam date.
Your next steps:
- Download the official syllabus from consortiumofnlus.ac.in
- Check our best CLAT PG books guide for a curated reading list
- Explore our CLAT PG online coaching for structured mentorship, mock series, and faculty from top NLUs
Let’s build your law career together. Results speak louder than promises, and we’re ready to show you what proven strategies actually look like in practice.
