Preparing smartly matters more than preparing endlessly, and that’s exactly why you should focus on the CLAT 2026 important topics.
CLAT is a skill-based exam, and every year the Consortium repeats certain themes, question styles, and passage patterns across English, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, GK, and Quant.
So in this guide, we’ve listed the most important topics for CLAT 2026 based on the latest trend, the last two years’ paper pattern, and the updated legal and current affairs landscape.
If you’re confused about what to study first or how to prioritise, this list will give you complete clarity and direction.
Upcoming CLAT Exams:
CLAT 2026 Most Important Topics
These are the most important topics for CLAT 2026 exam:
| Section | Most Important Topics for CLAT 2026 |
| English Language | • Reading comprehension • Inference • Tones • Vocabulary • Literary devices • Summarizing • Paraphrasing • Idioms & phrases • Grammar • Central idea |
| Logical Reasoning | • Inference • Assumption • Strengthen/weaken argument • Paradox • Assertion–reason • Evaluate argument • Cause & effect • Flaw in reasoning • Course of action |
| Quantitative Techniques | • DI caselets • Percentages • Profit and loss • Discount chains • Averages • Ratios • TSD • Time & work • Partnership • Simple interest • Compound interest • Growth & depreciation |
| Legal Reasoning | • Constitutional doctrines • Article 14/19/21 • Torts • Contracts • Criminal law basics • Legal current affairs (PMLA bail, UCC, Waqf Act, BNS–BNSS, surrogacy laws, electoral bonds) • Writs • International law |
| GK & Current Affairs | • India–world relations • G20 • BRICS • COP30 • Economy indicators (CPI/WPI) • Major awards • Elections • New space missions • Global indices • Amendments • Important bills |
Important Topics for CLAT English Language
The English section is about understanding ideas, opinions, tones, and arguments within a passage. If you can read a passage quickly and extract meaning without getting stuck, scoring 20+ here becomes easy.
Almost every question is directly lifted from what’s written, so mastering the core skills below gives you guaranteed returns.
| Topic | Why It Matters |
| Reading Comprehension | 100% of questions are RC-based |
| Literary Devices | Helps identify tone, style & author intent |
| Parts of Speech | Useful for sentence-level clarity |
| Tones | Predictable exam favourite |
| Central Idea | Asked in almost every passage |
| Inference | One of the highest-weightage skills |
| Vocabulary in Context | Meaning-based questions |
| Grammar | Minor but scoring |
| Summarizing & Paraphrasing | Improves RC accuracy |
| Idioms & Phrases | Tested through contextual usage |
Passages Appearing Based On
The Consortium typically picks passages from:
- Contemporary non-fiction
- Editorials & opinion columns
- History, society, and culture
- Popular science commentary
- Legal or policy-related articles (but no prior knowledge needed)
This ensures the paper remains understanding-based, not knowledge-based.
Strategy to Prepare for CLAT English
- Build Daily Reading Muscle: Read 2–3 articles each day from newspapers and magazines. Focus on speed + comprehension. Highlight tone shifts, central ideas, and arguments.
- Practice Topic-Wise RC Sets: Solve RCs based on different themes – politics, economics, science, law, culture, etc. This trains your mind to handle unfamiliar content.
- Strengthen Vocabulary Through Context: Instead of memorising wordlists, learn through sentences. CLAT tests understanding, not mugging.
- Attempt Sectional English Mocks Weekly: Track your accuracy in inference, tone, central idea, and vocabulary questions.
Free Resources for English Preparation:
Important Topics for CLAT GK & Current Affairs
GK is the most unpredictable section for many aspirants, but once you understand the pattern, it becomes one of the easiest to score. CLAT doesn’t ask static theory-it asks current affairs with context.
If you follow international relations, government schemes, major summits, economic indicators, space missions, awards, and global indices regularly, then scoring 25+ becomes absolutely realistic.
International Relations
| Topic | Why Important |
| India–Pakistan (Operation Sindoor) | High-impact conflict-related |
| India–Nepal protests | Neighbourhood first policy |
| India–Bangladesh ties | Repeated in CLAT |
| USA elections, shutdown | Global political climate |
| Trump disputes resolved | Diplomatic relevance |
| Israel–Palestine, Iran–USA | Regular exam theme |
| Canada–India tensions | Major 2024 update |
| India–Russia | Strategic relations |
| G7, BRICS, G20 | Key for global governance |
| SCO, OIC | Summits generate passages |
National Affairs & Polity
| Topic | Why Important |
| Finance Commission | Constitutional body |
| Inter-State Council | Federalism |
| MPLAD | Govt funding |
| SC/ST Sub-categorisation | Reservation debates |
| Article 200/201 | Governor–state issues |
| 130th Constitutional Amendment | High probability |
| Ladakh & Sixth Schedule | Tribal protections |
| Women in Supreme Court | Gender & judiciary |
| 8th Pay Commission | Major policy reform |
Economy & Trade
| Topic | Why Important |
| GST 2.0 | Major reform |
| UAPA, ED, AFSPA | Internal security |
| CPI, WPI, PMI, IIP | Economic indicators |
| India–EFTA, UK trade deal | International economics |
Awards & Honours
| Topic | Why Important |
| Jnanpith | Culture |
| Magsaysay | Asia’s Nobel |
| Nobel Prize 2025 | Predictable |
| Booker, Pulitzer | Common in passages |
| Oscars, Emmys, Tonys, Grammys | Arts & culture |
Sports
- ICC Women’s World Cup, WTC, Asia Cup
- Asian Games & Olympics
- Football World Cup
Space & Science
- Aditya-L1, AXIOM-4
- Gaganyaan, Shukrayaan
- NISAR, space station
- Semiconductor mission
Environment & Climate
- COP30
- Green hydrogen, ethanol blending
- TB elimination target
- Ramsar sites
- Water-related awards
Global Indices
- Index
- HDI
- Global Hunger Index
- Democracy Index
- CPI
- Innovation Index
- Press Freedom Index
- Happiness Report
Free Resources for GK and Current Affairs Preparation:
Important Topics for CLAT Legal Reasoning
CLAT Legal Reasoning is the highest-scoring section for many aspirants because it doesn’t test your memory of laws; it tests your ability to apply a principle logically.
Even if you’ve never studied law, you can score 25+ here by understanding how principles work, how facts change outcomes, and what legal reasoning patterns the CLAT Consortium repeats every year.
This section also rewards students who stay updated with important legal developments, major Supreme Court cases, and new laws.
Legal Current Affairs
| Theme / Topic | Why It Matters |
| PMLA bail provisions | Major SC interpretation + current affairs relevance |
| Rarest of Rare Doctrine (RG Kar case) | Big constitutional-criminal law development |
| Uttarakhand UCC | High-impact socio-legal reform |
| Waqf Act amendments & SC stay | Important for minority rights + property law |
| Free speech & obscenity (India’s Got Latent) | Art. 19 debates are frequently asked |
| Arbitration award enforceability | Contract + civil procedure relevance |
| Injunctions & disobedience | Common tort/contract crossover |
| Cheque dishonour (individual + company liability) | Classic business law theme |
| Article 12 – What is “State”? | Fundamental constitutional question |
| Preparation vs attempt under POCSO | Criminal law + interpretation |
| Digital arrest | Trending legal innovation |
| Crimes under BNS | New criminal law → high chance |
| Default bail under BNSS | Procedural rights |
| Electoral bonds & Art. 19 | Landmark judgment |
| Sub-categorisation of SC/ST | Reservation-related constitutional issue |
| Surrogacy laws | Family law implications |
| Child witness reliability | Evidence law theme |
| Narco-analysis validity | Reappearing legal/constitutional question |
Constitution
| Topic | Why Important |
| Article 14 – Reasonable classification & arbitrariness | CLAT favourite |
| Articles 15(4) & 16(4) | Backward classes, reservation |
| Key Doctrines | Repeated passage themes |
| Freedom of Speech (Art. 19) | Very high frequency |
| Article 21 | Most tested constitutional provision |
| Writs | Application-based questions |
Law of Crimes (Criminal Law)
| Topic | Why Important |
| Culpable homicide vs murder | Classic distinction-based question |
| Common intention vs similar intention vs common object | Repeated in CLAT & mocks |
| Dying declaration & confession | Evidence-based questions |
Torts
| Topic | Why Important |
| Vicarious liability | Common principle application |
| Strict & absolute liability | Bhopal gas tragedy-type themes |
| Nervous shock | Classic tort concept |
Contracts
| Topic | Why Important |
| Blue pencil doctrine | Interpretation-based |
| Agency of necessity | Situational questions |
| Quasi-contracts | Repeated in CLAT |
| Special contracts | High-frequency |
| Privity & consideration | Foundational principles |
Miscellaneous
| Topic | Why Important |
| Irretrievable breakdown of marriage | SC used Art 142 powers |
| Jus cogens | International law relevance |
| De facto / de jure recognition | High-yield for IR |
| ADR | Very common |
| ICJ role | Global disputes context |
| Rule against perpetuity | Property law |
| Transfer for unborn person | Classic interpretation |
| Actionable claim | Moderate weightage |
| Mortgages | Civil law reasoning |
| Specific performance | Contract + equity |
Most Expected Legal Themes for CLAT 2026
These themes combine Constitution + Criminal Law + Current Affairs, making them highly likely in passages:
- Freedom of speech vs obscenity
- Right to privacy vs public interest
- Elections, political funding & transparency (Electoral bonds)
- New criminal laws (BNS–BNSS) & procedural rights
- Equality, reservations & affirmative action
- Surrogacy & reproductive rights
- Technology & law (digital arrest, AI regulations)
- Governors, federalism & legislative process
- Public morality vs individual rights
- Environmental rights under Article 21
Free Resources for Legal Reasoning Preparation:
Important Topics for CLAT Logical Reasoning
Logical Reasoning is the backbone of CLAT because it evaluates how you think. Even if a passage looks complex, the questions are usually predictable: assumption, inference, strengthen, weaken, evaluate.
If you master these patterns, you’ll be able to solve any passage logically without relying on guesswork. The section rewards clarity and structured thinking.
| Topic | Why It Matters |
| Inference | Most frequently asked question type |
| Assumption | Appears in almost every passage |
| Strengthen the Argument | CR essential |
| Weaken the Argument | Common negative test |
| Flaw in Reasoning | Identifying logical mistakes |
| Course of Action | Decision-making based on passage |
| Cause & Effect | Relationship-based reasoning |
| Paradox / Resolve the Paradox | High-weightage critical reasoning |
| Assertion–Reason | Tests conceptual clarity |
| Evaluate the Argument | Checks how you judge argument strength |
Strategy to Prepare for Logical Reasoning
- Learn the Core CR Concepts First: Understand what assumption, inference, strengthen, weaken, and evaluate truly mean. These are not definitions — they are thinking frameworks.
- Solve Passage-Based LR Daily: Practice 2–3 passages each day. Focus on logic, not personal opinion.
- Use the Negation Test for Assumptions: CLAT loves assumption questions. The quickest method is to negate the option and check if the argument collapses.
- Analyse Your Wrong Answers Deeply: LR improves only when you understand why you were wrong. Maintain an error log and revisit mistakes weekly.
Free Resources for Logical Reasoning Preparation:
Important Topics for CLAT Quantitative Techniques
QT looks difficult to many aspirants, but the truth is: CLAT tests only basic arithmetic and logical application. If you can handle percentages, ratios, averages, and DI caselets confidently, you can score 8–10 marks easily.
The questions are designed to test your ability to interpret data-not do complex maths. Consistency matters more than talent.
| Topic | Why It Matters |
| DI Caselets | Highest-weightage; based on real-life data |
| Percentages | Core of every arithmetic question |
| Profit, Loss & Discount Chains | Recurring in DI sets |
| Marked Price–Discount Chain | Common calculation set |
| Ratios & Averages | Used in almost every DI table |
| Time–Speed–Distance | Trains, delays, relative motion |
| Time & Work | Efficiency & workforce planning |
| Partnership | Profit-sharing questions |
| Simple & Compound Interest | Trending past 2 years |
| Growth & Depreciation | Frequently used in DI |
Strategy to Prepare CLAT Quants
- Master Percentages First: Almost everything in QT is built on percentages – P&L, SI/CI, growth, DI, ratios.
- Solve Mixed DI Sets Regularly: Caselets with survey data, market research, or overlapping groups are becoming extremely common.
- Build Calculation Speed: Use mental maths shortcuts for faster DI solving. Focus on approximations and ratio-based solving.
- Give One QT Sectional Test Every Week: It ensures consistent accuracy and confidence in DI-heavy questions.
Free Resources for Quantitative Techniques Preparation:
| CLAT Quantitative Techniques Syllabus | CLAT Quantitative Techniques Questions |
| Tips to Prepare for CLAT Quants |
CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern
Find the exam pattern of CLAT:
| Section | No. of Questions | Weightage | Skill Tested |
| English Language | 22–26 | ~20% | Comprehension, vocabulary, inference |
| Current Affairs (GK) | 28–32 | ~25% | Awareness + contextual understanding |
| Legal Reasoning | 28–32 | ~25% | Legal reasoning, application |
| Logical Reasoning | 22–26 | ~20% | Critical thinking, analysis |
| Quantitative Techniques | 10–14 | ~10% | Data handling, numeracy |
Important Resources After CLAT Exam:
How to Use Most Important CLAT 2026 Topics in Daily Preparation?
1. Start Your Day With 20–30 Minutes of Reading
Pick any two topics:
- Editorials
- Legal commentary
- Policy analysis
- International relations
This improves English + LR + GK together.
2. Dedicate 40–50 Minutes to Legal Reasoning Daily
Start with:
- One legal passage
- One current legal issue
- One constitutional principle
This builds accuracy in application-based reasoning, the core of Legal.
3. Revise GK Using the “3-Source Method”
Every day, refer to:
- A news summary
- A monthly CA PDF
- Your own notes
This ensures you remember events with context, the exact thing CLAT tests.
4. Practice 2 Logical Reasoning Passages Daily
Focus on:
- Identifying claim
- Spotting assumptions
- Strengthen vs weaken
- Inference accuracy
This makes LR predictable and scoring.
5. Solve 10–12 Quant Questions Daily (Not More)
Choose:
- A DI set
- 3–4 arithmetic questions
This keeps QT light but consistent, which is all you need.
6. Take a Mini-Sectional Test Every 2 Days
Rotate between:
English → Legal → LR → QT → GK
This builds real exam rhythm.
7. Weekly Mock Test + Deep Analysis
Spend 2 hours to take the test and 3+ hours to analyse it.
Identify:
- Which topics repeatedly trouble you
- Where accuracy drops
- What improves after revision
Must Know for Every CLAT Aspirant:
FAQs About Most Important Topics for CLAT 2026
You can score well, but a balanced approach is still essential. Important topics give you direction – consistent practice gives you results.
Most students can complete them in 6–8 weeks, followed by practice and revision.
Start with Legal Reasoning + English, because these two sections multiply your accuracy across the paper.
DI caselets, percentages, averages, profit–loss–discount, and ratio-based DI.
Only indirectly. Grammar helps clarity, but questions are mostly passage-based.
Focus on the last 12 months: major summits, IR, awards, econ indicators, space missions, amendments, and Supreme Court judgments.
No. Only the high-impact ones like Aditya-L1, Gaganyaan, major Nobel/Booker/Pulitzer winners.
The themes stay the same (IR, economy, legal issues). Only the events change. Concepts remain stable.
Free CLAT Study Material for You:
| CLAT Topper Interviews | CLAT Sample Papers |
| CLAT Previous Year Question Paper | CLAT Study Material |
| Online CLAT Coaching |
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