CLAT GK and Current Affairs can feel overwhelming, but once you understand the pattern, this becomes the easiest section to score 25+ in. For CLAT 2026, you must focus on context-based current affairs, not static notes or random facts.
The Consortium has made it very clear over the last few years that GK questions come directly from major national events, international relations, economy updates, government schemes, big judgments, space missions, and global indices.
So, in this guide, we’ve listed the most important GK and current affairs topics for CLAT 2026 that actually matter.
Upcoming CLAT Exams:
Most Important GK & Current Affairs Topics for CLAT 2026
These are the most important topics for CLAT GK and CLAT current affairs:
| Category | Most Important Topics for CLAT 2026 |
| International Relations | India–Pakistan (Operation Sindoor), India–Nepal, India–Bangladesh, USA elections, Israel–Palestine, Iran–USA, Canada–India, India–Russia, G20, BRICS, SCO, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, EFTA trade deal |
| National & Political Affairs | SC/ST sub-categorisation, Article 200/201 (Governor issues), 130th Constitution Amendment Bill, Ladakh & Sixth Schedule, Waqf Amendment Bill, Women in Supreme Court, 8th Pay Commission, MPLAD, Inter-State Council |
| Economy & Trade | GST 2.0, CPI/WPI/PMI/IIP, UAPA/ED/AFSPA (policy impact), India–UK/EFTA trade deal, monetary & fiscal policy, carbon credit, CBAM, greenwashing |
| Science, Tech & Space | Aditya-L1, Gaganyaan, Shukrayaan, NISAR, AxIOM-4 mission, India’s Space Station plan, semiconductor mission, AI and 4th Industrial Revolution |
| Environment & Climate | COP30, Paris Agreement, Kyoto Protocol, Ramsar sites, ethanol blending programme, green hydrogen projects, TB elimination target |
| Awards & Honours | Nobel Prize 2025, Booker Prize, International Booker, Pulitzer, Magsaysay, Jnanpith, Vigyan Awards, Oscars, Emmys, Grammys |
| Sports | ICC Women’s World Cup, Asia Cup, WTC, Asian Games, Olympics, Football World Cup |
| Bills, Acts, Amendments | Anti-conversion laws, Waqf Bill, NEP & three-language formula, Finance Commission, delimitation, SIR (Bihar), major Supreme Court judgments |
| Reports & Global Indices | HDI, GHI, CPI (Corruption), Democracy Index, Innovation Index, Happiness Report, Press Freedom Index |
| Important Summits & Organisations | UNHRC, UNDP, UNEP, IPCC, SCO Summit, G7, BRICS expansion, OIC, G20, ASEAN |
| Miscellaneous High-Value Topics | India–Sri Lanka disputes, India–China relations, real-money gaming ban, space station dream, water prize, census status |
CLAT GK Exam Pattern & Question Style
| Component | Details |
| Questions | 28–32 MCQs |
| Nature of Questions | Passage-based, context-driven |
| Length of Passage | 300–450 words on current topics |
| Skills Tested | Awareness, interpretation, reasoning |
| Sources of Passages | News articles, reports, international events, economic updates, government actions |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate if prepared with context |
How CLAT Frames GK & Current Affairs Questions?
CLAT does not ask “What is the capital of X?” or “Who invented Y?”. Instead, you get a passage about a current event, followed by questions that test:
- Why the event is significant
- What impact it has
- Which organisation is involved
- How India or the world is affected
- What policy, agreement, or law it relates to
For example, if the passage is about India–Nepal relations, questions may ask:
- What triggered the protest?
- Which treaty governs India–Nepal ties?
- What is the strategic importance of the region involved?
This is why context matters more than memorisation.
International Relations (IR)
International Relations is the most important part of GK for CLAT 2026 because almost every major global event directly affects India’s foreign policy, economy, defence, or diplomacy.
CLAT passages come from editorials that discuss India’s strategic partnerships, conflicts, global summits, and geostrategic shifts. If you understand the “story” behind each relationship, this section becomes the easiest to score in.
| Topic | Why Important |
| India–Pakistan (Operation Sindoor) | Security, diplomacy, and conflict-related reasoning |
| India–Nepal protests | Border & treaty controversies |
| India–Bangladesh relations | Repeated CLAT theme |
| USA Elections & shutdown | Global impact on India |
| Israel–Palestine | Recurring geopolitical hotspot |
| Iran–USA tensions | Middle East stability |
| Canada–India relationship | Major 2024 diplomatic issue |
| India–Russia | Defence & energy cooperation |
| BRICS expansion | Global shift in power blocks |
| G20 & SCO Summits | India’s multilateral role |
| EFTA / UK trade deal | Economic & political relevance |
| ASEAN & BIMSTEC | Indo-Pacific strategy |
National & Political Affairs
Domestic political events shape everything from governance to constitutional debates. CLAT loves choosing passages about appointments, commissions, constitutional amendments, governor–state conflicts, judicial reforms, reservations, and policies affecting the public. If you follow key national issues, you will instantly recognise the context of the GK passage during the exam.
| Topic | Why Important |
| SC/ST sub-categorisation | Reservation policy debate |
| Article 200/201 (Governor issues) | Federalism conflict |
| 130th Constitution Amendment | High-impact bill |
| Ladakh & Sixth Schedule | Tribal protections + UT issues |
| Waqf Amendment Bill | Minority rights debate |
| Women in Supreme Court | Judiciary reforms |
| New CEC & Vice President | Constitutional appointments |
| 8th Pay Commission | Major financial reform |
| MPLAD & Inter-State Council | Governance bodies |
Must Know for Every CLAT Aspirant:
Economy & Financial Awareness
CLAT frequently includes passages on inflation, GDP, fiscal policy, monetary policy, trade agreements, budget implications, and economic crises. These issues affect the lives of every citizen and influence India’s global standing.
Even if you dislike economics, this section is very scoring because the questions rely on understanding, not calculations.
| Topic | Why Important |
| GST 2.0 | Major reform & tax structure impact |
| CPI, WPI, IIP, PMI | Core economic indicators |
| India–UK/EFTA trade deal | Trade policy relevance |
| Carbon credit & CBAM | Climate–economy intersection |
| Greenwashing | Regulatory & ethical debates |
| Monetary vs Fiscal policy | CLAT favourite |
| UAPA, ED, AFSPA (economic implications) | Governance & enforcement impact |
Science, Technology & Space
ISRO missions, AI innovations, semiconductor manufacturing, quantum research, and space exploration represent India’s global ambitions in technology. CLAT often picks passages on science policies, mission achievements, and technological ethics because they reflect modern governance and international collaboration.
| Topic | Why Important |
| Aditya-L1 | Solar observatory milestone |
| Gaganyaan | India’s first human spaceflight |
| Shukrayaan | Venus mission relevance |
| NISAR Satellite | NASA–ISRO collaboration |
| India’s Space Station | Long-term tech milestone |
| Semiconductor Mission | National economic priority |
| AxIOM-4 Mission | International cooperation |
Environment & Climate
Climate agreements, carbon markets, sustainability efforts, and environmental challenges affect every nation. CLAT passages often discuss environmental policies, climate action, global summits, green technologies, and conservation issues because they combine law, science, economics, and international cooperation.
| Topic | Why Important |
| COP30 | Global climate policy |
| Paris Agreement & Kyoto Protocol | CLAT-repeated treaties |
| Green hydrogen projects | India’s energy goals |
| Ethanol blending | Sustainability mission |
| Ramsar sites | Conservation relevance |
| Water awards & initiatives | Environmental advocacy |
Awards & Honours
Awards highlight excellence in literature, journalism, films, science, and social service. CLAT often includes passages referencing the Booker Prize, Nobel Prizes, Pulitzers, Magsaysay Awards, or Jnanpith winners — not to test your memory, but to assess if you understand the background and significance of these achievements.
| Award | Why Important |
| Nobel Prizes | Global excellence; recurring |
| Magsaysay | Asia’s highest civic honour |
| Booker & International Booker | Literary relevance |
| Pulitzer | Journalism + letters |
| Jnanpith | Indian literature |
| Oscars, Emmys, Grammys | Entertainment significance |
| Vigyan Awards | National science honour |
Sports
Sports events like the Olympics, ICC tournaments, Asian Games, and Football World Cup generate massive global involvement. CLAT often asks about hosts, winners, standout achievements, or controversies. Sports GK is easy and scoring because it follows simple patterns.
| Event | Key Focus |
| ICC Women’s World Cup | Winners, hosts, standout players |
| Asia Cup | Results & controversies |
| WTC | Winner, venue |
| Asian Games | Medals & hosts |
| Olympics | Country rankings |
| Football World Cup | Host & champions |
Global Reports & Indices
Global indices tell us how countries perform on democracy, development, happiness, corruption, press freedom, and innovation. CLAT loves these because they reflect India’s global standing and help students interpret global comparisons.
These indices appear repeatedly in newspapers, government reports, and editorials — making them highly likely to become CLAT passages.
| Index | Released By | Why Important |
| Human Development Index (HDI) | UNDP | Measures life expectancy, education, income |
| Global Hunger Index (GHI) | Concern Worldwide & Welthungerhilfe | Controversial for India; widely debated |
| Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) | Transparency International | Governance & ethics relevance |
| Press Freedom Index | Reporters Without Borders | Reflects media freedom |
| Democracy Index | Economist Intelligence Unit | Political health of nations |
| Global Innovation Index | WIPO | Tracks scientific & innovation output |
| World Happiness Report | UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network | Well-being indicator |
Major Summits & International Organisations
Global summits shape world policies on climate, trade, conflicts, human rights, and economic cooperation. CLAT often picks passages from G20, BRICS, SCO, COP, UNHRC, and ASEAN because these organisations influence India’s diplomatic actions.
Understanding the goals and outcomes of these summits makes GK passages easy.
| Summit / Organisation | Key Focus | Why Important |
| G20 Summit | Global economy, trade, climate | India’s major role |
| BRICS (Expanded) | Emerging economies | New member additions |
| SCO Summit | Regional security | India’s participation |
| G7 Summit | Advanced economies | Policy influence |
| COP30 | Climate negotiations | Future climate commitments |
| UNHRC | Human rights | India’s membership |
| ASEAN & BIMSTEC | Indo-Pacific strategy | India’s regional presence |
| OIC | Muslim-majority nations | Diplomatic tensions |
| UNDP, UNEP, UNHCR | Welfare & environment | Repeated in CA questions |
Bills, Acts, Amendments & Government Schemes
Major amendments, new bills, and government schemes shape national policies and influence Supreme Court judgments — two areas CLAT frequently tests. Understanding these gives you clarity on governance, rights, welfare policies, and legal frameworks. This section overlaps heavily with Legal Reasoning, making it highly valuable.
| Bill / Act / Scheme | Why Important |
| 130th Constitution Amendment Bill | Major political reform |
| Waqf Amendment Bill | Minority rights controversy |
| Anti-conversion laws (UP, Rajasthan) | Religious freedom debate |
| NEP & Three-Language Formula | Education policy |
| Finance Commission of India | Revenue distribution |
| MPLAD Scheme | Local development funding |
| SIR (Bihar) | Election-related reform |
| Census Status & Delimitation | Electoral representation |
| Major Supreme Court judgments | High-weightage in CA |
Free Resources for GK and Current Affairs Preparation:
How to Study GK & Current Affairs for CLAT 2026?
1. Use the 3-Layer Method (Daily + Weekly + Monthly)
- Daily news summaries
- Weekly revisions
- Monthly CA PDFs
This creates long-term retention.
2. Study With Context, Not Date-Based Memorisation
CLAT asks “why”, not “when”.
3. Maintain a GK Notebook or Digital Notes
One page each for IR, economy, awards, space, indices, etc.
4. Solve Passage-Based GK Sets Every Week
This trains your interpretation skills.
5. Track 12–18 Months of CA
This is the standard CLAT trend.
6. Use CLAT Mock Tests to Identify Weak Areas
GK accuracy improves through revision, not guesswork.
Common Mistakes Students Make in GK for CLAT 2026
1. Relying on Too Many Sources
Many aspirants hop between 5–6 materials, YouTube channels, PDFs, and newspapers. This creates confusion and zero retention. You need one reliable daily source, one monthly CA PDF, and one revision notebook — nothing more.
2. Memorising Facts Instead of Understanding Context
CLAT does not ask “When was COP30 held?” It asks “Why was COP30 significant?”
Without context, the passage makes no sense and the questions feel difficult.
3. Ignoring International Relations Until the End
IR is the most heavily tested part of the GK section, yet many students start it late. This is a mistake — 7–12 questions often come from IR alone.
4. Not Revising Monthly CA Consistently
If you read GK once and don’t revise it, you will forget it. GK requires spaced repetition — weekly and monthly revision is the key.
5. Skipping Economy Thinking It Is “Too Technical”
CLAT asks economy in a simplified manner. Inflation, CPI, WPI, trade deals, GST — all can be understood using school-level concepts.
6. Only Reading Headlines & Not Full Stories
Headlines don’t help. The reason behind the event helps. CLAT passages come from detailed articles, not one-line news snippets.
7. Avoiding GK Passage Practice Entirely
Students prepare GK like school exams, but CLAT tests GK using comprehension-based passages. Not practising GK passages is one of the biggest scoring mistakes.
Free CLAT Study Material for You:
| CLAT Topper Interviews | CLAT Sample Papers |
| CLAT Previous Year Question Paper | CLAT Study Material |
| Online CLAT Coaching |
FAQs About Important GK Topics for CLAT 2026
International Relations, economy indicators, major awards, Supreme Court judgments, climate summits, India’s space missions, global indices, important bills, and national political developments.
Spend 30–45 minutes daily and revise weekly. GK is about consistency, not hours of study.
Helpful but not mandatory. If you follow reliable curated sources + monthly CA PDFs, you can score very well.
The Hindu or Indian Express.
Yes. CPI, WPI, IIP, PMI, GDP growth updates, and trade agreements are all high-value topics.
Absolutely. Missions like Aditya-L1, Gaganyaan, Shukrayaan, and NISAR are very likely to appear.
Focus on major tournaments only — winners, runners-up, hosts, and major Indian performers.
Revise your monthly CA PDFs, IR notes, indices, awards, and space missions. Solve 15–20 GK passage sets.
Important Resources After CLAT Exam:
Free CLAT Study Material for You: