300+ CLAT Critical Reasoning Questions 2026 (PDF & Solution)

Critical Reasoning is one of the most important parts of the CLAT Logical Reasoning section. It tests your ability to analyze arguments, identify assumptions, and draw logical conclusions. 

To help you master this skill, we’ve compiled 300+ CLAT Critical Reasoning questions based on the latest exam pattern. Each set is designed to improve your reasoning speed and accuracy with real exam-style passages. 

You’ll find CLAT CR questions with answers to understand how to approach and solve them effectively. Regular practice of these questions will strengthen your logical thinking and boost your overall CLAT score.

CLAT Critical Reasoning Questions (PDF)

Download the free PDF of critical reasoning questions for CLAT 2026 practice:

Set No.	No. of Questions	Download Link
CLAT CR Questions Set 1	100 Questions	Download PDF
CLAT CR Questions Set 2	97 Questions	Download PDF
CLAT CR Questions Set 3	107 Questions	Download PDF
CLAT CR Questions Set 4	20 Questions	Download PDF
CLAT CR Questions Set 5	10 Questions	Download PDF

Top Critical Reasoning Questions for CLAT 2026

Practice these top CLAT critical reasoning questions with answers:

Passage 1

First it was Baba Ramdev who sought to create a niche market for cow ghee and also helped unlock the real value of milk fat, so to speak. The row over the alleged supply of adulterated ghee for making the iconic Tirupati laddus, distributed as prasadam to devotees at Andhra Pradesh’s Tirumala Venkateswara temple, may further reinforce this premiumness. Milk fat is inherently expensive. Its current ex-dairy price of Rs 460-470 per kg is way above the Rs 125-130 wholesale range for refined palmolein, soyabean or sunflower oil. Beef tallow is available even cheaper, at Rs 85-90/kg. Not surprising that ghee or melted milk fat is prone to adulteration by “foreign fats”, both of vegetable and animal origin. The relative expensiveness also explains why a lot of what sells as ice-cream is actually frozen dessert: Both contain minimum 10 per cent fat, but the source of that is vegetable oil, not milk, in the latter.

Passage source: Indian Express

Question 1. Which of the statements if true, would weaken the Author’s claim that Ice-creams are actually Frozen desert containing vegetable oil not Milk?

1. The tax rates on vegetable oil are drastically higher than Milk. 
2. There’s an industry level ban on the use of vegetable oil in ice cream.
3. Frozen desert having vegetable oil is actually healthier than milk. 
4. Vegetable oil binds the ice cream in a better way. 

Answer: B

Explanation: The claim that Ice creams are made from vegetable oil is completely weakened by Option B, which states that The Industry has decided not to use Vegetable oil in their ice creams, thus failing the Author’s claim. 

1. While the tax rates of vegetable oil may make it expensive to use, the overall price in comparison to Milk fat is still very low and will anyways, make it a better option to use than milk. Because the price difference is 200-300 Rs. The heavy tax rates won’t change the overall profit loss statement. 
2. Correct 
3. This statement, if true, will actually strengthen the claim of the author that industries actually use vegetable oil instead of Milk. Along with being very cheap compared to Milk, it is also healthier option for consumers, thus pushing industries to use it even more. 
4. This statement is also a strengthening statement, if the use of vegetable oils bind the ice cream better than it will be preferable for the industries to use it rather than milk fat. Thus, it is a statement in favor of the author. 

Question 2. Which of the following is an assumption underlying the author’s argument about the adulteration of ghee?

A) Consumers can’t distinguish between pure and adulterated ghee.

B) The demand for ghee remains high despite adulteration risks.

C) Price difference is the primary motivation for adulteration.

D) Vegetable oils are nutritionally inferior to milk fat.

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: C is the most likely assumption. The author implies that the high cost of milk fat compared to other fats is the reason for adulteration, assuming that price difference is the primary motivation.

A) Consumers can’t distinguish between pure and adulterated ghee.

The passage doesn’t discuss or imply anything about consumers’ ability to detect adulteration. While this might be true and could contribute to the prevalence of adulteration, it’s not a necessary assumption for the author’s argument. The focus is on the economic motivations for adulteration, not on its detectability.

B) The demand for ghee remains high despite adulteration risks.

While this might be true, it’s not a necessary assumption for the author’s argument about why adulteration occurs. The passage focuses on the economic incentives for adulteration due to the high cost of milk fat, not on how demand is affected by adulteration risks. The author’s argument would hold true regardless of whether demand remains high or not.

D) Vegetable oils are nutritionally inferior to milk fat.

The passage doesn’t make any claims or assumptions about the nutritional value of vegetable oils compared to milk fat. The focus is entirely on the economic aspects and market dynamics. The author’s argument about adulteration is based on cost differences, not nutritional comparisons. Assuming nutritional inferiority is not necessary for the argument about why adulteration occurs.

Question 3. What is the main idea of this passage?

A) The superiority of cow ghee over other fats

B) The controversy surrounding Tirupati laddus

C) The high cost and adulteration risks of milk fat

D) The differences between ice-cream and frozen desserts

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: C best captures the main idea of the passage, which discusses the high cost of milk fat and its consequent vulnerability to adulteration.

A) The superiority of cow ghee over other fats

While the passage discusses the premium nature of cow ghee, it doesn’t explicitly argue for its superiority over other fats. The focus is more on its cost and vulnerability to adulteration rather than its qualitative superiority. This option oversimplifies the nuanced discussion in the passage about the market dynamics and challenges related to milk fat.

B) The controversy surrounding Tirupati laddus

Although the passage mentions the controversy about adulterated ghee in Tirupati laddus, this is used more as an example to illustrate broader points about ghee’s premium status and vulnerability to adulteration. It’s not the central focus of the entire passage, which covers a range of topics related to milk fat and its market dynamics.

D) The differences between ice-cream and frozen desserts

While the passage does mention the difference between ice-cream and frozen desserts, this is used as an example to illustrate the economic implications of milk fat’s high cost. It’s not the main focus of the passage, which more broadly discusses the premium nature of milk fat, its cost, and the resulting challenges like adulteration.

Passage 2

I hadn’t planned to quit being a councillor with an unceremonious, expletive-laden WhatsApp message to my ward colleagues. But after months of stress, the drunk version of me had forced my hand, and I couldn’t take it back.

It didn’t start that way. When I was elected as a Labour councillor in Southwark in south London in 2022, it was the culmination of a lifelong dream. I had always been interested in politics. I was the teenager who watched BBC Parliament for fun, and in my leavers’ yearbook, alongside my ambitions to marry a wealthy man and own a pair of Christian Louboutin heels (it was the late 2000s), I wrote about a desire to sit in the Houses of Parliament. I was genuinely fascinated by our political system and knew its power to change lives in the way it had changed my own.

But after finally getting my foot in the door, I was shocked by the realities of the job – starting with the selection process. A gruelling schedule of door-knocking to drum up local support for candidates was encouraged, and the campaigning expectations completely took over my life. My hours were tracked mercilessly in an app by the local campaigning team that fed them back to the regional bosses. In the run-up to an election, you are expected to complete five two-hour sessions a week, with an extra weekend session every fortnight on top, alongside your day job. If you don’t make your hours, you face the chop.

Passage source: The Guardian

Question 4. What best reinforces the author’s portrayal of a councillor’s demanding life? 

A) Councillors typically keep their day jobs

B) Extensive training for new councillors

C) Significant pay raise after the first year

D) Most councillors serve only one term

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

A) This option best reinforces the author’s portrayal by highlighting the challenge of balancing council duties with full-time employment. It aligns with the author’s experience of struggling to manage both roles, emphasizing the demanding nature of being a councillor.

B) Extensive training for new councillors would actually contradict the author’s portrayal of a demanding life. It suggests support and preparation, which could make the role easier, not more demanding.

C) A significant pay raise after the first year doesn’t reinforce the demanding nature of the job. Instead, it implies a financial reward that could offset the challenges, contradicting the author’s implication that the role is unrewarding.

D) While this might suggest the job is difficult, it doesn’t directly reinforce the specific demands described by the author. It could be interpreted in various ways, including that councillors choose not to continue for reasons unrelated to the job’s demands.

Question 5. Which scenario challenges the author’s depiction of the rigorous selection process?

A) Optional hour-tracking app for self-monitoring

B) Flexible campaigning hours based on personal circumstances

C) Alternative contribution options beyond door-knocking

D) Majority of candidates finding the process fair

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

B) This directly contradicts the author’s description of a rigid, demanding process. Flexibility in campaigning hours would address the author’s complaint about the strict expectations and time commitments, significantly weakening her portrayal of the selection process.

A) While an optional app would be less strict than the system described, it doesn’t address the core issue of the demanding time commitment required.

C) This option might slightly weaken the argument by offering alternatives to door-knocking, but it doesn’t address the overall time commitment and rigorous nature of the process that the author criticizes.

D) This is a subjective assessment and doesn’t directly challenge the specific issues raised by the author. Candidates might find the process fair despite it being rigorous and demanding.

Question 6. The author’s initial drive to become a councillor likely stemmed from: 

A) Potential financial benefits

B) Aspirations for national political office

C) Genuine fascination with politics

D) Desire to reform the political system

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

This can be inferred from the author’s description of her longstanding interest in politics, watching BBC Parliament for fun as a teenager, and her belief in politics’ power to change lives. The passage emphasizes her genuine fascination with the political system from a young age, making this the most logical inference about her motivation.

A) The passage gives no indication that financial benefits motivated the author. In fact, it implies the opposite, suggesting the role was not financially rewarding. Her described motivations are idealistic rather than financial, focusing on her interest in politics and its potential to effect change.

B) While the author mentions a desire to sit in Parliament in her youth, the passage doesn’t suggest this was her primary motivation for becoming a councillor. This ambition is presented alongside other teenage dreams, and the focus of the passage is on her interest in local politics and the political system as a whole, not specifically on national office.

D) The author expresses interest in the existing political system rather than a desire to reform it. There’s no indication in the passage that she sought to challenge or change the system. Her fascination is described in terms of understanding and participating in the existing system, not reforming it.

Question 7. The passage primarily illustrates:

A) Flaws in councillor selection methods

B) Disillusionment with political ambitions

C) Gap between political dreams and reality

D) Outdated local political practices

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

This best captures the overall theme of the passage, which contrasts the author’s initial enthusiasm and lifelong dream with the challenging realities she encountered as a councillor. The narrative arc moves from her youthful fascination with politics to the harsh realities of the role, emphasizing the gap between expectations and experience.

A) While the selection process is criticized, this is only one aspect of the author’s experience and not the main focus of the entire passage. The selection process is part of a broader narrative about the author’s journey from political aspirant to disillusioned councillor.

B) Although the author does become disillusioned, this option is too broad and doesn’t capture the specific focus on the councillor role and its realities. The passage is more about the specific experience of being a councillor than about political ambitions in general.

D) The passage doesn’t focus on or suggest that local political practices are outdated. The author’s criticism is more about the demanding nature of the role than its modernity. Her complaints focus on the difficulty and stress of the job, not on whether the practices are current or outdated.

Question 8. What assumption underpins the author’s critique of the councillor role?

A) Political positions should be full-time and salaried

B) Quality representation trumps quantity of campaigning

C) Parties should relax candidate selection criteria

D) Councillor duties shouldn’t require personal sacrifice

Correct Answer: B 

Explanation:

This assumption aligns with the author’s implicit criticism of the focus on extensive campaigning and hour-tracking at the expense of other aspects of the role. It suggests that the author believes effective representation is more important than the quantity of time spent campaigning. This reflects her disillusionment with the emphasis on meeting campaigning quotas rather than on the substance of the councillor’s role.

A) The author doesn’t imply that councillor positions should be full-time or salaried. In fact, she mentions the challenge of balancing it with a day job, suggesting an assumption that it’s a part-time role. Her criticism is about the demands of the role, not its part-time nature.

C) While the author criticizes the selection process, assuming parties should relax their criteria goes beyond her specific complaints and isn’t necessarily implied by her critique. Her issue is with the rigidity and demands of the process, not necessarily with the criteria themselves.

D) This is too extreme given the author’s initial enthusiasm for the role. The passage suggests that some level of personal sacrifice was expected, but that the reality exceeded reasonable expectations. The author’s complaint is about the degree of sacrifice required, not the principle of making sacrifices for the role.

Passage 3

Life is tragic simply because the earth turns and the sun inexorably rises and sets, and one day, for each of us, the sun will go down for the last, last time. Perhaps the whole root of our trouble, the human trouble, is that we will sacrifice all the beauty of our lives, will imprison ourselves in totems, taboos, crosses, blood sacrifices, steeples, mosques, races, armies, flags, nations, in order to deny the fact of death, the only fact we have. It seems to me that one ought to rejoice in the fact of death — ought to decide, indeed, to earn one’s death by confronting with passion the conundrum of life. One is responsible for life: It is the small beacon in that terrifying darkness from which we come and to which we shall return.

Passage Source: James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time

Question 9. The passage suggests a paradox in human behavior. What is this paradox?

A) Humans seek beauty but create ugliness

B) People fear death yet sacrifice life’s beauty to deny it

C) Life is tragic because it ends, but death gives it meaning

D) Humans are responsible for life but powerless over death

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

A) While the passage mentions beauty, it doesn’t explicitly state that humans create ugliness. The paradox described is more specific to the relationship between life, death, and human behavior. This option oversimplifies the complex idea presented in the passage.

B) This is the correct answer. The paradox lies in the fact that people fear death and try to deny it, but in doing so, they sacrifice the beauty of their lives. This is directly stated in the passage: “we will sacrifice all the beauty of our lives… in order to deny the fact of death.” The paradox is that in trying to avoid confronting death, people end up diminishing the very life they’re trying to preserve.

C) This option captures elements of the passage but doesn’t represent the central paradox of human behavior. While the passage does suggest that life’s tragic nature comes from its finite quality, and that confronting death can give life meaning, it doesn’t present this as a paradox in human behavior.

D) This contrasts two ideas from the passage but doesn’t capture the paradoxical behavior described. While the passage does suggest that humans are responsible for life and powerless over death, it doesn’t present this as a paradox, but rather as a fact of the human condition.

Question 10. What is the main argument of the passage?

A) Life is inherently tragic due to its finite nature

B) Humans should embrace death rather than deny it

C) Religious and national identities are harmful

D) The meaning of life is found in confronting its challenges

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

A) While the passage starts with the idea that life is tragic due to its finite nature, this is not the main argument being made. It’s more of a premise that the author uses to build their central argument. The passage moves beyond this initial statement to make a more specific claim about how humans should approach life and death.

B) This is the correct answer. The main argument is that humans should embrace or “rejoice in” death rather than deny it. This is evident in the statement: “It seems to me that one ought to rejoice in the fact of death — ought to decide, indeed, to earn one’s death by confronting with passion the conundrum of life.” The author argues that instead of trying to deny death through various cultural and religious practices, people should accept and even celebrate it as a way to live more fully.

C) While the passage does criticize how religious and national identities are used to deny death, it doesn’t argue that these identities are inherently harmful. The author’s critique is more specific to how these identities are used as a means of avoiding the reality of death, rather than a blanket statement about their harmfulness.

D) This captures an element of the argument but isn’t the central point being made. While the passage does suggest that one should confront life’s challenges passionately, this is presented more as a consequence of embracing death rather than the main argument itself. The focus is on the attitude towards death, with the approach to life’s challenges following from that.

Question 11. What is the main flaw in the argument presented in the passage?

A) It assumes all human actions are motivated by the denial of death

B) It oversimplifies complex cultural and religious practices

C) It contradicts itself by calling life tragic while advocating for embracing death

D) It fails to consider that some people might genuinely find meaning in cultural identities

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

The main flaw is that the argument oversimplifies complex cultural and religious practices. The passage reduces various cultural, religious, and national identities to mere attempts to deny death, without considering their deeper meanings or values to individuals and societies.

Detailed explanations for all options:

A) While the passage does suggest that many human actions are motivated by the denial of death, it doesn’t explicitly state that all actions are. The argument focuses on specific cultural and religious practices rather than making a universal claim about all human actions. This makes it a less accurate representation of the flaw than option B.

B) This is the correct answer. The passage oversimplifies complex cultural and religious practices by suggesting they all serve the single purpose of denying death. It lists “totems, taboos, crosses, blood sacrifices, steeples, mosques, races, armies, flags, nations” as if they are all equivalent and serve the same function. This ignores the complex historical, social, and personal significance these elements might have beyond merely denying death.

C) While the passage does call life tragic and advocate for embracing death, this isn’t necessarily a contradiction. The argument suggests that life’s tragic nature (due to its finite quality) is precisely why one should embrace death and live passionately. The apparent contradiction is actually part of the author’s point, not a flaw in the argument.

D) This is a valid criticism of the argument, but it’s not as central or as clearly evident as the oversimplification in option B. While the passage does fail to consider that people might find genuine meaning in cultural identities, this is more of an omission than a central flaw in the argument’s logic. The main issue is how the argument reduces these identities to a single function, which is better captured by option B.

What is Critical Reasoning in CLAT? 

In CLAT, Critical Reasoning is a part of the Logical Reasoning section that evaluates how well you can understand, analyze, and evaluate arguments or statements. Instead of testing factual knowledge, it measures your ability to think logically, identify assumptions, draw inferences, and judge the strength of arguments.

You’ll be given short passages followed by questions that ask you to find conclusions, strengthen or weaken arguments, or identify logical flaws. This section helps law aspirants develop analytical thinking, an essential skill for studying law and interpreting legal reasoning. 

Practicing Critical Reasoning regularly improves both accuracy and decision-making speed in CLAT.

Types of Critical Reasoning Questions in CLAT

Type of Question	What It Tests	Example Question
Assumption-Based Questions	Tests your ability to identify the hidden or unstated assumption behind an argument.	“Which of the following assumptions does the argument rely on?”
Inference-Based Questions	Checks if you can logically infer or deduce information from the given passage.	“Which of the following can be most logically inferred from the passage?”
Strengthen the Argument	Tests your ability to identify facts or statements that make an argument stronger.	“Which statement, if true, best supports the author’s argument?”
Weaken the Argument	Evaluates how well you can find statements that weaken or challenge an argument.	“Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument?”
Conclusion / Main Point	Measures your understanding of the author’s central idea or conclusion.	“What is the main conclusion drawn in the passage?”
Paradox / Resolve the Situation	Tests your skill in resolving apparent contradictions or explaining unusual outcomes.	“Which option best explains the apparent contradiction in the passage?”
Statement & Argument Evaluation	Assesses how well you can judge whether an argument is strong, weak, relevant, or logical.	“Among the following statements, which presents the strongest argument?”

How to Practice CLAT Critical Reasoning Questions Effectively?

Start with Basic Concepts

Understand how arguments, assumptions, and conclusions work before solving passages. This foundation helps you approach critical reasoning questions for CLAT with confidence and accuracy.

Practice One Type at a Time

Focus on a single question type—like inference or assumption—each day. It improves pattern recognition and clarity of approach.

Read Passages Actively

Don’t skim. Read each statement carefully and identify the claim, reasoning, and conclusion. Active reading helps in spotting logical connections quickly.

Review Every Mistake Thoroughly

Go beyond right and wrong answers. Understand why an option is correct and others are not. This reflection helps build sharper reasoning skills.

Simulate Real Exam Conditions

Practice full-length passages under timed conditions. It helps you balance speed with accuracy and manage pressure effectively.

Revise Regularly with Notes

Maintain a short notebook for common reasoning patterns, keywords, and tricky logic traps to revise before the exam.

Use Topic-Wise Practice PDFs

Attempt curated PDFs containing 300+ CLAT critical reasoning questions with detailed explanations to track progress and improve weak areas.

Expert Tips from Law Prep Tutorial’s Critical Reasoning Mentors

1. Focus on Logic, Not Facts

Many students waste time verifying facts. CLAT questions test reasoning, not general knowledge. Always judge arguments logically instead of factually.

2. Build Reading Stamina Early

CLAT passages are lengthy. Start reading editorials or opinion articles daily to develop focus and improve your analytical reading speed.

3. Learn to Eliminate Options

Instead of hunting for the right answer instantly, learn to eliminate obviously wrong options first. It increases your chances of choosing correctly under pressure.

4. Practice Daily in Short Sessions

Even 20–30 minutes of daily reasoning practice builds consistency. Consistency matters more than random long study hours.

5. Attempt Sectional Tests Weekly

After mastering the basics, take weekly sectional tests to evaluate improvement and adapt your strategy for tougher mocks.

Related Resources for CLAT Preparation

• CLAT Mock Tests
• CLAT Previous Year Papers
• CLAT Sample Papers
• CLAT Preparation Books
• CLAT Syllabus PDF
• Online CLAT Coaching
• CLAT Legal Reasoning Practice Questions
• CLAT Logical Reasoning Practice Questions

FAQs About CLAT Critical Reasoning Questions