CLAT 2026 Exam Analysis: Expert Review & No-CR Shock

The CLAT 2026 exam analysis reveals that this year’s paper was moderate in difficulty, with a clear shift in the Logical Reasoning section that surprised most aspirants. 

While English, GK, and Legal Reasoning followed predictable patterns and remained accessible, Logical Reasoning was dominated entirely by Analytical Reasoning puzzles, with no Critical Reasoning passages, causing serious time pressure for many students. 

Quantitative Techniques, on the other hand, was one of the easiest and most scoring sections.

Overall, the CLAT exam analysis 2026 shows a balanced paper with familiar reading-based sections and one unexpectedly challenging reasoning component. 

We have covered section-wise difficulty, ideal attempts, expert insights, expected CLAT cut-offs, and marks-vs-rank predictions to help you evaluate your performance accurately.

Upcoming CLAT Exams:

• CLAT 2027
• CLAT 2028

CLAT 2026 Exam Analysis: Difficulty Level

CLAT 2026 was moderate in difficulty. Find the full analysis below:

Section	Difficulty Level	Key Reason for Difficulty Rating
English Language	Moderate	Dense interdisciplinary passages, contextual vocabulary, and tricky inference questions created time pressure.
GK & Current Affairs	Easy–Moderate	Mostly direct questions; high accuracy potential; one repeated question; familiar recent events.
Legal Reasoning	Easy–Moderate	Reasoning questions were straightforward; minor Legal GK elements added slight challenge.
Logical Reasoning	Moderate	Complete shift to puzzle-based Analytical Reasoning; no CR; two sets reached CAT-level difficulty; high time consumption.
Quantitative Techniques	Easy–Moderate	Basic arithmetic and percentages; one calculative set; overall predictable and quickly solvable.

CLAT 2026 Exam Analysis: Sectional Review

Section	Passages	Questions	Good Attempts	Good Score Range	Time Required	Accuracy Potential
English Language	5	24	19–22	18–20	20–25 minutes (Tight)	Medium
GK & Current Affairs	5	28	23–25	23–25	7–8 minutes (Comfortable)	High
Legal Reasoning	5	30	27+	26–29	18–22 minutes	High
Logical Reasoning	4	26	20	18.5–21	30–35 minutes (Tight)	Medium
Quantitative Techniques	2	12	10–12	8–10	12–15 minutes (Comfortable)	High

Key Topics Asked in CLAT 2026 Question Paper

The CLAT 2026 question paper featured these key topics in each section:

Section	Key Topics Covered
English Language	• Inference • Tone • Literary devices • Contextual vocabulary • Political theory • Evolutionary biology • Historical movements • Allegory • Narrative interpretation
GK & Current Affairs	• SCO developments • Chess championships • Trump’s tariffs & sanctions • International plane crash • Pahalgam terror attack • Operation Sindoor
Legal Reasoning	• Good governance • Preamble • Article 200 • LGBTQI+ rights  • Government policy analysis  • Constitutional interpretation
Logical Reasoning	• Blood relations  • Puzzle-based AR  • Multi-step reasoning • Inference puzzles • Conclusion and flaw questions embedded in puzzles
Quantitative Techniques	• Ratio • Percentage • Speed maths • Arithmetic operations  • Basic Data Interpretation

The CLAT 2026 analysis shows that topics were diverse across sections, reflecting CLAT’s shift toward deeper comprehension and analytical thinking. 

• English drew from interdisciplinary sources—history, politics, literature, and science. 
• GK focused on major global headlines. 
• Legal included constitutional themes mixed with governance and rights-based issues.
• Logical Reasoning leaned heavily on puzzle-driven arithmetic reasoning instead of critical reasoning. 
• QT remained rooted in basic arithmetic, ensuring scoring stability. 

English Language – CLAT 2026 Exam Analysis

The CLAT 2026 exam analysis shows that questions predominantly tested inference, tone, central ideas, vocabulary meanings, and recognition of literary devices. While vocabulary words such as “theosophist,” “boorish,” and “knacker” were straightforward for experienced readers, inference-based questions with closely worded options required more caution. 

Students found the section lengthy due to the reading load, especially in fiction and political excerpts.

Parameter	Details
Difficulty Level	Moderate
Total Passages Appeared	5 (Diverse themes including history, politics, science, and literature)
Passage Sources/Themes	• Non-Cooperation Movement (History) • Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari (Evolutionary Biology) • Francis Fukuyama’s The Origins of Political Order (Democratization) • The Hungry Stones by Rabindranath Tagore (Narrative) • Animal Farm by George Orwell (Allegory)
Total Questions Appeared	24
Good Attempts	19–22
Good Score Range	18–20
Key Topics That Appeared	• Reading comprehension & inference • Tone analysis • Literary devices (hyperbole, allegory, irony) • Vocabulary-in-context • Political/historical analysis • Species classification and evolution  • Narrative themes
Question Pattern Trend	Consistent with past papers; RC-based questions with surprises in dense literary excerpts and interdisciplinary themes
Time Required vs Time Available	Tight
Accuracy Potential	Medium (high for vocabulary, lower for close inference-based questions)
Student Reaction	Found some passages unfamiliar and slightly tricky; overall lengthy but doable with strong reading practice
Major Surprises / Deviations	No major changes; vocabulary density and literary excerpts required deeper reading; fiction passages required more intensive focus
Faculty Remarks	Overall doable; 2–3 tricky questions; mixture of literary, historical, political, and scientific texts tested depth of comprehension and vocabulary strength

The English section in the CLAT 2026 analysis was rated as moderate, driven by dense passages, interdisciplinary themes, and contextual vocabulary testing. 

Students faced five passages that drew from a wide range of sources. This variety demanded strong comprehension skills and quick adaptability across genres.

Eventually, the English portion of the analysis of the CLAT 2026 exam paper confirms that the section was highly manageable for students with regular reading habits and RC practice, though time pressure and intensive passages posed challenges for others.

Important Resources After CLAT Exam:

CLAT 2026 Allotment List	CLAT 2026 Result
CLAT 2026 Toppers	CLAT 2026 College Predictor
CLAT 2026 Rank Predictor	CLAT 2026 Counselling
CLAT 2026 Result

GK & Current Affairs – CLAT 2026 Exam Analysis

The GK section in the CLAT 2026 analysis remained one of the most comfortable and high-scoring parts of the exam. 

Parameter	Details
Difficulty Level	Easy–Moderate
Total Passages Appeared	05
Total Questions Appeared	28
Good Attempts	23–25
Good Score Range	23–25
Key Topics That Appeared	• Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) developments • Major Chess events • Donald Trump’s tariff & sanctions policies • International plane crash incident • Pahalgam terror attack & Operation Sindoor
Question Pattern Trend	Focus on prominent, high-visibility topics; only 1–2 questions required reading hints from passages
Time Required vs Time Available	7–8 minutes (comfortable)
Accuracy Potential	High
Major Surprises / Deviations	One repeated question (Q39 from CLAT 2023)
Faculty Remarks	Section aligned with 2020–2023 trend; good diversification across global and national current affairs

The section featured 28 questions across 5 passages, covering widely reported topics such as developments at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), significant international chess events, Trump’s tariff and sanctions policies, a major plane crash incident, and the Pahalgam terror attack linked to Operation Sindoor. 

The questions were direct and rooted in recent news cycles, giving well-prepared aspirants a strong scoring advantage.

Very few questions required deep passage reading, and most could be answered through prior awareness. 

Logical Reasoning – CLAT 2026 Exam Analysis

The Logical Reasoning section in the CLAT 2026 analysis turned out to be one of the most unexpected components of the exam. Instead of the usual mix of critical reasoning passages and argument-based questions, students encountered entirely puzzle-driven Analytical Reasoning, with no traditional Critical Reasoning at all.

This shift surprised many aspirants who had focused heavily on CR in preparation. The section featured 26 questions across 4 passages, with topics centred around blood relations, multi-step puzzles, and inference-based reasoning embedded within AR structures.

Parameter	Details
Difficulty Level	Moderate
Total Passages Appeared	4
Total Questions Appeared	26
Good Attempts	20
Good Score Range	18.5–21
Key Topics That Appeared	• Blood Relations • Puzzle-Based AR • Multi-step Logical Sets • Inference Puzzles • Conclusion-based Puzzles
Question Pattern Trend	Critical Reasoning was completely omitted. Questions on flaw, inference, and conclusion appeared within puzzle formats rather than standard CR passages.
Time Required vs Time Available	30–35 minutes (Tight)
Accuracy Potential	Medium
Student Reaction	Many were shocked to see only Analytical Reasoning and no CR; puzzles were different from typical AR sets seen in mocks.
Major Surprises / Deviations	26 questions instead of 24; zero passage-based Critical Reasoning; heavy reliance on puzzle-based AR.
Faculty Remarks	Puzzle-based AR dominated the section; two passages reached CAT-level difficulty. Time required was higher than expected, reducing available time for other sections.

Based on the CLAT 2026 exam analysis, the difficulty varied across passages, with at least two sets reaching CAT-level complexity, requiring significant time and layered logic. 

Most students reported spending 30–35 minutes here, which affected time allocation for other sections. Accuracy potential remained medium due to the multi-step nature of questions.

Must Know for Every CLAT Aspirant:

CLAT Eligibility Criteria	CLAT Marking Scheme
CLAT Age Limit	Best Books for CLAT
How to Prepare for CLAT?	How to Prepare for CLAT?
CLAT Exam Pattern	CLAT Syllabus

Legal Reasoning – CLAT 2026 Exam Analysis

The Legal Reasoning section in the CLAT 2026 exam analysis was largely comfortable and aligned with what well-prepared students expected. With 5 passages and 30 questions, the section balanced conceptual understanding with reading-based reasoning.

Parameter	Details
Difficulty Level	Easy to Moderate
Total Passages Appeared	5
Total Questions Appeared	30
Good Attempts	27+
Good Score Range	26–29
Key Topics That Appeared	Good Governance The Preamble Article 200 LGBTQI+ Rights Government Policies
Question Pattern Trend	Passages on Government Policies and the Preamble leaned more toward Legal GK than pure reasoning, requiring some prior knowledge.
Time Required vs Time Available	18–22 minutes
Accuracy Potential	High
Student Reaction	Found the section easy to moderate; most were able to attempt it confidently.
Major Surprises / Deviations	Presence of Legal GK–type questions made certain parts slightly challenging.
Faculty Remarks	The section was highly doable; core legal reasoning passages were straightforward with answers traceable directly from the text.

Most legal reasoning passages were straightforward, and students could locate the reasoning or conclusion directly within the text, making accuracy high. 

However, certain passages—especially those on Good Governance, the Preamble, Article 200, LGBTQI+ rights, and government policies—showed a tilt toward Legal GK, requiring light prior familiarity with constitutional or governance concepts.

In the CLAT 2026 analysis, this shift created minor challenges for students who relied purely on passage-based logic. 

Still, the overall tone remained easy to moderate, and most aspirants completed the section comfortably within 18–22 minutes. 

Quantitative Techniques – CLAT 2026 Exam Analysis

The Quantitative Techniques section in the CLAT 2026 exam analysis emerged as one of the simplest and most manageable parts of the paper. With 2 passages and 12 questions, QT heavily focused on fundamental topics such as Ratio, Percentage, and Speed Maths, all of which appeared in predictable formats. 

Parameter	Details
Difficulty Level	Easy–Moderate
Total Passages Appeared	2
Total Questions Appeared	12
Good Attempts	10–12
Good Score Range	8–10
Key Topics That Appeared	Ratio, Percentage, Speed Maths
Question Pattern Trend	No major changes; no arithmetic-based caselets like those in sample papers
Time Required vs Time Available	Comfortable; solvable within 12–15 minutes
Accuracy Potential	High
Student Reaction	Very easy; first passage slightly calculative, second passage very easy
Major Surprises / Deviations	No surprise element
Faculty Remarks	Section was easy, highly doable, and could be completed within 12–15 minutes with no unexpected variations.

Students reported that the first passage required slightly more calculation, but the second passage was extremely straightforward, making the section overall easy to moderate.

As highlighted in the CLAT 2026 analysis, no new patterns, caselets, or arithmetic-heavy surprises appeared—something many students found reassuring. The entire section could be completed comfortably within 12–15 minutes, with high accuracy potential for anyone familiar with basic quantitative concepts. 

Live Analysis of CLAT 2026 Exam: Video

CLAT 2026 Exam Analysis: Student Reactions

CLAT 2026 Cut-Off Marks for Top NLUs

If you aspire to get admission in one of the top NLUs, then the CLAT cut-off marks 2026 will be as follows (expected):

NLU	General	OBC	SC	ST	EWS	PWD
NLSIU Bengaluru Cut Off	98	95	90	86	96	80
NALSAR Hyderabad Cut Off	95	93	86	82	94	75
NLIU Bhopal Cut Off	90	88	82	78	89	70
WBNUJS Kolkata Cut Off	93	90	84	80	92	78
NLU Jodhpur Cut Off	91	89	81	76	90	76
HNLU Raipur	86	83	74	70	85	65
GNLU Gandhinagar	89	84	76	72	86	60
GNLU Silvassa	82	79	70	66	80	55
RMLNLU Lucknow	86	84	76	72	85	55
RGNUL Punjab	88	83	72	68	84	56
CNLU Patna	84	81	71	67	82	50
NUALS Kochi	83	80	70	66	81	48
NLUO Odisha	84	80	70	66	82	46
NUSRL Ranchi	82	79	69	65	80	47
NLUJA Assam	81	78	68	64	79	45
DSNLU Visakhapatnam	81	78	68	64	79	45
TNNLU Tiruchirappalli	80	76	66	62	78	44
MNLU Mumbai	88	83	72	68	85	50
MNLU Nagpur	78	75	65	61	76	43
MNLU Aurangabad	77	73	63	58	74	42
HPNLU Shimla	76	72	62	57	73	40
DNLU Jabalpur	75	71	61	56	72	35
DBRANLU Sonepat	75	71	61	56	72	34
NLUT Agartala	74	70	60	55	70	32

CLAT 2026 Marks vs Rank

Below is the CLAT marks and rank 2026:

Marks Range (CLAT 2026)	CLAT Rank Range	What It Usually Means
95+	AIR 1 – 50	Almost certain NLSIU/NALSAR zone
90 – 95	AIR 50 – 500	Strong chances for top 5 NLUs
85 – 90	AIR 500 – 1,500	Good chances for top 10 NLUs
80 – 85	AIR 1,500 – 3,000	Decent chances in mid-tier NLUs
75 – 80	AIR 3,000 – 5,000	Newer NLUs become possible
70 – 75	AIR 5,000 – 7,000	Lower NLUs + state colleges
65 – 70	AIR 7,000 – 10,000	Limited NLU chances
Below 60	AIR 12,000+	Explore private universities

CLAT Exam Analysis 2026 – What High Scorers Did Right

1. Smart Passage Selection

Top scorers avoided unnecessarily long or confusing passages and picked high-scoring ones first, saving precious minutes for LR and QT.

2. Controlled Attempt Strategy

They attempted only questions they were confident in, avoiding the trap of over-attempting which leads to negative marking.

3. Consistent Mock-Test Practice

Regular CLAT mock tests helped them identify weak areas, manage time effectively, and anticipate question patterns seen again in CLAT 2026.

4. Strong Reading Discipline

Reading editorials, articles, and reports daily helped build comprehension skills essential for English, Legal, LR, and QT.

5. Staying Calm Under Pressure

Top performers maintained accuracy by staying composed even when encountering tricky LR or QT sets.

What This CLAT 2026 Exam Analysis Means for CLAT 2027 Aspirants?

• Build strong reading habits early; CLAT is now a reading-heavy exam.
• Prioritise comprehension and reasoning over memorisation.
• Solve at least 40–50 CLAT mocks before the exam.
• Analyse mistakes deeply — not just marks.
• Follow trends to predict question style and difficulty for CLAT 2027.

FAQs About CLAT 2026 Question Paper Analysis

Know more about Law Colleges & Universities in India:

List of NLUs in India	CLAT Colleges in India
NLSIU Bangalore	NLU Prayagraj
NALSAR Hyderabad	NLU Delhi
NLU Jodhpur	NLIU Bhopal
NUJS Kolkata	IIULER Goa
MNLU Nagpur