UNFOLDING OF CLAT EXAMS: HISTORY AND EVOLUTION

A unified national entrance exam, the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), is required for admission to 22 National Law Universities (NLU) in India. These scores are also used by the majority of Indian private law schools for admittance. For admission to an integrated undergraduate program in law, either BA-LLB or BBA-LLB and for a Master of Laws (LLM) given by these law schools, the test is taken following the Higher Secondary School Examination or the 12th grade.

Evolution of CLAT: History

• The NLUs had the power to administer the exams independently prior to CLAT’s implementation. Each college required the candidates to complete their application forms and examinations on their own. They were only admitted if their scores were higher than the designated cut-off points.
  
• However, for the 12^th grade students who were required to show up for numerous institutions and courses, this process got quite stressful. Furthermore, each NLU had a different exam pattern, making the test harder for the applicants.
  
• Varun Bhagat therefore petitioned the Supreme Court of India in 2006 in an effort to assist the pupils. The petitioners requested a single law entrance test in their PIL. Following consideration of the PIL, the court issued an order in support of the students, which led to the implementation of the current CLAT exam pattern.
  
• The CLAT Consortium was established in 2015 after member NLUs discussed founding the Consortium with the greater good in mind. In 2015, Shamnad Bahir filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) emphasizing the need for a permanent secretariat and body to investigate the CLAT.
  
• Following its registration in Bangalore in accordance with the Karnataka Co-operative Society Act, 2019, which 16 NLUs signed to become the consortium’s founding members, the Consortium came into being legally. After that, the remaining NLUs became members of the Consortium. Three people are on it permanently. The consortium’s general counsel selects the conveners, vice presidents, and presidents each year to oversee the CLAT.
  
• The Consortium’s ex-officio secretary is the vice-chancellor of NLSIU in Bangalore. In addition to administering the CLAT for undergraduate and postgraduate programs at the participating universities, the Consortium’s primary goal is to advance high-quality legal education across all of its member institutions.

NLU Admissions Procedure Prior to the CLAT Exam

• Each NLU had a unique entrance exam prior to the launch of the CLAT exam. Applicants from Best CLAT Coaching institute had to expressly prepare for and show up for the exam in order to be admitted to any NLU.
  
• For example, in order to get admitted to NLU Lucknow, a candidate needed to take the entrance exam. A candidate had to show up for the appropriate exam if they wished to try for admission in more than one NLU.

CLAT Consortium: Objectives

• The CLAT Consortium facilitates international cooperation in the field of Indian law studies.
  
• to create standardized policies in accordance with international standards for the legal courses, semester system, admissions procedure, and grading scheme.
  
• To start implementing changes in Indian legal education in order to enhance national growth.
  
• Aiming for the nation’s best legal education, CLAT Consortium enhances collaboration between NLUs and other legal institutions. Learn more about the CLAT syllabus and begin getting ready for the forthcoming test by registering with the Best CLAT Coaching institute.
  
• To promote new curricula, teaching methods, and teaching resources in the field of legal studies and related subjects, as well as to provide teaching support to academics, universities, and other educational establishments.
  
• On behalf of all participating NLUs, the CLAT Consortium oversees, oversees, and controls the CLAT, the national common entrance examination for law, and helps students get admitted to different NLUs around the nation.
  
• To permit any other school to use the CLAT results for any reason in accordance with the Society’s bylaws, including admission, appointments, or other uses.
  
• The CLAT Consortium facilitates legal study in comparative, international, and national domains.
• to introduce new legal subjects such as WTO and GATS, environmental law, energy law, business law, international law, terrorism law, constitutional law, energy law, maritime law, and many more.

Examination Pattern: CLAT 2024

The CLAT examination is being administered by the authorities at the UG and PG levels. The CLAT UG is for admission to the LLB Integrated and BA LLB programs that are provided by different NLUs. On the other hand, CLAT PG is intended for individuals who want to get admitted to National Law Universities’ LLM programs. To know about the highlights of the exam, you must enroll with the Best CLAT Coaching institute.

CLAT UG Programs

• The CLAT UG exam is administered by the authorities using pen and paper.
• There are 120 multiple-choice questions in the examination.
• For every wrong response, a deduction of 0.25 is applied.

CLAT PG Programs

• The CLAT PG exam is administered by the authorities using pen and paper.
• There are 120 multiple-choice questions in the examination.
• For every wrong response, a deduction of 0.25 is applied.

One of the esteemed examinations that the NLUs administer each year to assess candidates for admission to BA, LLB, and LLM programs is the CLAT. Those who pass these exams can apply for admission under National Law Universities.