NLU Consortium Appoints High-Profile Expert Committee to Overhaul CLAT from 2027

New Delhi – The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) has initiated a significant move to reshape the future of legal education in India by constituting a high-profile Expert Committee to recommend comprehensive reforms for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). The Advisory Board of the Consortium, chaired by former Supreme Court Judge, Justice Indu Malhotra, announced the formation of the committee, tasked with a ground-up review of both the undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) examinations.

The reforms, which are slated for implementation from the CLAT 2027 cycle onwards, aim to address long-standing concerns and debates surrounding the examination's structure, quality, and efficacy in selecting candidates for the country's premier law schools. "The Expert Committee has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of the CLAT to recommend reforms aimed at strengthening its academic quality, fairness, and relevance," the official announcement stated.

This forward-looking initiative signals the Consortium's intent to move beyond incremental annual changes and undertake a foundational reassessment of the test that serves as the gateway for hundreds of thousands of law aspirants each year.

A Committee of Global Legal Academics

Underscoring the seriousness of the endeavor, the Consortium has assembled a committee of distinguished legal academics with affiliations to some of the world's most prestigious universities. The composition of the committee suggests a focus on international best practices and rigorous academic standards.

The committee will be co-chaired by: * Prof. Dev Saif Gangjee , Professor of Law at St. Hilda's College, University of Oxford. * Prof. Tarunabh Khaitan , Professor of Public Law at the LSE School of Law.

The other eminent members include: * Prof. Shyamkrishna Balganesh , Sol Goldman Professor of Law, Columbia Law School. * Prof. Pritam Baruah , Professor and Dean, School of Law, BML Munjal University. * Prof. Surabhi Ranganathan , Professor of International Law, University of Cambridge.

The inclusion of scholars with deep expertise in diverse fields—from intellectual property and constitutional law to international law—indicates a holistic approach to redefining the competencies that a modern law entrance examination should test. Their global perspective is expected to be instrumental in benchmarking CLAT against its international counterparts.

Mandate for a Root-and-Branch Review

The committee's terms of reference are extensive, covering every critical aspect of the examination. This is not a superficial review but a mandate for a potential structural overhaul. The key areas of focus are:

• Quality and Design of Questions: The committee will scrutinize the current question patterns in both UG and PG papers. The core objective is to ensure that questions move beyond rote memorization to "effectively assess the skills and competencies expected of future law students." This could lead to significant changes in the comprehension-based format, the complexity of legal reasoning passages, and the analytical skills being tested.

• Overall Test Structure and Methodology: A review of the examination's architecture is on the agenda. This includes the weightage and balance between different sections (e.g., English, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques, and General Knowledge), the format of questions (e.g., Multiple Choice Questions vs. other formats), and the entire evaluation methodology. Issues of timing, scoring, and negative marking will likely fall under this purview.

• Syllabus Alignment: The committee will assess the prescribed syllabus for both CLAT-UG and CLAT-PG to ensure it is "pedagogically sound and aligned with the objectives of legal education in India." For the PG exam, in particular, this could lead to a re-evaluation of its relevance for students transitioning into specialized LL.M. programs and legal academia.

• Comparative Study of Global Best Practices: In a crucial step towards modernization, the committee will undertake a comparative study of leading international law admission tests, specifically citing the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) used in the United States and the National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT) from the United Kingdom. This analysis will help identify best practices in assessing critical thinking, reading comprehension, and argumentative skills that could be adapted for the Indian context.

Legal Implications and the Road Ahead

The formation of this committee is a tacit acknowledgment of the criticisms CLAT has faced over the years, including issues of predictability, technical glitches, and questions about whether it truly tests aptitude or simply coaching-driven preparation. By setting a 2027 implementation timeline, the Consortium is allowing ample time for a thorough, evidence-based review, followed by a transition period for students and educators to adapt to any new format.

For the legal community, the implications are profound. A reformed CLAT could fundamentally alter the profile of students entering NLUs. A greater emphasis on innate analytical and reading skills over coached knowledge could level the playing field for students from diverse backgrounds. For law schools, a more accurately calibrated test would mean an intake of students better equipped for the rigors of a demanding legal curriculum.

The review of the CLAT-PG is equally significant. A revamped postgraduate exam could better serve its purpose of identifying candidates suited for academic research and specialization, thereby strengthening the pipeline for future law faculty and legal scholars in India.

A Call for Public and Stakeholder Participation

In a move to ensure transparency and inclusivity, the Expert Committee has invited public participation in the reform process. A call has been issued for suggestions, comments, and feedback from all stakeholders—including students, parents, teachers, coaching institutes, and legal professionals—on all aspects of the committee's mandate.

Inputs can be submitted via a dedicated Google Form, with the submission window open from October 15, 2025, to November 4, 2025 . This consultative approach is a welcome step, allowing the committee to gather a wide range of perspectives before finalizing its recommendations.

As the committee begins its deliberations, the entire legal education ecosystem will be watching closely. The outcomes of this review have the potential to set the standard for legal education in India for the next decade, shaping not just the careers of aspiring lawyers but the very future of the legal profession.