NLU Consortium Appoints High-Profile Expert Committee to Overhaul CLAT from 2027, Invites Public Feedback

NEW DELHI – In a significant move signaling a major transformation in Indian legal education, the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) has established a high-profile Expert Committee to undertake a comprehensive review and recommend sweeping reforms for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). The initiative, aimed at revamping the examination framework from CLAT 2027 onwards, seeks to bolster the test's academic integrity, fairness, and alignment with global standards for legal aptitude assessment.

The Advisory Board of the NLU Consortium, chaired by the eminent former Supreme Court Judge, Justice Indu Malhotra, announced the formation of the committee, tasking it with a forward-looking mandate. "These reforms aim to strengthen academic integrity, fairness, and global relevance of the exam from CLAT 2027 onwards," a statement from the Advisory Board confirmed, setting a clear objective for what could be the most substantial overhaul of the CLAT since its inception.

This development comes at a critical juncture for legal education in India, as law schools grapple with the evolving demands of the legal profession in a globalized world. The CLAT, as the primary gateway to the country's premier National Law Universities, plays a pivotal role in shaping the incoming cohorts of legal professionals. The proposed reforms are therefore not merely procedural but are poised to have a profound, long-term impact on legal pedagogy and the future of the Indian bar and bench.

A Committee of Global Legal Acumen

Reflecting the seriousness and international scope of the endeavor, the Consortium has assembled a committee of distinguished legal academics with deep roots in both Indian and leading global institutions. The panel’s composition underscores a commitment to integrating international best practices while remaining sensitive to the unique context of Indian legal education.

The committee will be co-chaired by two of the most respected names in the legal academy:

• Prof. Dev Saif Gangjee , Professor of Law at St. Hilda’s College, University of Oxford.
  
  
• Prof. Tarunabh Khaitan , Professor of Public Law at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

They are joined by an equally illustrious group of members:

• Prof. Shyamkrishna Balganesh , Sol Goldman Professor of Law at Columbia Law School.
  
  
• Prof. Pritam Baruah , Professor and Dean of the School of Law at BML Munjal University.
  
  
• Prof. Surabhi Ranganathan , Professor of International Law at the University of Cambridge.

This "dream team" of legal scholars brings a wealth of experience in diverse fields, from intellectual property and public law to international law and legal theory. Their collective expertise is expected to provide a robust, multi-faceted approach to reimagining an examination that annually sees over 70,000 aspirants vie for a few thousand coveted seats.

The Mandate: A Root-and-Branch Review

The Expert Committee's remit is extensive, covering a root-and-branch evaluation of the CLAT framework for both its undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) versions. The core focus is to ensure the exam transcends rote learning and effectively measures the core competencies required for success in law school and beyond. Key areas under scrutiny include:

• Question Design and Difficulty: The committee will analyze the current format of passage-based, multiple-choice questions to determine if they adequately test higher-order thinking skills. This includes evaluating the complexity of the passages, the nuance of the questions, and the plausibility of distractors.
  
  
• Core Competency Assessment: A central task is to refine the exam's ability to measure "analytical reasoning, reading comprehension, and legal aptitude." This may involve re-evaluating the weightage given to different sections—English Language, Current Affairs including General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques.
  
  
• Syllabus and Scope: The committee will review the implicit syllabus of the CLAT-UG, which is currently based on 12th-grade level comprehension skills. The goal is to ensure the content remains relevant, contemporary, and free from ambiguities that can lead to post-exam challenges and litigation.
  
  
• Postgraduate Examination (CLAT-PG): The often-criticized CLAT-PG will also undergo a thorough review to better assess its suitability for LL.M. admissions and its alignment with the expectations of advanced legal scholarship.

Benchmarking Against Global Standards: A Comparative Analysis

A significant and forward-thinking aspect of the committee's mandate is the comparative analysis of CLAT with leading international law entrance examinations. The panel is explicitly tasked to "compare the CLAT exam pattern and syllabus with international law entrance tests such as the LSAT (U.S.) and LNAT (U.K.)."

This exercise is not merely academic. The Law School Admission Test (LSAT), used primarily in the United States and Canada, is renowned for its rigorous testing of logical and analytical reasoning, devoid of any requirement for prior legal knowledge. The National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT) in the United Kingdom similarly focuses on aptitude, testing reading comprehension and verbal reasoning skills, and includes an essay component to assess writing ability.

By studying these models, the committee aims to "identify best practices that could enhance the Indian law entrance ecosystem while maintaining fairness and inclusivity." This could lead to innovative changes, such as modifying section distributions, introducing new question types, or even exploring different modes of assessment to create a more holistic evaluation of a candidate's potential.

A Call for Public Participation: Fostering Transparency and Inclusivity

In a welcome move towards transparency and stakeholder engagement, the NLU Consortium has opened a window for public feedback. This inclusive approach invites students, educators, law school administrators, legal professionals, and coaching institutes to contribute their perspectives and suggestions for the reform process.

Interested parties can submit their views through a dedicated Google Form, which will be active from October 15, 2025, to November 4, 2025 .

The Advisory Board has assured that all recommendations received will be meticulously reviewed before the final reform roadmap for CLAT 2027 is charted. This consultative process reflects the Consortium’s commitment to building a consensus-driven framework that serves the entire legal community.

This initiative represents a pivotal moment for legal education in India. By proactively seeking to refine its primary selection tool, the NLU Consortium is not just tweaking an exam; it is fundamentally re-evaluating what it means to be 'law school ready' in the 21st century. The outcomes of this high-level review will undoubtedly shape the future of legal academia and the legal profession for years to come.