The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026, the gateway to India's premier National Law Universities (NLUs), witnessed an overwhelmingly positive turnout in Lucknow on Sunday. The exam, organized by Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU) in collaboration with the NLU consortium, recorded an impressive 97% attendance at the city's test centres.
Strong Lucknow Presence in National Law Arena
Out of the 5,365 candidates assigned to the Lucknow centre, a substantial 5,212 aspirants appeared for the crucial test, with only 153 remaining absent. This high participation rate underscores Lucknow's significant and growing footprint in the competitive landscape of legal education in India. Across Uttar Pradesh, the exam was conducted seamlessly at 17 centres spread over 11 districts, where a total of 14,578 candidates took the test.
Nationally, CLAT 2026 accommodated 92,344 candidates across 173 test centres. All participants completed the mandatory verification and entry procedures before attempting the paper.
Candidates and Experts Analyse the CLAT 2026 Paper
Feedback from test-takers and mentors suggests the paper was largely student-friendly. Speaking to sources, candidates described the overall difficulty level as moderate. The exam notably included questions based on recent national and international developments.
Nitin Rakesh, a CLAT expert mentor, provided a section-wise breakdown. "CLAT 2026 was a student-friendly paper in most sections," he said. He pointed out that the legal reasoning and general knowledge (GK) sections leaned towards the easier side. However, the logical reasoning segment demanded deeper analytical thinking, which well-prepared candidates navigated effectively.
Candidate Sumit Kumar shared his experience, stating, "The English section was moderate, featuring comprehension-driven questions that required careful reading but were doable." He added that the GK and current affairs section ranged from easy to moderate, with questions largely drawn from recent events and a fair share of legal general knowledge. Many students found this section predictable and scoring.
What the High Turnout Signifies
The near-perfect attendance in Lucknow, coupled with the smooth conduct across Uttar Pradesh, highlights the robust administrative framework for major entrance exams in the state. It also reflects the undiminished allure of a career in law among the youth. With five centres and over 3,000 aspirants, Lucknow has firmly established itself as a major hub for legal education aspirants. The moderate difficulty level, as reported, likely provided a fair chance for well-prepared students to secure a good score, setting the stage for the next phase of admissions into India's top law schools.
