LLM Entrance Exams in India 2027: CLAT PG, AILET PG, CUET PG

The main LLM entrance exams in India for 2027 admission are CLAT PG (Consortium of NLUs, 6 December 2026), AILET PG (NLU Delhi, 13 December 2026) and CUET PG (NTA, expected in March 2027). CLAT PG is a 120-question passage-based paper for the participating National Law Universities, AILET PG is NLU Delhi’s own test, and CUET PG is the common test used by many central and other universities. You can sit all three, because their dates do not clash.

LLM entrance exams in India: what each one gets you

CLAT PG is the route to the one-year LL.M. at the participating NLUs, with admission by rank and counselling. The Consortium’s instructions say seat numbers and reservation policy may be changed by the NLUs, and not every NLU in the CLAT list runs an LL.M. Read the detailed seat and fee position in LLM through CLAT PG.

AILET PG is for one institution, NLU Delhi’s one-year LL.M. for the 2027-28 session. Seventy seats are filled on AILET merit, with ten more for foreign nationals and OCI/PIO candidates, who do not take the test. NLU Delhi does not admit through CLAT.

CUET PG is a gateway test for many universities that join the NTA process, with each university setting its own eligibility, reservation and cut-offs. In the 2026 cycle, the LL.M. paper was COQP14 and universities such as the University of Delhi and Banaras Hindu University used CUET PG for LL.M. admission. Confirm the 2027 paper code and participating universities in NTA’s bulletin when it comes.

CLAT PG vs AILET PG: the real differences

1. Style. CLAT PG gives long extracts from judgments, statutes and regulations and tests issue, related law, summary and application. The AILET PG pattern, as reported, is 100 objective questions with negative marking; check NLU Delhi’s notification for the exact paper before you plan.
2. Gap. The two papers are a week apart, so preparation for one carries into the other, but AILET’s application window runs till 10 November, so you can still apply there after CLAT’s closes.
3. Target. CLAT PG opens many NLUs at once. AILET PG opens only NLU Delhi, and its 70 test-based seats are fewer than the intake of several NLUs.

CUET PG for LLM: different test, different preparation

CUET PG is shorter per question: 75 questions in 90 minutes, +4 for a correct answer and minus 1 for a wrong one, in the 2026 pattern. Questions test subject knowledge directly, not through long extracts. The 2026 syllabus for the LL.M. paper covered the core subjects of the LL.B., including Constitutional Law, Contract, Torts, Criminal Law, Evidence and Jurisprudence, so the same notes serve you, but you need quick recall and fewer passages. Read our guide on CUET PG law 2027 and the CUET PG preparation strategy.

Which LLM entrance exam should you take?

• You want an NLU LL.M.: CLAT PG is the main route. Apply before the 31 October 2026 deadline.
• You want NLU Delhi specifically: AILET PG, applying by 10 November 2026. Consider CLAT PG as well if other NLUs interest you.
• You want a central or state university LL.M.: check each university’s page for the test it accepts, because the test varies by university. CUET PG is common among central universities.
• You are in your final year: CLAT PG and AILET PG accept final-year students, with proof of passing at admission. CUET PG eligibility depends on the university.
• You may work in the public sector: some public sector undertakings have recruited through CLAT PG scores. See our PSU recruitment through CLAT PG guide.

Example: Meera, an LL.B. final-year student from Pune, applies for CLAT PG and AILET PG, writes both in December 2026, and keeps CUET PG in March 2027 as a second chance for universities that use it. This is a sensible spread if you can prepare 13 subjects once.

One preparation plan for all three

Build the 13-subject base first, then adapt the format. For CLAT PG, practise passages (see how to solve CLAT PG passages). For AILET PG, add timed question sets once the notification gives the paper details. For CUET PG, switch to shorter factual questions in 2027. Keep a single error log across all.

Where Lexfolio fits

Lexfolio is an independent publisher, not linked to the Consortium, NLU Delhi or NTA. Our CLAT PG products cover the thirteen CLAT subjects; we do not sell separate AILET PG or CUET PG papers. The CLAT PG Crash Course (₹599, three parts) gives subject notes useful to all three exams, and the Complete Pack (₹999) adds judgment passages, mocks and a year of current affairs.

Frequently asked questions

Which are the main LLM entrance exams in India?

The main LLM entrance exams in India for 2027 are CLAT PG for the NLUs, AILET PG for NLU Delhi and CUET PG for many central universities. Some universities also hold their own entrance tests, so check the programme page of each.

What is the difference between CLAT PG and AILET PG?

CLAT PG is conducted by the Consortium of NLUs and is accepted by the participating NLUs; AILET PG is NLU Delhi’s own test for its LL.M. CLAT PG is held on 6 December 2026 and AILET PG on 13 December 2026.

Is CUET PG accepted for LLM?

Yes, many universities admit to the LL.M. through CUET PG, using the LL.M. law paper. The exact list of universities, dates and paper code for 2027 come from NTA’s bulletin, expected with the application in December 2026.

Can I appear in both CLAT PG and AILET PG?

Yes. They are separate exams a week apart (6 and 13 December 2026), with separate applications and fees. CLAT PG applications close on 31 October 2026 and AILET PG on 10 November 2026.

Which LLM entrance exam is the easiest?

No official source ranks them by difficulty. They differ in style, with CLAT PG relying on long passages and CUET PG on shorter subject questions. Choose by the universities you want, not by guesses about difficulty.

Quick quiz

Sources

• Consortium of NLUs, CLAT 2027 PG instructions and eligibility (consortiumofnlus.ac.in)
• NLU Delhi, AILET 2027 notification and exam date announcement (nationallawuniversitydelhi.in), as reported by the press
• National Testing Agency, CUET PG information bulletin (2026) and 2027 exam calendar, as reported; confirm on nta.ac.in

This page is for education and general information, not legal advice for a specific case. Law as on 29 October 2026. AILET PG and CUET PG details come from NLU Delhi’s announcement and NTA’s schedule as reported; confirm on the official sites.