1. What is AILET?
AILET stands for All India Law Entrance Test. It is a national-level law entrance exam conducted annually by National Law University (NLU), Delhi for admission to its undergraduate BA LLB and postgraduate LLM programmes. NLU Delhi is unique among the 25 NLUs in India| it is the only NLU that does NOT participate in the CLAT Consortium and instead conducts its own independent admission test.
Despite having only 110 BA LLB seats, NLU Delhi attracts approximately 30,000–40,000 applicants each year, making AILET one of the most fiercely competitive law entrance exams in India with a seat-to-applicant ratio of roughly 1:300. NLU Delhi is ranked #3 by NIRF 2026 and is widely considered among India's top three law schools.
2. AILET vs CLAT| Key Differences
| Factor | AILET | CLAT |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form | All India Law Entrance Test | Common Law Admission Test |
| Conducted by | NLU Delhi | Consortium of 24 NLUs |
| Admission to | NLU Delhi ONLY | 24 NLUs across India |
| BA LLB Seats | ~110 | ~4,500+ (combined all NLUs) |
| Expected Exam Date | May 2026 | December 2026 |
| Exam Duration | 90 minutes | 120 minutes |
| Questions | 150 MCQs | 120 MCQs |
| Exam Mode | Offline | Offline |
| Application Fee | ~₹3,500 | ₹4,000 (General) |
| Can appear for both? | Yes| recommended to appear for both | |
Yes, absolutely. Since AILET (May 2026) and CLAT (December 2026) are held on different dates, you can prepare for and appear in both. Top aspirants targeting NLU Delhi appear for AILET while also preparing for CLAT to keep their options open for other NLUs. The syllabi are similar| both test English, GK/Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Math. Appearing for both maximises your NLU admission opportunities.
3. AILET 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Expected Date (2026) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| AILET 2026 Notification | January–February 2026 | Upcoming |
| Registration Opens | February 2026 | Open |
| Registration Closes | April 2026 | Upcoming |
| Admit Card Download | April–May 2026 | Upcoming |
| AILET 2026 Exam | May 2026 | Upcoming |
| Answer Key Release | May 2026 | Upcoming |
| Result Declaration | May–June 2026 | Upcoming |
| Counselling Starts | June 2026 | Upcoming |
4. AILET 2026 Eligibility Criteria
For BA LLB (5-Year)
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Class 12 (10+2) from a recognised board |
| Minimum Marks| General/OBC/EWS | 50% aggregate in Class 12 |
| Minimum Marks| SC/ST/PWD | 45% aggregate in Class 12 |
| Age Limit | No upper age limit |
| Appearing Students | Class 12 students appearing in 2026 board exam can apply |
AILET requires 50% in Class 12 for General category, while CLAT requires only 45%. This means some students eligible for CLAT may not be eligible for AILET if they scored below 50% in Class 12. SC/ST candidates need 45% for AILET (same as CLAT). Check your marks carefully before applying for AILET.
5. AILET 2026 Registration Process
- Visit NLU Delhi website: Go to nludelhi.ac.in and click on "AILET 2026 Application"
- Create Account: Register with email ID and mobile number. Verify via OTP.
- Fill Application Form: Enter personal details, educational qualifications, and exam centre preference.
- Upload Documents: Passport photo and signature (JPG format, specified size).
- Pay Application Fee: ~₹3,500 (General/OBC/EWS); ~₹1,500 (SC/ST/PWD) via online payment.
- Submit & Download: Submit the form and save the confirmation receipt.
6. AILET 2026 Exam Pattern
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode | Offline (Pen and Paper) |
| Duration | 90 Minutes (1.5 hours) |
| Total Questions | 150 Multiple Choice Questions |
| Total Marks | 150 |
| Marking Scheme | +1 for correct; -0.25 for incorrect |
| Language | English only |
AILET Section-Wise Distribution
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 35 | 35 |
| General Knowledge & Current Affairs | 35 | 35 |
| Legal Aptitude | 35 | 35 |
| Reasoning | 35 | 35 |
| Elementary Mathematics (Numeracy) | 10 | 10 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
7. AILET 2026 Detailed Syllabus
The AILET syllabus is broadly similar to CLAT but with some differences in question format and distribution. Note that AILET still uses some direct knowledge-based questions unlike CLAT's purely passage-based format.
English Language (35 questions)
- Reading Comprehension passages
- Vocabulary| synonyms, antonyms, word usage
- Grammar| error spotting, sentence correction
- Fill in the blanks
- Para jumbles and sentence rearrangement
General Knowledge & Current Affairs (35 questions)
- National and international current affairs (last 12 months)
- Static GK| Indian history, geography, polity, economy
- Legal GK| important judgements, constitutional amendments
- Sports, awards, science and technology
Legal Aptitude (35 questions)
- Legal propositions with factual situations (apply rule to fact)
- Constitutional law basics
- Contract law, criminal law, tort law principles
- Important legal maxims and terms
- Legal reasoning and problem-solving
Reasoning (35 questions)
- Logical reasoning| series, analogies, coding-decoding
- Analytical reasoning| syllogisms, critical reasoning
- Blood relations, direction sense
- Statement-conclusion, assumption-inference
Elementary Mathematics (10 questions)
- Arithmetic| ratios, percentages, profit/loss, time-work
- Basic algebra
- Class 10-level maths only
8. AILET Cutoff 2026
| Category | AILET Score (Estimated, /150) | Approximate Rank |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 110–125 | 1–50 |
| OBC (NCL) | 100–115 | 50–150 |
| SC | 85–100 | 150–300 |
| ST | 75–90 | 300–500 |
| PWD | 70–85 | 300–600 |
| EWS | 105–120 | 50–200 |
9. AILET 2026 Preparation Strategy
AILET preparation overlaps significantly with CLAT, but with some key differences:
| Section | AILET-Specific Tips |
|---|---|
| English | AILET has some grammar questions unlike CLAT. Revise grammar rules (error spotting, fill-in-the-blanks) in addition to comprehension practice. |
| GK/Current Affairs | AILET includes some static GK (history, geography, polity). Prepare both current affairs AND static GK| read Manorama Yearbook + NCERT basics. |
| Legal Aptitude | Study basic legal principles more thoroughly than for CLAT, as AILET may test direct legal knowledge alongside passage-based questions. |
| Reasoning | AILET Reasoning includes traditional logical reasoning types (series, coding, blood relations) in addition to critical reasoning. Practice RS Aggarwal for traditional LR. |
| Mathematics | Only 10 questions| don't over-invest. Quick revision of Class 10 arithmetic is sufficient. Target 8–9 correct out of 10. |
Since AILET has only 110 seats, the competition is extreme| you need to score in the top 0.15–0.3% of all applicants. Focus on accuracy over speed| the -0.25 negative marking can significantly damage your score. Practice AILET previous year papers (2015–2026) extensively. Aim to attempt 135+ questions with high accuracy rather than rushing through all 150.
10. AILET 2026 FAQs
AILET and CLAT have comparable difficulty levels, but AILET is functionally more competitive due to its drastically fewer seats| approximately 110 vs 4,500+ for CLAT. The seat-to-applicant ratio for AILET (~1:300) is far more intense than CLAT. Additionally, AILET tests some traditional knowledge-based questions in GK and Reasoning (like CLAT's pre-2020 format) alongside comprehension passages, which adds a different preparation dimension. Aspiring AILET toppers must be exceptionally well-rounded across all sections.
No. NLU Delhi does NOT participate in the CLAT Consortium and does NOT accept CLAT scores. The ONLY way to get BA LLB admission at NLU Delhi is through AILET (All India Law Entrance Test). CLAT scores are accepted by the other 24 NLUs. This is a common misconception| many students assume CLAT gives admission to all 25 NLUs, but NLU Delhi is the exception.
There is no restriction on the number of attempts for AILET. Candidates can appear any number of times as long as they meet the eligibility criteria (Class 12 pass with 50% marks for General category). Many candidates appear 2–3 times before cracking AILET for NLU Delhi.
Based on previous years, the AILET 2026 application fee is expected to be approximately ₹3,500 for General/OBC/EWS category and ₹1,500 for SC/ST/PWD category. Payment is made online through nludelhi.ac.in. Fees are non-refundable. The exact fee will be confirmed in the official AILET 2026 notification.