CLAT Exam 2024: The alteration in examination dates has resulted in a 20% decrease in test-takers for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), raising concerns among the legal education sector. The CLAT, which was formerly scheduled after the 12th-grade board exams, has been delayed for December 2022, affecting students' preparation.
CLAT tests were previously held following the 12th board exams, providing pupils with a minimum of two months to prepare. However, with the tests now set for December, students are preoccupied and burdened with pre-board exams and practicals, leaving them with insufficient time to adequately study for CLAT.
Expressing concern, Vardhan Kumar, an aspiring law student, stated, "The scheduling of CLAT has severely impacted our preparation, leaving us with limited time for pre-board exams. I can vividly recall my cousin, who once undertook this very exam after his board exams and secured admission to a prestigious law school. However, I’m feeling hopeless about my situation now. The abrupt change in the exam schedule has led to uncertainty and massive stress for us students. It's disheartening to witness our aspirations get crushed due to circumstances beyond our control. With class XII being an important and pre-board and board exams starting, the pressure is enormous.”
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Voicing worry, Amitendra Kumar of Career Launcher, said, "The decline in CLAT test-takers highlights a trend of decreased interest in exam preparation due to the revised exam schedule. For aspiring students, this rescheduling isn't just a mere shift in dates; it's a threat to their career ambitions. A majority of students keep their entrance prep decision on hold until board exams due to the pressure from parents and family members, they are losing the opportunity here. With continuous pressure from schools and parents to focus on pre-boards which is a precursor to the board exams, students are forced to choose between school and CLAT. Most students start their preparation for CLAT in class XII owing to the difficulty level of class XI and the transition from class X which is not a smooth sail for many. Those students get severely impacted by this timeline. With board exams likely to happen twice from next academic year, preparing for an exam like CLAT in class XII will become extremely difficult for students given they have to balance studying for boards as well.”
Highlighting the implications, Jitesh Pandey, a renowned lawyer and Managing Partner, at Lex Alliance, commented, "The reduction in CLAT applicants signals a potential shortage of future legal professionals, impacting the legal landscape. With lakhs of cases still pending in the judiciary across the country, this decline can cause a deficit in competent legal brainpower. If we look at the bigger picture, this would eventually cause more delays in the justice system."
According to data obtained through an RTI request, CLAT test-takers dropped from 53,502 in 2021 to 42,766 in 2023, reflecting the adverse effects of the altered examination timeline.