Last Updated: May 2026
The General Knowledge and Current Affairs (GKCA) section in CLAT 2027 carries roughly 28-32 questions out of 120 (about 24% of the paper) — the second-largest section after Legal Reasoning. It is also the section with the steepest per-mark to time ratio: 30 minutes is enough if your foundation is solid; if not, you bleed marks on the day. This guide gives you the exact 12-month strategy we have refined across three CLAT batches.
Section Snapshot — CLAT GKCA
| Parameter | Detail (CLAT 2024-2026 trend) |
|---|---|
| Number of passages | 5-7 |
| Questions | 28-32 |
| Time recommended | 25-30 minutes |
| Negative marking | -0.25 per wrong |
| Static-Current ratio | ~30:70 |
| Top sources tested | The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB |
1. Decode the Section Pattern First
Since CLAT moved to the passage format in 2020, GKCA is no longer a memory test. Each passage of 350-450 words is followed by 4-6 questions. About 70% of every passage is current affairs (last 14 months) while the remaining 30% is static GK that the passage forces you to know to answer correctly. Example: a passage on the G20 Summit may ask you which country chaired the G20 in a previous year — pure static recall hidden in a current passage.
2. The 12-Month Macro Plan
Months 1-3 (June-August 2026): Foundation
- Read NCERT History (Class 11-12), focus on freedom struggle, post-independence politics, art and culture chapters.
- Read NCERT Geography Class 11, chapters on India’s location, climate, agriculture.
- Subscribe to The Hindu e-paper or print. Read for 40 minutes daily: editorial + national + international.
- Maintain a monthly compilation notebook — one page per topic.
Months 4-6 (September-November 2026): Build & Practice
- Add a second source: PIB or PRS India for legislative tracking.
- Begin monthly current affairs PDFs — Vision IAS, Drishti or any standard compilation.
- Solve 15 sectional GK passages weekly. Aim for accuracy ≥ 75%.
- Start spaced revision on Sundays — revisit the past 4 weeks’ notes.
Months 7-9 (December 2026-February 2027): Mock Phase
- Take 2 full mocks per week. Review every wrong answer; categorise as static, current, or comprehension miss.
- Focus revision on your weak categories, not the entire syllabus.
- Read last 3 months’ editorials in summary form.
Months 10-12 (March-May 2027): Polish
- Reduce new intake; revise notes 3 times.
- Take 3 mocks weekly; aim for 28+ in GK section consistently.
- Read all cabinet decisions, important bills, Supreme Court verdicts from January 2026 onwards.
3. Weightage Analysis — What Actually Gets Tested
| Theme | CLAT 2024 | CLAT 2025 | CLAT 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Affairs | 6 | 8 | 7 |
| Polity / Governance | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Economy | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Awards & Sports | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Static (History/Geography/Art) | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Science & Tech | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Defence | 3 | 4 | 4 |
4. The Daily 1-Hour Routine
- 0-15 min: Editorial deep-read (one editorial + take 5 bullet notes).
- 15-35 min: National + International news skim. Note 8-10 facts.
- 35-50 min: Solve 1 GKCA passage from a question bank.
- 50-60 min: Revise yesterday’s notes + flashcards.
5. Recommended Sources (Ranked by Utility)
- The Hindu — primary newspaper. Editorials and “Explainers” are CLAT-relevant.
- Indian Express — secondary; “Explained” section is gold.
- PRS India — bill tracking and legislative briefs.
- PIB — official government announcements.
- Manorama Yearbook — static GK reference.
- Lucent’s GK — only as a quick-reference manual, not as primary reading.
6. Static GK That Repeats Year After Year
- Constitutional history: Government of India Acts 1858, 1909, 1919, 1935.
- Constitutional makers and assembly committees.
- UN organs, specialised agencies, Secretaries-General.
- Supreme Court Chief Justices and landmark judgments (1973-2026).
- India’s neighbouring countries — capitals, currencies, treaties.
- Awards: Nobel laureates (last 10 years), Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan.
- Sports trophies and recent winners (last 5 years).
7. Current Affairs Themes (Last 14 Months)
- India’s G20 presidency aftermath and BRICS expansion.
- Operation Sindoor and India-Pakistan ceasefire.
- One Nation One Election Bill.
- Waqf Amendment Act 2025.
- India’s bilateral relations — Russia, USA, EU, Bangladesh, Maldives.
- Supreme Court rulings — Article 370, Same-sex marriage, EWS quota.
- Climate summits — COP29 and COP30.
8. Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Over-reading and under-revising. 30 minutes of new + 30 of revision beats 60 minutes of new.
- Memorising compilations instead of reading newspapers. Compilations build context — newspapers build language.
- Ignoring static GK in the last quarter. Almost every paper has 4-5 static questions disguised in current passages.
- Not tracking accuracy. If accuracy is below 70%, slow down, do not push for more questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are asked in the CLAT GK section?
CLAT 2024 to CLAT 2026 papers contained 28 to 32 GKCA questions in 5-7 passages. CLAT 2027 is expected to follow the same pattern.
Which newspaper is best for CLAT GK?
The Hindu remains the gold standard. Indian Express’s Explained section is the strongest secondary source. Avoid running multiple newspapers in the first 6 months.
How far back should I cover current affairs?
CLAT 2027 will draw from May 2026 to October 2027. Build a 14-month rolling window of compilations and revise the older months less frequently.
Are static GK MCQs going to be asked separately?
No. Since 2020, all GKCA questions sit inside passages. Static facts appear inside current-affairs passages. Pure static MCQs are extinct.
How many GK questions should I attempt to clear cut-off?
Top NLU candidates routinely attempt 26-28 with 80%+ accuracy. For NLU Bangalore or Hyderabad, target 24+ correct out of 28.
