Deciding how to apply for law school in Delhi often comes down to one question: which exam should I target — CLAT or CUET? For students whose goal is GGSIPU law admission, it’s important to know that GGSIPU accepts CLAT scores for its integrated law programmes and also considers CUET BA-LLB scores where applicable. This means you can plan strategically depending on your strengths and career goals. Here’s a clear, practical comparison to help you choose.

Quick reality check: what GGSIPU currently accepts

GGSIPU accepts CLAT scores for admissions into its integrated law programmes (BA-LLB, BBA-LLB). The university also accepts CUET BA-LLB scores as an alternate merit route in admission cycles where CUET subject mapping applies. Check the official GGSIPU admissions page and reputable education portals for the precise year’s notification before you apply.

What are CLAT and CUET (BA-LLB) — the basics

• CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is a national law entrance exam conducted by the Consortium of NLUs. It’s the standard gateway to National Law Universities and a growing number of other law schools that accept CLAT scores. CLAT focuses strongly on legal reasoning, logical reasoning, English comprehension, current affairs, and quantitative aptitude.

• CUET (Common University Entrance Test) is conducted by the NTA for a wide set of undergraduate programmes across central and participating universities. Some universities and courses (including BA-LLB places in some cycles) allow applicants to use CUET subject scores for admissions. For law aspirants looking specifically at Delhi, CUET BA-LLB can be an alternate pathway to institutions that opt to map CUET subjects to law admissions.

Exam pattern and what they test (high-level)

• CLAT: Passage-based questions across legal aptitude, logical reasoning, English comprehension, general knowledge/current affairs, and basic numerical ability. Time and accuracy are critical; questions test your ability to interpret, apply principles, and reason.

• CUET (for BA-LLB where applicable): CUET’s structure depends on the subject paper(s) selected; the BA-LLB mapping generally focuses on language, aptitude, and general awareness sections relevant to law aspirants. CUET is broader in scope (multi-discipline) while CLAT is specialised for law.

Which one is harder?

“Harder” depends on your strengths. CLAT is often seen as tougher for students who struggle with long passages and analytical reasoning, because much of the paper is comprehension-heavy and logic-intensive. CUET can feel more straightforward for students strong in school-level language and general aptitude topics, but it requires careful attention to subject mapping and preparation for the specific CUET paper(s) used by the admitting university. 

Career and college implications: NLUs vs GGSIPU & other choices

• If you crack CLAT with a high percentile, you can aim for NLUs and top national law colleges — these carry prestige and strong campus recruitment in corporate law, top law firms, and policy jobs.

• If your target is GGSIPU (law in Delhi), CLAT is a direct and established route; CUET BA-LLB is often accepted as an alternate merit route when universities map CUET subjects to the law programme. Studying law in Delhi via GGSIPU gives you proximity to courts, firms, and internships — a valuable professional advantage.

Preparation strategy: how to choose based on where you are now

• If you enjoy reading, debating, and reasoning, prioritise CLAT preparation. Focus on reading speed and comprehension, legal aptitude (application of legal principles to facts), logical puzzles, and current affairs with legal context.

• If you are stronger in school exams and general aptitude, consider preparing CUET subjects as well — but only if the particular GGSIPU admission cycle maps CUET BA-LLB subjects and your target college accepts CUET as a valid route. Always confirm the current year’s mapping before investing heavily.

Practical tips for aspirants aiming for GGSIPU (or Delhi colleges)

1. Prefer dual preparation where feasible. If your timeline allows, prepare primarily for CLAT and keep CUET BA-LLB basics covered — this keeps both doors open.

1. Mock tests are non-negotiable. Time management and MCQ practice under exam conditions will make the biggest difference.

1. Current affairs with a legal angle: For CLAT especially, focus on national and international events that have legal or constitutional implications.

1. Apply smartly: After results, follow GGSIPU’s official admissions portal and affiliated-college notifications closely for counselling windows and preference filing.

Cost, accessibility and timeline considerations

• CLAT preparation and exam fees are aimed at national applicants; CLAT cycles are highly competitive with a single national timeline each year.

• CUET is broader and may be more accessible to students who are already preparing for multiple university admissions — but again, its relevance to law depends on whether a university (like GGSIPU in a given cycle) formally maps CUET paper(s) to the BA-LLB admission process. Check official bulletins for 2026.

Final verdict — which should you pick?

• Choose CLAT if: your goal includes NLUs or you prefer a single focused law-entrance path; you’re strong at reading, logic and legal reasoning.

• Choose CUET (BA-LLB) if: your target colleges explicitly accept CUET for BA-LLB admission in that year and you prefer to leverage CUET subject strengths; or if you’re applying to multiple universities that use CUET subject mapping.

• Best tactical approach if you can: prepare primarily for CLAT while keeping CUET basics ready as a fallback/alternate route — particularly relevant for GGSIPU law admission, where both routes can be relevant in certain cycles.

Where CPJ College fits in

If your aim is to study law in Delhi at a GGSIPU-affiliated institute, CPJ College is frequently mentioned among colleges accepting CLAT and as an accessible, professionally oriented option under GGSIPU. Its placement focus, moot court exposure, and Delhi location make it a practical choice for many aspirants who prefer strong local industry links. Always confirm the college’s intake route (CLAT or CUET) for 2026 before applying.