AILET PG is a single-institution exam with an unusually small intake, which makes it a very different kind of target than the broader CLAT PG route into the wider NLU network. Here's what it actually involves, and whether it belongs on your shortlist.
What Is AILET PG, Exactly?
AILET PG is worth understanding on its own terms before you decide whether to prepare for it.
A Single-University Entrance Exam
AILET PG is conducted entirely by National Law University (NLU), Delhi — not the Consortium of NLUs — specifically for admission to its one-year LLM programme. Clearing it gets you into exactly one institution, unlike CLAT PG, which is the shared entrance route for the wider NLU network.
Why NLU Delhi's LLM Is Distinct
NLU Delhi is consistently ranked among India's top two or three law schools, and its LLM is a one-year programme rather than the two-year format followed at many traditional universities — a genuinely different commitment and pace, worth weighing alongside the exam itself.
AILET PG Eligibility
Before preparing for any exam, it's worth confirming you actually qualify.
Educational Qualification
Candidates need an LLB degree (3-year or 5-year) from a college recognised by the Bar Council of India, with a minimum aggregate percentage — commonly cited around 55% for general category candidates, with relaxation for reserved categories. Always confirm the exact current-year figure against NLU Delhi's official notification, since it can be revised.
No Separate Practice Requirement
Unlike some judiciary-track exams, AILET PG doesn't require prior practice experience as an advocate — a completed, eligible LLB is the core requirement.
AILET PG Seat Intake: Why It's So Small
Seat count matters more here than for most entrance exams, because it directly shapes how competitive the exam really is.
The Actual Numbers
NLU Delhi's LLM intake through AILET PG is notably small — commonly cited around 70 seats on merit, plus a handful of additional seats reserved for Foreign Nationals and OCI/PIO candidates, and one supernumerary seat for Kashmiri migrants. Total intake typically sits around 80 seats.
What This Means for Your Preparation
A seat count this small means AILET PG is a high-competition exam despite drawing a smaller applicant pool than CLAT PG — precision and consistency across sections matter more than in a larger-intake exam, where a single weak section might be more forgivable.
AILET PG Exam Pattern
The format is straightforward, but the details shape how you should practice.
Mode and Duration
AILET PG is conducted offline, in pen-and-paper mode, at designated exam centres across the country — not a computer-based test, which matters for how you should practice under exam conditions.
Question Type
The exam consists of objective, multiple-choice questions testing legal knowledge and reasoning built on subjects typically covered during an LLB.
AILET PG Syllabus
Unlike AILET's undergraduate version, the postgraduate exam draws directly on your LLB coursework rather than general aptitude sections.
Core Law Subjects Covered
Expect questions across the general branches of law studied during LLB — Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Contract Law, Criminal Law, and other foundational subjects form the backbone of the paper, rather than current affairs or quantitative sections.
How This Differs From AILET UG
If you've already prepared for AILET's undergraduate exam, don't assume the same prep transfers directly — AILET PG tests substantive legal knowledge from your degree, not the English, logical reasoning, and current affairs sections that dominate the UG paper.
AILET PG Application Timeline
Timing matters here because the window moves fast relative to some other exams.
When Applications Typically Open
The AILET PG application window has typically opened in the first week of August, with the exam conducted in the second week of December — but treat this as a directional pattern rather than a fixed date, and always confirm the current year's notification on NLU Delhi's official website.
Where to Apply
Applications are submitted through NLU Delhi's official website directly, not through a shared Consortium portal like CLAT.
AILET PG vs CLAT PG: Which Should You Target?
Since many LLM aspirants consider both, it's worth being direct about how they differ.
Reach vs Focus
CLAT PG opens the door to the much wider NLU network, giving you far more institutional options if you clear it; AILET PG is a single, focused shot at one specific, highly-ranked university with a very small number of seats.
A Reasonable Strategy
Many serious LLM aspirants prepare for both in the same cycle, given the substantial subject overlap — but go in understanding that AILET PG's small intake makes it a higher-variance target than the broader CLAT PG route.
How to Prepare for AILET PG
Since this is a subject-knowledge exam rather than an aptitude test, your preparation approach should look different from undergraduate law entrance prep.
Revisit Your LLB Coursework Seriously
Because the syllabus draws directly from subjects you've already studied, a structured re-read of your core LLB subjects (rather than fresh material) is the most direct preparation path.
Practice With Objective-Format Questions Specifically
Since the exam is entirely objective/MCQ-based, practicing with previous year papers in that exact format matters more than general essay-style revision.
Don't Neglect Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence tends to be an underprepared area for many LLB graduates relative to procedural subjects like CPC or CrPC — worth dedicating focused revision time here specifically.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who conducts AILET PG?
National Law University, Delhi conducts AILET PG independently — it is not part of the shared CLAT Consortium exam.
2. How many seats does AILET PG offer?
Around 70 seats on merit, plus a small number of additional seats for Foreign Nationals, OCI/PIO candidates, and one supernumerary Kashmiri migrant seat — typically around 80 total.
3. What is the eligibility for AILET PG?
An LLB degree from a Bar Council of India-recognised institution, with a minimum aggregate percentage commonly cited around 55% for general category candidates — confirm the current year's exact figure with NLU Delhi.
4. Is AILET PG the same syllabus as AILET for undergraduates?
No. AILET PG tests core LLB subjects like Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, and Contract Law, while the undergraduate AILET tests English, current affairs, and logical reasoning instead.
5. Should I prepare for AILET PG or CLAT PG?
Many aspirants prepare for both given the subject overlap, but understand that AILET PG offers access to only one institution with a very small seat count, while CLAT PG opens the wider NLU network.
6. Is NLU Delhi's LLM one year or two years?
NLU Delhi's LLM programme is a one-year format, distinct from the two-year LLM structure followed at many traditional universities.
Related Reading
Explore the LLM Course page, our LLM Admission Guide, and dissertation planning resources like LLM Dissertation Topics in Corporate Law. If you're planning your path from undergraduate law, see the BA LLB Course page or broader Law Admission guidance.
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