How to Prepare for General Knowledge in CLAT?

The CLAT exam (Common Law Admission Test) is one of the most competitive law entrance exams in India, and General Knowledge (GK) & Current Affairs play a crucial role in scoring well. This section carries significant weight, with 28-32 questions, accounting for 25% of the total paper. The questions in this section are primarily passage-based and focus on Weekly Current Affairs, Today's Current Affairs, and Static GK.

Many aspirants find this section challenging due to its vast syllabus and dynamic nature. However, with a structured approach, daily reading habits, and strategic revision techniques, you can master GK and boost your CLAT score.

In this blog, we will provide detailed strategies on how to prepare for General Knowledge in CLAT effectively, along with the best resources and expert tips.

Understanding the General Knowledge Section in CLAT

Before diving into the preparation strategies, let’s understand the nature of questions asked in the CLAT GK & Current Affairs section:

1. Current Affairs (Major Focus - 80%):

   • National & International Events

   • Government Schemes & Policies

   • Important Judgments & Legal Developments

   • Awards & Recognitions

   • Science & Technology Updates

   • Sports News

   • International Relations

2. Static General Knowledge (20%):

   • History (Indian & World)

   • Geography (Capitals, Rivers, Mountains, etc.)

   • Indian Polity & Constitution

   • Economy & Financial Awareness

   • Important Books & Authors

   • Significant Days & Events

The CLAT GK section is passage-based, which means questions will be framed around a passage related to a recent event or historical context.

Checkout: Today's current affairs

Best Strategies to Prepare for CLAT General Knowledge

1. Develop a Daily Current Affairs Habit

Since Current Affairs makes up most of the GK section, reading the news daily is non-negotiable. Here’s how you can structure your daily news consumption:

• Read Newspapers (The Hindu / The Indian Express / The Telegraph) – Focus on legal news, government policies, and international affairs.

• Follow Trusted Online News Portals – Websites like The Wire, The Print, PIB (Press Information Bureau), PRS India, and BBC News offer reliable updates.

• Watch News Analysis Videos – Platforms like Rajya Sabha TV, The Hindu YouTube Channel.

• Make Short Notes – Summarize important news in your own words and categorize them under Politics, Economy, Sports, International Events, Science & Tech, etc.

2. Follow Weekly Current Affairs Compilations

Daily news can be overwhelming, so revising weekly current affairs helps in retention. You can follow:

• Weekly Current Affairs PDFs from websites like Examcharcha, GKToday, AffairsCloud, and Gradeup.

• Weekly Quizzes to test yourself on important topics.

• CLAT Coaching Modules – If you're enrolled in CLAT coaching, use their weekly current affairs handouts.

• Mind Maps & Flashcards – Create visual representations of important events.

3. Focus on Legal & Constitutional Developments

Since CLAT is a law entrance exam, legal current affairs are crucial. Keep track of:

• Important Supreme Court & High Court Judgments

• New Government Bills, Acts & Amendments

• Landmark Cases & Precedents

• Legal Doctrines & Concepts

Websites like LiveLaw, Bar & Bench, and The Hindu’s Legal Section provide the best legal updates.

4. Use Monthly Magazines & Yearly Compilations

To ensure you don’t miss any important news, refer to:

• Pratiyogita Darpan (Best for competitive exam GK)

• Yojana & Kurukshetra Magazines (Great for government policies & schemes)

• Manorama Yearbook & Lucent’s GK (For Static GK & Yearly Updates)

• Vision IAS & Drishti IAS Monthly Compilations

5. Practice with CLAT Mock Tests & Previous Year Papers

• Attempt Weekly CLAT Mock Tests to test your speed and knowledge.

• Solve Previous Year CLAT Papers to understand question patterns.

• Focus on passage-based GK questions similar to the CLAT exam format.

Some of the best online platforms for CLAT Mock Tests include:

• Law Prep Tutorial

• Career Launcher CLAT Test Series

• LegalEdge CLAT Mocks

• T.I.M.E CLAT Test Series

How to Revise General Knowledge Effectively?

1. Make Short Notes & Summaries – Write down important events in bullet points.

2. Use Mnemonics & Mind Maps – Helps in memorizing Static GK facts.

3. Daily & Weekly Revision – Revise previous week’s news every Sunday.

4. Discuss & Teach Others – Group discussions improve memory retention.

5. Take Daily & Weekly Quizzes – Helps in self-assessment.

   
   

Exam Day Strategy for CLAT GK Section

• Start with GK & Current Affairs Section – If well-prepared, you can finish it in 10-15 minutes, saving time for lengthy sections.

• Read Passages Carefully – Identify key points related to Who, What, When, Where, and Why.

• Attempt Only Sure-Shot Answers – Avoid guesswork as CLAT has negative marking (-0.25 per wrong answer).

• Skip Time-Consuming Questions – Move on if unsure and revisit later.

Best Online Resources for CLAT GK Preparation

1. The Hindu & Indian Express (For daily news & editorials)

2. GKToday & AffairsCloud (For daily & weekly current affairs PDFs)

3. LiveLaw & Bar & Bench (For legal current affairs)

4. PIB & PRS India (For government schemes & policies)

5. Law Prep Tutorial, Career Launcher, LegalEdge & T.I.M.E (For mock tests & online coaching)

   
   

Final Words

Preparing for General Knowledge in CLAT requires consistency, smart resource utilization, and regular revision. By following daily news, revising weekly current affairs, and practicing CLAT mock tests, you can ace this section with high accuracy and minimal time consumption.

Would you like a personalized study plan for CLAT GK preparation? Let me know!