In this blog, we will explore the essential strategies and resources to help you develop a strong foundation of General Knowledge for CLAT, ensuring you are well-prepared to tackle this crucial aspect of the CLAT and beyond.
Understanding the Importance of General Knowledge in CLAT
The importance of General Knowledge for CLAT cannot be overstated. Having a strong foundation in General Knowledge not only saves you time for the other sections but also enhances your overall score. This section carries the highest weightage and with the right preparation strategy, you can master this section & grab a seat in one of the top National Law Universities of the country.| CLAT 2025 GK & Current Affairs Section Overview | |
| Section Name | General Knowledge & Current Affairs |
| Question Type | Passage-based MCQ |
| Number of Questions | 30-35 |
| Total Marks | 30-35 |
| Weightage | 25% |
| Negative Marking | Yes |
• Weightage in the exam: The General Knowledge section carries the highest weightage among all the sections of the CLAT Exam. Approximately 35-39 questions, making up around 25% of the paper, are asked from this section. Ignoring or neglecting this part can significantly impact your overall score.
• Time-Saver: Unlike sections that involve calculations or logical reasoning, the General Knowledge section primarily tests your awareness and comprehension. This means you can quickly answer the questions without spending time on calculations, allowing you to allocate those precious minutes to more challenging areas such as legal aptitude and logical reasoning.
• Differentiating factor: A robust command over General Knowledge can be the differentiating factor that determines your success or failure in CLAT. It showcases your awareness and understanding of events, which is essential for a successful legal career.
• Stay updated and informed: Developing strong General Knowledge keeps you updated and informed about the world around you. This knowledge not only benefits you in the exam but also prepares you for a well-rounded legal education and career.
Effective Strategies for Building General Knowledge for CLAT
Building strong General Knowledge for the CLAT exam requires effective strategies. Here are some strategies that can help:Understanding the Pattern of Questions
Familiarizing yourself with the pattern of the General Knowledge Questions is crucial to begin your CLAT preparation. Note that the CLAT GK section comprises 6-7 passages derived from news, journalistic sources, and other non-fiction writing with 5 questions from each passage. The length of each passage is around 450 words. Attempting CLAT mock tests or CLAT Previous year papers would help you understand this format in a better way.
Go Through Previous Year Papers
By analyzing previous year question papers & CLAT General Knowledge Questions, you can thoroughly understand the structure of General Knowledge for the CLAT Exam. These papers will give you a fair understanding of recurring topics and trends and the areas you need to focus on to score better in the CLAT 2025 Exam.
Make a note of the key topics
The general Knowledge section of CLAT is divided into two parts - Static GK & Current Affairs. Around 30 to 35 questions out of a total of 120 questions shall be asked from this section. The questions following the passage would test your knowledge of the following topics:
• Contemporary events of significance from India and the world;
• Arts and culture;
• International affairs; and
• Historical events of continuing significance.
Therefore, you should create a study plan that covers these topics comprehensively.
Attempt CLAT GK Quizzes
Mock tests and quizzes are invaluable tools for validating knowledge. By actively engaging with quiz questions, you have the opportunity to put your knowledge into practice and solidify your understanding. Therefore, you should attempt online quizzes and practice tests specifically designed for the CLAT general knowledge section. These quizzes will help you assess your knowledge, identify areas of improvement, and familiarize yourself with the exam format. Regular practice will also enhance retention and improve your speed and accuracy in answering questions.
Download CLAT New Pattern Mock Test here
Exploring Relevant Study Resources for CLAT General Knowledge
If you analyze the previous year papers of the CLAT exam carefully, you will conclude that the Current Affairs & General Awareness section holds the highest potential to gain easy marks in the CLAT exam. However, to excel in the General Knowledge section of the CLAT exam, it is crucial to explore reliable sources that can provide accurate and comprehensive information.
Here, we are sharing a list of trusted sources that can help you build a strong foundation in General Knowledge for CLAT without wasting precious time:
• LawEx Magazine
Smartkeeda provides a fortnightly compilation of current affairs with LawEx Magazine. LawEx magazine by Smartkeeda magazine provides a well-organized approach to current affairs preparation, all in one place and free of cost. LawEx magazine includes a variety of resources such as Reading drills, Crossword puzzles, short news with Key Points, Detailed news, Pictorial representations of news for better retention, Static GK, Current GK, & GK Quizzes. “LawEx magazine by Smartkeeda” is an excellent resource for CLAT aspirants looking to improve their current affairs knowledge with the least effort.
Click here to download the CLAT Preparation App by Smartkeeda to read the free Current Affairs Magazine!
• Newspapers
Reading a reputable national newspaper daily is essential to stay informed about current events. Newspapers such as The Hindu, The Indian Express, and The Times of India provide comprehensive coverage of news and current affairs. Furthermore, newspapers can also help you to improve your vocabulary, reading speed, and comprehension skills, which are all essential skills required to excel in CLAT. Apart from this, you should also analyze CLAT Previous year papers to identify trending topics and focus on the areas that have been frequently asked in previous exams.
• Books for Static GK
The General Knowledge section in CLAT 2025 primarily focuses on static topics, including history, geography, economy, and environment. For static General Knowledge, you can refer to standard books like Lucent's General Knowledge, which provide comprehensive coverage of various topics & subjects like history, geography, science, economics, and more. Familiarize yourself with important facts, dates, and figures to strengthen your knowledge base.
Remember to make concise notes of important information as you study. These notes will serve as a valuable resource for quick revision. Regularly revisit and revise your notes to reinforce your understanding and improve retention.
Enhancing Current Affairs Awareness for CLAT
If you aspire to secure admission to a top National Law University, underestimating the significance of current affairs in the CLAT exam would be a grave mistake. Achieving 30+ in the General Knowledge and Current Affairs section can significantly enhance your chances of qualifying for admission at a top NLU.
Current Affairs Mockdrill
At Smartkeeda, we understand the importance of staying updated with current affairs and therefore we have meticulously crafted CLAT-specific current affairs quizzes & pdfs that align with the latest CLAT exam pattern.
Every month, Testzone (Smartkeeda) provides you with the most important questions of the previous month in the form of quizzes. Each month you will be getting around 25 - 26 Current Affairs for CLAT Mocks with the 10 most important CLAT Current Affairs including CLAT General Knowledge Questions
Our current affairs quizzes are designed to cover all the important current events in a detailed manner, along with the current affairs pdf that will help you to take a quick revision before attempting the quiz. By regularly attempting the month-wise mock drill quizzes, you can build a solid understanding of this part and gain valuable marks in the General Awareness section of the CLAT exam.
• Click here to attempt June Current Affairs for CLAT 2025!
• Click here to attempt June Current Affairs for CLAT 2025!
Developing a Well-Rounded Approach to General Knowledge
Developing a well-rounded approach is crucial to score well in the General Knowledge section of CLAT. This section carries significant weightage and requires a good understanding of Static GK as well as current affairs to score well. A well-rounded approach ensures that you have a broad knowledge base and can tackle questions from different areas effectively. Here are eight tips to help you in this endeavor:
1. Stay updated with current affairs by reading a reputable newspaper regularly. Focus on news related to politics, law, economics, science, and international events.
2. Download LawEx magazine by Smartkeeda and revise monthly current affairs to stay updated.
3. Maintain a dedicated notebook to jot down important events and their details. This will help you revise and retain the information more effectively.
4. Instead of memorizing facts, try to understand the logic behind the event. This will help you to retain it for a longer period.
5. Solve previous years' CLAT papers to identify recurring topics. Pay attention to the events that are focused on more frequently, as they are more likely to be asked in the exam. Keep an eye on topics like government policies, science & technology, index and reports, books & authors, awards, national & international events, and organizations, Sports, History, Art & Culture, as most of the questions are asked from these topics in the exam.
6. Regularly attempt CLAT General Knowledge mock tests to get hands-on practice. These tests will help you improve your time management and question-solving skills.
7. After attempting mock tests or practice papers, thoroughly analyze your performance. Identify your strengths and weaknesses, and revise the topics where you face difficulties.
General knowledge requires consistent effort, so allocate dedicated study time to it. Regularly revise your notes, review current affairs, and practice CLAT General Knowledge Questions to reinforce your knowledge.
Practicing Mock Tests and Previous Year Question Papers
CLAT Mock tests and previous year question papers play an important role in developing proficiency in General Knowledge for the CLAT exam. These resources provide invaluable practice and insight into the exam pattern and the types of questions that are commonly asked in the CLAT Exam. By attempting CLAT General Knowledge Questions in the mock tests, you can gain a better understanding of the CLAT exam pattern and adjust your preparation accordingly.
• Attempt CLAT Previous Year Paper here
• Attempt a free CLAT Full-length mock test here
Apart from this, Smartkeeda offers topic-wise CLAT GK mock tests that allow you to focus on each topic individually. This targeted approach enables you to strengthen your knowledge and understanding of specific areas within the vast domain of General Knowledge.
By attempting these topic-wise mock tests, you can identify areas where you need more practice and concentrate your efforts accordingly.
Topic 1: Contemporary Events from India and World
Topic 2: Arts and Culture
Topic 3: International Affairs
Topic 4: Significance of Historical Events
By consistently practicing with mock tests and previous year papers, you can enhance your proficiency, accuracy, and time management skills in the General Knowledge section of the CLAT exam.
Author : Rohit Sharma
Hi, I am Rohit Sharma, the head of the Law exams vertical at Smartkeeda and an alumnus of NLU Punjab. Having successfully cleared the CLAT exam twice, I am currently engaged in teaching Legal Reasoning on the LawEx YouTube channel. Moreover, I contribute by writing blogs that are specifically tailored to the CLAT exams.
FAQ’s
The General Knowledge section carries the highest weightage among all the sections of the CLAT Exam. Approximately 35-39 questions, making up around 25% of the paper, are asked from this section, and having a solid foundation in General Knowledge helps in scoring well and can be a differentiating factor in securing admission to top National law universities. It helps you also save time for the other sections as you can quickly answer the questions without spending time on calculations.
To build your General Knowledge for CLAT, begin by reading newspapers daily to stay updated with current affairs & improve your reading and comprehension abilities. Make a habit of making notes of important events and understanding their implications. Engage in the targeted reading of standard reference books on topics such as history, geography, economics, etc. Additionally, attempt quizzes and mock tests specifically designed for CLAT to practice and assess your knowledge.
Keep an eye on topics like government policies, science & technology, index and reports, books & authors, awards, national & international events, and organizations, Sports, History, Art & Culture, as most of the questions are asked from these topics in the exam.
Yes, Smartkeeda offers specific CLAT General Knowledge preparation materials. We provide topic-wise tests for CLAT GK, e-magazines, quizzes, and a range of other resources to help you effectively prepare for the General Knowledge section of the CLAT exam.
To effectively retain the information while building general knowledge, attempting quizzes is an excellent approach. It helps reinforce your understanding and memory of the topics. Additionally, making concise and organized short notes and revising them regularly play a crucial role in retaining the learned information and enhancing long-term memory retention.
To develop a strong General Knowledge for CLAT, it is recommended to dedicate around 1 hour daily to read the newspaper, 30 minutes to revise previous notes, 20 minutes to attempt quizzes, and 10 minutes to review your performance. However, the time allocation can be adjusted based on your strengths and areas that require more attention.
