“A book is gift you can open again and again”
These are the astonishing words of the famous author Garrison Keillor who while saying these words must have surely felt the magic and impact that the books have on our lives.
And especially when it comes to the life of an aspirant like you who aims to crack any competitive exam, books indeed are the most dear and contributory gifts they can have.
So look around my dear CLAT aspirant, if you have any books around yourself or are here reading this article just to make the list of the best books for CLAT 2025…
Congratulations!
You are just about to make the best of friends in your CLAT Preparation journey who are going to hold your hand and guide you all the way to acing the CLAT 2025 exam.
In this article, I will give you a comprehensive list of all the best books for CLAT 2025 Preparation.
(it’s a 10 mins read)
1. CLAT Exam: An Overview
Just like other after 12th competitive exams in India, the CLAT exam is amongst the most looked upon exams for law entrance. It is conducted every year in December by the Consortium of NLUs to take in students to the 24 National Law Universities in the country.
The CLAT exam 2025 is scheduled to be conducted on 1st December 2024.
⭕️ DATE | ✅ EVENT |
---|---|
July 15, 2024 | CLAT 2025 Application Date |
October 15, 2024 | Last Date of CLAT 2025 Application |
November 2024 (Last week) or December 2024 (First week) | CLAT 2025 Admit Cards |
December 01, 2024 (Offline) | Day of CLAT exam |
December 2024 | Release of CLAT answer key |
December 2024 or January 2025 | CLAT 2025 Results |
CLAT 2025 counseling | January 2025 |
Visit the official website of the Consortium of NLUs here: https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in
Every year, more than sixty thousand students take the CLAT exam, out of which only about top three thousand are able to secure their seats in the National Law Universities.
This is enough to tell us that CLAT exam is undoubtedly a tough exam and thus following the best preparation strategy and choosing the best books for CLAT 2025 are of utmost importance.
The exam consists of 120 passage-based multiple-choice questions covering subjects like English Language, Current Affairs & General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques.
But before you go ahead thinking about the best books for CLAT 2025, do make sure to read the CLAT Exam Syllabus, CLAT Exam Pattern and the CLAT Exam Eligibility Criteria in detail to not miss any important information.
I am assuming here that you now know about the CLAT exam and only after understanding the same, you are moving ahead with selecting and buying the best books for CLAT 2025.
Let’s start!
2. Role of Books in CLAT 2025 Exam Preparation
This is something that cannot be emphasized enough as books are going to be your best companion throughout your prep.
While, this cannot be denied that past years’ papers, mocks, tests and live classes are surely very important aspects of your CLAT preparation, but at the same time, the right books give you the base of your knowledge upon which the later stages of your preparation will depend.
You can always choose online, offline, kindle or PDF versions of the books, but just make sure to be with their guidance.
And so, I can say that books play a crucial role in CLAT exam preparation by providing structured content, practice questions, and detailed explanations of concepts. The right set of books can help candidates grasp fundamental concepts, improve problem-solving skills, and practice time management.
Cool!
So, we know the importance of the books in our CLAT exam journey…
But…
Here comes the next question…
3. How to Select the Best Books for CLAT 2025 Preparation?
Just imagine that you want to travel to Goa from your hometown, wherever it may be…
(Hey, listen! I know that you must want to message your friends about your long planned Goa trip, but for now, do complete reading this article first 😅)
So, yes, you want to travel to Goa.
Now, there must be many means of transport available like trains, flights, road route, break journey options and many similar options.
All the means and routes will take you to Goa, agreed!
But, what makes us smart is to choose only the best and most feasible options of travel.
Like routes that are reliable, trains that are comfortable, tickets that are available, timings that are safe and so on….
Just like this, choosing the best books for CLAT 2025 preparation is a very important decision and that is why there are some basic criteria that we must keep in mind while making our list.
Selecting the best books for CLAT 2025 preparation involves considering several factors:
1. Comprehensive Coverage: The book should cover the entire syllabus comprehensively. But at the same time, make sure that the book is exam centric and delivers primarily on the lines of the exam pattern.
2. Practice Questions: Look for books with a variety of practice questions and previous years’ papers as both of these are important for setting the right base for your preparation.
3. Author’s Reputation: Books by renowned authors or reputed publishers are often more reliable. This gives us the confidence that the author understands the requirements of the exam as well as how the content should be delivered to the students.
4. Latest Edition: Ensure the book is the latest edition to stay updated with the current exam pattern and syllabus. This is handy especially for subjects that have updates and changes like legal reasoning, current affairs and GK and the compendiums of Past Years’ Papers.
5. Reviews and Recommendations: Check reviews and recommendations from toppers and experts as they were exactly in your place a few years ago.
In this article also, I have included the books after getting recommendations from various CLAT toppers.
4. Best Books for CLAT 2025 Exam
So let’s get started with the best books for CLAT 2025 by breaking them down in individual subjects.
Also remember that these books are the most standard ones, and you should analyze your comfort and ease with each subject to finally decide to buy or refer to a book.
4.1 Best Books for English Language
English Language is one subject that is counted as one of the most scoring sections of the CLAT exam as it is quite doable by the candidates.
But it still requires some practice and brushing up with the basic concepts so that your accuracy and time management become better during the exam.
Here are the best books for CLAT 2025 for English Language:
- “Word Power Made Easy” by Norman Lewis
- “High School English Grammar & Composition” by Wren & Martin
- “Objective General English” by R.S. Aggarwal
- “Proficiency in Reading Comprehension by Arihant Publications
📚BOOK TITLE | ✍️ AUTHOR | ✅ KEY FEATURES |
---|---|---|
Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis | Focuses on vocabulary building and word usage |
High School English Grammar & Composition | Wren & Martin | Covers essential grammar rules and exercises to make your rules of grammar strong |
Objective General English | R.S. Aggarwal | Useful for practicing various types of questions related to grammar, comprehension, and vocabulary |
Proficiency in Reading Comprehension | Arihant Publications | Covers passages from different subjects like, political science, religion, philosophy, economics and various other disciplines that are widely covered in CLAT exam |
Consider these tips:💡
- Read Regularly: Improve reading skills by reading newspapers, magazines, and books.
- Enhance Vocabulary: Learn new words daily and use them in sentences.
- Practice Comprehension: Solve reading comprehension passages to enhance speed and accuracy. (Do not miss the past years’ papers)
- Grammar Practice: Focus on grammar rules and practice through exercises.
4.2 Best Books for Logical Reasoning
Logical Reasoning is one subject in the CLAT exam that is most confusing for the students.
If you look closely into the previous years’ papers, you will be able to see that in the CLAT exam, logical reasoning does not cover topics that are generally included like blood relations, syllogisms, seating arrangement, etc.
Rather, logical reasoning in CLAT is more like critical reasoning which is actually an extension of the reading comprehension only.
But do mark my suggestion here that, do not skip preparing for the general topics mentioned above as you can never predict the mind of the CLAT examiner.
Here are the best books for CLAT 2025 for logical reasoning:
- “Analytical Reasoning” by M.K. Pandey
- “A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning” by R.S. Aggarwal
- “Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning” by R.S. Aggarwal
- “GMAT Official Guide” by Wiley
📚BOOK TITLE | ✍️ AUTHOR | ✅ KEY FEATURES |
---|---|---|
Analytical Reasoning | M.K. Pandey | Used for understanding and practicing logical reasoning questions |
A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal | Covers various logical reasoning topics with ample practice questions |
Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal | For practicing both verbal and non-verbal reasoning questions |
GMAT Official Guide | Wiley | Practice questions with wide coverage |
Consider these tips:💡
- Understand the exam requirement: Solve the previous years’ questions to begin with and understand the CLAT Syllabus for logical reasoning
- Practice Daily: Read daily editorials in newspapers and analyze them critically and logically and also practice at least one logical reasoning question daily.
- Understand Concepts: Focus on understanding the underlying principles.
- Take Mock Tests: Regularly attempt mock tests to identify strengths and weaknesses.
- Analyze Performance: Review incorrect answers and learn from mistakes.
4.3 Best Books for Current Affairs and General Knowledge
Here comes the hero of the CLAT exam subjects!
Have you watched the movie ‘Karan Arjun’?
Even if not, let me tell you.
This movie featured the role of two very important heroes (Shahrukh and Salman).
Both of them had lead roles and their own place in the story of the movie.
Similarly, Current Affairs and GK is the Karan of the CLAT exam as 25% of the paper consists of current affairs and GK which is about 28-32 questions out of 120 questions.
And so, choosing the best and most dependable books for current affairs is very crucial.
Here are some recommended best books for CLAT 2025 for current affairs and GK:
- Newspapers and Magazines
- “Manorama Yearbook”
- “General Knowledge 2024” by Arihant
- “General Knowledge” by Lucent’s
📚BOOK TITLE | ✍️ AUTHOR | ✅ KEY FEATURES |
---|---|---|
Newspapers and Magazines | The Hindu, Indian Express, etc.; Pratiyogita Darpan, monthly magazines | Regular reading of newspapers helps you stay up-to-date with current affairs and cover the news in a comprehensive manner |
Manorama Yearbook | Malayala Manorama Group (Publisher) | A detailed annual compilation of current affairs, general knowledge, and important events |
General Knowledge 2024 | Arihant | For overall reading of current affairs |
General Knowledge” by Lucent’s | Lucent | A comprehensive guide that covers a wide range of topics in current affairs and general knowledge from static GK |
These tips can help you:💡
- Stay Updated: Regularly read newspapers and follow credible news portals.
- Notes Making: Maintain a diary to jot down important events and facts. (always make topic-wise notes and not date-wise for easy revision)
- Revise Regularly: Periodically review your notes to reinforce your memory. (A weekly revision is quite good)
- Practice Quizzes: Participate in online quizzes and mock tests to assess your preparation. (Ask your friend or fellow aspirant to quiz you)
4.4 Best Books for Legal Reasoning
Right after the Karan of CLAT exam subjects, here comes the Arjun..
And this is the subject of legal reasoning which is another 25% of the paper constituting about 28-32 questions out 120 questions.
And so, while we are looking for the best books for CLAT 2025, the choice for best books for legal reasoning is also quite selective.
Here are the best books for CLAT 2025 for legal reasoning:
- “Legal Aptitude for CLAT and Other Law Entrance Examinations” by A.P. Bhardwaj
- “Monthly Legal Current Affairs Magazine” by We Learn Legal
- “Universal’s CLAT Guide” by Universal
- “Legal Awareness and Legal Reasoning” by Pearson
📚BOOK TITLE | ✍️ AUTHOR | ✅ KEY FEATURES |
---|---|---|
Legal Aptitude for CLAT and Other Law Entrance Examinations | A.P. Bhardwaj | This book is my personal favorite because of its concise nature and that it covers legal principles, legal reasoning, and previous years’ question papers |
Monthly Legal Current Affairs Magazine | We Learn Legal | Our home made monthly legal compilation that covers all the monthly legal current affairs, case laws, legal developments in detail |
Universal’s CLAT Guide” by Universal | Universal | A comprehensive guide that includes legal reasoning questions, model papers, and mock tests |
Legal Awareness and Legal Reasoning | Pearson | Focuses on legal awareness and reasoning questions, providing a good understanding of legal concepts |
Consider these tips:💡
- Understand Concepts: Focus on understanding legal principles and their applications. (My live classes are just the right place)
- Case Studies: Practice analyzing case studies to improve legal reasoning skills.
- Legal terms and legal maxims: Learn and understand commonly used legal maxims. (They save crucial time during the exam)
- Mock Tests: Regularly take mock tests to assess your preparation.
4.5 Best Books for Quantitative Techniques
At last but not the least comes the smallest, yet an important subject of the CLAT exam.
Quantitative Techniques is often ignored by the CLAT candidates thinking that they can score enough in other sections to get a good rank.
But let me tell you, this is perhaps the biggest mistake that you can make.
Quants is a small subject, yes.
But it is scoring and takes less time to prepare.
You need to practice 10th level math and you are good to go!
Here are some books for the quantitative techniques subject:
- “Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations” by R.S. Aggarwal
- “Fast Track Objective Arithmetic” by Rajesh Verma
- “Quantitative Aptitude for All Competitive Examinations” by Abhijit Guha
📚BOOK TITLE | ✍️ AUTHOR | ✅ KEY FEATURES |
---|---|---|
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | R.S. Aggarwal | Covers a wide range of quantitative aptitude topics with numerous practice questions. |
Fast Track Objective Arithmetic | Rajesh Verma | A useful book for quick revision and practice of arithmetic concepts and questions. |
Quantitative Aptitude for All Competitive Examinations | Abhijit Guha | For practicing quantitative techniques and enhancing problem-solving skills |
Consider these tips:💡
- Strengthen Basics: Ensure a strong understanding of basic mathematical concepts.
- Practice Regularly: Solve various types of quantitative problems daily.
- Mock Tests: Take regular mock tests to gauge your preparation.
- Data Interpretation: Focus on practicing data interpretation problems.
5. Best Books for CLAT Previous Years’ Questions Compilation
This goes without saying, but still I will say this again that thinking to prepare for the CLAT exam by just moving ahead with the best books for CLAT 2025, and not giving any heed to the past years’ papers is like going with a submarine to fight a war in the Siachen!
Past years’ Papers give you an insider peep into the mind of the CLAT as an examiner and you can understand what exactly is the demand of the CLAT exam.
But yes, for your ease, there are many publishers who have compiled all the PYQs with their answers, detailed solutions and even extra practice questions. And you can just buy these compilations and refer to them as and when required.
Here are a few:
- “10 Year-wise Solved Papers for CLAT and AILET” by Oswaal Books (I refer to this books and have a hard copy too)
- “Previous Years’ Solved Papers for CLAT & AILET” by A.P. Bhardwaj
- “15 Years’ Solved Papers for CLAT & AILET” by Arihant
TABLE. TABLE. TABLE. TABLE. TABLE
📚BOOK TITLE | ✍️ AUTHOR/PUBLISHER |
---|---|
10 Year-wise Solved Papers for CLAT and AILET | Oswaal Books |
Previous Years’ Solved Papers for CLAT & AILET | A.P. Bhardwaj |
15 Years’ Solved Papers for CLAT & AILET | Arihant |
6. The Art of Note-Making from the Best Books for CLAT 2025 Preparation
Here comes the biggest question that must be coming to your minds right now.
“What about the notes???”
I myself have been moving back and forth on this question since my school days thinking whether I should be making the notes or not?
If yes, then how? 🤔
Offline or online?
If no, then what to do?
Study directly from the books and make small notes in the book itself?
Let’s quickly get to all of your doubts one by one.
6.1 Should We Make Notes for CLAT 2025 Exam Preparation?
The safest answer would always be…
Yes!
Yes, making notes is highly beneficial for CLAT exam preparation.
It might be a tedious task in the beginning, but if the notes are made properly and in a crisp manner, then they come very handy when the exam is approaching and you would want to revise all that you had read.
Here are 3 reasons why you should consider making notes:
- Better Retention: Writing down important points on your own and in your own handwriting helps in better retention and understanding of concepts. You can always sort out the most important portions of a topic and then note them down in your notes.
- Quick Revision: Time saving is the USP of making notes as they provide a quick reference for last-minute revision. This helps you save your precious time during revision days.
- Organized Study: Always a reason to make notes as they help in organizing study material and focusing on key areas. Multiple revisions from your notes help you retain better and even develop a photographic memory.
By now, we can say that making notes and yes making notes in a structured manner can help you prepare for the CLAT exam better given how vast is the CLAT exam syllabus.
But, do understand that note making is an activity that you should begin from the starting of your CLAT prep. If you have only a few months left, let’s say, only 3 months, then just read directly from the books and magazines and mark the important points with a highlighter or a pencil.
Do not waste your time making extensive notes that probably you won’t even be able to revise before the exam!
6.2 Offline Notes vs. Online Notes: Which Are Better?
Technology has indeed made things easier and portable for us.
Even our notes can travel with us wherever we go.
Making offline or online notes totally depends on the choice and comfort of a student.
Taking my example, I have always been an old school pen and paper student. And so, making notes in hard copy format seem more feasible to me.
But, this is completely subjective.
If you enjoy making and reading notes online using various apps like Evernotes, OneNote, Notion, etc. then it’s great!
Both offline and online notes have their advantages.
Offline Notes:
- Advantages: Personalized, easy to highlight important points, no dependence on gadgets, easy on the eyes
- Disadvantages: Time-consuming, difficult to carry along, heavy on maintenance
Added advantage of offline notes:
Parents are more convinced that we are really studying and not watching reels on social media! 😅
Online Notes:
- Advantages: Easily editable, searchable, accessible anywhere.
- Disadvantages: Dependence on gadgets, potential for distraction, harsh on the eyes, reason for headache
Added advantage of online notes:
Looks cool! 😄
All in all, choose the method that best suits your learning style and convenience.
Nothing much!
7. Best Books for CLAT 2025 Exam: FAQs
For you all to refer shortly, here are some frequently asked questions about the best books for CLAT 2025 exam.
1. What are the best books for CLAT English Language preparation?
Here are the most recommended books for English Language:
“Word Power Made Easy” by Norman Lewis- Focuses on vocabulary building and word usage.
“High School English Grammar & Composition” by Wren & Martin- This book covers essential grammar rules and exercises to make your rules of grammar strong.
“Objective General English” by R.S. Aggarwal- Useful for practicing various types of questions related to grammar, comprehension, and vocabulary.
“Proficiency in Reading Comprehension by Arihant Publications- The book covers passages from different subjects like, political science, religion, philosophy, economics and various other disciplines that are widely covered in CLAT exam.
2. Which books are recommended for CLAT Logical Reasoning?
Here are the most important books for logical reasoning:
“Analytical Reasoning” by M.K. Pandey – A widely used book for understanding and practicing logical reasoning questions.
“A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning” by R.S. Aggarwal – Covers various logical reasoning topics with ample practice questions.
“Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning” by R.S. Aggarwal – A good resource for practicing both verbal and non-verbal reasoning questions.
“GMAT Official Guide” by Wiley
3. What are the top books for Current Affairs and General Knowledge for CLAT?
Here are some recommended sources for current affairs and GK:
Newspapers and Magazines – These are the backbone of your current affairs preparation. Regular reading of newspapers like “The Hindu”, “The Indian Express”, and magazines like “Pratiyogita Darpan”* for up-to-date current affairs.
Manorama Yearbook” – A detailed annual compilation of current affairs, general knowledge, and important events.
“General Knowledge 2024” by Arihant
“General Knowledge” by Lucent’s – A comprehensive guide that covers a wide range of topics in current affairs and general knowledge.
4. Which books are best for CLAT Legal Reasoning preparation?
Legal Reasoning is 25% of the CLAT paper constituting about 28-32 questions out 120 questions.
So, while we are looking for the best books for CLAT 2025, the choice for best books for legal reasoning is also quite selective.
Here are a few books:
“Legal Aptitude for CLAT and Other Law Entrance Examinations” by A.P. Bhardwaj – This book is my personal favorite because of its concise nature and that it covers legal principles, legal reasoning, and previous years’ question papers.
“Monthly Legal Current Affairs Magazine” by We Learn Legal – This monthly magazine covers all the monthly legal current affairs, case laws, legal developments in detail
“Universal’s CLAT Guide” by Universal – A comprehensive guide that includes legal reasoning questions, model papers, and mock tests.
“Legal Awareness and Legal Reasoning” by Pearson – Focuses on legal awareness and reasoning questions, providing a good understanding of legal concepts.
5. Are online resources better than books for CLAT preparation?
Both online resources and books have their advantages. Books provide comprehensive content and structured learning, while online resources offer updated information, interactive learning, and flexibility. Combining both can provide a well-rounded preparation strategy.
8. Conclusion
So…
I hope that now you know what are the best books for CLAT 2025 preparation.
Now, you also know the CLAT exam syllabus, CLAT Exam Pattern and also CLAT Eligibility Criteria.
I am quite confident that you are all set to start your preparation for the CLAT exam and that you would choose the best books for CLAT 2025 as per your understanding and comfort.
Combining these resources with a structured study plan and regular revision will significantly enhance your preparation and improve your chances of securing a top rank in the CLAT 2025 exam.
Read well!
Stay well!