Challenges in Introducing Regional Languages for CLAT 2024: Insights from the Consortium of NLUs
The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs), responsible for conducting the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) annually, has recently submitted an affidavit to the Delhi High Court. In the affidavit, the Consortium expressed its concerns over the feasibility of holding the CLAT 2024, scheduled for December 3, 2023, in multiple regional languages. The primary reason cited was the substantive and procedural challenges associated with such an endeavor.
The Consortium emphasized that a well-informed policy decision regarding the language options for future CLAT editions will be made after seeking expert opinions and undergoing comprehensive consultations.
A significant point of contention raised by the Consortium is the comparison of CLAT with the All India Bar Examination (AIBE). The Consortium highlighted the fundamental differences in the testing patterns of the two exams. They stated,
“The AIBE is focused on testing memory and general knowledge, and is therefore capable of easily being translated into multiple languages, without need for paying any particular reference to ensuring testing parity and uniformity of complexity of the question paper across various translated options… The pattern of the CLAT paper presents much more complex issues in translation, as it is focused on comprehension and critical reasoning. If simple translations were to be done hurriedly without ensuring parity of difficulty in the various language options, it would open the floodgates for candidate grievances.”
Furthermore, the Court was informed that the Consortium lacks the necessary resources and means to introduce additional language options without potentially compromising the quality and integrity of the CLAT examinations.
This development sheds light on the complexities of introducing regional languages in national-level examinations and the need for a balanced approach to ensure fairness and maintain the standard of the test.
