Meet Dhrishit Dasgupta, whose journey to securing an impressive All India Rank in CLAT 2026 reflects a blend of intellectual curiosity, consistency, and a deep-rooted passion for law. With his place secured at the prestigious West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata, where he will pursue B.A. LL.B., Dhrishit is set to begin the next chapter of his legal journey.
Long before stepping into the world of law, Dhrishit found himself drawn towards activities that demanded clarity of thought, articulation, and the ability to engage with diverse perspectives. His involvement in Model United Nations conferences, debates, and various leadership roles during school helped shape his confidence in reasoning, communication, and understanding complex issues — qualities that eventually guided him towards a career in law.
His CLAT preparation journey was marked by a structured approach, where he focused on strengthening fundamentals, consistently analysing his performance, and treating every challenge as an opportunity to improve. From mastering the nuances of logical and legal reasoning to adapting to an unpredictable exam pattern, Dhrishit’s preparation reflected the importance of resilience and adaptability in competitive examinations.
In this conversation, Dhrishit shares insights into his preparation strategy, the role of mock tests, managing academics alongside CLAT preparation, handling pressure, and the mindset that helped him secure a place among the top performers of CLAT 2026.
Q. Congratulations on your outstanding achievement. Could you share your immediate reaction upon receiving your CLAT 2026 results, and what this success signifies for you personally?
Thank you. Yes, I was really excited upon hearing my results. Going to a top 4 NLU has always been a dream of mine. And now that I’m able to live that dream is really special to me.
Q. What motivated your decision to pursue a career in law?
I was engaged in public speaking events from a young age. In school, I took part in multiple debates, and from there I understood that I was good at reasoning and articulating my thoughts effectively. Additionally, the intricate study that a subject like law demands has also led me to develop this interest and passion for the law.
Q. You were simultaneously managing school board exam pressure, CLAT preparation, and extracurricular commitments. How did you practically divide your time across all three — did you follow a fixed weekly schedule, and did school ever take priority over CLAT prep?
So initially, I just made a list of all the CLAT-related activities I would finish on that particular day. Then I’d try to finish those works whenever I found time, in between other work or whatever the day allowed. Eventually, of course, CLAT prep took priority over all else, and by then the situation was such that I needed to study very little for school, which gave me ample time to study for CLAT.
Q. Did your study routine evolve as the exam date approached, particularly in the final month? How did your strategy in the last 30 days differ from the initial phase of your preparation?
In the initial phase, I built up my basics, like logical and legal reasoning. I did this by giving sectionals incessantly and over a large period of time, maybe 6 or 7 months. The last 30 days were more about GK prep and analyzing mocks. I tried to perfect the way I gave a mock and paid attention to why I made certain mistakes.
Q. The preparation journey is often long and arduous. How did you navigate periods of burnout or suboptimal performance in your mock tests to maintain your momentum?
Well, it’s good to be competitive. In fact, I’d say it’s essential. I always felt bad when I didn’t score the highest or high enough for my standards, and that’s a part of it. Burnout is natural but temporary. Many people use being burnt out as an excuse for suboptimal performance. Maybe it can be true for a week or two, but beyond that, it just becomes people’s lame justification. I’d advise never to do that. Burnouts come and go naturally, but never make them the reason for your failures.
Q. CLAT is distinct for its high-pressure, speed-intensive nature. How did you manage exam-day anxiety, and did you utilize any specific techniques to maintain composure during the test?
I didn’t have any specific techniques, really, but what did help me with exam pressure is organization. I always kept my pens in a certain way, my bottle in a specific place, my paper was kept neatly on my desk, and other such things. Seeing my desk so organised helped me keep my cool. That’s just my method, and everyone needs to find their own.
Q. How instrumental were mock tests in your overall preparation strategy? Specifically, how did they aid in your conditioning for the actual exam environment?
Mock tests were probably the most crucial part of my preparation. Giving a mock in a standardised way, knowing how to face the actual exam paper, and having a constant way to understand your growth are all things that a mock provides to an individual. All of these aspects of a mock are crucial to a student’s development and mental preparation for CLAT.
Q. Beyond merely attempting mock tests, how did you approach the post-test analysis? Did you maintain a systematic record of errors to track your improvement?
I didn’t maintain a track record of my errors per se, but I did analyse every mock I gave intimately. Every error I made was something to learn from. I tried to understand what my thought process was when I made the errors and where I went wrong. It’s only when even after this analytical process was finished and I was still unable to understand my mistake, did I consult my mentors and teachers.
Q. Given the vast scope of General Knowledge and Current Affairs, what methodology did you adopt to stay updated efficiently without feeling overwhelmed?
I ingrained GK research into my daily routine. Every day, I used a compendium to note down the material I found important. It didn’t have to be a whole compendium PDF, just a section, or maybe even a page, but it helped distribute the workload efficiently and prevented backlog from building up.
Q. Time management is critical in a 120-minute examination. Could you walk us through your section-attempt strategy?
I started with Legal because I thought that would be the best section to do when your mind was fresh and un-fatigued. Then, the order I followed was GK, Logic, English, and finally, Maths. This combination allowed me to take breaks between the more tedious and the easier sections. But, this order is simply my personal preference, and there is no evidence to suggest that it is the ideal one or that there aren’t better ways to go about it.
Q. In hindsight, is there any aspect of your preparation strategy that you would alter or improve upon if given the chance?
I think I should have focused a bit more on increasing my speed in Maths. I was good at solving the questions, but quite inefficient at it. I think if my speed of calculation had been a bit better, it would have helped me with the actual exam.
Q. When did you seriously begin your CLAT preparation, and looking back, do you think you started too early, too late, or at exactly the right time?
I technically started preparing for CLAT in class 11, but truthfully, I didn’t do too much then, and the serious prep only started in class 12. I think I was on a comfortable timeline, not too early and not too late either, but that’s hard to assess.
Q. The comprehension-heavy format of CLAT rewards strong readers. Was reading always a habit for you, or did you consciously build it during prep — and if so, how?
I was always a good reader, and I’m afraid I’ve never had to work on that aspect of CLAT. I developed a habit of reading books a long time ago, and that helped me a lot in CLAT, without giving any time to developing that skill.
Q. CLAT 2026 surprised most aspirants with its heavy analytical reasoning focus and a pattern quite distinct from what was expected. How did you keep your composure when you realized this mid-exam, and what’s your advice for future aspirants on handling an unpredictable paper?
I knew I would be prepared to handle the analytical reasoning questions because I had practiced them in previous mocks. Yes, the change was unexpected, but not one that would negatively affect me. This thought alone was enough to keep me calm. Confidence is the solution to problems like these, and confidence is built up through practice. So that is my ultimate advice to students. Don’t try to predict the paper; be prepared for everything, and the paper will go smoothly no matter what they throw at you.
Q. Comparison with peers is one of the most silent yet damaging traps during CLAT prep. Did you ever fall into it, and how did you learn to block out that noise?
I think comparison can be used to one’s advantage as well. I confess that I was always comparing my score with others. I felt good when I scored more than others, and when I didn’t, it motivated me to do better. Most people gte discouraged when they see others doing better than them, but if someone can channel that feeling and force themselves to improve, they can use comparison as an efficient motivator
Q. Based on your experience, what is your primary advice for future aspirants targeting CLAT 2027?
I think CLAT is a marathon, not a sprint, and like any competitive exam, keeping yourself motivated for the long run is the most important thing to do. My advice for people giving CLAT this year is to fix their mentality. Go into exams and mocks with no expectations, celebrate if you do well, but move on quickly if you don’t. Prepare just a little bit every single day, and don’t make excuses to avoid work. Half the battle is mental; if someone can get a head start on that front, then they’re already ahead of their competition.