Clear cover:

The clear cover is the distance between the exposed concrete surface (without plaster
and other 􀂦nishes) to the nearest surface of the reinforcing bar Look into the following
image for more detail.
In the following

picture, Cle
Nominal cover:
As per IS 456(Clause 26.4.1), the term clear cover is replaced by the term Nominal
cover. The nominal cover is the distance between the exposed concrete surface to
nearest reinforcement bar ( it may be any bar main bar, longitudinal bar and even
links

Clear cover is the distance from outer surface of concrete member to

the outer surface of steel (either main reinforcement or stirrups). ...
1 ; nominal cover is defined as the cover to all steel reinforcement,
including stirrups/links.
Clear Cover, Nominal Cover & Effective cover example:-
 

From the above Figure,

Diameter of Stirrups (d) =8mm,

Diameter of Main reinforcement (D) =  16mm

Clear Cover = 60mm

Effective cover = Clear cover + d + D/2

= 80mm + 8mm + 16/2  = 68mm + 8mm = 96mm