CLAT Cutoff 2026: NLU wise Final Round Closing Rank

CLAT Cutoff 2026 counselling has fully concluded for both UG and PG programmes, with the final round for CLAT PG released on May 15, 2026, and the UG counselling wrapping up several rounds earlier in the year. CLAT 2026 was conducted on December 7, 2025, with results out on December 16. NLSIU Bengaluru remained the most competitive seat, closing under rank 150 in the general category across the final rounds. This article covers the NLU wise and category wise closing rank, how the freeze, float, and exit system shaped seat movement, and the difference between CLAT UG and CLAT PG cutoff trends.

CLAT Cutoff 2026 Highlights: UG and PG Counselling Status

CLAT 2026 cutoff for both UG and PG programmes is now fully settled after multiple counselling rounds. The table below covers the basic exam details and final status.

CLAT 2026 Freeze, Float and Exit: How the Three Options Decided Final Cutoff

CLAT Cutoff 2026 at every round was shaped directly by how candidates responded to their seat allotment. The Consortium uses a three-option system that is more specific than a simple accept-or-reject choice.

This three-way choice is the main reason closing ranks for mid-tier NLUs loosen noticeably between Round 1 and Round 3, while top NLUs like NLSIU Bengaluru and NALSAR Hyderabad show very little movement, since few candidates float away from them once allotted.

CLAT NLU wise Cutoff 2026: Final Round Closing Rank for Top Law Schools

CLAT Cutoff 2026 for the top NLUs tightened only slightly across counselling rounds, unlike mid-tier institutes where the movement was much larger. The table below shows the final round general category closing rank.

Newer NLUs such as NLUT Agartala, RPNLU Prayagraj, IIULER Goa, and DBRANLU Sonepat recorded much wider opening to closing rank gaps because of higher seat availability relative to candidate demand at those campuses.

CLAT PG Cutoff 2026: How LLM Closing Rank Differs from UG

CLAT Cutoff 2026 for the PG (LLM) programme runs on a completely separate merit list and timeline from the UG cutoff, even though both exams were held the same day. Around 17,335 candidates competed for about 1,590 LLM seats.

• CLAT PG 2026 ran five official rounds, with the first merit list on January 7, 2026, and the final merit list on May 15, 2026, a much longer counselling window than most other exams in this category.
• State domicile quota seats at each NLU carry a separate, more relaxed closing rank than the All India quota seats for out of state LLM candidates.
• SC category closing rank at NLSIU Bengaluru was around 200 to 320 in the final round, reflecting the reserved category relaxation applied on top of the general list.

CLAT 2026 Does Not Cover NLU Delhi or NLU Meghalaya

CLAT Cutoff 2026 is often searched by candidates who assume it applies to every National Law University in India. Two well known exceptions catch many aspirants off guard.

• NLU Delhi does not participate in CLAT for either UG or PG admissions. It conducts its own All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) separately, with its own cutoff, exam date, and counselling process.
• NLU Meghalaya also does not conduct its admissions based on CLAT results, following its own separate admission route.
• NLU Delhi is not a member of the Consortium of National Law Universities, which is why it sits outside the centralised CLAT counselling system entirely.
• A candidate targeting NLU Delhi specifically must track AILET dates, cutoff, and application deadlines separately, since a strong CLAT rank carries no weight there.

CLAT Score vs Rank 2026: Why the Relationship Is Not a Straight Line

CLAT Cutoff 2026 candidates often assume that a fixed score maps to a fixed rank every year, but the relationship shifts based on how tightly scores cluster near the top of the distribution.

At the very top of the distribution, even a single mark difference can shift rank by 70 to 100 positions or more, because so many candidates cluster within a narrow score band. This is why a score of 102.75 landing at AIR 107 does not mean every candidate scoring around 103 will land near the same rank.

CLAT 2026 Minimum Preference Rule: 15 for UG, 5 for PG

CLAT Cutoff 2026 counselling required candidates to submit a minimum number of preferences, not just a maximum cap, which is a detail many first time applicants miss.

• CLAT UG candidates had to submit at least 15 NLU and course preferences during choice filling.
• CLAT PG candidates had to submit at least 5 preferences.
• Submitting fewer than the minimum required preferences risked disqualification from that round of counselling, regardless of how strong the candidate's rank was.
• Candidates were free to submit more than the minimum, and a longer preference list generally improved the chances of securing some seat rather than none, especially for candidates in the middle of the rank distribution.

CLAT Previous Year Cutoff Trend: How the Top Score Has Moved

CLAT cutoff at the very top has drifted downward over the last few cycles, reflecting both a change in exam pattern and rising difficulty. The table below tracks the shift.

The pattern change from 150 to 120 total marks in 2024 is the single biggest shift in recent CLAT history. Candidates comparing scores across years should convert to percentile or rank rather than comparing raw marks directly, since the scoring scale itself changed.

What Decides CLAT Cutoff 2026: Applicants, Seats and NLU Preference

CLAT Cutoff 2026 at each NLU depends on a mix of factors specific to how the Consortium runs its centralised counselling.

How to Check CLAT Cutoff 2026 Round wise

CLAT 2026 round wise merit lists and closing ranks were published separately after each counselling round on the official Consortium portal. The steps below explain how to check them.

• Step 1: Go to consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
• Step 2: Log in to the candidate portal using registered credentials.
• Step 3: Check the seat allotment or merit list link for the specific round (Round 1 through Round 5).
• Step 4: Download the round wise cutoff PDF for UG or PG separately, since the two are never combined.
• Step 5: Compare the closing rank for the target NLU, category, and domicile status against the candidate's own rank.
• Step 6: If allotted, pay the confirmation fee within the deadline and choose freeze, float, or exit before the window closes.

CLAT 2026 NRI and Sponsored Seats: A Separate Admission Track

CLAT Cutoff 2026 as discussed so far applies to the regular All India and domicile quota seats. NLUs also offer a distinct category for NRI and NRI-sponsored candidates that works differently.

• NRI and NRI-sponsored seats are typically filled outside the standard rank based counselling rounds, often through a separate application and documentation process managed directly by each NLU.
• Eligibility for this category usually requires proof of NRI status for the candidate or a sponsoring relative, along with the standard CLAT score as a baseline qualification.
• Fee structures for NRI and sponsored seats are typically higher than regular category seats and are set independently by each participating NLU.
• Candidates considering this route should confirm the specific documentation and deadline requirements directly with their target NLU, since the process is not standardised across all 24 to 26 participating institutes.

CLAT 2026 Documents Required During Counselling and Reporting

CLAT Cutoff 2026 only decides eligibility for a seat offer. Confirming admission required document verification at each stage. Candidates should keep the following ready.

• CLAT 2026 scorecard and admit card.
• Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and pass certificates.
• Category certificate (SC, ST, OBC, EWS) if applicable, issued by a competent authority.
• Domicile or residence certificate for candidates claiming state quota benefits at a specific NLU.
• Valid photo identity proof and recent passport size photographs.
• Proof of confirmation fee and NLU specific admission fee payment.

CLAT Cutoff 2026 Important Points for Candidates

CLAT Cutoff 2026 comes with a handful of conditions that are easy to overlook, particularly for candidates comparing CLAT with other law entrance exams.

• CLAT has no sectional cutoff. Only the overall score and resulting All India Rank matter for admission, regardless of how a candidate performed in any individual section.
• NLU Delhi and NLU Meghalaya do not accept CLAT for admission. NLU Delhi runs its own AILET exam entirely separately.
• CLAT UG and CLAT PG have completely separate merit lists, counselling schedules, and closing ranks, even though both exams are held on the same day.
• There is no limit on the number of CLAT attempts. Candidates can appear as many times as they wish, subject to meeting eligibility conditions each year.
• A minimum of 15 preferences for UG and 5 for PG had to be submitted during choice filling to remain eligible for that round.
• Domicile based reservation at individual NLUs, such as the Karnataka quota at NLSIU Bengaluru, produces a separate and often more relaxed closing rank for home state candidates.

CLAT Cutoff 2026 counselling has concluded for both UG and PG programmes, with NLSIU Bengaluru holding its position as the most competitive seat across every round. Candidates who secured admission through the 2026 cycle should complete any remaining document verification with their allotted NLU, while those who did not can review the NLU wise and category wise closing rank data in this article to plan a stronger preference list for CLAT 2027.

CLAT Cutoff 2026 FAQs

Ques: If a candidate floats after Round 1 but does not get a better NLU, do they keep their original seat?

Ques: Can a candidate with a strong CLAT rank get into NLU Delhi?

Ques: Why did the CLAT 2026 topper score look lower than in years before the pattern change?

Ques: Does CLAT PG use the same merit list as CLAT UG?

Ques: What happens if a candidate does not submit the minimum required number of preferences during choice filling?