1. What Is CLAT Cutoff and How Is It Determined?
The CLAT cutoff is the minimum All India Rank (AIR) at which seats in a specific NLU programme and category are filled during the counselling process. It is expressed as an Opening Rank (the best/lowest rank allotted to a seat) and a Closing Rank (the worst/highest rank that received a seat in that round). The closing rank is what most students track when planning their counselling preferences.
The CLAT cutoff is not pre-announced by the Consortium of NLUs | it emerges organically from the seat allotment process. After the CLAT result is declared, the Consortium releases a round-wise merit list. Each round shows which seats were filled, and the highest rank that received a seat in each category is the closing rank (i.e., the cutoff) for that round.
5 Factors That Determine CLAT Cutoff
- More candidates appearing (92,000+ in 2026)
- Easier paper → more high scorers → more competition
- Increasing aspirant pool year-over-year
- Rising NLU prestige attracting more aspirants
- Less seats added despite rising applicants
- Harder paper → fewer top scorers
- New seats added to existing NLUs
- New NLUs added to CLAT consortium
- Fewer candidates registering/appearing
- Answer key revisions increasing effective marks
Each NLU has two separate cutoffs: AI (All India) Quota | applies to candidates from all states; these are the highly competitive cutoffs listed in this article. HS (Home State) Quota | applies to candidates from the NLU's home state; these cutoffs are typically much lower (more lenient). For example, the HS quota cutoff for Maharashtra-domicile students at MNLU Nagpur is significantly lower than the AI quota cutoff. When checking cutoffs, confirm whether you are checking the AI or HS quota cutoff for your category.
2. Tier 1 NLUs | CLAT 2026 Cutoff (NLSIU, NALSAR, NUJS)
The Tier 1 NLUs are India's three most competitive law universities | NLSIU Bengaluru (NIRF #1), NALSAR Hyderabad (NIRF #2), and WBNUJS Kolkata (NIRF #3/4). These institutions require AIR under 330 for General AI category and have the tightest cutoffs nationally. In CLAT 2026, all three saw their cutoffs tighten further compared to 2025.
Tier 1 NLUs | Detailed Round-Wise Comparison (General AI)
| NLU | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Approx. Score Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bengaluru (BA LLB) | 101 | 107 | 112 | 105–112+ marks |
| NALSAR Hyderabad (BA LLB) | 148 | 155 | 159 | 102–108+ marks |
| WBNUJS Kolkata (BA LLB) | ~200 | ~260 | ~277 | 99–105+ marks |
| WBNUJS Kolkata (BSc LLB) | ~289 | ~310 | ~327 | 97–103+ marks |
3. Tier 2 NLUs | CLAT 2026 Cutoff
Tier 2 NLUs are established, well-regarded National Law Universities that require a CLAT rank of approximately AIR 400–1,500 for General AI category. These institutions offer strong placements, mature alumni networks, and good placement outcomes. NLIU Bhopal, GNLU Gandhinagar, NLU Jodhpur (NLUJ), and HNLU Raipur are the anchors of this tier.
Tier 2 NLUs | Complete CLAT 2026 Cutoff Table (General AI)
| NLU | State | NIRF 2025 | R1 Gen Closing | R3 Gen Closing | OBC R1 | SC R1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLIU Bhopal (BA LLB) | MP | #4 | 432 | ~500 | 1,714 | 5,407 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | Gujarat | #5 | ~480 | ~550 | ~1,800 | ~5,800 |
| NLU Jodhpur (NLUJ) | Rajasthan | #6 | ~520 | ~600 | ~2,000 | ~6,000 |
| NLIU Bhopal (BSc LLB Cyber) | MP | #4 | 684 | ~750 | 2,326 | 7,996 |
| HNLU Raipur | CG | #8 | ~800 | ~1,100 | ~3,500 | ~8,000 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | UP | #9 | ~900 | ~1,200 | ~4,000 | ~9,000 |
| NLUO Cuttack | Odisha | #11 | ~1,100 | ~1,400 | ~4,500 | ~10,000 |
| NUALS Kochi | Kerala | #12 | ~1,200 | ~1,500 | ~5,000 | ~11,000 |
| CNLU Patna | Bihar | #13 | ~1,300 | ~1,600 | ~5,200 | ~12,000 |
| NUSRL Ranchi | Jharkhand | #14 | ~1,300 | ~1,700 | ~5,500 | ~13,000 |
4. Tier 3 NLUs | CLAT 2026 Cutoff
| NLU | State | NIRF 2025 (Law) | Gen AI R1 Closing | Gen AI R3 Closing | OBC R1 | SC R1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MNLU Nagpur (BA LLB) | Maharashtra | #28 | 1225 | 1306 | | | | |
| MNLU Nagpur (BBA LLB) | Maharashtra | #28 | 1284 | 1403 | | | | |
| TNNLU Tiruchirappalli | Tamil Nadu | #18 | ~1,400 | ~1,700 | ~6,000 | ~14,000 |
| DSNLU Visakhapatnam | Andhra Pradesh | #26 | ~1,500 | ~1,800 | ~6,500 | ~15,000 |
| HPNLU Shimla | Himachal Pradesh | #21 | ~1,600 | ~2,100 | ~7,000 | ~16,000 |
| MNLU Mumbai (BA LLB) | Maharashtra | #31 | ~481 | ~700 | ~2,200 | ~6,000 |
| NUSRL Ranchi | Jharkhand | #22 | ~1,350 | ~1,700 | ~5,500 | ~13,000 |
| MNLU Aurangabad | Maharashtra | #32 | ~1,800 | ~2,400 | ~8,000 | ~18,000 |
| DBRANLU Sonepat | Haryana | #24 | ~2,000 | ~2,800 | ~9,000 | ~20,000 |
5. Tier 4 NLUs | CLAT 2026 Cutoff (Newest NLUs)
Newer and smaller NLUs that joined the CLAT consortium more recently typically show wider opening-to-closing rank spreads across rounds. These universities still carry the NLU brand and BCI approval, but have lower competition. They represent a genuine opportunity for candidates with CLAT ranks above 3,000.
| NLU | State | Gen AI R1 Closing (Approx) | Gen AI R3 Closing (Approx) | SC R1 (Approx) | ST R1 (Approx) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLUO Cuttack | Odisha | ~1,100 | ~1,400 | ~10,000 | ~14,000 |
| NLUA Assam (Guwahati) | Assam | ~2,500 | ~3,500 | ~15,000 | ~22,000 |
| NLIU Agartala (NLUT) | Tripura | ~4,000 | ~6,000 | ~18,000 | ~30,000 |
| RPNLU Prayagraj | UP | ~4,500 | ~7,000 | ~20,000 | ~35,000 |
| IIULER Goa | Goa | ~3,500 | ~5,500 | ~18,000 | ~28,000 |
| NLSIU (PG) / NLU Mizoram | Mizoram | ~8,000 | ~15,000 | ~25,000 | ~40,000+ |
For candidates with CLAT ranks of 3,000–10,000 (General AI), Tier 4 NLUs still offer the NLU brand, BCI-approved LLB, national alumni exposure, and AIBE registration eligibility. Newer NLUs are often growing rapidly in infrastructure and placements. NLUT Agartala, RPNLU Prayagraj, and IIULER Goa show the biggest movement between rounds | candidates who apply early in Round 1 may secure seats that close significantly later in Round 5. Always fill these in your preference list if you have ranks in this range, even if they aren't your first choice.
6. Category-Wise CLAT 2026 Cutoff Analysis
One of the most important dimensions of CLAT cutoffs is how drastically they differ by reservation category. Understanding your category's cutoff is critical | the same score or rank that eliminates a General candidate from a top NLU may be sufficient for an OBC or SC candidate to secure the same NLU.
| Category | NLSIU R1 Closing | NALSAR R1 | GNLU R1 (Approx) | RMLNLU R1 (Approx) | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General (OC) | 101 | 148 | ~480 | ~900 | Most competitive |
| EWS | 702 | 630 | ~1,200 | ~2,200 | Similar to OBC; slightly easier |
| OBC-NCL | 1018 | 915 | ~1,800 | ~4,000 | ~5–8x wider than General |
| SC | 3,072 | 3,259 | ~5,800 | ~9,000 | ~20–30x wider than General R1 |
| ST | 5,000 | 5,200 | ~9,500 | ~14,000 | ~40–100x wider than General |
| PWD | 8,756 | | | | | | | Horizontal reservation |
Visual: CLAT 2026 NLSIU R1 Cutoff by Category
The CLAT 2026 data confirms that category-wise cutoffs show massive differences | ranging from 7,000 to 40,000 ranks in some NLUs between General and ST categories. An OBC candidate with CLAT AIR 1,018 can get NLSIU (normally needing AIR 101 for General). An SC candidate with AIR 3,072 secures NLSIU admission. This makes category-aware planning essential | always check both the General (AI) cutoff AND your category-specific (AI) cutoff before filling preferences. Many candidates with "disappointing" CLAT ranks still secure excellent NLUs through their category quota.
7. Round-Wise CLAT Cutoff Movement | How Ranks Shift
Understanding how cutoffs change across the 5 counselling rounds is as important as knowing the cutoffs themselves. Students who participate in all rounds significantly improve their NLU admission chances.
| Round | When Released | Cutoff Direction | Which NLUs Move Most | Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | January 7, 2026 | Tightest cutoffs | ALL NLUs show highest cutoffs here | Best chance for top NLUs if rank is competitive |
| Round 2 | Late January 2026 | Slight drop | Tier 2–3 NLUs see 5–15% drop | Upgrade opportunity for mid-tier students |
| Round 3 | February 2026 | Moderate drop | Tier 3 NLUs see 10–20% drop | Mid-tier NLU upgrade chances appear |
| Round 4 | March 2026 | Significant drop in some | Vacancies from JGLS/Symbiosis/NMIMS dropouts | Strategic for students targeting Tier 3–4 NLUs |
| Round 5 | April–May 2026 | Maximum drop (newer NLUs) | NLUT, RPNLU, IIULER, DBRANLU | Final opportunity | do not exit before Round 5 |
During CLAT counselling, Float means you keep your current allotment but remain in the pool for a better NLU in the next round if a seat becomes available. Freeze means you accept your current allotment and exit all future rounds. Exit means you give up your seat entirely. For most students: Always Float until you are allotted your desired NLU or the best NLU available. Never Freeze prematurely | top NLU seats rarely open in later rounds, but the next tier down often does. Exit only if you have confirmed admission elsewhere (JGLS, Symbiosis, NLU Delhi via AILET, or foreign university).
8. CLAT 2026 Marks vs Rank vs NLU Guide
The most practical question every CLAT aspirant asks: "If I score X marks, what rank will I get and which NLU can I target?" Here is the comprehensive CLAT 2026 marks-to-rank-to-NLU mapping for the General AI category:
9. CLAT 2026 vs 2025 vs 2024 | Year-on-Year Cutoff Comparison (General AI R3)
| NLU | CLAT 2024 (R3) | CLAT 2025 (R3) | CLAT 2026 (R3) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bengaluru | ~105 | ~115 | 112 | More competitive ↑ |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | ~160 | ~165 | 159 | Stable / slight tighten |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | ~350 | ~340 | 327 | More competitive ↑ |
| NLIU Bhopal (BA LLB) | ~480 | ~500 | ~500 | Stable |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | ~600 | ~580 | ~550 | More competitive ↑ |
| HNLU Raipur | ~1,200 | ~1,100 | ~1,100 | Stable |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | ~1,400 | ~1,300 | ~1,200 | More competitive ↑ |
| MNLU Nagpur (BA LLB) | ~1,700 | 1,529 | 1,306 | Significantly tighter ↑↑ |
10. Why Did CLAT 2026 Cutoffs Tighten? Key Factors
The single most important trend in CLAT 2026 is that cutoffs at all NLU tiers tightened compared to 2025. Three major factors drove this:
CLAT 2026 saw a record 92,000+ candidates appearing | significantly higher than 2025 (~75,000). More aspirants competing for the same ~3,700 NLU seats directly pushes cutoff ranks higher for every NLU, especially the top tiers.
+23% applicants YoYThe December 7, 2025 CLAT paper's difficulty level and score distribution affected how many candidates scored in key rank brackets. The topper scored 112.75/120 | with significant score compression at the top, small differences in marks create large rank differences.
Topper: 112.75/120India's NLU brand has grown dramatically. More students are opting for law careers over engineering and management, and NLUs | especially Tier 1 | are seen as the fastest route to top law firms and high salaries. This demand growth is structural and will continue.
NLU admissions increasingly competitiveBased on the trend of 92,000+ candidates in 2026 and the structural growth in CLAT aspirants, CLAT 2027 is expected to see 1,00,000+ candidates. This means cutoffs at all NLU tiers will tighten further. CLAT 2027 aspirants must aim for marks 5–8% higher than CLAT 2026 cutoffs to maintain the same NLU admission probability. Early, consistent, and strategic preparation is non-negotiable.
11. CLAT 2027 Target Ranks & Preparation Strategy
CLAT 2027 Recommended Target Ranks (General AI)
CLAT 2027 Preparation Strategy | 6 Key Actions
- Legal Reasoning | daily passage-based practice (CLAT's highest-weighted section)
- Current Affairs | The Hindu + PRS India + Supreme Court judgments daily
- English | 1 RC passage per day; vocabulary building
- Logical Reasoning | 10 questions daily; focus on weak sub-types
- Quantitative Techniques | daily data interpretation practice
- Start mock tests from Day 1 | at least 1 full mock per week minimum
- Switch to 3–4 full mocks per week in the final 8 weeks
- Always analyse each mock: identify weak sections and wrong-answer patterns
- Previous year CLAT papers (2021–2026): mandatory practice
- Aim for 95+ consistently in mocks to target Tier 1 NLUs
LLB from GNLU Gandhinagar and LLM (Corporate & Commercial Law) from NUJS Kolkata. 8+ years covering CLAT admissions, NLU cutoff analysis, and counselling strategy. Cutoff data in this article sourced from the official Consortium of NLUs allotment lists. Published May 30, 2026 (post R1 release). Updated May 30, 2026 (post R5 completion).