1. What Is the CLAT NLU Cutoff & How Is It Decided?
The CLAT NLU cutoff is the All India Rank (AIR) of the last candidate allotted a seat in a specific NLU in a specific category during a particular round of counselling. It is not a minimum score | it is a rank. A lower number means a more competitive cutoff.
For example: if NALSAR Hyderabad's General category closing rank in Round 1 is AIR 148, it means the 148th-ranked candidate in the General category was the last to receive an allotment. Candidate at AIR 149 did not get NALSAR in that round | but may get it in Round 2 if allotted candidates upgrade to a better NLU.
Factors That Determine the CLAT NLU Cutoff
Multiple variables interact to set the final cutoff for each NLU and category each year:
- Number of applicants: CLAT 2026 saw 92,000+ candidates | a historic high. More candidates at the top end compresses ranks, raising cutoffs at elite NLUs.
- Exam difficulty: A moderately easy CLAT 2026 paper resulted in more candidates scoring 90–100, tightening General category cutoffs at top NLUs.
- Seats available per NLU per category: GNLU Gandhinagar has 180 seats; DNLU has 60. Fewer seats = higher (more competitive) cutoff.
- Domicile reservation: Most NLUs reserve 25–50% of seats for home-state candidates, creating separate domicile cutoffs that are significantly lower.
- NLU preference trends: Rising placement and NIRF rankings of certain NLUs push their cutoffs higher year over year.
- Category reservation: Government-mandated OBC, SC, ST, EWS, and PwD quotas create separate cutoffs. SC/ST cutoffs are typically 15,000–40,000 AIR lower than General at newer NLUs.
2. CLAT 2026 Round 1 Cutoff | All 26 NLUs, Category-wise
The Consortium of NLUs published the Round 1 allotment and cutoffs on January 7, 2026. The table below shows closing ranks for General, OBC, EWS, SC and ST categories. These are the ranks of the last candidate allotted in Round 1 for BA LLB (Hons.) programmes.
| # | NLU / Programme | Location | Gen | OBC | EWS | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NLSIU Bengaluru (BA LLB Hons) | Bengaluru, KA | 101 | 1,018 | 702 | 3,072 | 5,000 |
| 2 | NALSAR Hyderabad (BA LLB Hons) | Hyderabad, TG | 148 | 915 | 630 | 3,259 | 5,200 |
| 3 | WBNUJS Kolkata (BA LLB Hons) | Kolkata, WB | 284 | | | | | 3,833 | 6,010 |
| 4 | WBNUJS Kolkata (BSc LLB Hons) | Kolkata, WB | 550 | | | | | 6,186 | 9,615 |
| 5 | NLU Jodhpur (BA LLB Hons) | Jodhpur, RJ | 310 | 1,273 | 868 | 4,042 | 5,907 |
| 6 | NLU Jodhpur (BBA LLB Hons) | Jodhpur, RJ | 386 | 1,427 | 970 | 4,985 | 8,113 |
| 7 | GNLU Gandhinagar (BA LLB Hons) | Gandhinagar, GJ | 376 | 1,834 | 1,167 | 5,340 | 7,913 |
| 8 | GNLU Silvassa (BA LLB Hons) | Silvassa, DD | 1,259 | 2,541 | 1,836 | 9,215 | | |
| 9 | NLIU Bhopal (BA LLB Hons) | Bhopal, MP | 432 | 1,714 | 1,315 | 5,407 | 9,461 |
| 10 | NLIU Bhopal (BSc LLB Cyber Security) | Bhopal, MP | 684 | 2,326 | 2,056 | 7,996 | 10,429 |
| 11 | HNLU Raipur | Raipur, CG | 736 | 1,994 | | | 6,464 | 11,239 |
| 12 | RMLNLU Lucknow | Lucknow, UP | 890 | 2,210 | 1,540 | 7,100 | 12,450 |
| 13 | NUALS Kochi | Kochi, KL | 1,050 | 2,380 | 1,720 | 7,800 | 13,200 |
| 14 | NLUJA Guwahati | Guwahati, AS | 1,140 | 2,470 | 1,890 | 8,200 | 8,500 |
| 15 | CNLU Patna | Patna, BR | 1,380 | 2,690 | 2,020 | 9,450 | 15,100 |
| 16 | NUSRL Ranchi | Ranchi, JH | 1,490 | 2,850 | 2,140 | 10,100 | 14,600 |
| 17 | NLUO Cuttack | Cuttack, OD | 1,620 | 3,050 | 2,300 | 11,000 | 16,200 |
| 18 | MNLU Mumbai | Mumbai, MH | 1,750 | 3,200 | 2,460 | 11,800 | 17,000 |
| 19 | MNLU Nagpur | Nagpur, MH | 1,890 | 3,380 | 2,620 | 12,400 | 17,900 |
| 20 | MNLU Aurangabad | Aurangabad, MH | 2,010 | 3,500 | 2,780 | 13,100 | 18,500 |
| 21 | TNNLU Tiruchirappalli | Trichy, TN | 2,200 | 3,720 | 2,950 | 13,800 | 19,200 |
| 22 | DSNLU Visakhapatnam | Vizag, AP | 2,380 | 3,950 | 3,100 | 14,600 | 20,000 |
| 23 | IIULER Goa (BA LLB) | Goa | 2,127 | | | | | | | | |
| 24 | IIULER Goa (BBA LLB) | Goa | 2,236 | | | | | | | | |
| 25 | DBRANLU Sonepat | Sonepat, HR | 3,100 | 5,200 | 4,100 | 18,000 | 24,000 |
| 26 | RPNLU Prayagraj | Prayagraj, UP | 3,450 | 5,600 | 4,500 | 19,500 | 26,000 |
| 27 | NLUT Agartala | Agartala, TR | 3,800 | 6,200 | 5,000 | 21,000 | 14,000 |
| Round 1 Closing Ranks. Red = very competitive (<500). Amber = moderately competitive (500–2,000). Green = relatively accessible (>2,000). Domicile quota not included. " | " = no data for this category in Round 1. Source: Consortium of NLUs, January 7, 2026. | |||||||
3. Tier-1 NLU Cutoff Analysis (NLSIU, NALSAR, NUJS, NLUJ, GNLU)
The Tier-1 NLUs | NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata, NLU Jodhpur, and GNLU Gandhinagar | consistently maintain the highest cutoffs in CLAT. In 2026, all five closed within the top 400 ranks for General category, making them accessible only to the most competitive candidates.
The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, is consistently ranked #1 in India for law by NIRF. It is the most coveted NLU and has the tightest CLAT cutoff every year. In 2026, the General category closed at AIR 101 | a 1-rank improvement over CLAT 2025's closing rank of 112.
| Category | Round 1 Closing Rank | Seats (approx) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (AI) | 101 | ~55 | Tightest among all NLUs |
| OBC | 1,018 | ~22 | Significant jump from Gen |
| EWS | 702 | ~11 | | |
| SC | 3,072 | ~16 | | |
| ST | 5,000 | ~8 | | |
| Karnataka Domicile | Lower | check official | ~50% | Separate domicile quota |
NLSIU has a large Karnataka domicile quota (50% of seats). A Karnataka-domicile candidate with AIR 500–800 may still secure NLSIU through the state quota, where the cutoff is significantly lower than the All India General category. Always verify domicile eligibility if you are from Karnataka.
NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, is India's second-ranked law school and is known for excellence in corporate law and international law. The 2026 General category cutoff closed at AIR 148, reflecting a slight increase in competition from CLAT 2025.
| Category | Round 1 Closing Rank |
|---|---|
| General (AI) | 148 |
| OBC | 915 |
| EWS | 630 |
| SC | 3,259 |
| ST | 5,200 |
The next tier of elite NLUs | WBNUJS Kolkata, NLU Jodhpur, and GNLU Gandhinagar | closed between AIR 284 and AIR 376 in General category for Round 1. These are excellent choices for candidates ranked outside the top 150 but within the top 400.
| NLU | Programme | Gen Closing | OBC Closing | SC Closing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WBNUJS Kolkata | BA LLB Hons | 284 | | | 3,833 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | BSc LLB Hons | 550 | | | 6,186 |
| NLU Jodhpur | BA LLB Hons | 310 | 1,273 | 4,042 |
| NLU Jodhpur | BBA LLB Hons | 386 | 1,427 | 4,985 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | BA LLB Hons | 376 | 1,834 | 5,340 |
4. Tier-2 NLU Cutoff Analysis
Tier-2 NLUs offer excellent legal education, strong placements, and are significantly more accessible than Tier-1. In CLAT 2026, these NLUs had General category closing ranks between AIR 400 and AIR 1,800 in Round 1. They see the most movement across counselling rounds.
HNLU Raipur, RMLNLU Lucknow, NUALS Kochi, and NLIU Bhopal offer excellent placements in their regions, strong alumni networks, and Bar Council-accredited degrees equivalent to Tier-1 NLUs. For candidates ranked AIR 500–2,000, targeting Tier-2 NLUs strategically often results in better overall career outcomes than stretching for a Tier-1 NLU through domicile quota and hoping for a Round 3 windfall.
5. Tier-3 & New NLU Cutoff Analysis
New NLUs established after 2010 tend to have the most accessible cutoffs in CLAT. While they may have smaller alumni networks and developing placement records, they still offer Bar Council-accredited BA LLB programmes and produce graduates who build successful legal careers. These are ideal for candidates with AIR 2,000–15,000.
6. CLAT 2026 Marks vs Rank vs NLU | Category-wise Guide
Many candidates know their approximate CLAT score but struggle to map it to an AIR and then to NLU chances. The following bands provide a practical guide based on CLAT 2026 performance analysis. Note that 1 mark difference at the top can shift rank by 70–100 positions | so this is approximate.
7. Domicile Quota | NLU-wise Guide
The domicile reservation is the most under-utilised advantage in CLAT counselling. Most NLUs reserve 25–50% of their seats for candidates who are permanent residents (domicile) of the state where the NLU is located. For home-state candidates, the effective cutoff can be 2–5x lower than the All India General cutoff.
| NLU | State | Domicile Quota | Approx Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bengaluru | Karnataka | ~50% of seats | Karnataka domicile may qualify at AIR 500–1,000 vs AI cutoff of AIR 101 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | Telangana | ~25% | Telangana domicile cutoff significantly lower than AI Gen cutoff |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | Gujarat | ~25% | Gujarat domicile accessible to AIR 800–1,400 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh | ~25–30% | UP domicile accessible to AIR 1,800–3,000 |
| CNLU Patna | Bihar | ~30% | Bihar domicile accessible to AIR 6,000–8,000 |
| NUSRL Ranchi | Jharkhand | ~25% | Jharkhand domicile accessible to AIR 4,000–6,000 |
| MNLU Mumbai | Maharashtra | ~25% | MH domicile candidates have lower cutoff than AI |
| NLUJA Guwahati | Assam / NE | ~25–50% NE quota | North-East candidates have significant cutoff advantage |
During CLAT counselling, candidates must declare their domicile state. The system automatically applies the domicile quota for eligible candidates at the NLU in their home state. You do NOT need to choose between AI and domicile seats | the system considers both and gives you the best allotment. Always fill your home-state NLU high in your preference list if you are domicile-eligible.
8. Previous Year CLAT Cutoff Trends (2022–2026)
Tracking cutoff trends helps you understand whether competition is increasing and set realistic preparation targets. The table below shows General category closing ranks for the top 6 NLUs across five years:
| NLU | CLAT 2026 | CLAT 2025 | CLAT 2024 | CLAT 2023 | CLAT 2022 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bengaluru | 101 | 112 | 98 | 90 | 85 | ↑ Getting tighter |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 148 | 159 | 142 | 130 | 118 | ↑ Getting tighter |
| WBNUJS Kolkata (BA LLB) | 284 | 327 | 290 | 265 | 230 | ↑ Getting tighter |
| NLU Jodhpur (BA LLB) | 310 | 350 | 320 | 300 | 260 | ↑ Getting tighter |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 376 | 420 | 385 | 355 | 310 | ↑ Getting tighter |
| NLIU Bhopal (BA LLB) | 432 | 480 | 450 | 410 | 370 | ↑ Getting tighter |
| HNLU Raipur | 736 | 790 | 740 | 700 | 620 | ↑ Gradually increasing |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | 890 | 940 | 880 | 820 | 750 | ↑ Gradually increasing |
The overarching trend is clear: CLAT NLU cutoffs are getting progressively tighter every year. The primary driver is the steady increase in applicants | from ~60,000 in 2022 to 92,000+ in 2026. Even as seats have increased marginally, the ratio of candidates to seats has widened significantly, compressing ranks at the top.
9. How Cutoffs Change Across Counselling Rounds
Understanding how cutoffs evolve across rounds is critical for planning your counselling strategy. Here is the typical pattern:
If you receive an NLU allotment in Round 1 but want a better NLU, do NOT withdraw. Accept the Round 1 seat (pay confirmation fee) and remain in the pool for Round 2 upgrades. If you get upgraded to a better NLU in Round 2, the confirmation fee from Round 1 is typically adjusted or refunded. Withdrawing from the pool removes you from all subsequent rounds.
10. Cutoff-Based Counselling Strategy
The most common counselling mistake is poor preference-list ordering. Here is a proven, data-backed strategy:
- Know your category rank: Your All India Rank is only one number. Check your category rank (OBC/SC/ST/EWS) and domicile rank separately | these often determine your actual admission chances.
- Dream → Target → Safe buckets: Divide your NLU list into three buckets. Dream = NLUs 10–15% above your expected cutoff. Target = NLUs matching your rank. Safe = NLUs 20–30% below your expected cutoff. Fill all three in preference order during counselling.
- Always include your home-state NLU high: If your state has an NLU, add it prominently | the domicile advantage can be decisive.
- Don't ignore the BSc LLB / BBA LLB programmes: NLU Jodhpur's BBA LLB, WBNUJS's BSc LLB, and NLIU Bhopal's Cyber Security LLB have slightly lower cutoffs than their flagship BA LLB | and offer distinctive specialisations.
- Participate in every round: Never withdraw from the counselling pool after Round 1. Meaningful rank drops happen in Rounds 2 and 3, especially for mid-tier NLUs.
- 1-mark can mean 3 NLUs: At the top of the score distribution, a 1-mark difference can shift rank by 70–100 positions. This is why aiming for 95+ is so critical | it keeps all top-5 NLUs in play.