The GNLU Gandhinagar CLAT 2026 cutoff (General AI) for BA LLB (Hons.) is an opening rank of 236 and closing rank of ~392 in Round 2. Home-State (Gujarat domicile) candidates can secure admission with ranks up to ~2,609. OBC candidates need a rank under ~2,138, SC up to ~5,796, and ST up to ~7,639. For LLM, the General AI closing rank is approximately 387–1,212 (OBC) in Round 1. Cutoffs are released round-by-round by the Consortium of NLUs at consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar is one of India's premier National Law Universities. Ranked #8 in Law by NIRF 2024, it attracts thousands of CLAT aspirants every year competing for a limited number of seats across its BA LLB, BBA LLB, and LLM programs. The GNLU Gandhinagar cutoff is the minimum CLAT rank required to secure a seat in the university through the Consortium of NLUs counselling process.
Understanding the cutoff is essential for every law aspirant: it determines your college preference strategy, helps you gauge your realistic chances across counselling rounds, and tells you whether to lock a seat or wait for an upgrade. This comprehensive guide covers official 2026 cutoff data, multi-year trends, category-wise analysis, home-state quota details, and an actionable strategy to make the most of your CLAT rank at GNLU.
(BA LLB, Rnd 2, 2026)
Closing Rank, 2025
(BA LLB, Rnd 1, 2025)
(BA LLB, Rnd 1, 2025)
GNLU Gandhinagar CLAT Cutoff 2026
The CLAT 2026 counselling is ongoing. The Consortium of NLUs releases the merit list in multiple rounds. Below are the Round 1 and Round 2 cutoff ranks for GNLU Gandhinagar's flagship BA LLB (Hons.) program across all categories in the All India (AI) quota.
GNLU 2026 – BA LLB (Hons.) Round 1 Cutoff (All India Quota)
| Category | Horizontal Reservation | Opening Rank | Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | | | ~236 | ~372 |
| General | Women (W) | ~207 | ~403 |
| General | PWD | ~4,774 | ~14,022 |
| EWS | | | ~819 | ~1,118 |
| OBC | | | ~1,396 | ~2,138 |
| OBC | Women (W) | ~715 | ~2,086 |
| SC | | | ~974 | ~5,796 |
| SC | Women (W) | ~3,736 | ~5,695 |
| ST | | | ~4,457 | ~7,639 |
| ST | Women (W) | ~7,931 | ~8,277 |
GNLU 2026 – Home State (Gujarat) Quota Cutoff
Students who are domiciled in Gujarat have a significant advantage through the Home State (HS) quota. This quota reserves a portion of seats exclusively for Gujarat residents, resulting in a much higher cutoff rank (meaning even students with ranks in the thousands can secure admission).
| Category | Horizontal Reservation | HS Opening Rank | HS Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (GC-GJ) | | | 195 | 2,219 |
| General (GC-GJ) | Women (W) | 164 | 2,171 |
| General (GC-GJ*) | | | 578 | 2,219 |
Round-Wise GNLU Cutoff 2025 (BA LLB, General AI)
The Consortium of NLUs typically conducts 3–4 counselling rounds. Cutoffs generally move in one direction: as seats fill up, each subsequent round may tighten (rank gets smaller) for popular programs, but some campuses see slight relaxation if seats remain unfilled. Below is the round-wise progression for GNLU's BA LLB General AI category.
| Round | Opening Rank (Gen AI) | Closing Rank (Gen AI) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 (2025) | 236 | 402 | Filled |
| Round 2 (2025) | 236 | 444 | Filled |
| Round 3 / Last Round (2025) | 236 | 444 | Final |
| Round 1 (2026) | ~236 | ~372 | Released |
| Round 2 (2026) | ~236 | ~392 | Released |
In 2026, the Round 1 closing rank of ~372 is lower than 2025's 402, suggesting slightly increased competition or a marginal improvement in candidate performance distribution. A rank under 400 remains the safe target for General AI category.
Year-Wise GNLU CLAT Cutoff Trends (2019–2026)
Tracking year-on-year cutoff data is one of the most reliable ways to set your preparation target. The table below shows the All India General category closing rank for GNLU Gandhinagar's BA LLB (Hons.) program across eight years.
| Year | Gen AI Closing Rank | Trend Indicator | Exam Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | ~392 (Rnd 2) | Moderate | |
| 2025 | 402–444 | Easy-Moderate | |
| 2024 | 429–464 | Moderate | |
| 2023 | 419 (Rnd 1) | Moderate-Hard | |
| 2022 | ~2,669 | Moderate (Old Scoring) | |
| 2021 | ~2,690 | Hard | |
| 2020 | ~2,900 | Moderate | |
| 2019 | ~3,100 | Moderate |
The year-wise trend under the current CLAT pattern (post-2023) shows a gradual tightening of the cutoff: from 419 in 2023, to 429 in 2024, to 402–444 in 2025. This reflects growing applicant numbers and improving average scores. For 2026, the Round 2 closing rank of ~392 marks a slight continuation of this trend.
Category-Wise GNLU Cutoff 2025 (All Years Comparison)
Different categories have dramatically different cutoffs at GNLU. Below is the category-wise comparison for the BA LLB (Hons.) program, All India quota, across recent years:
| Category | 2025 Closing Rank | 2024 Closing Rank | 2023 Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (AI) | 402–444 | 429–464 | ~419 |
| EWS (AI) | 1,118 | ~1,193 | ~1,193 |
| OBC (AI) | 2,138 | ~1,606 | ~1,852 |
| SC (AI) | 5,796 | ~5,613 | ~5,613 |
| ST (AI) | 7,639 | ~10,832 | ~10,837 |
| General (HS-Gujarat) | 2,219–2,609 | ~2,219 | ~2,219 |
| General (PWD) | ~14,022 | ~15,666 | ~15,666 |
A few important observations from this data: OBC cutoffs have fluctuated | rising from 1,606 (2024) to 2,138 (2025) | indicating year-to-year variation influenced by the number of OBC applicants and their score distribution. ST cutoffs, on the other hand, have actually improved (dropped from ~10,837 to ~7,639), meaning even ST category candidates at relatively better ranks are securing seats at GNLU.
GNLU LLM (CLAT PG) Cutoff 2026
GNLU Gandhinagar offers a prestigious LLM program in multiple specialisations, including Intellectual Property Law, Corporate Law, Constitutional Law, and Criminal Law. Admissions are through CLAT PG scores. The cutoff for LLM is separate from the UG cutoff.
| Category | 2026 Rnd 1 Closing Rank | 2025 Last Rnd Closing Rank | 2024 Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (AI) | ~387 | ~4,447 | ~4,799 |
| EWS (AI) | | | ~2,137 | ~2,507 |
| OBC (AI) | ~1,212 | ~1,373 | ~1,373 |
| SC (AI) | | | ~3,303 | ~3,303 |
| ST (AI) | | | ~5,227 | ~5,227 |
| General (HS-Gujarat) | | | ~2,137 | ~2,507 |
The LLM cutoffs at GNLU are relatively accessible compared to the top-5 NLUs, making GNLU a popular choice for experienced practitioners and fresh LLB graduates aiming for a postgraduate law degree from a reputed public institution. With multiple specialisation streams, GNLU's LLM has grown in stature significantly over the last four years.
Cutoff for All UG Programs at GNLU
GNLU offers a unique range of five-year integrated UG law programs | a distinction that sets it apart from most other NLUs. All five programs have identical CLAT cutoff ranges for the General AI category, since candidates are allotted programs based on preference at the time of counselling registration.
| Program | Duration | 2025 Gen AI Closing Rank (Rnd 1) | Total Seats (AI+HS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BA LLB (Hons.) | 5 Years | 402–444 | ~180 (AI + HS) |
| BBA LLB (Hons.) | 5 Years | 402–444 | ~60 |
| B.Com LLB (Hons.) | 5 Years | 402–444 | ~30 |
| B.Sc LLB (Hons.) | 5 Years | 402–444 | ~30 |
| BSW LLB (Hons.) | 5 Years | 402–444 | ~30 |
Factors Determining GNLU Cutoff
The CLAT cutoff for GNLU Gandhinagar is not a fixed number | it shifts every year based on six key variables. Understanding these helps you anticipate whether 2027 cutoffs will be tighter or more relaxed.
GNLU vs Other NLUs: CLAT Cutoff Comparison
Understanding where GNLU stands relative to other NLUs helps candidates build an optimal preference list during counselling. The table below compares General AI closing ranks for BA LLB (Hons.) in CLAT 2025 (Round 1).
| NLU | NIRF Rank | Closing Rank (Gen AI, Rnd 1) | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bangalore | #1 | ~101–112 | Tier 1 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | #2 | ~159–167 | Tier 1 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | #3 | ~277–327 | Tier 1 |
| NLU Jodhpur | #5 | ~340–370 | Tier 1–2 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | #8 | ~402–444 | Tier 2 |
| HNLU Raipur | #10 | ~500–550 | Tier 2 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | #11 | ~520–600 | Tier 2 |
| MNLU Mumbai | #12 | ~580–680 | Tier 2–3 |
GNLU sits squarely in Tier 2 NLUs, just below the top-5 but significantly above the newer NLUs. For candidates with ranks between 350–500, GNLU Gandhinagar offers the best combination of academic reputation, placement opportunities, and campus infrastructure among available options. Its proximity to GIFT City | India's first IFSC | also offers unique internship and placement advantages in corporate and finance law.
How to Check Official GNLU Cutoff After CLAT Result
The official GNLU cutoff is not released independently by the university | it flows from the Consortium of NLUs counselling process. Here is the exact process to access your cutoff and seat allotment status.
Go to consortiumofnlus.ac.in after the CLAT result date. The counselling portal opens for registration within 2–3 days of result declaration.
Pay the counselling registration fee (non-refundable) and fill in your NLU preferences in order. You can list up to all NLUs. Rank GNLU Gandhinagar as per your interest. See the GNLU Admissions guide for detailed steps.
After Round 1, download the PDF allotment list. Check if you have been allotted GNLU. If yes, pay the seat acceptance fee within the stipulated deadline to keep the seat active for upgrades.
The Consortium uploads round-wise opening and closing rank PDFs. Filter by GNLU Gandhinagar to see all category and horizontal reservation cutoffs in one place.
Once you lock your seat in the final round, report physically to GNLU Gandhinagar within the reporting window. Bring all original documents. Check the GNLU Admissions page for the document checklist.
How to Target GNLU: Expert CLAT Rank Strategy
Getting into GNLU Gandhinagar requires more than just clearing a threshold | it requires a smart preparation and counselling strategy. Here's what toppers and counsellors consistently recommend:
1. Set Your Target Rank: Under 400 (General AI)
For consistent admission to GNLU without depending on later rounds, aim for a CLAT rank under 400 in the General AI category. If you're a Gujarat domicile student, a rank under 2,200 is sufficient. OBC candidates should aim for under 2,000 to stay comfortably within the cutoff window. Building a 20–25% buffer above the cutoff is strongly advised to account for year-to-year variability.
2. Understand the Best-of-Two Attempts Advantage
CLAT allows students to appear in the single exam and most NLU counselling uses that one score. Preparation quality and mock test discipline matter more than any other factor. Aspirants who take 20+ full mock tests consistently outperform those who rely on selective topic preparation. Time management | particularly in the Legal Reasoning and Comprehension sections | is the single biggest differentiator between a rank of 300 and 600.
3. Gujarat Domicile Students: Use Your HS Quota Wisely
If you're a Gujarat resident, your effective CLAT target for GNLU is a rank of about 2,200. This is nearly 5x more accessible than the All India cutoff. Many Gujarat students with ranks between 800–2,000 are unnecessarily discouraged by the AI cutoff figures. Study the HS quota closing ranks carefully and plan your counselling preference list accordingly.
4. GNLU's Placement Edge at GIFT City
GNLU Gandhinagar's proximity to GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City), India's only IFSC, is a structural advantage for students interested in corporate law, finance law, and international trade. Firms and regulators based in GIFT City | including IFSCA, NSE IFSC, and international banks | regularly recruit from GNLU. This is a differentiated placement advantage that no other NLU currently offers at this scale.
5. Counselling Preference Order: How to List GNLU
In the CLAT counselling, list your preferred NLUs in genuine preference order | not based on difficulty of getting in. If GNLU is your top choice, list it first. The Consortium allocates based on rank and preferences | a higher-ranked candidate who doesn't preference GNLU first will not block your seat. Review the GNLU Gandhinagar Fees page before finalizing your preference to ensure the fee structure aligns with your budget.