1. What Is the MNLU Mumbai Cutoff & How Is It Determined?
The MNLU Mumbai cutoff refers to the closing All India Rank (AIR) in CLAT at which the last seat in a particular category and course is filled in each round of the Consortium of NLUs counselling process. It is not a pre-declared threshold | it emerges dynamically from the actual preferences submitted by candidates during the counselling rounds and the number of seats available in each category.
Maharashtra National Law University Mumbai (MNLU Mumbai) is one of the five newer NLUs established by the Government of Maharashtra under the Maharashtra National Law University Act, 2014. It is located at Deonar, Mumbai, which is a significant locational advantage | placing students in the heart of India's largest legal and commercial market. Admission to the BA LLB (Hons.) programme is exclusively through the CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) conducted by the Consortium of NLUs, and to the LLM programme through CLAT PG. The cutoff for each round is published as part of the official seat allotment list on the Consortium's official website.
A crucial feature of MNLU Mumbai's admission structure | which many aspirants from outside Maharashtra underestimate | is the Maharashtra Home State (HS) quota, which reserves approximately 65% of all seats for Maharashtra domicile candidates. This dual-track admission structure means the AI general category cutoff (around AIR 481–590 in recent years) and the HS general category cutoff (which can extend to AIR 20,000–40,000) are entirely different numbers that should never be confused.
When you see a figure like "MNLU Mumbai cutoff AIR 1,473", this typically refers to the All India general category closing rank in Round 3, which includes both AI and HS seats together. The AI-only cutoff (for candidates without Maharashtra domicile) for Round 1 is tighter | around AIR 536–543. Maharashtra domicile candidates compete in a separate, much wider pool. This page clearly labels which quota each cutoff figure refers to throughout.
2. MNLU Mumbai CLAT Cutoff 2026 | Round-Wise Data
BA LLB (Hons.) | CLAT 2026 Cutoff by Round (General AI)
| Round | Opening Rank (AI) | Closing Rank (AI) | Trend vs 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | ~50 | 481 | ⬇ Better (Lower Rank Needed) |
| Round 2 | ~52 | 495 | ⬇ Better vs 2025 R2 (558) |
| Round 3 (Final) | ~55 | 495 | ⬇ Stable/slight improvement |
LLM | CLAT PG 2026 Cutoff by Round (All Categories, AI)
| Category | Round 1 Closing Rank | Round 2 Closing Rank | Round 3 Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 458 | 522 | | |
| OBC | 2,952* | 3,541* | | |
| EWS | 3,252* | | | | |
| SC | 3,827 | | | | |
| ST | 11,147* | | | | |
* Indicates home state reservation ranks. | indicates data not yet released or not changed from previous round. Data from official Consortium of NLUs allotment lists.
The 2026 BA LLB cutoff for MNLU Mumbai (General AI Round 2: AIR 495) is lower (i.e., easier to achieve) than 2025 (AIR 558 in Round 2). This may reflect changes in overall applicant pool distribution, increased competition at higher-ranked NLUs absorbing more top-500 candidates, or seat intake adjustments. Candidates targeting MNLU Mumbai for CLAT 2027 should target an AIR of approximately 400–500 for a comfortable margin above the expected General AI cutoff.
3. MNLU Mumbai CLAT Cutoff 2025 | Complete Round & Category-Wise
BA LLB (Hons.) | CLAT 2025 Round-Wise Cutoff (General Category)
| Round | Opening Rank | Closing Rank | Quota |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | ~50 | 536 | All India (General) |
| Round 2 | 538 | 1,067 | All India (General) |
| Round 3 (Final) | 443 | 1,473 | All India (General) |
| Round 3 (Final) | 2,524* | 31,018* | Maharashtra HS (General-MH) |
* Maharashtra Home State quota. The wide range (2,524–31,018) reflects all sub-categories under the HS quota for general category MH domicile candidates.
BA LLB (Hons.) | CLAT 2025 Category-Wise Cutoff (Round 3 Final Closing Ranks)
| Category | Opening Rank (R3) | Closing Rank (R3) | Quota Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 443 | 1,473 | AI + HS combined |
| EWS | 2,524* | 7,523* | Predominantly HS |
| OBC | 4,161* | 8,067* | Predominantly HS |
| SC | 7,180* | 15,622* | Predominantly HS |
| ST | 10,288* | 13,124* | Predominantly HS |
| PwD (AI) | ~500 | 18,972 | All India PwD |
* Home State reservation ranks | these wide ranges include Maharashtra domicile candidates across all sub-reservation categories. All India reserved category cutoffs are narrower and closer to the AI general cutoff.
The wide category cutoff ranks seen for OBC (8,067), SC (15,622), and ST (13,124) in 2025 are predominantly Maharashtra Home State quota figures. If you are an OBC, SC or ST candidate from outside Maharashtra competing for the All India quota, your effective competition is much tighter. The AI quota reserved category seats are fewer and the competition for them is more intense | your effective AI reserved category cutoff will be significantly lower (better rank needed) than these HS figures suggest. Always check the Consortium's official seat matrix to understand the exact AI vs HS seat split for your category.
4. MNLU Mumbai CLAT Cutoff 2024 | All Rounds
BA LLB (Hons.) | CLAT 2024 Round-Wise (General AI)
| Round | Opening Rank | Closing Rank (General AI) |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | ~99 | 543 |
| Round 2 | ~100 | 547 |
| Round 3 | ~100 | ~555 |
| Round 4 | ~100 | ~570 |
| Round 5 (Final) | ~99 | 590 |
Note: CLAT 2024 counselling ran for five rounds. From CLAT 2025, the Consortium shifted to three rounds of counselling. This structural change affects how cutoff data should be interpreted across years.
LLM | CLAT PG 2024 (General AI)
| Round | Opening Rank | Closing Rank (General AI) |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | | | 700 |
| Final Round | | | 782 |
CLAT PG cutoff for LLM programme in Corporate & Commercial Law specialisation at MNLU Mumbai.
5. MNLU Mumbai CLAT Cutoff 2023
| Course | Category | Opening Rank | Closing Rank (Final Round) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BA LLB (Hons.) | General AI | ~60 | 533 |
| BA LLB (Hons.) | OBC (AI) | | | ~149 |
| BA LLB (Hons.) | SC (AI) | | | ~3,200+ |
| LLM | General AI | | | ~780 |
2023 data based on final round of CLAT 2023 counselling. Note the unusual OBC AI figure of ~149 in 2023 | this reflects a year in which very few OBC candidates opted for MNLU Mumbai under AI quota, resulting in a low closing rank number. Category cutoff dynamics vary significantly year on year.
6. MNLU Mumbai CLAT Cutoff 2022
| Course | Category | Closing Rank (Final Round) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| BA LLB (Hons.) | General AI | ~580–600 | Pre-CLAT 2022 score format change |
| BA LLB (Hons.) | OBC AI | ~8,987 | HS quota dominated |
| BA LLB (Hons.) | SC AI | ~4,500+ | HS quota dominated |
| LLM | General AI | ~800+ | CLAT PG 2022 |
CLAT 2022 introduced changes to the examination format that affected score distribution and rank equivalencies compared to earlier years. Comparative data should be interpreted accordingly.
7. MNLU Mumbai LLM Cutoff (CLAT PG) | 2024, 2025 & 2026 Comparison
MNLU Mumbai's LLM programme specialises in Corporate and Commercial Law | a focused, professionally relevant specialisation that is well-suited to the Mumbai legal ecosystem dominated by corporate transactions, banking, capital markets, and commercial disputes. The LLM is a one-year full-time programme, and admission is through CLAT PG.
| Year | Round | General AI Closing Rank | HS (MH) Closing Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAT PG 2026 | Round 1 | 458 | | | ⬇ Eased vs 2025 |
| CLAT PG 2026 | Round 2 | 522 | | | ⬇ Eased vs 2025 |
| CLAT PG 2025 | Round 1 | ~650 | 10,102* | ↔ Stable |
| CLAT PG 2025 | Final Round | ~740 | 14,091* | ↔ Stable |
| CLAT PG 2024 | Round 1 | 700 | 9,388* | | Baseline |
| CLAT PG 2024 | Final Round | 782 | ~9,388* | | Baseline |
* Home State (Maharashtra) quota figures. CLAT PG HS closing ranks are much higher than AI ranks due to the Maharashtra domicile pool.
MNLU Mumbai's LLM in Corporate and Commercial Law is a strong programme for a specific profile: candidates who want a PG law degree focused on commercial practice in the Mumbai market, who value the university's location for networking and internship access, and who are targeting careers in corporate firms, in-house legal departments, or banking/finance sector legal roles. The CLAT PG cutoff (~AIR 522–740 in recent years) is competitive but accessible to candidates with strong academic backgrounds from any LLB programme. If your CLAT PG score places you in the top 700 ranks, MNLU Mumbai's LLM is a genuinely attractive option.
8. Maharashtra Home State Quota | How It Works & Who Benefits
The Maharashtra home state (HS) quota is the single most important structural feature of MNLU Mumbai's admission process for candidates from Maharashtra, and one of the most misunderstood aspects for candidates from other states. Understanding it clearly is essential before building your CLAT counselling strategy.
🏠 Maharashtra Domicile Candidates
- Approximately 65% of seats reserved
- Compete in the HS quota merit list
- Effective cutoff: AIR 20,000–40,000+ (Round 3)
- Multiple sub-categories: General-MH, OBC-MH, SC-MH, ST-MH, EWS-MH, VJ/NT-MH, SBC-MH
- Domicile proof required at document verification
- Even moderate CLAT performance can secure admission
🌏 All India (Outside Maharashtra) Candidates
- Approximately 35% of seats | AI quota
- Compete purely on CLAT merit
- Effective cutoff: AIR 481–590 (General, 2024–2026)
- Reserved categories (OBC-AI, SC-AI, ST-AI) | separate, tighter pool
- No domicile requirement for AI quota
- Must score in top 500–600 to be competitive
The domicile qualification for the Maharashtra HS quota at MNLU Mumbai is determined by having studied for a specified number of years in Maharashtra (typically Class 11 and 12) or by having parents with established Maharashtra domicile. Candidates who believe they may qualify for the HS quota should carefully review MNLU Mumbai's official admission notification to verify the documentation requirements before applying.
9. MNLU Mumbai Cutoff Trends (2022–2026) | Year-Wise Analysis
Understanding the multi-year trend in MNLU Mumbai's CLAT cutoff helps aspirants set a realistic target score and understand whether the competition is growing or stabilising.
| Year | BA LLB General AI (Final) | Trend vs Prev Year | CLAT Paper Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLAT 2026 | ~495 (R2) | ⬇ Slightly easier | AIR eased by ~60 ranks | 120 questions, 2 hrs |
| CLAT 2025 | 1,473 (R3 combined) | 536 (R1 AI) | ↔ Comparable to 2024 at R1; R3 high due to HS inclusion | 120 questions, 2 hrs |
| CLAT 2024 | 590 (Final/R5) | ⬆ Slightly harder | up from 547 in R1 | 120 questions, 2 hrs |
| CLAT 2023 | 533 (Final) | ⬇ Slightly easier vs 2022 | 120 questions, 2 hrs |
| CLAT 2022 | ~580–600 (Final) | | Baseline comparison year | 120 questions, 2 hrs |
The MNLU Mumbai AI general category closing rank has remained in the AIR 490–600 band in Round 1 across 2022–2026, with some inter-year variation. The wider variation seen in 2025 Round 3 (AIR 1,473) versus Round 1 (AIR 536) is an artefact of how the Consortium's combined allotment list captures HS seats in later rounds. For planning purposes, target AIR 400–480 for a comfortable margin in the AI general category | this accounts for year-on-year fluctuation and gives you a safe buffer above the observed upper end of the recent cutoff range.
10. Factors That Affect MNLU Mumbai Cutoff Every Year
11. CLAT Score-to-Rank Predictor for MNLU Mumbai
Use the tool below to estimate whether your CLAT score could secure admission at MNLU Mumbai. The prediction is based on historical CLAT score-to-rank conversion data across 2022–2026. Remember: this is an estimate | actual ranks depend on that year's difficulty level and applicant pool.
🎯 MNLU Mumbai Admission Chance Estimator (CLAT 2027)
Enter your expected CLAT score out of 120. We'll estimate your likely rank and admission chances at MNLU Mumbai for General AI category.
| CLAT Score (out of 120) | Estimated Rank Band | MNLU Mumbai (General AI) Chance |
|---|---|---|
| 108–120 | AIR 1–100 | ✅ Virtually Certain | Top NLU range |
| 103–107 | AIR 100–300 | ✅ Very High | Well above MNLU cutoff; likely GNLU/NUJS range too |
| 98–102 | AIR 300–500 | ✅ High | Comfortable MNLU Mumbai admission |
| 93–97 | AIR 500–800 | ⚠️ Moderate-High | In MNLU Mumbai range; final round likely |
| 88–92 | AIR 800–1,500 | ⚠️ Possible via later rounds or HS quota; AI general is uncertain |
| Below 88 | AIR 1,500+ | ❌ AI general category unlikely; Maharashtra HS or reserved category route |
Estimates based on historical CLAT score-to-rank distribution 2022–2026. Actual rank varies by year's difficulty level and applicant pool composition.
12. Counselling Strategy for MNLU Mumbai Aspirants
Having a clear counselling strategy specific to your CLAT rank and category is as important as knowing the cutoff numbers. Here is a practical step-by-step guide.