1. What is CLAT Cutoff? Types Explained
The CLAT cutoff is the minimum All-India Rank (AIR) or score required to secure admission to a specific National Law University (NLU) in a particular category during a particular counselling round. The cutoff is expressed as the rank of the last candidate admitted into an NLU from each category | not a minimum score threshold.
There are several types of CLAT cutoffs that candidates must understand before participating in counselling:
CLAT does not have a separate qualifying cutoff (minimum score to receive a rank). Every candidate who appears for CLAT receives an AIR regardless of score. However, candidates with very low scores (below ~30–40 marks) may not appear in merit lists as their ranks exceed available seats. The "cutoff" in the context of NLU admissions always refers to the closing rank in a counselling round | not a minimum score.
2. Factors That Determine CLAT Cutoff Each Year
The CLAT cutoff is not fixed | it changes every year based on several interrelated factors. Understanding these helps you predict your chances accurately:
| Factor | Effect on Cutoff | CLAT 2026 Context |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Candidates | More candidates → higher competition → cutoffs rise | 75,009 appeared (higher than 70,000 in 2025); cutoffs tightened |
| Exam Difficulty Level | Easier paper → higher average scores → cutoff ranks tighten | CLAT 2026 was rated easy-to-moderate; topper scored 112.75/120 |
| Seat Matrix | More seats → lower cutoff; fewer seats → higher cutoff | 4,500+ seats across 24 NLUs; minor changes from 2025 |
| Candidate Preferences | Popular NLUs always have tight cutoffs; less popular ones may have gaps | NLSIU, NALSAR, NUJS remain top preferences every year |
| Reservation Policy | Category-wise seats are fixed; reserved category cutoffs lower | 15% EWS, 27% OBC, 15% SC, 7.5% ST horizontal reservations apply |
| New NLUs Added | More NLUs → more seats → slight relief in mid-tier cutoffs | RPNLU Prayagraj and IIULER Goa added to Consortium from 2025 |
| Score Compression at Top | Very high scorers clustered at top → top 100 ranks decided by fractions | 2026 topper: 112.75/120; rank 100 likely scored ~105–107 |
3. CLAT 2026 Official Cutoff | NLU-Wise Closing Ranks
The following table shows the actual CLAT 2026 cutoff data (from the December 2025 exam conducted on December 7, 2025 with results declared December 16, 2025). Round 1 allotment was released January 7, 2026. Data reflects Round 1 and Round 3 closing ranks for General category.
Cutoff ranks below are compiled from official Consortium allotment lists and publicly available Round 1/Round 3 data for CLAT 2026. For the most current official cutoffs including all 5 rounds, visit consortiumofnlus.ac.in. LawGuru India is not affiliated with the Consortium of NLUs.
| NLU | NIRF | Gen | R1 Closing | Gen | R3 Closing | Annual Fees | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bangalore | #1 | AIR 102 | AIR 112 | ₹2.17 L/yr | View → |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | #2 | AIR 167 | AIR 230 | ₹2.05 L/yr | View → |
| NLU Delhi (via AILET) | #3 | AILET Only | not CLAT | ₹2.20 L/yr | View → | |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | #4 | AIR 277 | AIR 327 | ₹1.98 L/yr | View → |
| NLU | NIRF | State | Gen | R1 Closing | Gen | R3 Closing | Annual Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GNLU Gandhinagar | #5 | Gujarat | AIR 500 | AIR 550 | ₹1.95 L/yr |
| NLU Jodhpur | #6 | Rajasthan | AIR 430 | AIR 510 | ₹2.00 L/yr |
| HNLU Raipur | #7 | Chhattisgarh | AIR 1,200 | AIR 1,550 | ₹1.80 L/yr |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | #8 | Uttar Pradesh | AIR 1,500 | AIR 1,900 | ₹1.75 L/yr |
| CNLU Patna | #9 | Bihar | AIR 2,600 | AIR 3,400 | ₹1.70 L/yr |
| NLUO Cuttack | #10 | Odisha | AIR 3,200 | AIR 4,100 | ₹1.65 L/yr |
| MNLU Mumbai | #13 | Maharashtra | AIR 800 | AIR 980 | ₹2.10 L/yr |
| NUSRL Ranchi | #12 | Jharkhand | AIR 3,500 | AIR 4,500 | ₹1.60 L/yr |
| NLU | State | Gen | R1 Closing (Est.) | Gen | R3 Closing (Est.) | Annual Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RGNUL Patiala | Punjab | AIR 3,800 | AIR 5,000 | ₹1.62 L/yr |
| DSNLU Visakhapatnam | Andhra Pradesh | AIR 4,200 | AIR 5,500 | ₹1.55 L/yr |
| TNNLS Tiruchirappalli | Tamil Nadu | AIR 4,500 | AIR 6,000 | ₹1.55 L/yr |
| NUALS Kochi | Kerala | AIR 4,800 | AIR 6,200 | ₹1.58 L/yr |
| NLUJA Guwahati | Assam | AIR 5,200 | AIR 7,000 | ₹1.50 L/yr |
| MNLU Nagpur | Maharashtra | AIR 4,000 | AIR 5,200 | ₹2.05 L/yr |
| MNLU Aurangabad | Maharashtra | AIR 5,000 | AIR 6,500 | ₹2.00 L/yr |
| HNLU Shimla | Himachal Pradesh | AIR 6,500 | AIR 8,500 | ₹1.48 L/yr |
| NLU Mizoram | Mizoram | AIR 12,000+ | AIR 15,000+ | ₹1.40 L/yr |
| RPNLU Prayagraj | Uttar Pradesh | AIR 8,000 | AIR 11,000 | ₹1.52 L/yr |
| IIULER Goa | Goa | AIR 6,000 | AIR 8,000 | ₹1.45 L/yr |
| DNLU Jabalpur | Madhya Pradesh | AIR 8,000 | AIR 10,500 | ₹1.50 L/yr |
| NLU Tripura | Tripura | AIR 15,000+ | Vacant seats | ₹1.42 L/yr |
* Tier 3 NLU data are LawGuru India estimates based on 2025 trends. Verified data available at consortiumofnlus.ac.in after official allotment.
4. CLAT 2026 Category-Wise Cutoff | All Categories
The following table shows the CLAT 2026 closing ranks for top NLUs across all categories | General (UR), EWS (Economically Weaker Section), OBC (NCL), SC (Scheduled Caste), and ST (Scheduled Tribe).
| NLU | General (UR) | EWS | OBC (NCL) | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bangalore | 1 – 102 | 129 – 510 | 171 – 923 | 181 – 2,674 | 1,781 – 2,835 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 4 – 167 | 365 – 680 | 189 – 1,116 | 702 – 3,388 | 3,375 – 6,174 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | 140 – 277 | 700 – 1,200 | 800 – 1,500 | 1,800 – 4,000 | 4,000 – 7,000 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 810 – 1,820 | 1,863 – 2,984 | 2,435 – 3,992 | 8,339 – 10,106 | 13,270 – 14,846 |
| NLU Jodhpur | 350 – 500 | 1,100 – 1,800 | 1,200 – 2,000 | 3,500 – 7,000 | 6,000 – 10,000 |
| MNLU Mumbai | 700 – 980 | 1,500 – 2,500 | 2,000 – 3,500 | 6,000 – 10,000 | 10,000 – 15,000 |
| HNLU Raipur | 1,200 – 1,820 | 2,000 – 3,500 | 2,500 – 4,500 | 8,000 – 12,000 | 12,000 – 18,000 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | 1,500 – 2,200 | 2,800 – 4,000 | 3,200 – 5,000 | 9,000 – 14,000 | 15,000 – 20,000 |
| CNLU Patna | 2,600 – 3,800 | 4,000 – 6,000 | 4,500 – 7,000 | 12,000 – 18,000 | 18,000 – 25,000 |
Each cell shows Opening Rank – Closing Rank for that category at that NLU (Round 1 or Round 3 data). If your rank falls within or below the closing rank for your category, you are eligible. Example: If you are SC category with AIR 2,500 and want NLSIU Bangalore (SC closing rank: 2,674), you have a good chance in Round 1. Use the Float option to upgrade to a higher preference NLU in later rounds.
5. CLAT 2026 Round-Wise Cutoff | How Ranks Move Across Rounds
CLAT counselling has up to 5 rounds. Understanding how closing ranks move between rounds is critical for smart counselling strategy:
| NLU | Round 1 (Jan 7) | Round 2 | Round 3 | Movement R1→R3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bangalore (Gen) | AIR 102 | AIR 106 | AIR 112 | ↑ +10 ranks tightened |
| NALSAR Hyderabad (Gen) | AIR 167 | AIR 190 | AIR 230 | ↑ +63 ranks tightened |
| WBNUJS Kolkata (Gen) | AIR 277 | AIR 300 | AIR 327 | ↑ +50 ranks tightened |
| GNLU Gandhinagar (Gen) | AIR 500 | AIR 520 | AIR 550 | ↑ +50 ranks tightened |
| HNLU Raipur (Gen) | AIR 1,200 | AIR 1,380 | AIR 1,550 | ↓ +350 slots opened |
| RMLNLU Lucknow (Gen) | AIR 1,500 | AIR 1,700 | AIR 1,900 | ↓ +400 slots opened |
| CNLU Patna (Gen) | AIR 2,600 | AIR 3,000 | AIR 3,400 | ↓ +800 slots opened |
6. CLAT Score vs Rank vs NLU | Which NLU Can You Get?
This is the most practically useful section for CLAT 2027 aspirants. Use this score band chart to understand which NLU you can target at a given score level:
At the higher end of the score range (90–110 marks), the AIR is extremely sensitive to even 0.25-mark differences due to the compressed score distribution. In CLAT 2026, the topper scored 112.75 while rank 100 likely scored approximately 105–106. Always review your answer sheet carefully | challenging wrong answers through objection is worth doing.
7. CLAT Cutoff | Previous Year Trends (2022–2026)
Tracking cutoff trends over multiple years helps predict future cutoffs and understand whether competition is increasing or decreasing:
| NLU | CLAT 2026 (Dec 2025) |
CLAT 2025 (Dec 2024) |
CLAT 2024 (Dec 2023) |
CLAT 2023 (Dec 2022) |
Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU (Gen Closing) | AIR 112 | AIR 200* | AIR 239* | AIR 114* | ↑ Getting tighter |
| NALSAR (Gen Closing) | AIR 230 | AIR 298* | AIR 177* | AIR 230* | → Fluctuating |
| WBNUJS (Gen Closing) | AIR 327 | AIR 477* | AIR 277* | AIR 328* | → Stable range |
| GNLU (Gen Closing) | AIR 550 | AIR 1,820* | AIR 810* | AIR 600* | ↓ More competitive |
| NLU Jodhpur (Gen Closing) | AIR 510 | AIR 600* | AIR 350* | AIR 500* | → Fluctuating |
| HNLU (Gen Closing) | AIR 1,550 | AIR 1,820* | AIR 1,200* | AIR 1,400* | → Stable |
* = Round 1/Round 3 closing rank; figures vary based on available official data. Some figures are approximate based on publicly available allotment lists.
8. CLAT 2027 Expected Cutoff Prediction
Based on CLAT 2026 actual data and multi-year trends, here are our expert predictions for CLAT 2027 cutoff (General category, Round 1 closing rank):
| NLU | CLAT 2026 Actual (Gen) | CLAT 2027 Expected (Gen) | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bangalore | AIR 102–112 | AIR 95–115 | → Stable / slight tightening |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | AIR 159–167 | AIR 155–175 | → Stable |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | AIR 277–327 | AIR 260–340 | → Stable |
| NLU Jodhpur | AIR 430–510 | AIR 400–520 | → Stable |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | AIR 500–550 | AIR 480–570 | ↑ Slightly tighter |
| MNLU Mumbai | AIR 800–980 | AIR 750–1,000 | → Stable |
| HNLU Raipur | AIR 1,200–1,550 | AIR 1,100–1,600 | → Stable |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | AIR 1,500–1,900 | AIR 1,400–2,000 | → Stable |
CLAT 2027 cutoffs depend on exam difficulty, number of applicants, and candidate preferences | all of which are unpredictable. Use these estimates as a planning range, not a guarantee. Always add a safety buffer of 200–500 ranks when building your NLU preference list for counselling.
9. CLAT PG Cutoff 2026 (LLM Admissions)
CLAT PG cutoff is the AIR in the CLAT PG exam (for LLM admissions) required to secure a seat at each NLU. CLAT PG cutoffs are typically much lower in absolute rank (i.e., easier to achieve) because fewer candidates appear (approximately 17,335 appeared in CLAT PG 2026).
| NLU | PG Gen | R1 Opening | PG Gen | R1 Closing | PG Gen | R2 Closing |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bangalore (LLM) | AIR 1 | AIR ~60 | AIR ~80 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad (LLM) | AIR 1 | AIR ~80 | AIR ~110 |
| NLU Jodhpur (LLM) | AIR 1 | AIR ~200 | AIR ~280 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar (LLM) | AIR 1 | AIR ~250 | AIR ~350 |
| HNLU Raipur (LLM) | AIR 1 | AIR ~400 | AIR ~550 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow (LLM) | AIR 1 | AIR ~500 | AIR ~700 |
CLAT PG 2025 (LLM) data available at consortiumofnlus.ac.in. Note: NLU Delhi uses AILET PG, not CLAT PG.
10. How to Use CLAT Cutoff Data for Smart NLU Selection
Most students either fill too few NLU preferences or fill them emotionally rather than strategically. Here is a step-by-step framework for using cutoff data to build the optimal preference list:
11. CLAT Cutoff | Frequently Asked Questions
The CLAT 2026 cutoff for NLSIU Bangalore (General category) after Round 1 counselling was a closing rank of approximately AIR 102. After Round 3, the closing rank was approximately AIR 112. For other categories: EWS closed at ~AIR 510; OBC (NCL) closed at ~AIR 923; SC closed at ~AIR 2,674; ST closed at ~AIR 2,835. NLSIU Bangalore has the highest CLAT cutoff among all NLUs because it is ranked #1 by NIRF and is the most preferred NLU in counselling.
Yes, 90 marks (out of 120) is a good CLAT score for General category candidates. A score of 90 corresponds to approximately AIR 300–900 depending on the year's difficulty. This typically qualifies for admission to WBNUJS Kolkata (#4), NLU Jodhpur (#6), or GNLU Gandhinagar (#5) in the General category. For OBC/EWS candidates, 90 marks may qualify for NALSAR or NUJS. For SC/ST candidates, 90 marks easily qualifies for NLSIU or NALSAR. 90+ is considered a competitive CLAT score for accessing Tier 1–2 NLUs.
Yes. CLAT cutoffs for mid-tier and lower-tier NLUs drop (i.e., higher-number AIRs become eligible) in later rounds as candidates with better ranks accept seats at preferred NLUs and vacate lower-preference allotments. However, for Tier 1 NLUs like NLSIU, NALSAR, and NUJS, the closing ranks barely change between rounds (only 10–50 AIR movement) because these are almost everyone's first preference. Candidates with AIR 200–2,000 benefit most from waiting for Round 2–3 to potentially access a better NLU.
The official CLAT cutoff is expressed as an All-India Rank (AIR) | not a marks threshold. The Consortium releases allotment lists showing the AIR of the last candidate admitted to each NLU in each category during each round. "Cutoff marks" are a derived figure | you must roughly estimate what score corresponds to a given AIR. For CLAT 2026 where 75,009 candidates appeared, approximate mapping is: AIR 100 ≈ 105–107 marks; AIR 500 ≈ 95–97 marks; AIR 1,500 ≈ 88–90 marks; AIR 5,000 ≈ 78–82 marks.
AIR 15,000 in CLAT (General category) is unlikely to secure a seat in most established NLUs. For General category at this rank, only the newest or least-popular NLUs (NLU Tripura, NLU Mizoram, RPNLU Prayagraj in later rounds) may have seats available. However, for SC/ST/PWD categories, AIR 15,000 may still qualify for several Tier 2–3 NLUs. For General category candidates with AIR 15,000, a better strategy is to target state-level law colleges through MH CET Law, TS LAWCET, or private law schools through SLAT/LSAT India.
CLAT 2026 (December 2025 exam) saw tighter cutoffs than CLAT 2025 at the top NLUs due to: (1) Higher number of candidates | 75,009 appeared vs approximately 70,000 in 2025; (2) Easier paper | topper scored 112.75/120, compressing the top rank range; (3) NLSIU closed at AIR 112 (Round 3) vs approximately AIR 200 in 2025. For CLAT 2027 aspirants, this trend suggests the top NLU cutoffs will remain very tight | target 100+ marks if NLSIU or NALSAR is your goal.