CLAT Cutoff 2026 (OUT): Round 1 NLU Cutoff, Marks and More
Latest Update: The CLAT Cutoff 2026 has been officially released after the announcement of results on December 17, 2025. Candidates can now check the CLAT 2026 Round 1 cutoff ranks for all National Law Universities (NLUs), along with expected trends and previous year analysis.
With over 92,000+ candidates appearing, the competition has increased significantly. Understanding the latest CLAT cutoff marks 2026, previous year cutoffs, and expected trends will help you assess your chances of securing admission into top NLUs like NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, and WBNUJS Kolkata.
Quick Highlights of CLAT Cutoff 2026
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | CLAT 2026 |
| Result Date | December 17, 2025 |
| Total Candidates | 92,000+ |
| Total NLUs | 24 |
| Top NLU Cutoff (General) | Rank 1–101 |
| Mode of Admission | Rank-based counselling |
Watch Expert Video on Expected CLAT Cutoffs for 2026
CLAT 2026 Round 1 Cutoff (Latest Update)
| NLU | General Closing Rank | OBC Closing Rank | SC Closing Rank | ST Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bengaluru | 101 | 1018 | 3072 | 5000 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 148 | 831 | 3251 | 2786 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata (BA LLB) | 284 | — | 3833 | 6010 |
| NLIU Bhopal | 431 | 1562 | 4955 | 9461 |
| NLU Jodhpur | 310 | 1273 | 4042 | — |
Key Insights from CLAT Cutoff 2026
- NLSIU Bengaluru remains the most competitive, closing at Rank 101 (General)
- Top 5 NLUs close within Rank ~400
- Tier 2 NLUs extend up to Rank 1000–1500
- New/Lower NLUs go beyond Rank 1500–2000+
- Reserved categories show wider rank ranges due to seat allocation policies
Tier-Wise CLAT Cutoff 2026 Analysis
| Tier | NLUs | Expected Rank Range (General) |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | NLSIU, NALSAR, WBNUJS | 1 – 300 |
| Tier 2 | NLIU, NLU Jodhpur, GNLU | 300 – 800 |
| Tier 3 | RMLNLU, HNLU, NLU Odisha | 800 – 1500 |
| New NLUs | HPNLU, DSNLU, etc. | 1500+ |
Important Observations
- CLAT Cutoff 2026 are based on Round 1 allotment and may change in later rounds
- Domicile reservations significantly impact ranks
- Some NLUs have separate cutoffs for BA LLB and BBA/BSc LLB programs
- Closing ranks increase in subsequent counselling rounds
CLAT Cutoff 2025 – Previous Year’s Opening/ Closing Ranks [as per CLAT Third Allotment List]
| CLAT 2025 Participating NLUs | Opening Rank (For all categories) | Closing Ranks (For all categories) |
|---|---|---|
| National Law School of India University, Bangalore | 460 | 7286 |
| NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad | 3273 | 7676 |
| The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata – BA LLB (Hons.) | 1119 | 11938 |
| The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata – BSc LLB (Hons.) (Criminology & Forensic) | 711 | 28457 |
| National Law Institute University, Bhopal – BA LLB | 453 | 18889 |
| National Law Institute University, Bhopal – BSc LLB | 9010 | – |
| National Law University, Jodhpur | 581 | 9292 |
| Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar | 444 | 15863 |
| Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Silvassa | 1434 | 55818 |
| Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow | 780 | 51995 |
| Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala | 1264 | 43286 |
| Chanakya National Law University, Patna – BA LLB (Hons.) | 12662 | 40194 |
| Chanakya National Law University Patna – BBA LLB (Hons.) | 1550 | 49876 |
| National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi | 1346 | 45914 |
| National Law University Odisha, Cuttack | 1012 | 12967 |
| National University of Study & Research in Law, Ranchi | 1649 | 53778 |
| National Law University & Judicial Academy, Assam | 2052 | 57634 |
| Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU), Visakhapatnam | 1639 | 17399 |
| The Tamil Nadu National Law School, Tiruchirapalli – BA LLB | 1748 | 28493 |
| The Tamil Nadu National Law School, Tiruchirapalli – BCom LLB | 1871 | 31197 |
| Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai | 8067 | 31295 |
| Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur – BA LLB | 1508 | 32360 |
| Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur – BBA LLB | 1577 | 42733 |
| Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad – BA LLB | 1949 | 57691 |
| Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad – BBA LLB | 2197 | 55824 |
| Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla – BA LLB | 2323 | 57089 |
| Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla – BBA LLB | 2418 | 58003 |
| Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur | 2224 | 52977 |
| Dr B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonipat, Haryana | – | – |
| Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur | 827 | 51602 |
| National Law University, Tripura | 2594 | 56624 |
| Dr. Rajendra Prasad National Law University (RPNLUP), Prayagraj | 2364 | 25539 |
| India International University of Legal Education and Research, Goa – B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) | 2574 | 59488 |
| India International University of Legal Education and Research, Goa – B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) | 2624 | 59920 |
The changes in the paper pattern, lower difficulty level, and higher number of test takers are key factors that will affect the cutoffs. Let’s dive right into the CLAT cutoff 2026 predictions. You can check out the detailed CLAT 2026 analysis.
Factors that Impact the CLAT Cutoff Marks in 2026
CLAT cutoff 2025 is determined by the consortium of NLUs based on the following factors:
- Total number of applicants
- Number of students who qualified for the exam.
- Total number of seats available.
- Previous year cutoff
- Category
- Difficulty level of the paper.
- NLU preferences given by the candidates
- Marks and ranks obtained by the candidates
- Seats offered by the NLUs.
- Reservation policy of NLUs.
Important Info Based on CLAT 2025 Allotment Lists:
1] Category-Wise Opening and Closing Ranks:
- General: The range varies significantly, with top NLUs like NLSIU Bangalore having an opening rank of 1 and a closing rank of 102 in the 1st allotment list.
- OBC: The opening and closing ranks are wider. For instance, NALSAR Hyderabad starts at 189 and goes up to 1116.
2] Admission Cutoffs for Top 3 NLUs:
- NLU Bangalore: For the general category, the cutoff range is 1-102.
- NALSAR Hyderabad: The range for the general category is 4-167.
- NLU Kolkata: The cutoff for the general category falls between 140-277 for the BA LLB program and 289-1010 for the BSc LLB program.
Expected CLAT Cutoff 2026 (Marks vs Rank)
| Category | Expected Marks | Expected Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Top 3 NLUs | 90+ marks | Rank < 150 |
| Top 5 NLUs | 85+ marks | Rank < 400 |
| Tier 2 NLUs | 80–85 marks | Rank < 1000 |
The CLAT Cutoff 2026 indicates a slight increase in competition due to a higher number of applicants and moderate paper difficulty. Candidates aiming for top NLUs should focus on securing a rank under 500 to maximize admission chances.
CLAT Cut off 2024 – Rank-wise [as per CLAT Fifth Allotment List]
Here’s the table of CLAT 2024 cut-off marks as per the fourth allotment list for all NLUs:
| NLUs | General
(Opening Rank – Closing Rank) |
OBC  (Opening Rank – Closing Rank) |
SC
(Opening Rank – Closing Rank) |
ST
(Opening Rank – Closing Rank) |
| NLSIU Bangalore | 1-102 | 107-971 | 372-3007 | 224-7487 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 4-167 | 189-1116 | 319-3574 | 263-6083 |
| WBNUJS [BA LLB] | 140-279 | Reserved for WB Domicile | 2056-4503 | 2856-8860 |
| WBNUJS [BSc LLB] | 289-1010 | Reserved for WB Domicile | 4663-8958 | 11405-11917 |
| NLIU Bhopal [BA LLB] | 159-452 | 879-1315 | 3161-5178 | 8860-11527 |
| NLIU Bhopal [BSc LLB] | 187-1047 | 1112-1959 | 6497-7622 | 3764-15219 |
| NLU Jodhpur | 112-379 | 487-1424 | 3574-5178 | 4411-8960 |
| HNLU Raipur | 413-791 | 1858-2069 | 5192-6765 | 9218-12035 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 8-464 | 1284-1858 | 4988-6175 | 7712-11580 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | 357-764 | Reserved for UP Domicile | Reserved for UP Domicile | Reserved for UP Domicile |
| RGNUL Punjab | 220-1250 | – | 3234-10253 | 9562-16875 |
| CNLU Patna [BA LLB] | 790-1358 | – | Reserved for Bihar Domicile | Reserved for Bihar Domicile |
| CNLU Patna [BBA LLB] | 1051-1552 | – | Reserved for Bihar Domicile | Reserved for Bihar Domicile |
| NUALS Kochi | 231-1136 | – | Reserved for Kerala Domicile | Reserved for Kerala Domicile |
| NLU Odisha | 591-1205 | – | 5997-9869 | 11580-16676 |
| NUSRL Ranchi | 637-1594 | 1943-3005 | 5972-11124 | 16875-19635 |
| TNNLU Tiruchirappalli [BA LLB] | 806-1628 | 1672-3135 | 10681-11289 | Reserved for TN Domicile |
| TNNLU Tiruchirappalli [BCom LLB] | 821-1711 | 2178-3800 | 10861-12418 | 18980-21607 |
| DSNLU Vishakhapatnam | 656-1390 | 2068-2940 | 8057-10568 | 12009-18342 |
| MNLU Mumbai | 222-590 | Reserved for Mah Domicile | Reserved for Mah Domicile | Reserved for Mah Domicile |
| MNLU Nagpur [BA LLB] | 491-1587 | Reserved for Mah Domicile | Reserved for Mah Domicile | Reserved for Mah Domicile |
| MNLU Nagpur [BBA LLB] | 784-1685 | Reserved for Mah Domicile | Reserved for Mah Domicile | Reserved for Mah Domicile |
| MNLU Aurangabad [BA LLB] | 945-1832 | Reserved for Mah Domicile | Reserved for Mah Domicile | Reserved for Mah Domicile |
| MNLU Aurangabad [BBA LLB] | 681-2115 | Reserved for Mah Domicile | Reserved for Mah Domicile | Reserved for Mah Domicile |
| NLUJA Assam | 1400-1704 | Reserved for Assam Domicile | Reserved for Assam Domicile | Reserved for Assam Domicile |
| HPNLU Shimla [BA LLB] | 885-2102 | – | 2387-12158 | 12423-20412 |
| HPNLU Shimla [BBA LLB] | 1059-2150 | – | 9789-12740 | 18233-23188 |
| MPDNLU Jabalpur | 1060-1824 | 2082-3445 | 3836-12556 | 12887-23145 |
| DBRANLU Sonepat | 909-2050 | 2273-3861 | 10545-12447 | 17161-23000 |
| GNLU, Silvassa | 593-1060 | 2103-2429 | 7751-10764 | 15471-16048 |
| NLUT Agartala | 1881-2243 | – | Reserved for Tripura Domicile | Reserved for Tripura Domicile |
Check our Detailed: CLAT Preparation Strategy 2026
CLAT Cutoff Trends (2024 vs 2025 vs 2026)
| Year | Cutoff Trend | Key Insight |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Higher marks-based cutoff | Cutoffs were largely determined by marks, with higher scores required for top NLUs due to moderate competition and scoring patterns |
| 2025 | Shift towards rank-based cutoff | Greater emphasis on ranks over raw scores as normalization and competition increased, making rank more reliable than marks |
| 2026 | Stable with slightly higher competition | Cutoff trends remained stable, but increased number of applicants led to tighter rank competition for top NLUs |
Conclusion
To secure admission in top NLUs through CLAT Cutoff 2026, candidates should target a rank under 500. With increasing competition, understanding cutoff trends and planning strategically is crucial for success.
FAQs
What is the CLAT Cutoff 2026 for NLSIU Bangalore?
Around rank 1–100 for General category; typically requires 90+ marks depending on difficulty and competition level that year.
What rank is required in CLAT 2026 for top NLUs?
Top NLUs generally require rank within 1–400, with top 3 needing under 150 and top 5 under 400 ranks.
What is a safe score in CLAT 2026?
A safe score is 85–90+ marks, ensuring chances in top NLUs, though exact cutoff depends on paper difficulty and competition.
Does CLAT cutoff change after each round?
Yes, cutoffs change after each counselling round due to seat allotment shifts, withdrawals, and category-wise seat redistribution dynamics.
