The results for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 are now available. This year, the exam saw a very high attendance rate of 96.01% across the country. This strong participation suggests that the cutoff ranks for admission to National Law Universities ( NLUs ) might be higher for the 2026 academic year. Counselling registration for NLU admissions has now started for all qualified candidates.
The Consortium of National Law Universities reported a high and diverse turnout for CLAT 2026. Out of all candidates who took the exam, about 57% were female, and 43% were male. Transgender candidates also showed good participation. This wide participation shows a growing interest among students in pursuing law education in India.
An NLU cutoff is the lowest rank a student needs to get admission into a specific National Law University. The expected cutoff ranks shared here are mainly for students in the General category . These expected ranks are calculated based on several important factors. These include trends from past years' cutoffs, how difficult the CLAT 2026 exam was, and the total number of seats available in each NLU.
Expected NLU Cutoff for CLAT 2026 (General Category)
| Type of NLU | Expected NLU Cutoff for CLAT 2026 |
| NLSIU Bengaluru | 100-150 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 160-210 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | 320-370 |
| NLU Jodhpur | 360-410 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 440-490 |
| NLU Bhopal | 470-520 |
| MNLU Mumbai | 550-600 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | 750-800 |
| HNLU Raipur | 800-850 |
| GNLU Silvasaa | 1350-1550 |
| NUALS Kochi | 1300-1500 |
| RGNUL Punjab | 1250-1450 |
| NUSRL Ranchi | 1650-1850 |
| MNLU Nagpur | 1450-1650 |
| TNNLU Trichy | 1730-1930 |
| NLUJAA Assam | 2050-2250 |
| MNLU Aurangabad | 1830-2030 |
| MPDNLU Jabalpur | 2200-2400 |
| HPNLU Shimla | 2310-2510 |
| DBRANLU Sonepat | 1880-2080 |
| NLU Agartala | 2510-2710 |
| CNLU Patna | 1390-1590 |
| DSNLU Vishakhapattanam | 1620-1820 |
| NLU Odisha | 1000-1200 |
| IIULER Goa | 2540-2740 |
| NLU Kochi | 1330-1530 |
Based on these expected cutoffs, top NLUs like NLSIU Bengaluru , NALSAR Hyderabad , and WBNUJS Kolkata are likely to see very tough competition. Candidates aiming for these premier institutions are expected to secure ranks within the top 350 to have a strong chance of getting a seat.
A higher attendance rate in the exam means that more students competed for the limited number of seats in NLUs. When more candidates take the exam, the overall competition increases significantly. This often leads to higher cutoff ranks, as a larger pool of talented students is trying to get into the same number of spots. Therefore, candidates needed to perform exceptionally well to achieve a good rank this year.
It is important to remember that these cutoff figures are only estimates. The final and official cutoff ranks for each NLU will only be announced after all counselling rounds are completed. Students should regularly check the official CLAT website for confirmed information and any updates during the entire admission process.
CLAT 2026 Counselling: Your Next Steps
Counselling is the next crucial step for students who have qualified in CLAT 2026. This process allows eligible candidates to apply for seats in their preferred National Law Universities based on their CLAT ranks. Registration for CLAT 2026 counselling has already begun, giving candidates a window to start their applications.
Students must visit the official website of the Consortium of National Law Universities to register for counselling. During registration, candidates will need to provide their personal details, choose their desired NLUs, and upload necessary documents as specified. It is very important to complete the registration process within the announced deadline. Candidates should regularly check the official CLAT website for specific instructions, the last date for registration, and other important guidelines for the admission process.
