Students from National Law Universities (NLUs) have once again asked for lower application and counselling fees for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). They state that the current fees are too expensive, stopping many deserving students from applying to top law schools. The student groups have sent three official letters to the exam body, the Consortium of NLUs, since November 2024 . However, they report that none of these letters have received a response or acknowledgement.
What are the Current CLAT Fees?
CLAT is a national-level exam for students who want to study law in India's top National Law Universities. There are two main types of fees students need to pay:
- Application Fee: This fee is paid when students fill out and submit their application form to take the CLAT exam.
- Counselling Fee: If a student successfully clears the CLAT exam and is offered a seat in an NLU, they must pay an additional counselling fee to confirm their admission.
Here is a detailed look at the current fee structure:
| Fee Type | General Category Candidates | SC/ST and Other Reserved Category Candidates |
| Application Fee | ₹ 4,000 | ₹ 3,500 |
| Counselling Fee | ₹ 30,000 | ₹ 20,000 |
Students argue that these amounts are very high. For many aspiring law students, especially those from families with less income, these fees act as a major barrier. This means that talented students might not be able to chase their dream of studying law in a good university simply because they cannot afford the application or counselling fees.
Students' Efforts for Fairer Fees
NLU students have been actively working to bring this issue to the attention of the authorities. They have made repeated requests since last year. So far, they have sent three written requests:
- The first letter was sent in November 2024 . It highlighted how the current fees create financial problems for many students who wish to join NLUs.
- A second letter followed in July 2025 . This letter was sent to the Consortium of NLUs, the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Bar Council of India (BCI), and the Ministry of Law and Justice. In this letter, students asked for need-based fee waivers. This would mean that students from financially weaker backgrounds could get help to pay their fees.
- The third letter was sent in September 2025 . In this letter, students asked for a virtual meeting with the Consortium’s main decision-making body. Their goal was to discuss possible changes to the fee structure.
Despite these efforts, student representatives have stated that none of these letters have received a reply or even an acknowledgement from any of the authorities. This lack of communication is a major concern for the students.
Call for Dialogue and Transparency for CLAT 2027
The Consortium of NLUs recently invited suggestions from the public for changes in the CLAT 2027 exam cycle. However, students are disappointed that their specific request to lower fees has still not been answered. They believe that ignoring this issue makes the CLAT exam less accessible to all students.
The students are now urging the Consortium to have open talks with student representatives. They want the Consortium to seriously consider revising the fee structure before the CLAT 2027 application process begins. Their main aim is to ensure that the Common Law Admission Test remains fair and open for all students, regardless of their family's financial situation. They emphasize the need for greater transparency in how these important decisions are made.
