CLAT 2026 Expected Ranks & NLU Cutoffs
The CLAT 2026 Expected Ranks & NLU Cutoffs Analysis provides a detailed, data-driven overview for aspirants targeting National Law Universities (NLUs) through the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) UG 2026. As of March 2026, the Consortium of NLUs has released multiple merit lists and counseling rounds (up to Round 3 or beyond in some cases), with final admissions ongoing.
This guide compiles trends from official CLAT counseling data (consortiumofnlus.ac.in), expert predictions from trusted sources like Careers360, Shiksha, LawPrepTutorial, TopRankers, and IMS India, and 2025 actuals adjusted for 2026 factors (exam difficulty, ~70,000+ applicants, seat matrix ~3,000+ BA LLB seats across 24+ NLUs).
Key Insights for CLAT 2026
- Exam Pattern Recap: 120 questions (reduced from older patterns), +1 correct, -0.25 wrong; focus on comprehension-based sections (English, Current Affairs/GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques).
- Cutoff Trends: Top NLUs (NLSIU, NALSAR, WBNUJS) remain ultra-competitive, closing under top 300–500 ranks for General. Scores needed: 95–105+ marks (out of 120) for elite NLUs. Mid-tier NLUs close at 85–95 marks (ranks 500–2000+). Reserved categories see 10–30% relaxation.
- Influencing Factors: Slight score inflation due to moderate difficulty; more seats in newer NLUs; state/domicile quotas lower cutoffs in some (e.g., MNLU Mumbai, RMLNLU Lucknow).
Expected Marks vs Rank (2026)
100+ Marks
Rank 1–150
Top 3 NLUs safe
95–99 Marks
Rank 150–500
Top 5–7 NLUs
90–94 Marks
Rank 500–1200
Top 10–15 NLUs
85–89 Marks
Rank 1200–2500
Mid-tier NLUs
Below 80 Marks
Waitlists
Lower-tier/newer NLUs
Expected Cutoffs for Top NLUs (General Category)
Based on 2025 finals (e.g., NLSIU ~112 closing rank, NALSAR ~162–260) and 2026 Round 1–3 trends (top 3 under 300 ranks, scores 95+), here are realistic BA LLB Hons (All India Quota) closing rank expectations:
1 NLSIU Bengaluru
Top-ranked, most competitive. Very limited seats; requires top 100 AIR for safety.
Rank: 1–120
Marks: 101–107+
2 NALSAR Hyderabad
Elite status; strong placements.
Rank: 90–200
Marks: 98–104
3 WBNUJS Kolkata (BA LLB)
BSc LLB variant higher (~300–700).
Rank: 150–450
Marks: 96–102
4. NLU Jodhpur
Marks: 94–100
5. NLIU Bhopal
Marks: 91–96
6. GNLU Gandhinagar
Silvassa campus higher ranks
7. MNLU Mumbai
Marks: 88–94
8. RMLNLU Lucknow
Marks: 85–92
9. NLU Odisha / HNLU Raipur
Marks: 85–90
10. Other Mid-Tier (RGNUL, CNLU, NUSRL)
Marks: 80–88
Category-Wise Expected Relaxation
Top 10 NLUs Aggregate
- General: 90–105+ marks (top ranks 1–1000 for elite)
- OBC-NCL: 83–98 marks (ranks ~2x General; e.g., NLSIU ~200–1000)
- EWS: 85–100 marks (similar to OBC, but quota-limited)
- SC: 70–90 marks (ranks up to 3000–6000+)
- ST: 65–85 marks (ranks up to 6000–10000+; significant relaxation)
- PwD: 60–80 marks (further lower depending on NLU)
MP-Specific Note
For Indore/Rewa aspirants: Madhya Pradesh students benefit from domicile quotas in NLUs like NLIU Bhopal (home state advantage lowers cutoff by 20–40% for reserved/state seats) or newer ones like MPDNLU Jabalpur (closing ranks often 1500–3000+ for General). Aim for 85+ marks for strong MP quota chances.
Strategic Tips for CLAT 2026 Aspirants
- • Target Scores: 95+ for top 5 NLUs; 85+ for mid-tier. Use mocks to hit 100+ attempts with 85%+ accuracy.
- • Counseling Pro-Tip: Prioritize preferences (NLSIU > NALSAR > others); participate in all rounds (including spot/mop-up); upgrade via float/slide if allotted lower choice.
- • Backup Plans: If rank borderline, consider private NLUs (e.g., via management quota) or state law entrances.
- • Use Predictors: Input your raw/estimated score into ResultPredict.in’s CLAT tool for personalized NLU chances (factors category, domicile, round trends).
These are statistical estimates — actuals vary by round, withdrawals, and final seat matrix.
Check Your Chances in CLAT Predictor