Get complete details on CLAT 2026 counselling including registration dates, seat allotment rounds, fees, and required documents. Learn how to participate in the admission process for NLUs step by step.
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CLAT Counseling 2026 will be administered by the Consortium of NLUs for admission to undergraduate and graduate law programs at the 26 participating NLUs. The CLAT counseling process is expected to start in January 2025. The CLAT counseling procedure consists of CLAT seat allocation phases, admission confirmation and CLAT document verification. The Consortium of NLUs' will host the online counseling session for CLAT 2026 on its official website and there will be five rounds of the CLAT 2026 Counseling process.
When Will the CLAT Counselling 2026 Start?
The CLAT 2026 exam will be conducted on December 7, 2025, and results are expected by the last week of December 2025. Soon after, the counselling process will begin in January 2026. In CLAT 2026 the counselling will take place across five rounds between May and June 2025, with over 26,000 candidates to be invited against a total of 5,230 seats.
| Event | Expected Date |
| CLAT 2026 Result Declaration | December 2025 |
| Counselling Registration Starts | January 2026 |
| First Allotment List | January 2026 |
| Final Round of Allotment | February 2026 |
Related CLAT Counselling 2026 Article Links:
Registration Process for CLAT Counselling 2026
The registration process will take place entirely online on CLAT official website. Candidates must follow these steps:
- Login to CLAT Portal: Visit the official website and log in using your CLAT 2026 credentials.
- Preference Filling: Select your preferred NLUs in order of priority, a minimum of 15 preferences is recommended for better allotment chances. Once submitted, preferences cannot be reduced.
- Payment of Counselling Fee: Pay the non-refundable counselling registration fee online. Ensure you receive a “Payment Successful” confirmation on the portal.
- Invitation & Validation: Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for counselling via SMS, email, and portal notification. Candidates must validate the invitation within the given deadline.
Also Check: CLAT Cutoff 2026: Expected and Previous Year Cutoff for NLUs
Counselling Fee for CLAT 2026
The CLAT 2026 counselling fee is tabulated below:
| Category | Counselling Fee (₹) |
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹30,000 |
| SC / ST / PwD | ₹20,000 |
Documents Required for CLAT Counselling 2026
Candidates must upload the scanned copies of the following documents on the CLAT portal:
- Class 10 Marksheet
- Class 12 Marksheet
- CLAT 2026 Admit Card
- CLAT 2026 Application Form / Scorecard
- Transfer / Migration Certificate
- Character / Conduct Certificate
- Caste Certificate (if applicable)
- PwD Certificate (if applicable)
- Domicile Certificate (if applicable)
- Defence / Ex-servicemen / EWS Certificate (if applicable)
Also Check: Top Private Law Colleges in India Accepting CLAT Scores 2026
CLAT Counselling 2026: Refund Rules
Refunds are processed as per the following rules:
| Situation | Refund Eligibility | Deduction |
| Not allotted a seat after final round | Full Refund | Nil |
| Exit before counselling deadline | Full Refund | Nil |
| Exit after deadline | Partial Refund | ₹5,000 deducted |
| Ineligible during verification | Partial Refund | ₹5,000 deducted |
| Withdraw after admission | Partial Refund | Confirmation fee forfeited + ₹5,000 deducted |
| Seat allotted in 5th round but later exit | Full Refund | Nil |
Also Read: Top 10 CLAT Colleges in India
CLAT 2026 Seat Allotment and Options
Seat allotment is done based on CLAT rank, NLU preference, and seat availability. After allotment, candidates have three options:
| Option | Description | Candidate Action |
| Freeze | Accept the allotted seat and exit further rounds | Pay confirmation fee |
| Float | Accept current seat but wait for higher preference in later rounds | Pay confirmation fee & stay in process |
| Exit | Withdraw from counselling completely | Forfeit confirmation fee (if paid) |
Rounds of CLAT Counselling 2026
The counselling is conducted in five rounds:
- Round 1–3: Allotment lists published with Freeze/Float/Exit options.
- Round 4–5: Final seat allotments to fill vacant seats.
- After Round 5, centralised counselling closes. However, individual NLUs may conduct spot admissions if vacancies remain.
Also Read: Top Government Law Colleges in India
Common Mistakes to Avoid in CLAT Counselling 2026
The common mistakes that you should avoid during CLAT 2026 counselling are listed below:
- Missing Deadlines – Late fee payment or incomplete registration leads to disqualification.
- Incorrect Preference Filling – Not listing enough NLUs reduces chances of allotment.
- Last-Minute Fee Payment – Payment failures near deadlines may cause cancellation.
- Incomplete Document Upload – Missing mandatory certificates results in rejection.
- Not Checking Updates – Ignoring SMS, email, or portal notifications may cause missed opportunities.
- Wrong Category Claims – Submitting false certificates can cancel candidature and invite penalties.
- Improper Use of Float Option – Freezing too early may prevent higher-preference allotments.
The CLAT Counselling 2026 process is crucial and timely registration, careful choice of NLU preferences, proper document submission, and smart use of Freeze/Float options are essential to securing a seat in top NLUs.
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