Check CLAT 2026 cutoff details for UG and PG programs. Know category-wise cutoff, expected opening & closing ranks for top NLUs, and seat allotment process during CLAT 2026 counselling.
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CLAT cutoff 2026 (expected) for the general category ranges between 95 to 102 marks, for the OBC category it would range between 87–95 marks, for the SC category 80–85 marks, and for the PwD category it can be 75–85 marks. The CLAT 2026 cutoffs for undergraduate (UG) and graduate (PG) programs will be released independently by each participating NLU.
The Consortium of NLUs will make the cutoff scores official for each participating National Law University known during the CLAT 2026 counseling and seat allocation rounds. After each round of counseling and seat distribution, the CLAT 2026 cutoff scores for all participating National Law Universities will differ.
What Is the CLAT 2026 Category-Wise Cutoff?
There are differences in the CLAT cutoff for each candidate based on their category reservations (General, SC, ST, OBC, EWS, etc.) and NLUs are opting for admissions. Candidates in the reserved category often need to score marginally lower than those in the general category to be admitted.
| Category | Top 3 NLUs (NLSIU, NALSAR, WBNUJS) | Other Top NLUs (GNLU, Jodhpur, RMLNLU) |
| General | 95–102 marks | 88–95 marks |
| OBC/EWS | 87–95 marks | 82–90 marks |
| SC | 80–85 marks | 72–80 marks |
| ST | 78–83 marks | 70–78 marks |
| PwD | 75–85 marks | 68–75 marks |
Related CLAT 2026 Cutoff Article Links
What Is the Expected CLAT 2026 Cutoff for Top NLUs?
The expected opening and closing rank for CLAT 2026 top NLUs are added below:
| Name of NLU | All India Opening Rank | All India Closing Rank |
| National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru | 1 | 140 |
|
National Academy of Legal Study & Research (NALSAR) University of Law, Hyderabad |
4 | 170 |
|
The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata |
140 | 300 |
| National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal | 200 | 500 |
| 150 | 450 | |
| 400 | 805 | |
| 150 | 500 | |
|
Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow |
300 | 450 |
| 500 | 1200 | |
| CNLU Patna | 600 | 1400 |
| NUALS Kochi | 500 | 1400 |
| NLU Odisha (Cuttack) | 500 | 1800 |
| NUSRL Ranchi | 900 | 2100 |
| TNNLS Tiruchirappalli | 600 | 2200 |
| DSNLU Visakhapatnam | 600 | 2200 |
| MNLU Mumbai | 300 | 600 |
| MNLU Nagpur | 600 | 2200 |
| MNLU Aurangabad | 1500 | 2700 |
| NLUJAA Guwahati | 1100 | 2600 |
| HPNLU Shimla | 800 | 2800 |
| DNLU Jabalpur | 1500 | 2700 |
| NLU Sonipat | 767 | 2713 |
| NLU Tripura | 2000 | 3500 |
| NLU Meghalaya | 2000 | 3500 |
| NLU Prayagraj | 1800 | 3200 |
| NLU Goa | 1800 | 3200 |
What Factors Affect CLAT 2026 Cutoff?
When determining the CLAT 2026 cutoff, the admissions cell will consider the following factors:
- Difficulty level of question papers and the candidate’s performance.
- The number of seats available for the LLB programme
- Category of students appearing in the exam
Also Check: How to Choose Right NLU After CLAT 2026? Key Factors, and Top NLUs
Will the CLAT Cutoff 2026 Be Higher or Lower Than the Previous Year?
The exam difficulty level and the candidate's overall performance will have a significant impact on the CLAT 2026 cutoff.
- CLAT Cutoffs increased quite often when the question paper was simpler.
- The anticipated cutoff scores for NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, and WBNUJS Kolkata could range from 95 to 100 if CLAT 2026 follows a moderate-to-easy trend.
Also Read: NIRF Ranking: Top 30 Law Colleges In India
What Is the Difference Between CLAT Qualifying Marks and Admission Cutoff?
It's critical to understand the difference between admission cutoffs and CLAT qualifying scores. Admission is not guaranteed by qualifying marks, which only specify the minimal score required for review.
- The exact score and rank needed to get into an NLU is known as the CLAT cutoff. For example, major NLUs like NLSIU or NALSAR typically require 95–100+ points in the general category for admission, even though 40–50 marks may technically "qualify" a candidate.
- The CLAT qualifying score is the minimum marks that make a candidate eligible to appear in the CLAT 2026 counselling.
For both undergraduate (UG) and graduate (PG) programs, admission to prestigious NLUs is mostly determined by the CLAT 2026 cutoff. CLAT 2026 cutoffs differ according to category, NLU preference, and exam difficulty. Candidates need to look at past cutoff trends and establish reasonable goals for their results.
While candidates in the reserved category may be able to gain seats with comparatively lower scores, general category candidates hoping to place in the top three NLUs should aim for 95+ points.
Your chances of meeting the cutoff and getting into your desired NLU will be greatly increased by consistent preparation, practice exams, and astute planning.
Also Check: Top Government Law Colleges in India 2025
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