CLAT Merit List 2026: First Merit Fee Payment (Till Jan 15), Second Merit List (Jan 22)

CLAT merit List 2026 was out on January 7, 2026 on NLU 's official website. CLAT Merit List 2026 includes the names, ranks, and categories of the applicants who are eligible for the CLAT counselling.

The merit list is an essential component of the admissions process, it guarantees students their seat at different NLUs. Candidates on the merit list must finish the admissions requirements within the allotted time period.

The merit list is a crucial tool for law students to monitor their chances of admission because CLAT serves as the entrance exam for esteemed National Law Universities throughout India.

CLAT Merit List 2026 Release Date

The CLAT 2026 merit list is published after the CLAT 2026 results, which was announced on December 16, 2025. The CLAT 2026 score card is available for download on the Consortium of NLUs' official website. The counseling schedule and the reporting deadlines for various NLUs has also been announced.

To stay informed about the release date, candidates should frequently visit the official website.

Also Read: Top 10 CLAT Colleges in India 2026: Full List, Ranking, Fees

CLAT 2026 Merit List of Qualifying Candidates

All candidates who are eligible for the counseling process will have their details mentioned in the merit list. The main source of information for seat distribution amongst various NLUs will be only on the invite list/merit list. Candidates whose names are on the first invite list must confirm their acceptance by selecting the "Freeze" or "Float" alternatives within the specified time period.

How Is the CLAT 2026 Merit List Prepared?

A seat allocation procedure is used to create the CLAT 2026 merit list, which takes into account a number of crucial factors:

1. CLAT 2026 Rank: A candidate's All India Rank is directly based on their exam results.
2. Preferences: A significant factor in allocation is the sequence in which candidates complete their NLU preferences during counseling.
3. Category: Strict adherence to reservation guidelines is maintained for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwD groups.
4. Seat Availability: The distribution is influenced by the amount of seats in each NLU and category.
5. Domicile Reservation (where applicable): Under certain quotas, certain NLUs provide seats to applicants from their home state.

This guarantees the admissions process's impartiality and transparency.

Also Read: What after Clearing CLAT 2026? Counselling, Career, Courses

Details Included in CLAT Merit List 2026

The CLAT merit list provides comprehensive information for candidates, including:

• Candidate’s name and roll number
• Category (General/SC/ST/OBC/EWS)
• All India Rank (AIR)
• Category Rank
• Marks scored in CLAT 2026
• Allotted NLU (in case of seat allotment rounds)

Also Read: Top Private Law Colleges in India Accepting CLAT Scores 2026

What Is the Difference Between CLAT All India Rank (AIR) and Category Rank?

The CLAT All India Rank (AIR) is a candidate's overall ranking out of all the candidates who appeared in the CLAT exam, regardless of category.  If a candidate receives an AIR 250, for instance, it indicates that 249 other applicants outscored them in every category.

 CLAT Category Rank: This ranking is unique to the reservation category of a candidate. A student who is in the SC category and has SC Rank 15 is, for example, the 15th best performance in that category. Category rank becomes critical for reserved seats under SC, ST, OBC, EWS, or PwD quotas, however AIR is significant for general admission possibilities.

Also Read: Top 10 CLAT Colleges in India 2026: Full List, Ranking, Fees