CLAT 2026 Cut-off: Marks & Rank Trends for UG & PG

CLAT 2026 Cut-off: Marks & Rank Trends for UG & PG

Written By Aliya Khan

Updated on – 17 Nov, 2025

The CLAT 2026 cut-off marks are likely to differ across National Law Universities (NLUs) and categories, as they depend on the exam’s difficulty level and the number of available seats each year. For leading NLUs such as NLSIU Bangalore and NALSAR Hyderabad, the expected cut-off for the general category is around 95 to 100 marks out of 120. For other well-known NLUs like WBNUJS Kolkata and NLU Jodhpur, the general category cut-off is projected to fall between 85 and 95 marks.

Candidates from reserved categories typically see slightly lower cut-offs. OBC and EWS applicants can expect cut-offs that are 5 to 10 marks below the general category. For SC and ST candidates, the cut-offs are usually 10 to 15 marks lower, with many top law schools keeping SC cut-offs around 74 to 90 and ST cut-offs around 70 to 86. General category candidates aiming for a seat in any NLU should target at least 85 to 90 marks to remain competitive, while the cut-offs for less competitive NLUs may be a bit lower

The Consortium of NLUs will publish the official CLAT 2026 cutoff for every NLU and category after each counseling round on its website. The cutoff scores largely depend on factors such as the total number of applicants, the exam’s difficulty level, and the number of seats available at each NLU.

CLAT 2026 Expected Cut off for Top NLUs

The anticipated cut off scores for CLAT 2026 at leading National Law Universities (NLUs) are expected to align with recent patterns, with a slight rise possible due to increasing competition. Below is an approximate estimate of the expected CLAT 2026 cut off marks out of 120 for major NLUs in the General category.

NLUExpected Cut off Marks (General Category)
NLSIU Bangalore100 to 108
NALSAR Hyderabad97 to 104
WBNUJS Kolkata95 to 98
NLU Jodhpur90 to 95
GNLU Gandhinagar85 to 90
NLIU Bhopal85 to 90
HNLU Raipur80 to 85
RMLNLU Lucknow80 to 85

For candidates from reserved categories such as OBC, SC and ST, the expected cut-off scores are usually lower by around 5 to 15 marks depending on the category and the institute. For instance, SC and ST candidates may find the cut-off range around 75 to 85 marks for top NLUs like NLSIU and NALSAR.

Students aiming for admission to NLSIU Bangalore and NALSAR Hyderabad should try to score above 100 marks, as this generally ensures a top 100 all India rank and increases the chances of securing a seat. A score range of 90 to 98 marks typically helps candidates get admission in institutes like WBNUJS Kolkata and NLU Jodhpur.

These figures are indicative and have been derived from previous years’ trends, variations in exam difficulty levels and the rising interest in NLUs. The official cut-off scores and ranks will be published by the Consortium of NLUs after the CLAT 2026 counseling rounds are completed.

CLAT 2026 Cut off Ranks for NLUs

Based on recent patterns and the previous years’ admission data, the estimated CLAT 2026 cut off ranks for different National Law Universities are given in the table below.

NLUExpected Closing Rank (General Category)Estimated Marks (out of 120)
NLSIU BangaloreAround 85103 to 107
NALSAR HyderabadAround 16097 to 104
WBNUJS KolkataAround 25094 to 98
NLU JodhpurAround 37590 to 95
GNLU GandhinagarAround 43087 to 90
NLIU BhopalAround 45085 to 90
HNLU RaipurAround 75080 to 85
RMLNLU LucknowAround 75080 to 85

For reserved categories such as OBC, SC and ST, the required ranks vary and are usually higher. This means candidates from these categories can secure admission even with comparatively higher ranks due to reservation benefits.

Students who aim for top NLUs like NLSIU, NALSAR or WBNUJS should try to achieve an All India Rank (AIR) within the top 250 to 300. In most cases, a score above 100 out of 120 corresponds to a rank within the top 100, which increases the chances of getting a seat in these leading institutes.

The CLAT Consortium publishes the official cut off ranks after every round of counselling. Candidates should regularly visit the official website for the most recent updates and counselling results.

Factors Affecting CLAT 2026 Cutoffs

Several important elements determine the cut-off marks for CLAT 2026 across National Law Universities (NLUs). Understanding these aspects helps aspirants plan their preparation effectively and set achievable targets.

Difficulty Level of the Exam: When the CLAT question paper is easier, more candidates score high marks, which generally results in higher cut-offs. If the exam is more challenging, fewer students achieve top scores, leading to relatively lower cut-offs.

Number of Candidates Appearing: An increase in the total number of test takers raises competition between students. This higher demand for limited seats usually makes the cut-off marks more competitive.

Seat Availability in NLUs: A higher number of seats in an individual NLU or across all NLUs improves the chances of admission for candidates and often results in slightly lower cut-offs. For example, expanded intake in institutions like NLSIU Bangalore has previously reduced the cut-off to some extent.

Candidate Performance Distribution: The way scores are spread out affects how cut-offs shift. When many candidates score within the same mid to high range, the cut-off for that range tends to rise.

Reservation Policies: Category-based reservation significantly influences cut-off scores. Candidates from reserved categories such as SC and ST usually have lower cut-offs than those in the general category.

Tie-breakers and Sectional Strength: A strong score in legal reasoning or logical reasoning can play a key role in resolving ties. This often affects final rankings and indirectly impacts cut-offs.

Changes in Exam Pattern: Any revisions in the types of questions, the number of questions, or the marking scheme can influence overall scoring trends, which then affects cut-off marks.

In conclusion, cut-off scores for CLAT 2026 will depend on the difficulty of the exam, the number and performance of candidates, changes in seat availability, and reservation rules. Aspirants targeting top NLUs should aim for a score of 95 or above out of 120. However, many strong NLUs still admit candidates with scores around 85 to 90. Regular evaluation of mock tests and previous year cut-offs can help students fine-tune their preparation.

Number of Candidates Appearing: When more students sit for the exam, the competition increases and the cut-off marks generally become higher due to greater demand for limited seats.

CLAT 2025 Cut off Ranks for NLUs

The CLAT 2025 cut-off ranks for different NLUs show the final rank at which candidates were admitted in each category. Using last year's data and overall trends, the following are the approximate cut-off ranks for the top NLUs in 2025

NLU NameGeneral Closing RankOBC Closing RankSC Closing RankST Closing Rank
NLSIU BangaloreAround 83Not applicable21123042
NALSAR HyderabadAround 172Not applicable28846854
WBNUJS KolkataAround 241Reserved for WB Domicile36448125
NLIU BhopalAround 3781045408614684
NLU JodhpurAround 356Not applicable598315063
HNLU RaipurAround 765206197358454
GNLU GandhinagarAround 3751693727714753
RMLNLU LucknowAround 676Reserved for UP DomicileReserved for UP DomicileReserved for UP Domicile
RGNUL PunjabAround 1075Not applicable1035718707

Key Highlights

Top NLU (NLSIU Bangalore): A rank within the top 100 usually secures admission, while candidates from reserved categories may still have good chances with ranks between 100 and 200.

Other NLUs: Ranks in the range of 200 to 400 are generally enough for well-known institutions such as NALSAR, WBNUJS, and NLIU.

Important Notes

These ranks are approximate and based on previous years’ cut-off trends.

The actual cut-offs after counseling may differ depending on factors like exam difficulty, the total number of candidates, and seat availability.

Candidates, especially those from the general category, should target a rank comfortably within the top 100 to improve their chances of getting a seat in the top NLUs.


CLAT 2024 Cut off Ranks for NLUs

The CLAT 2024 cut off ranks for different NLUs give a clear idea of the closing ranks at which candidates were admitted in the previous year. Using the data and trends from the 2024 exam, the approximate cut off ranks for some leading NLUs are presented below.

CLAT 2024 Cut Off Ranks (Approximate)

NLU NameGeneral Category Closing RankRank Range (Approximate)
NLSIU BangaloreAround 991 to 99
NALSAR HyderabadAround 1644 to 164
WBNUJS KolkataAround 275140 to 275
NLIU BhopalAround 452159 to 452
NLU JodhpurAround 365112 to 365
GNLU GandhinagarAround 4348 to 434
HNLU RaipurAround 765413 to 765
RMLNLU LucknowAround 733357 to 733

Note: These figures are taken from the second allotment list for CLAT 2024. The numbers may vary slightly depending on counseling rounds and candidate performance. Cutoffs for reserved categories are usually higher in terms of priority which means they close at lower rank numbers.

Summary


To secure admission in top NLUs such as NLSIU Bangalore and NALSAR Hyderabad in 2024, candidates generally needed to achieve a rank within the top 200.

For other well-known NLUs like WBNUJS or NLIU, the required ranks typically fell within the top 300 to 400 range.

These rank ranges help aspirants understand what they should aim for, as scoring high enough to fall within these limits improves the chances of getting a seat in leading NLUs.

For exact and updated cut-offs, candidates should refer to the official CLAT counselling updates released after the results are announced.

CLAT 2023 Cut off Ranks for NLUs

The CLAT 2023 cut off ranks for different National Law Universities (NLUs) indicate the final ranks at which admissions closed for each category. Based on official counselling data and overall trends from 2023, the following are the approximate closing ranks for the general category in major NLUs:

NLU NameGeneral Category Closing Rank (Approx.)
NLSIU BangaloreAround 85
NALSAR HyderabadAround 160
WBNUJS KolkataAround 250
NLIU BhopalAround 450
NLU JodhpurAround 375
GNLU GandhinagarAround 430
HNLU RaipurAround 830
RMLNLU LucknowAround 750
RGNUL PunjabAround 1180
CNLU PatnaAround 1300
NUALS KochiAround 1150
NLU OdishaAround 1200
NUSRL RanchiAround 1500

For reserved categories like OBC, SC and ST, the closing ranks are comparatively higher because of the reservation policy. For example, SC and ST ranks may vary from around 2000 to more than 10000 depending on the NLU and category.

Candidates aiming for top NLUs like NLSIU Bangalore and NALSAR Hyderabad should target a rank within the top 200 to increase their chances of admission. For several other NLUs, ranks between 400 and 800 may be sufficient depending on category and home state quotas.

These ranks are only indicative and may vary based on the difficulty level of the exam, the total number of candidates, and the availability of seats each year. Aspirants should check the official counseling notifications for the latest and most accurate cut-off lists released after the CLAT 2023 results.

CLAT Cut off 2022

The CLAT 2022 closing ranks for the General category, based on official counselling data, are listed below for each National Law University (NLU). These figures indicate the approximate last rank at which admission was offered.

NLUGeneral Category Closing Rank (Approx.)
NLSIU BangaloreAround 85
NALSAR HyderabadAround 162
WBNUJS KolkataAround 257
NLIU BhopalAround 451
NLU JodhpurAround 378
HNLU RaipurAround 756
GNLU GandhinagarAround 430
RMLNLU LucknowAround 756
RGNUL PatialaAround 1184
CNLU PatnaAround 1498
NUALS KochiAround 1315
NLU OdishaAround 1191
NUSRL RanchiAround 1603
TNNLS TiruchirappalliAround 1816
DSNLU VisakhapatnamAround 1589
MNLU MumbaiAround 548
MNLU NagpurAround 1657
MNLU AurangabadAround 2323
NLUJAA GuwahatiAround 1979
HPNLU ShimlaAround 2302
DNLU JabalpurAround 2262
NLU SonipatAround 2333

Closing ranks for reserved categories such as OBC, SC and ST are significantly higher because of the reservation policies in place.

These cut-offs give aspirants a clear benchmark of the rank required for different NLUs. Top NLUs like NLSIU, NALSAR and WBNUJS usually close within the top 300 ranks, while newer NLUs tend to have higher closing ranks. This information helps candidates estimate their chances of admission based on their expected All India Rank.

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