CLAT 2026 OBC category expected closing ranks start at approximately 180–260 at NLSIU Bengaluru and extend beyond 5,000 at newer NLUs, based on CLAT 2025 counselling trends.
The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 OBC category cutoff is the closing All India Rank (AIR) at which the last Other Backward Classes student secures a seat at each participating National Law University (NLU). The Consortium of National Law Universities reserves 27% of seats for OBC students under central reservation norms. CLAT 2026 is a 120-mark test spread across 25 NLUs; the cutoffs below are expected figures derived from CLAT 2024 and 2025 counselling trends.
- CLAT 2026 total marks: 120 (120 MCQs, 1 mark each, -0.25 negative marking per wrong answer).
- OBC reservation: 27% of total sanctioned seats at each participating NLU.
- OBC students targeting NLSIU Bengaluru need a score of 90+ out of 120 and an AIR within approximately 260 (expected).
- Students with an OBC AIR between 1,500 and 3,500 can target mid-tier NLUs such as RGNUL, HNLU and NUALS.
- All figures are expected and based on CLAT 2025 trends; official 2026 cutoffs release after each counselling round.
| Direct Link — CLAT 2026 Official Website: consortiumofnlus.ac.in/clat-2026 |
CLAT 2026 OBC Cutoff: Overview
CLAT 2026 OBC cutoffs are the closing AIRs at which the last OBC student is allotted a seat at each NLU in the final counselling round. The Consortium releases round-wise allotment lists; the closing rank of the final round constitutes the official cutoff. OBC students at or below these thresholds are eligible for admission subject to document verification and seat acceptance.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam | Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 |
| Conducting Body | Consortium of National Law Universities |
| Total Marks | 120 |
| Number of Questions | 120 MCQs (1 mark each; -0.25 negative marking) |
| OBC Seat Reservation | 27% of total seats at each NLU |
| Cutoff Metric | All India Rank (AIR) — closing rank of the final counselling round |
| Participating NLUs | 25 |
| Official Website | consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
NLU-Wise Expected OBC Closing Rank for CLAT 2026
The table below lists expected CLAT 2026 OBC closing ranks for major NLUs, projected from CLAT 2025 closing rank data. These are expected figures; treat them as directional benchmarks until the Consortium publishes official 2026 counselling cutoffs. Score estimates reflect the approximate marks needed to achieve the stated rank band based on CLAT 2025 score distribution.
| NLU | State | Expected OBC Closing Rank 2026 | Approx. Score Required (out of 120) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bengaluru | Karnataka | 180–260 | 90+ |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | Telangana | 380–600 | 87–90 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | West Bengal | 500–800 | 85–88 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | Gujarat | 700–1,200 | 83–86 |
| NLIU Bhopal | Madhya Pradesh | 800–1,300 | 82–85 |
| NLU Jodhpur | Rajasthan | 900–1,400 | 81–84 |
| MNLU Mumbai | Maharashtra | 1,000–1,800 | 80–83 |
| RGNUL Patiala | Punjab | 1,500–2,500 | 78–82 |
| HNLU Raipur | Chhattisgarh | 1,500–2,600 | 77–81 |
| NLUO Cuttack | Odisha | 1,800–3,000 | 76–80 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh | 2,000–3,200 | 75–79 |
| NUALS Kochi | Kerala | 2,000–3,500 | 74–78 |
| TNNLS Tiruchirappalli | Tamil Nadu | 2,200–3,800 | 73–77 |
| MNLU Nagpur | Maharashtra | 2,500–4,000 | 72–76 |
| CNLU Patna | Bihar | 2,500–4,200 | 71–75 |
| DSNLU Visakhapatnam | Andhra Pradesh | 2,600–4,200 | 71–75 |
| NUSRL Ranchi | Jharkhand | 2,800–4,500 | 70–74 |
| MNLU Aurangabad | Maharashtra | 3,000–5,000 | 69–73 |
| HPNLU Shimla | Himachal Pradesh | 3,000–5,200 | 68–72 |
| DBRANLU Sonepat | Haryana | 3,500–5,500 | 67–71 |
| NLUJA Guwahati | Assam | 3,500–5,800 | 66–70 |
The above covers 21 of the 25 participating NLUs. Newer NLUs in the consortium generally have OBC closing ranks above 4,000, offering greater accessibility for students in the mid-to-lower rank bands.
Previous Year OBC Cutoff Trends: CLAT 2024 and 2025
Comparing approximate OBC closing ranks from CLAT 2024 and 2025 at key NLUs shows a gradual tightening at top institutions driven by rising aspirant quality. All figures below are approximate trend data used solely to project expected 2026 cutoffs.
| NLU | Approx. OBC Closing Rank 2024 | Approx. OBC Closing Rank 2025 | Expected 2026 Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bengaluru | ~200–240 | ~180–220 | Slight tightening |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | ~420–580 | ~380–560 | Stable to slight tightening |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | ~530–800 | ~500–760 | Stable |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | ~750–1,250 | ~710–1,180 | Stable |
| NLIU Bhopal | ~850–1,380 | ~820–1,300 | Stable |
| NLU Jodhpur | ~960–1,450 | ~920–1,400 | Stable |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | ~2,100–3,400 | ~2,000–3,200 | Slight tightening |
| CNLU Patna | ~2,600–4,500 | ~2,500–4,200 | Stable |
Factors Affecting CLAT 2026 OBC Cutoff
Several variables shift the OBC closing rank each year. Understanding these helps students set realistic targets before submitting NLU preferences.
- Number of OBC qualifiers: A higher volume of OBC qualifiers tightens closing ranks at each NLU.
- Paper difficulty: An easier paper raises overall scores and can lower closing ranks at mid-tier NLUs; a tough paper opens the rank window.
- Seat intake changes: NLUs adding OBC seats (27% of any new seats) relax the cutoff proportionally.
- Counselling round behaviour: Students upgrading or withdrawing in later rounds can shift the effective closing rank from round-1 data.
- Home-state NLU preference: State NLUs draw disproportionate local demand, tightening OBC ranks at those institutions.
- New NLUs joining the consortium: Each additional institution brings new seats that absorb demand and can slightly relax mid-tier cutoffs.
CLAT 2026 OBC Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the expected CLAT 2026 OBC closing rank at NLSIU Bengaluru?
Ans. Based on CLAT 2025 trends, the expected OBC closing rank at NLSIU Bengaluru for CLAT 2026 is approximately 180–260. A score of 90+ out of 120 is typically needed to fall within this rank range.
Ques. What score out of 120 does an OBC student need for a top-5 NLU in CLAT 2026?
Ans. For the top five NLUs — NLSIU, NALSAR, WBNUJS, GNLU and NLIU — OBC students generally need a score between 82 and 92 out of 120, translating to an AIR within approximately 1,300 based on CLAT 2025 trends.
Ques. Is the CLAT OBC cutoff lower than the General category cutoff?
Ans. Yes. The OBC closing rank is numerically higher (less competitive) than the General category closing rank at every NLU. At NLSIU for example, the General closing rank is typically under 100 while the OBC closing rank sits around 180–260.
Ques. How are CLAT 2026 OBC cutoffs determined?
Ans. The Consortium releases seat allotment results after each counselling round. The AIR of the last OBC student allotted a seat in the final round at a given NLU becomes that NLU’s official OBC closing rank for the year.
Ques. Which NLUs can OBC students with a CLAT 2026 rank of 2,000 to 4,000 target?
Ans. Based on CLAT 2025 trends, OBC students with a rank between 2,000 and 4,000 can target RMLNLU Lucknow, NUALS Kochi, TNNLS Tiruchirappalli, MNLU Nagpur, CNLU Patna, DSNLU Visakhapatnam and NUSRL Ranchi.
Ques. When will the official CLAT 2026 OBC cutoff be released?
Ans. The Consortium of National Law Universities publishes NLU-wise seat allotment results after each counselling round. The final OBC closing ranks are available at consortiumofnlus.ac.in once all rounds conclude.
Comments