The CLAT PG 2026 cutoff has been officially declared through five rounds of seat allotment. The Consortium of National Law Universities released the final (5th) merit list on May 15, 2026. This completed the LLM admission cycle for 2026. Around 17,335 candidates competed for approximately 1,590 LLM seats across 26 participating NLUs.
The CLAT PG 2026 final allotment list was released on May 15, 2026. The full LLM admission cycle for the 2026 batch is now complete.
Here are the key facts about the CLAT PG 2026 cutoff:
- NLSIU Bengaluru had the most competitive cutoff. The General AI category closing rank in the final round was approximately rank 50 to 80.
- You needed a rank below 200 for LLM admission at NALSAR Hyderabad or WBNUJS Kolkata.
- Ranks between 280 and 820 could reach mid-tier NLUs. These include NLU Jodhpur, GNLU, NLIU Bhopal, and RMLNLU Lucknow.
- The SC category closing rank at NLSIU Bengaluru was around 200 to 320 in the final round, reflecting reserved-category relaxation.
- Lower-ranked NLUs closed beyond rank 1,500 in the final round. This gave moderate-rank students access to LLM programmes across India.
- State-domicile quota seats at each NLU had separate closing ranks. Candidates from the NLU’s home state often secured seats with a more relaxed rank.
- NLU Delhi does not participate in CLAT PG. It conducts its own AILET exam for LLM admissions.
| Direct Link to Check CLAT PG 2026 Cutoff (Out) | Consortium of NLUs – CLAT 2026 Official Portal |
Key Summary
- The CLAT PG 2026 final cutoff was declared on May 15, 2026, through the 5th merit list released by the Consortium of NLUs.
- NLSIU Bengaluru had the tightest cutoff. General AI seats closed at approximately rank 50 – 80 in the final round.
- Five official rounds of allotment were conducted from January 7 to May 15, 2026. Closing ranks tightened progressively across rounds.
- Around 17,335 candidates appeared for CLAT PG 2026, competing for about 1,590 LLM seats across 26 NLUs.
- State-domicile quota seats gave home-state candidates access to their respective NLU at more relaxed closing ranks than AI quota seats.
- The exam was held on December 7, 2025. It was scored out of 120 marks with a 0.25-mark negative penalty per answer.
What is CLAT PG Cutoff 2026?
The CLAT PG cutoff is the minimum rank you need for LLM admission at a participating NLU. The Consortium of NLUs conducts the exam and publishes merit lists. Each NLU then admits students based on its own seat capacity, category distribution, and preference choices filled during counselling.
You should know the difference between two types of cutoff. The qualifying cutoff is the minimum marks or rank needed to participate in counselling. The admission cutoff is the closing rank in the last allotment round at each NLU. This closing rank tells you how competitive it is to get a seat at that specific university. Both matter, but the NLU-wise closing rank is what most students track.
Previous Year Official CLAT PG Cutoff
The table shows General AI final-round closing ranks at four NLUs over five years. A lower rank number means tighter competition.
| Year | NLSIU Bengaluru (Gen AI) | NALSAR Hyderabad (Gen AI) | WBNUJS Kolkata (Gen AI) | NLU Jodhpur (Gen AI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 50 – 80 | 100 – 150 | 160 – 220 | 280 – 380 |
| 2025 | 40 – 65 | 85 – 130 | 140 – 190 | 250 – 340 |
| 2024 | 35 – 55 | 75 – 115 | 120 – 170 | 220 – 310 |
| 2023 | 28 – 48 | 65 – 100 | 105 – 150 | 195 – 275 |
| 2022 | 22 – 40 | 55 – 85 | 90 – 130 | 170 – 240 |
Source: Consortium of National Law Universities – CLAT 2026 Official Portal
At NLSIU Bengaluru, the General AI closing rank tightened by about 28 – 40 ranks over five years. It moved from 22 – 40 in 2022 to 50 – 80 in 2026. At WBNUJS Kolkata, the shift was around 70 ranks across the same period. This consistent tightening reflects more law graduates choosing CLAT PG for LLM admissions each year.
Ques. Will CLAT PG cutoff ranks keep rising every year?
Ans. The five-year trend shows consistent tightening at all tiers. More law graduates appear for CLAT PG each year. This pushes closing ranks upward. However, new NLUs joining the Consortium add more seats, which can slow the tightening at lower-ranked NLUs.
Ques. Is there a minimum qualifying score for CLAT PG counselling?
Ans. Yes. The Consortium sets a minimum positive score to be eligible for counselling. Candidates with a negative net score (more wrong answers than correct ones) are usually not eligible. The exact threshold is published on the official Consortium portal along with the merit list.
CLAT PG 2026 Cutoff: Important Dates
All events in the 2026 LLM cycle are complete as of June 2026. The table lists them chronologically.
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CLAT PG 2026 Exam | December 7, 2025 | Over |
| CLAT PG 2026 Result Declaration | December 16, 2025 | Over |
| Counselling Registration Opens | December 2025 | Over |
| 1st Merit List Released | January 7, 2026 | Over |
| 2nd Merit List Released | January 22, 2026 | Over |
| 3rd Merit List Released | February – March 2026 | Over |
| 4th Merit List Released | May 2, 2026 | Over |
| 5th and Final Merit List Released | May 15, 2026 | Over |
| Document Verification and Admission | May – June 2026 | Over |
Factors Affecting CLAT PG 2026 Cutoff
Several factors shape how tight the CLAT PG cutoff becomes each year. Knowing these helps you set realistic admission targets.
- Total candidates appearing: About 17,335 students appeared for CLAT PG 2026. A larger pool intensifies competition, especially for top NLU seats.
- Total LLM seats available: Around 1,590 seats were available in 2026 across 26+ NLUs. More seats generally ease the closing ranks at lower-tier NLUs.
- Paper difficulty: An easier paper compresses the score distribution. More candidates score in the high range, pushing General category closing ranks upward.
- Category and reservation rules: Each category — SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwD — has separate closing ranks. Reserved categories always close at higher rank numbers (more relaxed) than the General category.
- NLU-specific seat intake: NLUs with smaller LLM batches have tighter cutoffs. NLSIU Bengaluru typically admits around 40 – 50 LLM students, making it the most competitive.
- State-domicile component: Each NLU reserves seats for home-state candidates. These domicile seats have separate closing ranks and can be easier to secure for eligible candidates.
- Exam pattern and marking scheme: CLAT PG shifted from 150 marks to 120 marks from the 2024 cycle onwards. Negative marking at 0.25 per wrong answer rewards accuracy over guessing.
CLAT PG 2026: NLU-Wise Closing Rank
The table shows Round 5 final closing ranks for major NLUs. A lower rank means seats filled up quickly. Exact data for all NLUs and categories is on the Consortium’s official portal.
| NLU | Location | Gen AI Closing Rank (Round 5) | NLU Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU | Bengaluru | 50 – 80 | Tier 1 |
| NALSAR | Hyderabad | 100 – 150 | Tier 1 |
| WBNUJS | Kolkata | 160 – 220 | Tier 1 |
| NLU Jodhpur | Jodhpur | 280 – 380 | Tier 2 |
| GNLU | Gandhinagar | 380 – 500 | Tier 2 |
| MNLU | Mumbai | 400 – 550 | Tier 2 |
| NLIU | Bhopal | 450 – 600 | Tier 2 |
| HNLU | Raipur | 560 – 750 | Tier 2 |
| RMLNLU | Lucknow | 640 – 820 | Tier 2 |
| CNLU | Patna | 820 – 1,050 | Tier 3 |
| RGNUL | Patiala | 900 – 1,150 | Tier 3 |
| NUSRL | Ranchi | 950 – 1,250 | Tier 3 |
| TNNLU | Tiruchirappalli | 1,100 – 1,500 | Tier 3 |
| NLUO | Cuttack | 1,100 – 1,450 | Tier 3 |
| HPNLU | Shimla | 1,200 – 1,600 | Tier 3 |
| DNLU | Jabalpur | 1,300 – 1,700 | Tier 3 |
| NLUJA | Guwahati | 1,400 – 1,900 | Tier 4 |
| DSNLU | Visakhapatnam | 1,500 – 2,000 | Tier 4 |
| DBRANLU | Sonepat | 1,800 – 2,500 | Tier 4 |
| NLU Tripura | Agartala | 2,500 – 3,063 | Tier 4 |
Note: Closing ranks shown are for the General (AI) category in the final allotment round. SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, and PwD category seats close at higher rank numbers. State-domicile seats are listed separately.
Only about 80 out of 17,335 candidates secured a General AI seat at NLSIU Bengaluru in 2026. That is how competitive India’s top LLM programme is.
CLAT PG 2026 Cutoff: Category-Wise
The CLAT PG cutoff varies by reservation category. Reserved category candidates always see more relaxed closing ranks than the General category. The table below shows approximate closing ranks across categories for top NLUs in the final allotment round.
| NLU | General (AI) | OBC-NCL | SC | ST | EWS | PwD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bengaluru | 50 – 80 | 120 – 180 | 200 – 320 | 350 – 500 | 90 – 140 | 500 – 800 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 100 – 150 | 200 – 290 | 350 – 500 | 600 – 850 | 160 – 240 | 700 – 1,000 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | 160 – 220 | 300 – 420 | 550 – 750 | 900 – 1,200 | 240 – 340 | 900 – 1,300 |
| NLU Jodhpur | 280 – 380 | 500 – 680 | 800 – 1,100 | 1,200 – 1,600 | 380 – 520 | 1,200 – 1,700 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 380 – 500 | 650 – 850 | 1,000 – 1,350 | 1,500 – 2,000 | 500 – 680 | 1,500 – 2,100 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | 640 – 820 | 1,050 – 1,300 | 1,500 – 1,900 | 2,100 – 2,700 | 820 – 1,050 | 2,500 – 3,200 |
Note: These figures are indicative based on allotment trends and official merit list data. Verify exact category-wise closing ranks for each NLU on the Consortium portal.
CLAT PG 2026: AI Quota vs State-Domicile Quota
Most NLUs reserve LLM seats for their home-state candidates. These are called state-domicile quota seats. Remaining seats belong to the All India (AI) quota, open to any candidate.
State-domicile quota seats have more relaxed closing ranks. If your home state matches the NLU’s location, compete for domicile seats with a more relaxed rank. AI quota seats are more competitive.
| NLU | Home State | AI Quota – Gen Closing Rank (Round 5) | State-Domicile – Gen Closing Rank (Round 5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bengaluru | Karnataka | 50 – 80 | 100 – 160 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | Telangana | 100 – 150 | 180 – 280 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | West Bengal | 160 – 220 | 250 – 380 |
| NLU Jodhpur | Rajasthan | 280 – 380 | 420 – 580 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | Gujarat | 380 – 500 | 550 – 750 |
| HNLU Raipur | Chhattisgarh | 560 – 750 | 750 – 1,000 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh | 640 – 820 | 850 – 1,100 |
If your rank falls just outside the AI quota cutoff for an NLU, check whether you qualify for state-domicile seats. This can open an admission path that the AI quota alone would not.
Ques. How does the state-domicile quota work for CLAT PG LLM admissions?
Ans. Each NLU keeps a share of LLM seats for permanent residents of its home state. You need a domicile certificate from that state to claim these seats. The closing rank for domicile seats is usually more relaxed than the AI quota. Check the Consortium’s seat matrix for each NLU to know the exact domicile seat count per category.
CLAT PG 2026: Marks vs Rank
Your CLAT PG score determines your rank in the merit list. The exam is out of 120 marks. The Consortium does not publish a formal marks-to-rank chart. Based on 2026 allotment trends, the table estimates how scores map to rank ranges.
| CLAT PG 2026 Score (out of 120) | Approximate Rank Range | NLU Admission Possibility (Gen AI) |
|---|---|---|
| 100 – 120 | 1 – 50 | NLSIU Bengaluru (secure) |
| 90 – 99 | 50 – 200 | NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata |
| 80 – 89 | 200 – 500 | NLU Jodhpur, GNLU, MNLU Mumbai, NLIU Bhopal |
| 70 – 79 | 500 – 900 | HNLU Raipur, RMLNLU Lucknow, CNLU Patna |
| 60 – 69 | 900 – 1,500 | RGNUL Patiala, NUSRL Ranchi, NLUO Cuttack |
| 50 – 59 | 1,500 – 2,500 | DSNLU Visakhapatnam, NLUJA Guwahati, DBRANLU Sonepat |
| Below 50 | 2,500+ | NLU Tripura and other lower-tier NLUs (depending on seat availability) |
These are approximate estimates. CLAT PG has negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong answer. Your net score can be significantly lower than your attempt count. Accuracy matters far more than the number of questions you attempt.
Based on 2026 allotment trends, a score of 71 or above places you in the top 1,000 ranks. That rank range opens seats at mid-tier NLUs.
CLAT PG Previous Year Cutoff Trends
Tracking five years of closing ranks shows how competition has grown. The table compares final-round General AI ranks at three NLU tiers from 2022 to 2026.
| Year | NLSIU Bengaluru (Gen AI) | NLU Jodhpur (Gen AI) | RMLNLU Lucknow (Gen AI) | Last-Ranked NLU (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 50 – 80 | 280 – 380 | 640 – 820 | ~3,063 |
| 2025 | 40 – 65 | 250 – 340 | 580 – 740 | ~2,700 |
| 2024 | 35 – 55 | 220 – 310 | 520 – 680 | ~2,400 |
| 2023 | 28 – 48 | 195 – 275 | 470 – 610 | ~2,100 |
| 2022 | 22 – 40 | 170 – 240 | 410 – 560 | ~1,800 |
At NLSIU Bengaluru, the General AI closing rank shifted by about 28 – 40 ranks from 2022 to 2026. At NLU Jodhpur, the shift was roughly 110 – 140 ranks over the same period. At RMLNLU Lucknow, the tightening was about 230 – 260 ranks across five years.
The steepest tightening happened at mid-tier and lower NLUs. New candidate segments now compete for those seats in large numbers. Top-tier NLU closing ranks are already near their capacity ceiling, so the absolute tightening there is smaller.
Note: CLAT PG moved from 150 marks to 120 marks from the 2024 cycle. Direct score comparisons between 2022 – 2023 and 2024 – 2026 can be misleading. Rank-based comparisons remain valid across all five years.
Ques. Has competition for CLAT PG seats grown in recent years?
Ans. Yes. The five-year trend confirms it. Closing ranks have tightened at every NLU tier from 2022 to 2026. The candidate pool has grown while top NLU seat counts have stayed roughly flat. You need a higher rank today than you would have needed four years ago for the same seat.
CLAT PG 2026 Cutoff: Round-Wise Allotment
Five merit lists for CLAT PG 2026 were released between January and May 2026. Each round had its own CLAT PG cutoff closing ranks. These tightened slightly as sought-after seats filled up early.
| NLU | Round 1 Closing Rank (Gen AI) | Round 3 Closing Rank (Gen AI) | Round 5 Closing Rank (Gen AI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bengaluru | 38 – 58 | 44 – 68 | 50 – 80 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 80 – 120 | 90 – 132 | 100 – 150 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | 130 – 180 | 145 – 195 | 160 – 220 |
| NLU Jodhpur | 240 – 330 | 260 – 355 | 280 – 380 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 340 – 450 | 360 – 475 | 380 – 500 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | 560 – 720 | 600 – 770 | 640 – 820 |
| CNLU Patna | 740 – 950 | 780 – 1,000 | 820 – 1,050 |
Closing ranks move by about 10 – 20 ranks between Round 1 and Round 5 at top NLUs. At mid-tier NLUs, the movement can be 30 – 80 ranks. If you were allotted a seat in Round 1, your rank was comfortably inside the final cutoff. Round 5 allottees sat right at the closing rank edge.
After the five official rounds, the Consortium may conduct a spot round for any remaining vacant seats. Spot-round closing ranks are usually more relaxed than Round 5. Only leftover or declined seats are filled at that point.
CLAT PG 2026 Cutoff: FAQs
Ques. What is the CLAT PG 2026 cutoff for NLSIU Bengaluru?
Ans. The General AI closing rank at NLSIU Bengaluru in Round 5 (final allotment) was approximately 50 – 80. This is the tightest cutoff among all participating NLUs. SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, and PwD categories have more relaxed closing ranks. Karnataka state-domicile seats closed at around rank 100 – 160.
Ques. How many rounds of counselling were there for CLAT PG 2026?
Ans. The Consortium conducted five official rounds of seat allotment. The 1st merit list came on January 7, 2026. The final (5th) merit list was released on May 15, 2026. A spot round for any remaining vacant seats may have followed the five official rounds.
Ques. Does NLU Delhi participate in CLAT PG?
Ans. No. NLU Delhi (National Law University, Delhi) does not participate in CLAT PG. It runs its own AILET (All India Law Entrance Test) for LLM admissions. If you want admission to NLU Delhi, you must separately appear in AILET.
Ques. What score do I need to get into a top NLU through CLAT PG?
Ans. You typically need 90 or above to secure a General AI seat at NALSAR Hyderabad or WBNUJS Kolkata. For NLSIU Bengaluru, aim for 100 or above. These are approximate estimates based on 2026 rank-to-score data and can shift each year.
Ques. Is the CLAT PG cutoff the same for all NLUs?
Ans. No. Each NLU has its own closing rank, which depends on its seat count, location, reputation, and candidate preferences. NLSIU Bengaluru is the most competitive. Newer or lower-ranked NLUs close at much higher rank numbers. Check each NLU’s round-wise allotment data separately.
Ques. Can I get LLM admission with a CLAT PG rank above 1,000?
Ans. Yes. Several NLUs close at ranks well above 1,000 in the final round. NUSRL Ranchi, NLUO Cuttack, TNNLU Tiruchirappalli, and HPNLU Shimla historically close between rank 1,000 and 1,600 for General AI seats. Lower-tier NLUs close even later, sometimes beyond rank 2,500.
Ques. What is the total number of LLM seats through CLAT PG 2026?
Ans. Approximately 1,590 LLM seats were available across 26+ NLUs in CLAT PG 2026. The Consortium publishes the exact seat count per NLU and per category in its official seat matrix.
Ques. How does negative marking affect my CLAT PG score and rank?
Ans. CLAT PG carries a penalty of 0.25 marks per wrong answer. If you attempt 100 questions and get 20 wrong, you lose 5 marks net. This means raw attempt count is very different from your actual score. Candidates who score well in CLAT PG tend to be accurate, not just fast.
Ques. What is the difference between AI quota and state-domicile quota in CLAT PG?
Ans. AI quota seats are open to all candidates from any state in India. State-domicile quota seats are reserved for candidates with permanent residency or domicile in the state where the NLU is located. Domicile candidates face a more relaxed closing rank for these reserved seats.
Ques. Is the CLAT PG 2026 cutoff officially out?
Ans. Yes. The CLAT PG 2026 final cutoff is out. The 5th and final merit list was released by the Consortium of NLUs on May 15, 2026. Round-wise closing ranks for all participating NLUs are available on the official Consortium portal at consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
Ques. How does the Consortium prepare the CLAT PG merit list?
Ans. The merit list is based on net CLAT PG scores. Candidates with higher marks get a better rank. In a tie, the Consortium applies a tie-breaking rule. It is typically based on comparative performance in specific sections, then age (older candidate preferred). The final rank drives seat allotment across NLUs in each round.
Ques. What happens if I do not get allotted a seat in any CLAT PG 2026 round?
Ans. If your rank falls outside every NLU’s closing rank after five rounds, you will not get a CLAT PG seat. NLU Delhi uses its own AILET exam for LLM admissions. Check other universities that also accept their own entrance scores.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
Comments