CLAT 2026 concluded on December 7, 2025, with over 92,000 students taking the exam, which is a 17% increase from last year.
According to the Law prep Tutorial, the exam was moderate, with easy-to-moderate sections, but slightly lengthy. With the moderate-to-difficult paper and the increased CLAT exam takers, it is expected that the cutoff will be slightly higher than the previous year.
Based on the Law Prep Tutorial prediction,
- The CLAT cutoff 2026 for the top 3 NLUs is expected to be above 95 marks (for general candidates) and above 80 for SC/ST candidates.
- The General category candidates need above 85 marks to get into the top 10 NLUs across India.
Top NLUs like NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, and WBNUJS Kolkata cutoffs are usually less than 300 ranks.
Also Read:
- CLAT Results 2026: Check Result Date and Seat Matrix of NLUs
- CLAT Cutoff 2026: Check category-wise cutoff for Top NLUs
- Check out CLAT 2026 College Predictor: Predict your desired college opening and closing ranks.
Expected CLAT Cutoff 2026 for Top NLUs
The CLAT cutoff for the top NLUs will be high due to high competition, which demands high performance.
General category candidates need to score 93+ to get top NLUs. SC/ST candidates are required to get 70+ marks, and OBC candidates need 85+ to get into top NLUs like NLSIU, NALSAR, and WBNUJS.
| NLU | Expected closing rank | Expected Marks Range | OBC (Closing Marks) | SC (Closing Marks) | ST (Closing Marks) | EWS (Closing Marks) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bangalore | 110-120 | 98-105 | 93-100 | 80-90 | 75-85 | 95-102 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 150-170 | 95-100 | 90-95 | 75-88 | 70-82 | 92-98 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | 300-350 | 93-98 | 88-93 | 72-85 | 68-80 | 90-95 |
| NLU Jodhpur | 350-400 | 90-94 | 85-90 | 70-82 | 65-78 | 87-92 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 400-450 | 88-93 | 83-88 | 68-80 | 63-75 | 85-90 |
| NLIU Bhopal | 450-500 | 86-92 | 81-87 | 65-78 | 60-72 | 83-89 |
Based on their analysis of the CLAT 2026 exam, a Reddit user who took the test predicted “Cutoff is gonna drop by at least 8 marks compared to last year, so 81 for tier 1.”
Ques. What is the safe score for NLSIU Bangalore in the general category?
Ans. Scoring 98 - 105 is safe to secure a spot in NLSIU Bangalore, with closing ranks around 110 - 120. For OBC, SC/ST it is 93-100, 80-90, and 75-85 marks, respectively.
Ques. How cutoff for round 1 and round 3 vary?
Ans. These predictions are for round 1 and Final round 3 cutoffs may drop 1-3 marks (eg, NLSIU may drop to 95+ marks). The Consortium of NLUs will update them as the rounds begin.
CLAT 2026 Expected Cutoff (Score vs Rank)
Scoring 98+ can guarantee you admission into a top NLU with a top ranking under 120. While scoring 92 - 98 can get you a chance in NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Gandhinagar along with other top NLUs.
Based on the moderate difficulty of CLAT 2026, the overall good attempts, and previous year’s trends, here is the predicted score vs rank and the chances of NLU admissions for the general category candidates.
| CLAT 2026 Score range | CLAT 2026 Rank Range (Expected) | NLU Admission Chance |
|---|---|---|
| 98+ | Top 120 | High Chance for NLSIU, NALSAR, WBNUJS. |
| 92 - 98 | 120-450 | Excellent chance for top 5 NLUs (NLSIU, NALSAR, WBNUJS, NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Gandhinagar. |
| 85 - 90 | 585 - 1955 | NLIU Bhopal, WBNUJS Kolkata (BSc LLB), HNLU Raipur, GNLU Silvassa, RMLNLU Lucknow, RGNUL Patiala, CNLU Patna, NUALS Kochi, NLU Odisha, NUSRL Ranchi, DSNLU Visakhapatnam, TNNLU Tiruchirapalli, MNLU Mumbai, MNLU Nagpur, MNLU Aurangabad, HPNLU Shimla, DBRANLU Sonepat |
| 80 - 85 | 2000 - 3500 | NLUJ Assam, MNLU Aurangabad, HPNLU Shimla, MPDNLU Jabalpur, NLUT Agartala, RPNLU Pragyaraj, IIULER Goa |
| 75 - 80 | 3800 - 8000 | Little to no chance of NLUs for the general category |
| 70 - 75 | 6000 - 9900 | No chance of NLUs for the general category |
Also Read:
Ques. Below 75 marks, is there hope?
Ans. Scores of 70-75 (ranks 6000-9900) or lower have little to no NLU chances for the general category. But can get a seat in private colleges. There is a chance for the reserved category candidates.
Also Read:
- CLAT 2026 Answer Key Out soon, check the direct link here
- CLAT 2026 Merit List: Check Release Dates and Tie-breaker rules.
Factors Determining CLAT Cutoff 2026
The CLAT cutoff is not a fixed number. It is the minimum rank or score required for admission to a particular NLU in a specific category. The consortium of NLUs will release the cutoff list in multiple rounds. Several factors will decide the CLAT cutoff, such as
- Difficulty level of CLAT 2026
- Number of candidates who attended CLAT 2026
- Total number of seats in NLUs
- Category of the candidates
| Factors | Details |
|---|---|
| Difficulty level of CLAT 2026 | A moderate paper with a difficult logical reasoning section. May reduce the number of high scorers, but the cutoff for the top NLU remains high |
| Number of Test takers | An increased number of test takers heightens the competition. Pushing the CLAT cutoff higher |
| Total seats in NLUs | No major increase in the seats across the top NLUs with the same level of competition. Keeping the CLAT cutoff competitive. |
| Category and NLU Preference | General category applicants face a stricter cutoff, whereas reserved category applicants have a more lenient one. Top NLUs have the highest cutoffs. |
Check out:
- PSU Recruitment through CLAT 2026: Check eligibility Criteria and Opportunities
- Check the CLAT 2026 counselling process and college-wise seat allotment
Ques. Will the moderate difficulty lower the cutoff?
Ans. No, moderate difficulty with a tricky LR section is expected to cap high scores, but combined with more candidates, cutoffs will likely rise slightly from CLAT 2025 levels. It is expected that the required scores for top NLUs are 95+ in CLAT 2026.
Ques. Do seat numbers affect cutoffs much this year?
Ans. Seats in top NLUs remain stable, no major relief. This keeps cutoffs competitive, with the top 3 NLUs closing under 300 ranks for the general category.
Historical Trends of CLAT Cutoff Over the Years
CLAT Cutoff 2025
- The NLSIU had the highest cutoff, with the closing at 105 marks for the general category.
- The Top 3 NLUS had the cutoff around 92 -100 marks for the general category, EWS closing marks were around 89 - 96 marks. SC/ST closing marks around 73 - 80.
| NLU | General (Closing Marks) | OBC (Closing Marks) | EWS (Closing Marks) | SC (Closing Marks) | ST (Closing Marks) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bangalore | 105 | 100 | 101 | 85 | 80 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 100 | 95 | 96 | 82 | 78 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | 95 | 90 | 91 | 80 | 75 |
| NLU Jodhpur | 92 | 88 | 89 | 78 | 73 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 90 | 85 | 86 | 75 | 70 |
| MNLU | 88 | 84 | 85 | 73 | 68 |
CLAT Cutoff 2024
- The cutoff for 2024 was slightly less than CLAT 2025, due to its moderate difficulty level.
- For top NLUs, around 100 marks are needed for general category students.
| NLU | General (Closing Mark) | OBC | EWS | SC | ST |
| NLSIU Bangalore | 103 | 98 | 99 | 83 | 78 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 98 | 93 | 94 | 80 | 75 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | 93 | 88 | 89 | 78 | 73 |
| NLU Jodhpur | 90 | 85 | 86 | 75 | 70 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 88 | 83 | 84 | 73 | 68 |
| MNLU Mumbai | 86 | 81 | 82 | 71 | 66 |
For candidates who appeared for CLAT 2026, the official provisional key will be available on December 10, 2026. Candidates should compare their responses with the provisional key to estimate their scores.
The journey towards NLU is highly competitive; understanding the CLAT cutoff dynamics is the first step towards successful admissions. While the expected CLAT cutoff provides a good estimate, it's crucial to wait for official results and the counselling rounds.
Comments