CHECKOUT IMPORTANT DATES
The CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) 2026 cut offs play a vital role in determining admission to the prestigious National Law Universities (NLUs) across India. These cut offs are the minimum marks or ranks a candidate must secure to qualify for seat allotment in UG and PG Law programs.
Understanding expected CLAT 2026 cut offs and factors influencing them can help aspirants set realistic targets and strategize their preparation accordingly. Understanding CLAT 2026 cut offs can aid candidates in setting achievable goals and gauging their potential placement among the top Law schools in India. Preparing strategically to exceed these cut off benchmarks maximizes the chances of a successful law admission journey.
CLAT cut offs represent the minimum scores required by candidates for admission to various NLUs. The Consortium of NLUs releases cut offs based on several parameters some of them are listed below.
CLAT 2026 cut offs will be announced separately for undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) programs and will also be category-specific to ensure fair representation.
Based on recent trends, expert analysis, and the relative difficulty of the CLAT 2026 exam, the following approximate cut off ranges for CLAT 2026 are anticipated.
Category
Top NLUs (NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata)
Mid-tier NLUs (NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Gandhinagar, NLU Lucknow)
Lower-tier NLUs (CNLU Patna, DSNLU Vizag, MNLU Nagpur)
General
85 – 95
75 – 85
65 – 75
OBC
79 – 90
65 – 80
50 – 65
SC
55 – 75
45 – 60
40 – 50
ST
46 – 65
38 – 50
33 – 43
EWS
81 – 90
70 – 80
60 – 70
PwD
50 – 80
45 – 70
30 – 50
Candidates aiming for top NLUs like NLSIU Bangalore or NALSAR Hyderabad generally need to secure scores above 85 to 90 marks, especially in the General category. For reserved categories, the cut off is comparatively lower, reflecting reservation policies.
The cut offs may vary slightly for reserved categories and between rounds of counselling.
NLU
Expected Cut Off (Marks out of 120)
NLSIU Bangalore
89 – 91
NALSAR Hyderabad
86 – 87
WBNUJS Kolkata
85 – 87
NLU Jodhpur
85 – 86
HNLU Raipur
83 – 85
GNLU Gandhinagar
Q1. What is the expected cut off for CLAT 2026?
Ans. The expected cut off for top NLUs like NLSIU Bangalore and NALSAR Hyderabad is between 85 and 95 marks out of 120 for the General category. Reserved category cut offs are comparatively lower.
Q2. Do cut offs change for different counselling rounds?
Ans. Yes, separate cut offs are published for each round of CLAT counselling depending on seat availability and candidate ranks.
Q3. How are CLAT cut offs determined?
Ans. Cut offs are based on exam difficulty, number of test takers, total seats, reservation policies, and previous years’ data.
Q4. Is there a fixed cut off for passing CLAT 2026?
Ans. No official passing marks are fixed as cut offs vary yearly and by NLU. Candidates generally need to score above 70-75 marks to clear the cut off for most NLUs.
Q5. Can a candidate qualify for multiple NLUs with the same score?
Ans. Yes. Admission depends on rank and choice/preferences during counselling. Higher-ranked candidates get priority in seat allotment.