CLAT (Common Law Admission Test)

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07 December 2025

CLAT 2026 Cut Offs

CLAT 2026 – Cut Offs

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.

What are CLAT 2026 Cut Offs?

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.

  • Number of candidates appearing for the exam
  • Difficulty level of the CLAT paper
  • Total seats available in each NLU
  • Reservation and category-wise seat allocations
  • Previous years' admission trends

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.

Expected CLAT 2026 Cut Off Marks (Out of 120)

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.

Factors Influencing CLAT 2026 Cut Offs

  • Difficulty Level of Exam:Easier question papers result in higher cut off scores since more candidates score well.
  • Number of Aspirants:High competition usually pushes the cut off
  • Total Seat Availability:Limited seats in premier NLUs tend to increase cut offs.
  • Reservation Policies:Different categories have distinct cut off benchmarks, aligning with seat reservations.
  • Previous Years’ Trends:Historical cut off data influence predicted cut offs for subsequent years.

CLAT 2026 Cut Off Examples for Top NLUs (General Category)

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

83 – 85

Importance of Cut Offs in CLAT Admission

  • Candidates must meet or exceed the NLU-wise cut offs to be eligible for seat allotment.
  • Cut offs help shortlist candidates for counselling, where final seat allocation is done based on rank and preference.
  • Higher cut off scores improve chances of admission to premier NLUs.
  • Failing to meet cut off means candidates may have to look for lower-tier NLUs or other law entrance options.
Click Here for Clat 2026 Exam pattern

FAQs

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.

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