CLAT Cut Off 2026: NLU-Wise Closing Ranks

The CLAT cut off is expressed as a closing rank, not a fixed score. For each NLU, programme and category, the closing rank is the last all-India rank that received a seat in a counselling round. The CLAT 2027 cut-off will be known only when counselling begins after the December 2026 result, so the CLAT 2026 closing ranks below are the best benchmark for now.

CLAT 2026 Cut Off: Round 1 Closing Ranks by Category

These are first allotment list figures for the all-India seats, released on 7 January 2026 and compiled from published reports. Closing ranks usually move down in later rounds as candidates float or withdraw, and state domicile seats close at different ranks.

CLAT Cut Off Trend: 2025 vs 2026 (General, Round 1)

The top three NLUs closed at almost the same ranks in both years. The next tier became tighter in 2026, with NLU Jodhpur, GNLU, NLIU and MNLU Mumbai all closing 25 to 55 ranks earlier.

What Decides the CLAT Cut Off

• Seats and category quotas: NLUs with fewer all-India seats close earlier, and each category has its own closing rank.

• Preference patterns: Toppers tend to pick the same few NLUs, so their closing ranks stay stable year after year.

• Paper difficulty: A tougher paper lowers the marks needed for a given rank, but the rank itself is what decides your seat.

• Counselling rounds: Freezing and floating seats in later rounds pushes closing ranks lower.

How to Set Your CLAT 2027 Target

Cut-offs change every year with difficulty, seats and the number of applicants. Treat these figures as a benchmark only, and aim for a clear margin above the closing rank of your target NLU rather than a bare pass. If NLSIU or NALSAR is your goal, plan for a General rank comfortably inside the top 100.

Official merit lists and allotment results are published on the Consortium of NLUs website.