CLAT PG Counselling 2026: Registration, Merit List, Seat Allotment & Cutoff Ranks

CLAT PG Counselling 2026: Important Dates and Schedule

The Consortium of National Law Universities conducts CLAT PG Counselling through a centralized online process for admission to LL.M. programmes offered by participating NLUs. The counselling process for the 2026 admission cycle commenced on December 17, 2025, and is being conducted across five allotment rounds. Candidates must carefully track counselling deadlines, allotment releases, confirmation fee windows, and university fee payment dates to avoid losing their allotted seats.

Note: Candidates must complete counselling registration, confirmation fee payment, and university fee submission within the prescribed deadlines. Failure to do so may result in cancellation of the allotted seat and removal from subsequent counselling rounds. 

CLAT PG Counselling 2026 Registration Process

Candidates who qualify for CLAT PG and receive a counselling invitation must complete the online registration process within the prescribed timeline. Registration is mandatory for participation in seat allotment and admission rounds.

Steps to Register for CLAT PG Counselling 2026

1. Log in to the CLAT candidate portal.
2. Validate the counselling invitation.
3. Update LL.M. programme and NLU preferences.
4. Select a minimum of five preferred LL.M. programmes.
5. Pay the counselling registration fee online.
6. Submit the counselling form and download the confirmation receipt.

CLAT PG Counselling Registration Fee

Important Registration Rules

• Preference order can be modified until the counselling registration deadline.
• No preference changes are allowed after registration closes.
• Registration alone does not guarantee seat allotment.
• Only candidates who complete fee payment are considered for allotment.

CLAT PG 2026 Seat Allotment Process and Freeze, Float, Exit Options

Seat allotment in CLAT PG Counselling 2026 is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities based on a candidate's CLAT PG rank, reservation category, domicile eligibility (where applicable), and NLU preferences submitted during counselling registration. After each allotment round, candidates must respond to their allotted seat within the prescribed timeline by selecting one of the available options.

Understanding Freeze, Float, and Exit Options

Important Seat Allotment Rules

• The Float option is available only until Round 4 of counselling.
• Candidates upgraded to a higher-preference NLU cannot return to their previously allotted institution.
• Failure to pay the confirmation fee within the specified deadline may result in cancellation of the allotted seat.
• Admission remains provisional until the allotted NLU completes document verification.
• Candidates choosing the Freeze option must pay the prescribed university admission fee within the notified deadline.
• Seat allotment is subject to vacancy availability in each counselling round.

The freeze-float mechanism provides candidates with flexibility during counselling and allows them to balance admission security with the possibility of obtaining a more preferred NLU in subsequent rounds.

CLAT PG 2026 Merit Lists and Seat Allotment Rounds

The Consortium releases separate allotment lists after each counselling round. Candidates must log in to their CLAT account after every round to check their allotment status, exercise counselling options, and complete fee payment formalities within the prescribed period.

CLAT PG 2026 Allotment Schedule

The multi-round counselling process ensures that candidates have multiple opportunities to secure admission, particularly as seats become available through upgrades and withdrawals.

CLAT PG 2026 Cutoff Ranks for Top NLUs

CLAT PG cutoffs vary annually depending on factors such as examination difficulty level, number of applicants, reservation policies, seat availability, and candidate performance. Reviewing previous-year closing ranks provides valuable insight into admission competitiveness across participating National Law Universities.

Previous Year CLAT PG Closing Ranks for Top NLUs (General Category)

Category-Wise Closing Rank Trends for Leading NLUs

Cutoff Trends for Top NLUs

• NLSIU Bengaluru remains the most competitive destination for LL.M. admissions and consistently records the lowest closing ranks.
• NALSAR Hyderabad and WBNUJS Kolkata continue to attract top-ranked candidates due to their academic reputation and strong placement outcomes.
• NLIU Bhopal, NLU Jodhpur, and GNLU Gandhinagar remain among the most sought-after institutions after the traditional top three.
• Reserved-category candidates generally benefit from relatively higher closing ranks due to category-specific seat reservations.
• Emerging NLUs provide admission opportunities for candidates with comparatively lower CLAT PG ranks.

Candidates aspiring for admission to premier NLUs should ideally target a rank within the top few hundred positions, while those with moderate ranks can still secure seats in several well-regarded National Law Universities through later counselling rounds.

Documents Required for CLAT PG Counselling 2026

Candidates must upload and later present original documents during verification. Failure to produce valid documents can result in cancellation of admission even after seat allotment.

Document Verification Guidelines

• All uploaded documents must be clear and legible.
• Original documents may be required during admission reporting.
• Category and PwD certificates must be issued by competent authorities.
• Any discrepancy in documents may lead to cancellation of candidature.