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AILET

AILET 2026: Exam Date, Application Form, Eligibility, Syllabus, Pattern, Cut Off & Counselling

Updated on December 29, 2025

AILET 2026 (All India Law Entrance Test) is a national-level law entrance examination conducted annually by National Law University (NLU), Delhi for admission to its prestigious BA LLB (Hons.), LLM, and PhD programmes. Unlike other National Law Universities that accept CLAT scores, NLU Delhi conducts its own entrance test called AILET. The AILET 2026 exam was conducted on December 14, 2025, and the result was declared on December 18, 2025. With over 22,200 monthly searches, AILET is one of the most sought-after law entrance exams in India, offering admission to one of the top-ranked law universities in the country.

Table of Contents

AILET 2026 Exam Highlights

Particulars Details
Exam Name AILET (All India Law Entrance Test)
Conducting Body National Law University (NLU), Delhi
Exam Level National Level
Exam Frequency Once a year
Exam Mode Offline (Pen and Paper based)
Exam Duration 2 hours (120 minutes)
Total Questions (BA LLB) 150 MCQs
Total Questions (LLM) 100 MCQs
Total Marks 150 marks (BA LLB) / 100 marks (LLM)
Negative Marking Yes (-0.25 marks per wrong answer)
Medium of Exam English only
Courses Offered BA LLB (Hons.), LLM, PhD
Official Website nationallawuniversitydelhi.in

AILET 2026 Important Dates

Event Date
Official Notification Release July 22, 2025
Online Registration Begins August 7, 2025
Last Date for Registration November 10, 2025
Admit Card Release November 26, 2025
AILET 2026 Exam Date December 14, 2025 (Sunday)
Exam Timing 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Provisional Answer Key Release December 14, 2025
Objection Window Closes December 16, 2025
Final Answer Key & Result December 18, 2025
Counselling Registration Begins December 19, 2025
Counselling Registration Ends December 27, 2025
First Provisional Allotment List January 8, 2026
Counselling Completion May 9, 2026

About NLU Delhi

National Law University, Delhi (NLU Delhi) is one of the premier law schools in India, established in 2008 by Act No. 1 of 2008 of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. NLU Delhi is ranked 2nd among law colleges in India as per NIRF Rankings 2025. The university is known for its excellent faculty, world-class infrastructure, and exceptional placement records. Unlike other NLUs that participate in CLAT, NLU Delhi conducts its own entrance examination - AILET - for admissions.

AILET vs CLAT: Key Differences

Parameter AILET CLAT
Conducting Body NLU Delhi Consortium of NLUs
Participating Colleges Only NLU Delhi 24 NLUs + other law colleges
Total Questions (UG) 150 120
Duration 2 hours 2 hours
Exam Mode Offline (Pen & Paper) Offline (Pen & Paper)
Sections English, Logical Reasoning, Current Affairs & GK English, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques, Current Affairs & GK
Legal Aptitude Section No (Removed from 2022) Yes
Negative Marking -0.25 marks -0.25 marks
Total Seats (UG) ~120 seats ~4,000+ seats across NLUs
Approximate Applicants 18,000-20,000 70,000-80,000

AILET Eligibility Criteria 2026

For BA LLB (Hons.) - 5 Year Integrated Programme

Criteria Requirements
Nationality Indian Nationals, Foreign Nationals, OCI/PIO
Educational Qualification Class 12 or equivalent from any recognized board
Minimum Marks (General/OBC/PwD) 45% aggregate in Class 12
Minimum Marks (SC/ST) 40% aggregate in Class 12
Appearing Candidates Students appearing in Class 12 in 2025-26 are eligible
Age Limit No upper age limit

For LLM - 1 Year Postgraduate Programme

Criteria Requirements
Educational Qualification LLB/BA LLB/BBA LLB or equivalent degree
Minimum Marks (General/OBC/EWS/PwD) 50% aggregate in LLB
Minimum Marks (SC/ST) 45% aggregate in LLB
Appearing Candidates Final year LLB students appearing in 2025-26 are eligible
Age Limit No upper age limit

For PhD in Law

Criteria Requirements
Educational Qualification LLM or equivalent postgraduate degree in Law
Minimum Marks 55% aggregate in LLM (50% for SC/ST)
Selection Process Written Test (70%) + Research Proposal & Interview (30%)
JRF Holders Exempted from written test

AILET Courses & Seat Matrix 2026

BA LLB (Hons.) Seat Distribution

Category Seats Percentage
General (UR) 47 ~39%
OBC-NCL 30 27%
SC 17 15%
ST 9 7.5%
EWS 12 10%
PwD (Horizontal) 5% of each category 5%
Total (Indian Nationals) 110 -
Foreign Nationals/OCI/PIO 10 Direct Admission
Grand Total 120 -

LLM Seat Distribution

Category Seats
General (UR) 28
OBC-NCL 19
SC 11
ST 5
EWS 7
Total (Indian Nationals) 70
Foreign Nationals/OCI/PIO 10
Grand Total 80

AILET Application Form 2026

Application Process

  1. Registration: Visit nationallawuniversitydelhi.in and click on "Register to Apply Now"
  2. Create Account: Enter name, email ID, mobile number, date of birth, and password
  3. OTP Verification: Verify through OTP sent to registered mobile/email
  4. Course Selection: Choose BA LLB, LLM, or PhD programme
  5. Fill Application Form: Enter personal, educational, and category details
  6. Exam Centre Selection: Choose up to 3 preferred exam centres
  7. Document Upload: Upload photograph and signature as per specifications
  8. Fee Payment: Pay application fee through online mode
  9. Submit & Print: Submit application and take printout for records

AILET Application Fee 2026

Programme General/OBC/EWS SC/ST/PwD
BA LLB (Hons.) ₹3,500 ₹1,500
LLM ₹3,500 ₹1,500
PhD ₹3,500 ₹1,500

Document Upload Specifications

Document Format Size
Passport Size Photograph JPEG/JPG 10 KB - 200 KB
Signature JPEG/JPG 4 KB - 30 KB

AILET Exam Pattern 2026

BA LLB (Hons.) Exam Pattern

Section Number of Questions Marks
English Language 50 50
Current Affairs & General Knowledge 30 30
Logical Reasoning 70 70
Total 150 150

LLM Exam Pattern

Section Number of Questions Marks
English Language 25 25
Legal Reasoning & Aptitude 75 75
Total 100 100

Marking Scheme

Response Type Marks
Correct Answer +1 mark
Incorrect Answer -0.25 mark
Unattempted Question 0 marks

Note: Four wrong answers will lead to deduction of 1 mark (0.25 × 4 = 1).

AILET Syllabus 2026

English Language Syllabus

Topic Sub-Topics
Reading Comprehension Passages based on various themes, inference-based questions, vocabulary in context
Grammar Subject-verb agreement, tenses, articles, prepositions, conjunctions
Vocabulary Synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitution, idioms and phrases
Sentence Correction Error spotting, sentence improvement, para jumbles
Verbal Ability Fill in the blanks, cloze test, para completion

Current Affairs & General Knowledge Syllabus

Topic Sub-Topics
Current Events National and international news, government schemes, awards and honours
Indian Polity Constitution, Parliament, Judiciary, Fundamental Rights, DPSP
Indian History Ancient, Medieval, Modern India, Freedom Movement
Geography Indian and World Geography, Climate, Natural Resources
Economics Indian Economy, Budget, Banking, International Organizations
Science & Technology Recent developments, Space missions, IT, Environment
Sports Major tournaments, records, sports personalities
Static GK Books & Authors, Important Days, Capitals, Currencies

Logical Reasoning Syllabus

Topic Sub-Topics
Verbal Reasoning Syllogisms, Analogies, Blood Relations, Coding-Decoding, Direction Sense
Non-Verbal Reasoning Series completion, Pattern recognition, Figure matrices
Analytical Reasoning Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, Ranking, Ordering
Critical Reasoning Statements & Assumptions, Statements & Conclusions, Arguments
Logical Deduction Cause and Effect, Course of Action, Assertions and Reasons

LLM Legal Subjects Syllabus

Subject Important Topics
Jurisprudence Schools of Law, Legal Concepts, Rights and Duties
Constitutional Law Fundamental Rights, DPSP, Constitutional Bodies, Amendments
Contract Law Indian Contract Act, Offer & Acceptance, Consideration, Breach
Criminal Law IPC, CrPC, Evidence Act, Criminal Jurisprudence
Family Law Hindu Law, Muslim Law, Marriage, Divorce, Succession
Intellectual Property Rights Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks, Trade Secrets
International Law Public International Law, Treaties, International Organizations
Corporate Law Companies Act, SEBI, Mergers & Acquisitions

AILET Cut Off 2025

BA LLB (Hons.) Cut Off 2025 (Round 1)

Category Closing Rank Approx. Marks
General (UR) 61 90-95
OBC-NCL 522 70-75
SC 1,200+ 55-60
ST 2,889 45-50
EWS 200 80-85
PwD Varies by category 45-60

LLM Cut Off 2025 (Round 1)

Category Closing Rank
General (UR) 58
OBC-NCL 196
SC 471
ST 778
EWS 206

AILET 2026 Expected Cut Off

Category Expected Cut Off Marks (BA LLB)
General (UR) 90-100
OBC-NCL 75-85
SC 60-70
ST 45-55
EWS 80-90
PwD 45-60

Previous Year Topper Scores

Year Topper Score (BA LLB)
AILET 2025 122.5 marks
AILET 2024 101.25 marks
AILET 2023 92 marks
AILET 2022 101.25 marks
AILET 2021 120.5 marks

AILET Counselling 2026

Counselling Schedule

Event Date
Result Declaration December 18, 2025
Counselling Registration Starts December 19, 2025
Counselling Registration Ends December 27, 2025
First Provisional Allotment List January 8, 2026
Round 2, 3, 4 January - May 2026
Final Counselling Completion May 9, 2026
Spot Round (if vacant seats) After May 9, 2026

Counselling Fee

Category Counselling Fee
General/OBC/EWS ₹30,000
SC/ST/PwD ₹20,000

Counselling Process

  1. Invitee List Publication: NLU Delhi releases category-wise list of candidates invited for counselling (3 times the number of seats)
  2. Online Registration: Shortlisted candidates register on nationallawuniversitydelhi.in
  3. Fee Payment: Pay counselling registration fee online
  4. Document Verification: Upload required documents for verification
  5. Merit List Release: Multiple merit lists released in rounds
  6. Seat Acceptance: Accept allocated seat and pay balance fees
  7. Physical Reporting: Report to NLU Delhi with original documents

Documents Required for Counselling

  • AILET 2026 Admit Card
  • AILET 2026 Scorecard
  • Class 10 Marksheet and Certificate
  • Class 12 Marksheet and Certificate
  • LLB Degree/Marksheets (for LLM applicants)
  • Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS)
  • PwD Certificate (if applicable)
  • Transfer Certificate
  • Migration Certificate
  • Character Certificate
  • Passport-size Photographs
  • Valid ID Proof (Aadhar/Passport)

NLU Delhi Fee Structure 2026

BA LLB (Hons.) Fee Structure

Fee Component Amount (Per Annum)
Tuition Fee ₹1,47,000
Academic Services & Facilities ₹43,000
Utility Services ₹20,000
Student Welfare Fund ₹7,000
Halls of Residence (Hostel) ₹86,000
Mess Charges ₹45,000
Total Annual Fee ₹3,48,000

One-Time Fees (BA LLB)

Fee Component Amount
Admission Fee ₹10,000
Refundable Estate Deposit ₹25,000
Total One-Time Fee ₹35,000

Total Fee for 5 Years BA LLB (Hons.)

Component Amount
First Year Fee ~₹3,83,000
Annual Fee Increase ₹7,000 (Tuition) + ₹3,000 (Hostel) per year
Total 5-Year Fee (Approx.) ₹20.5 - 21 Lakhs

LLM Fee Structure

Fee Component Amount
Tuition Fee ₹1,47,000
Academic Services & Facilities ₹43,000
Utility Services ₹20,000
Student Welfare Fund ₹7,000
Admission Fee (One-time) ₹10,000
Total LLM Fee ~₹2,27,000

Note: Hostel facility is not available for LLM students due to limited accommodation.

AILET Exam Centres 2026

AILET 2026 was conducted in the following cities across India:

Zone Cities
North Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Lucknow, Dehradun, Jammu, Varanasi
South Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Cochin, Visakhapatnam
East Kolkata, Guwahati, Patna, Ranchi
West Mumbai, Bhopal, Raipur

AILET Preparation Tips 2026

Section-wise Strategy

Section Weightage Strategy
Logical Reasoning 70 questions (47%) Practice puzzles, seating arrangements, and syllogisms daily. Focus on speed and accuracy.
English Language 50 questions (33%) Read editorials, practice RC passages, and strengthen grammar concepts.
Current Affairs & GK 30 questions (20%) Read newspapers daily, focus on last 6-8 months current affairs, and revise static GK.

Recommended Books for AILET

Subject Books
English Language Wren & Martin, Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
Logical Reasoning Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal, Analytical Reasoning by M.K. Pandey
Current Affairs & GK Pratiyogita Darpan, Manorama Yearbook, GK Today
General Preparation Previous Year AILET Question Papers, CLAT Study Materials

Preparation Tips

  • Start preparation at least 6-8 months before the exam
  • Allocate maximum time to Logical Reasoning (highest weightage)
  • Solve at least 2-3 mock tests per week
  • Analyze mock test performance and work on weak areas
  • Create a revision schedule for the last 2 months
  • Practice time management - attempt easier questions first
  • Be careful with negative marking - avoid random guessing
  • Focus on accuracy over attempts

Career Opportunities After NLU Delhi

Career Options

  • Litigation: Practice as an advocate in courts
  • Corporate Law: Work with law firms handling corporate matters
  • Judicial Services: Appear for state/central judicial exams
  • Civil Services: UPSC, State PCS examinations
  • Academia: Teaching and research in law schools
  • Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO): Work with international legal firms
  • In-house Counsel: Legal departments of corporations
  • Government Services: Legal advisor positions in ministries

Top Recruiters at NLU Delhi

  • Tier 1 Law Firms: AZB & Partners, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Khaitan & Co., Trilegal
  • Big Four: Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG
  • Corporates: Reliance, Tata, Bharti Airtel, ICICI Bank
  • International Firms: Herbert Smith Freehills, Linklaters, Clifford Chance
  • PSUs: ONGC, NTPC, BHEL, Coal India

Average Salary Package

Sector Starting Package (Per Annum)
Tier 1 Law Firms ₹15-25 Lakhs
Tier 2 Law Firms ₹8-15 Lakhs
Corporate In-house ₹10-18 Lakhs
Litigation ₹5-10 Lakhs (initial years)
Judicial Services ₹8-12 Lakhs
READ MORE

Frequently Asked Questions

    AILET (All India Law Entrance Test) is a national-level law entrance examination conducted by National Law University (NLU), Delhi for admission to its BA LLB (Hons.), LLM, and PhD programmes. It is conducted once a year in offline mode.
    No, NLU Delhi does not accept CLAT scores. It conducts its own entrance examination called AILET for admissions. Candidates must appear for AILET separately to seek admission to NLU Delhi.
    AILET 2026 exam was conducted on December 14, 2025 (Sunday) from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM in offline (pen and paper) mode.
    NLU Delhi offers 120 seats for BA LLB (Hons.) including 110 for Indian nationals and 10 for foreign nationals/OCI/PIO. For LLM, there are 80 seats available.
    AILET BA LLB exam consists of 150 MCQs to be attempted in 2 hours. The paper has three sections: English Language (50 questions), Current Affairs & GK (30 questions), and Logical Reasoning (70 questions). There is negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong answer.
    Yes, there is negative marking in AILET. For each wrong answer, 0.25 marks are deducted. This means four wrong answers will lead to deduction of 1 mark.
    A score of 90+ is considered good for General category candidates. For reserved categories, scores of 70-80 (OBC), 55-65 (SC), and 45-55 (ST) are generally sufficient for admission.
    Candidates must have passed Class 12 or equivalent with minimum 45% marks for General/OBC/PwD and 40% for SC/ST categories. There is no upper age limit for the exam.
    The total fee for 5-year BA LLB (Hons.) programme at NLU Delhi is approximately ₹20.5-21 Lakhs including tuition, hostel, and mess charges. First year fee is around ₹3.83 Lakhs.
    AILET is conducted only by NLU Delhi and offers admission only to NLU Delhi. CLAT is conducted by Consortium of NLUs and offers admission to 24 NLUs. AILET has 150 questions while CLAT has 120 questions, both in 2 hours duration.
    AILET 2026 counselling started from December 19, 2025. The registration window closed on December 27, 2025. First provisional allotment list was released on January 8, 2026.
    The counselling fee for AILET 2026 is ₹30,000 for General/OBC/EWS candidates and ₹20,000 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
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