CLAT cutoff refers to the minimum scores or ranks required for admission to various National Law Universities (NLUs) and other participating law schools through the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). The cutoff marks or ranks are determined based on factors such as the difficulty level of the exam, the number of applicants, and the availability of seats in each institution.
As the majority of the top institutes that accept admission via CLAT are NLUs; these cutoffs are associated with cutoffs for NLUs.
The NLUs cutoff is crucial for aspirants as it serves as a benchmark to assess their chances of securing admission to their preferred law schools. Since the counselling session has just begun, our CL-LST experts have predicted the cutoffs for top NLUs in the table below.
These are the expected ranks that you can look forward to according to your scores!
|
Score Range |
Suggestion |
|
98 and above |
You're likely to be in the top 100 |
|
96.25 – 97.75 |
Your AIR is likely to be in the range 101–200 |
|
94.75 – 96.00 |
Your AIR is likely to be in the range 201–300 |
|
93.50 – 94.50 |
Your AIR is likely to be in the range 301–400 |
|
92.50 – 93.25 |
Your AIR is likely to be in the range 401–500 |
|
91.50 – 92.00 |
Your AIR is likely to be in the range 501–750 |
|
90.00 – 91.25 |
Your AIR is likely to be in the range 751–1000 |
|
88.00 – 89.75 |
Your AIR is likely to be in the range 1001–1500 |
|
86.00 – 87.75 |
Your AIR is likely to be in the range 1500–2000 |
|
84.25 – 85.75 |
Your AIR is likely to be in the range 2001–2500 |
|
82.25 – 84.00 |
Your AIR is likely to be in the range 2501–3000 |
|
81.00 – 82.00 |
Your AIR is likely to be in the range 3001–4000 |
|
79.00 – 80.75 |
Your AIR is likely to be in the range 4001–5000 |
|
78.75 and below |
Your AIR is likely to be below 5000 |
*based on students' feedback received till 3 PM, December 8, 2025
The actual rank may differ
|
CLAT 2025 Top NLUs Cutoff |
||
|
University |
Location |
General Cutoff |
|
National Law School of India University (NLSIU) |
Bengaluru |
95.5 |
|
NALSAR University of Law (NALSAR) |
Hyderabad |
94 |
|
The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS) |
Kolkata |
92.75 |
|
National Law University (NLUJ) |
Jodhpur |
91.25 |
|
Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) |
Gandhinagar |
90 |
|
National Law Institute University (NLIU) |
Bhopal |
89.5 |
|
Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU) |
Mumbai |
88.75 |
|
National Law University Odisha (NLUO) |
Cuttack |
85.5 |
|
Hidyataullah National Law University (HNLU) |
Raipur |
87.75 |
|
Rajiv Gandhi National Law University (RGNUL) |
Patiala |
85.75 |
|
Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University (RMLNLU) |
Lucknow |
87.25 |
|
Chanakya National Law University (CNLU) |
Patna |
85 |
Moreover, CLAT cutoffs are often categorized based on different reservation criteria such as general, SC, ST, OBC, and PwD categories, ensuring equity in the admissions process.
For example: In CLAT 2025, the cutoffs for an SC or ST category student for admission will be very different from a General Category student.
After the CLAT exam concludes and the results are announced, the determination of CLAT cutoffs involves a structured and methodical process:
Once the CLAT exam results are declared, the scores or ranks obtained by all the candidates are compiled centrally. These scores are then used as the basis for determining the cutoff marks/ranks.
Subsequently, each NLU releases a list of minimum marks or ranks required for admission to their respective courses. These cutoffs are typically categorized based on various reservation criteria to ensure equitable access to seats.
To facilitate the filling of available seats, the Consortiums may release multiple allotment lists. As candidates accept or decline offers of admission, subsequent allotment lists are published until all seats are filled.
This is done considering seat availability and reservation criteria and releasing multiple allotment lists to ensure a fair and transparent admission process for aspirants seeking to pursue law studies at prestigious NLUs.
The cut-offs of any exam let alone CLAT is influenced by some basic, logical factors that are based on the concept of demand and some complex exam-specific factors. We are going to mention both below:
It is a crucial factor affecting the cut-off score—a more difficult test tends to result in a lower cut-off score and vice versa is applicable when the difficulty level is on the easier side.
The number of applicants taking the exam has an inverse relationship with the cut-off score. If the number of applicants drastically increases with the same number of seats in the colleges; then the cut-off tends to rise, while the opposite is true when there is a decrease in the number of applicants.
If the number of seats in the colleges for which the exam is being conducted increases, then the cut-offs tend to decrease given all the above factors remain constant.
Different categories (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, etc.) have specific qualifying marks based on the number of reserved seats, affecting cut-offs for admissions.
Some NLUs offer domicile-based reservations, where candidates from the home state may have different cut-offs compared to out-of-state candidates.
For example: NLS Bangalore has a horizontal domicile reservation that benefits the candidates of Karnataka.
So as aspirants would have gathered by now, cut-offs play an important role or rather the end goal to meet for any aspirant. CLAT 2026 would be no different. Here’s a snapshot by our experts on what to expect in the Cut-off section of CLAT 2026.
Since the exam hasn’t happened yet, it is difficult to comment upon the expected cut off. But we have made some predictions based on the previous year’s cut-offs.
|
Category |
Expected Cut-Off Marks (120 Total) |
|
General |
85-96 |
|
OBC and SC/ST |
70-80 |
One must remember that this data is based on our prediction and general trend. One can only gather perfect clarity by analysing the immediate predecessor of this exam; ie, CLAT 2024.
Candidates generally miss out on non-NLUs because of their primary focus of getting into NLUs. But this should not be the case because there are other options apart from NLUs that offer great options for securing a good law degree.
One must keep a note of the following factors while considering for private colleges via CLAT. Besides NLUs, there are over 60 government and private colleges accepting CLAT scores, such as Law College, Dehradun, Mody University, Asian Law College, and Xavier Law School.
Understanding the CLAT cutoff is essential for aspirants to make informed decisions about their choice of law schools and to strategize their preparation efforts effectively.
Keeping track of the cutoff trends and analyzing previous year cutoffs can aid aspirants in setting realistic goals and maximizing their chances of securing admission to the top law institutions in India.
CLAT opens doors to top-notch placements in prestigious companies worldwide. And CLAT cutoff indicates the rank needed for admission to an NLU. It is crucial to meet the CLAT 2026 cutoff criteria for NLU admissions.