Complete Guide to CLAT PG 2026 Cutoff: Merit Lists, Opening-Closing Ranks, Counselling & Seat Allotment

The Consortium will release the CLAT PG Fourth Merit List on May 2, 2026 , and that list will determine the next round of allotments for one-year LLM seats. CLAT PG 2026 Cutoff and merit lists are the two things you must watch right now if you’re waiting for an LLM seat.

This article was updated on Apr 15, 2026 . The CLAT LLM exam was held on December 7, 2025 and the Consortium posted a revised result and tie-breaker notice on March 30, 2026 .

Quick Overview & Key Dates — CLAT PG 2026 Cutoff

CLAT PG 2026 Cutoff tells you the opening and closing ranks for each NLU that accepts CLAT PG scores. The score is valid for one-year LLM admissions at 19 NLUs and is also used by some PSUs for legal recruitment.

Key dates you must note are below. Keep your login details ready on the official portal (consortiumofnlus.ac.in) on these days.

How CLAT PG 2026 Cutoffs are Determined

Cutoffs emerge from a few predictable factors. You should follow them to interpret where you stand.

• Number of applicants who took CLAT LLM and applied for LLM seats. More applicants push cutoffs up.
• Category and reservation rules. NLUs release category-wise cutoffs (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwD) separately.
• Seats available at each NLU for the one-year LLM program. Limited seats mean stricter cutoffs.
• Demand for a particular NLU or specialisation — a popular campus or subject leads to higher closing ranks.
• Performance distribution and tie-breaker rules. The Consortium published a revised result and tie-breaker notice on March 30, 2026 ; follow any updates closely.

What the Consortium does not publish in a single table: minimum marks or percentile equivalents for each cutoff. So you must read opening-closing ranks, not just marks, to assess chances.

Tie-breaker and normalization

The Consortium handles ties based on rules it publishes with the result. The March 30, 2026 revision included tie-breaker clarifications — check the official notice on consortiumofnlus.ac.in if your score is on a boundary.

CLAT PG 2026 Cutoff: NLUs Opening and Closing Ranks (Reference Table)

Use this table as a reference for the NLUs and their reported opening and closing ranks for CLAT PG 2026. These ranks reflect the allotment rounds published so far; treat them as a realistic guide, not a guarantee.

These ranks come from the CLAT PG merit data and are published NLU-wise. The Consortium accepts CLAT PG 2026 scores for admission at 19 NLUs .

Category-wise Cutoffs and Missing Data — What You Need to Know

NLUs will publish category-wise cutoffs (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwD) separately on their portals or via the Consortium. The public merit tables you see initially often show overall opening and closing ranks for each round.

What’s missing and how to estimate it:

• Official category splits or minimum marks are often posted NLU-wise after each round. If a full category table isn't out yet, use previous years' patterns as a rough guide: reserved categories typically have higher closing ranks (i.e., numerically larger).
• To estimate where you stand, compare your rank to the overall closing rank and subtract an empirical buffer: for General, aim well within the closing rank; for OBC/SC/ST/EWS, historical buffers can vary widely.
• Remember: NLUs may follow their own sub-quota rules (state domicile, internal reservations) — watch NLU-specific announcements.

Always verify category cutoffs and seat allocation rules on the official Consortium website and the individual NLU admission notices.

Documents Required for CLAT 2026 Seat Allotment (Checklist)

You will have to produce originals and upload scanned copies during online counselling. Keep both ready.

Practical tips: have notarised copies where required, and keep clear PDFs (not photos) for upload. Save each file with a sensible name (e.g., "CLAT2026_Scorecard.pdf").

Counselling & Seat Allotment Process — CLAT Counselling Online

Counselling for CLAT PG 2026 is conducted online by the Consortium. Here’s the step-by-step flow you can expect and what to do at each stage.

1. Login and choice filling: Log in to your Consortium account and fill or revise your NLU preferences. Order matters—set a realistic preference list using opening/closing ranks.
2. Locking / freezing vs floating: After an allotment, you can choose to "freeze" (accept the seat) or "float" (keep options open for higher allotment rounds). Candidates who chose to float in round three are eligible for the fourth allotment.
3. Seat allotment publication: The Consortium publishes the merit/allotment list (check consortiumofnlus.ac.in). Download your allotment letter immediately.
4. Fee payment and acceptance: Pay the acceptance fee within the window specified. Missing the window can forfeit the seat.
5. Document verification and reporting: Follow the NLU’s instructions for physical verification or final reporting. Some NLUs may require in-person verification; others follow a hybrid model.

Action checklist after allotment:

• Download and print the allotment letter the moment it’s published.
• Pay the admission/acceptance fee within the portal deadline.
• Keep originals and notarised copies of documents ready for verification.
• Report to the NLU if a physical reporting window is specified.

Fourth Allotment Specifics: Who Can Participate?

If you opted to "float" during the third round, you are eligible for the fourth allotment scheduled on May 2, 2026 . If you froze a seat, the NLU will expect you to complete reporting and verification as per its instructions.

If you miss the payment or reporting window after a fourth allotment, the seat may be withdrawn and offered to waitlisted candidates.

CLAT Score Uses Beyond NLUs: PSU Recruitment (What to Expect)

CLAT PG scores are not just for NLU admission. Several Public Sector Undertakings have used CLAT PG scores to shortlist candidates for legal roles. The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is a commonly cited example.

What you should know:

• Each PSU publishes its own notification, eligibility and application procedure. A CLAT score is usually part of the shortlisting criteria; PSUs often add experience, interviews, or additional tests.
• If you want to use your CLAT score for PSU recruitment, keep the CLAT scorecard and rank certificate ready. PSUs may ask for proof of marks, identity and educational qualification.
• This article does not replace PSU-specific notifications. Track PSU websites and their recruitment bulletins for details.

Recommended next steps if you’re targeting PSUs:

• Make a list of PSUs that accept CLAT PG scores and note their expected timelines.
• Keep scanned documents (scorecard, degree certificates) ready.
• Monitor PSU recruitment pages and subscribe to job alerts.

Actionable Tips to Improve Admission Chances

Think strategy, not luck. How you fill choices and handle verification often decides admission.

• Order your preferences realistically. Use the opening-closing ranks table above to classify NLUs into "reach", "match" and "safety".
• Use "float" if you want to try for a higher-ranked NLU in upcoming rounds, but only if you can accept the risk of losing the current seat.
• Keep documents ready in both digital and physical form. A single missing certificate can cancel your admission.
• Watch the tie-breaker notice (March 30, 2026 revision) if your score falls on a boundary. Small rank shifts from tie-breakers change allotments.
• If you get an allotment, complete fee payment and reporting without delay. Deadlines are strict.

What the Data Does and Doesn't Say

The opening-closing ranks show how seats moved across rounds. They do not tell you:

• Exact cutoffs per category unless NLU publishes them separately.
• The total seat matrix for each specialisation or any internal NLU reservations.
• Fee structures or program costs across NLUs (check the specific NLU for fee details).

For these missing pieces, check individual NLU notices or contact the NLU admission office directly.

Where to Check Official Updates

The primary official source for merit lists and counselling notifications is the Consortium portal: consortiumofnlus.ac.in. NLUs will also publish NLU-specific instructions and category cutoffs on their websites.

Keep an eye on:

• The Consortium’s login portal for allotment lists and payment links.
• NLU admission pages for seat-specific reporting and document verification schedules.
• Any revised result or tie-breaker notices (the Consortium issued a revision on March 30, 2026 ).

FAQs

Q: When was CLAT LLM 2026 conducted? A: CLAT LLM 2026 was held on December 7, 2025 .

Q: When will the CLAT PG Fourth Merit List 2026 be out? A: The Consortium will release the fourth merit list on May 2, 2026 .

Q: How many NLUs accept CLAT PG 2026 scores for one-year LLM admission? A: 19 NLUs accept CLAT PG 2026 scores for the one-year LLM.

Q: Can candidates who floated earlier participate in fourth allotment? A: Yes. Candidates who opted to float in the third round are eligible for the fourth allotment.

Q: Where will the merit lists and allotments be published? A: Merit lists and allotments are published on the official Consortium portal: consortiumofnlus.ac.in.

Q: What documents do I need at the time of seat allotment and verification? A: You must have your CLAT 2026 application copy, scorecard, admit card, Class 10 and 12 marksheets, caste/PwD certificates (if applicable), NRI documents (if applicable), domicile proof, and recent photos. Originals and scanned copies will be required.

Q: Are CLAT PG scores used for PSU recruitment? A: Yes. Several PSUs use CLAT PG scores to shortlist candidates; ONGC is an example. Each PSU will have its own recruitment notification and process.

Q: What should I do if my score is tied with another candidate? A: Check the Consortium’s tie-breaker rules. The Consortium issued a revised result and tie-breaker clarification on March 30, 2026 — review that notice for the exact order of tie-break criteria.

Final checklist before May 2, 2026

• Keep your Consortium login credentials ready.
• Finalise and freeze/float preferences using opening-closing ranks.
• Prepare digital PDFs and notarised physical copies of all documents.
• Monitor consortiumofnlus.ac.in for the Fourth Merit List on May 2, 2026 .

If you follow the checklist and act fast when the fourth merit list is out, you’ll maximise your options. Keep calm, check official notices, and have documents ready.

Article updated on Apr 15, 2026 by Anupama Mehra.