CLAT Cutoff 2026: Percentile & Qualifying Marks

Many candidates treat the CLAT exam cutoff as a pass mark, but the Consortium has published no pass mark. It publishes no minimum qualifying score for UG or PG. Students use the term CLAT cutoff for the closing All India Rank (AIR) of an NLU in an allotment list. That rank differs by NLU, programme, category and list. Every rank below is the CLAT cutoff 2026, taken from the exam held on 7 December 2025. These ranks are not predictions, because the CLAT cutoff 2027 does not exist yet. CLAT 2027 will be held on 6 December 2026, as listed in the CLAT 2027 exam dates.

The Consortium of National Law Universities has published no minimum qualifying score for CLAT 2027 UG or PG. In CLAT 2026, counselling invitations followed the rank list and each NLU's admissions matrix, as the CLAT 2026 counselling instructions state. The CLAT cutoff 2027 will be known only when the Consortium publishes its allotment lists.

The Consortium prints each list as a Cut-Off Rank Table. This page calls the AIR cutoff in that table the CLAT closing rank. The Consortium publishes no CLAT cutoff marks. The terms in the table mean the following.

Is there a minimum qualifying mark in CLAT?

No, the Consortium has published no minimum qualifying mark for CLAT 2027. No CLAT cutoff marks are published, only ranks to compare with. The Class 12 rule is an eligibility condition and is separate from the test score. CLAT 2027 UG needs 45% marks in Class 12, or 40% for SC, ST and PwD candidates. CLAT 2027 PG needs 50% marks in LL.B., or 45% for SC, ST and PwD candidates.

The ten NLUs below closed between AIR 120 and AIR 848 for General seats in list 5 of CLAT 2026. The Consortium has announced no CLAT exam cutoff for 2027. The table gives the CLAT closing rank of each NLU as the last published reference. Each figure is the General row under vertical reservation in the NLU's main UG list of CLAT 2026. For NLUs with separate B.B.A. LL.B. or B.Sc. LL.B. lists, only the main list is shown.

What is the CLAT cutoff for NLSIU Bengaluru?

The CLAT cutoff for NLSIU Bengaluru in CLAT 2026 was General AIR 101 in list 1. The list 5 figure was AIR 120. The list 5 table showed 121 General seats. NLSIU uses its own test, NLSAT 2027, for its B.A. (Hons.), three-year LL.B. (Hons.), Master's in Public Policy and PhD programmes. The CLAT cutoff for NLSIU therefore applies only to the programmes admitted through CLAT, the five-year B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) and the LL.M.

What is the CLAT cutoff for NLSIU Hyderabad?

NLSIU is in Bengaluru. Hyderabad has NALSAR, whose CLAT cutoff 2026 for General seats was AIR 168 in list 5. NALSAR was at AIR 148 in list 1, with 54 General seats. Use the NALSAR figures if you mean the law university in Hyderabad.

What is the expected CLAT cutoff for 2027?

The Consortium has announced no expected CLAT cutoff for 2027, and the CLAT 2027 allotment lists do not exist yet. Not officially announced as of 13 October 2026. The official FAQ gives only a month range for counselling, "December 2026/January, 2027". NLUs may also change their seat matrix before the final allotment. So the CLAT cutoff 2027 can differ from the 2026 ranks.

Use the CLAT 2026 ranks to shortlist NLUs. Compare them with your own rank only after the CLAT 2027 result. The CLAT 2027 website already has a first allotment list page, but it is a placeholder. Its linked PDFs did not open on 13 October 2026.

At the 16 programmes with all five national rows, the CLAT category-wise cutoff rises in one order in list 5. The order is General, EWS, OBC, SC and ST, from the smallest number to the largest. The CLAT cutoff for NLSIU shows the order from AIR 120 for General to AIR 5,227 for ST. The table also prints a category rank. For SC at NLSIU, the category rank cutoff was 58 for 45 seats.

The tabs give the CLAT category-wise cutoff 2026 for eight NLUs in list 5. Pick the tab for the CLAT cutoff for OBC and EWS, or the tab for SC and ST.

What is the CLAT cutoff for General category candidates?

The CLAT cutoff for General seats in list 5 ran from AIR 120 to AIR 2,802. NLSIU had the smallest number, and IIULER Goa (B.B.A. LL.B.) had the largest. Only General vertical reservation rows are counted in that range. Reserved-category seats and home-state seats close at their own ranks.

What is the CLAT cutoff for SC and ST candidates?

The CLAT cutoff for SC at NLSIU was AIR 3,142 in list 5. The CLAT cutoff for ST at NLSIU was AIR 5,227. Across 26 programmes with a national SC row, the CLAT cutoff for SC ran from AIR 3,142 to AIR 15,773. IIULER Goa (B.B.A. LL.B.) had the largest number. Across 25 programmes with a national ST row, the range was AIR 5,227 to AIR 28,638. The largest ST number was again at IIULER Goa (B.B.A. LL.B.). Some NLUs print a state label, such as OBC of Maharashtra, instead of a national row. Those NLUs are outside this CLAT category-wise cutoff range.

What is the CLAT cutoff for OBC and EWS candidates?

The CLAT cutoff for OBC at NLSIU was AIR 1,177 in list 5. The EWS seats at NLSIU closed at AIR 740. Across 19 programmes with a national OBC row, the CLAT cutoff for OBC ran from AIR 915 to AIR 5,170. NALSAR had the smallest number, and IIULER Goa (B.B.A. LL.B.) had the largest. The EWS range across 18 programmes was AIR 713 to AIR 3,873. NALSAR and the same IIULER Goa programme again had the smallest and largest numbers.

Is the CLAT cutoff different for B.A. LL.B. and B.Sc. LL.B.?

Yes, the CLAT cutoff differs by programme, because each programme at an NLU has its own list. At WBNUJS Kolkata, B.A. LL.B. closed at General AIR 343 in list 5. B.Sc. LL.B. (Criminology and Forensic) closed at AIR 598. At NLIU Bhopal, B.A. LL.B. closed at AIR 459 and B.Sc. LL.B. (Cyber Security) at AIR 698. At NLUO Cuttack, B.A. LL.B. closed at AIR 848 and B.B.A. LL.B. at AIR 892.

How does domicile change the CLAT cutoff?

State domicile adds home-state rows to the CLAT category-wise cutoff of an NLU. These rows apply only to candidates with that domicile. The table compares the General AIR cutoff with the home-state AIR cutoff in list 5. Each row is a vertical reservation row. The home-state CLAT exam cutoff is higher than the General number at every NLU in the table. Check the NLU's seat matrix before you read a home-state rank as your target.

For academic year 2027-28, NLSIU reserves 75 seats, which is 25% of its intake, horizontally for Karnataka students. The NLSIU brochure for CLAT 2027 states this. The brochure adds 10 more Karnataka-student seats on the entrance merit list. Candidates produce their reservation certificates at the time of admission.

The Consortium does not allot NRI or NRI-sponsored seats. Those candidates apply to the NLU directly.

Did any NLU change its reservation categories for CLAT 2027?

Yes, WBNUJS and NLU Meghalaya changed their reservation categories for CLAT 2027 in notifications dated 5 September 2026. WBNUJS removed OBC-A and OBC-B of West Bengal and added OBC of West Bengal, for UG and PG. NLU Meghalaya added Khasi and Jaintia of Meghalaya and Garo of Meghalaya. NLU Meghalaya also added Other Scheduled Castes/Other Scheduled Tribes of Meghalaya. The category you hold decides which row you compete in, so the change decides which CLAT cutoff applies to you.

Both notifications ask affected candidates to update their reservation category by 31 October 2026. The WBNUJS notification covers candidates who applied under OBC-A or OBC-B of West Bengal domicile. They are advised to update the category, if it applies and they are eligible under the revised categories. The NLU Meghalaya notification applies to candidates who applied under the Meghalaya domicile category.

The CLAT 2027 UG paper is scheduled from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, which is 2 hours, and until 4:40 PM for candidates in the PwD category. The Consortium has published no time limit for any single section. The official FAQ says: "There is no specific time frame for the Current Affairs Including General Knowledge section of the Under Graduate CLAT 2027."

The Consortium has published no minimum score for any section either.

Is there a sectional cutoff in CLAT?

No, the Consortium has published no sectional cutoff for CLAT UG or PG. The CLAT exam cutoff is a rank for the whole paper, not a mark for each section. The ranges above are approximate, and the official page calls them an approximate number of questions. The published rules refer to total marks and to a tie-break rule for equal marks.

The Consortium publishes no table that converts CLAT marks into a rank. The Consortium also publishes no CLAT cutoff marks. The UG paper carries 120 marks from 120 questions of one mark each. Each wrong answer costs 0.25 mark, so 4 wrong answers cancel 1 right answer. The CLAT 2027 question format lists a deduction only for wrong answers. The CLAT 2027 exam pattern keeps this marking. The Governing Body made no change to the pattern for CLAT 2027.

A worked example shows the marks. Take 100 right answers, 16 wrong answers and 4 unattempted questions. The score is 100 minus 4, which is 96 marks. In CLAT 2026 the highest mark was 112.75 in UG and 104.25 in PG. Both were out of 119 marks, after one question was withdrawn.

Which CLAT score gives an NLU seat?

No official marks-to-rank table exists, so no CLAT score is guaranteed to give an NLU seat. The CLAT exam cutoff is a rank, and a seat goes by your AIR and your category. After the CLAT 2027 results, compare your rank with the list 5 CLAT category-wise cutoff of each NLU. Keep an NLU on your list only where its cutoff is the same as your rank or a bigger number. OBC candidates compare with the CLAT cutoff for OBC, and SC candidates with the CLAT cutoff for SC. ST candidates use the CLAT cutoff for ST.

Equal marks are separated by a tie-break rule. For UG, the order is higher Legal Aptitude section marks, then higher age, then a computerised draw of lots. The CLAT 2027 UG instructions state this rule. The published UG sections are named Legal Reasoning and four others. The Consortium has not explained the term Legal Aptitude.

For PG, the order is higher age, then a computerised draw of lots. The CLAT 2027 PG instructions state this rule.

Can I get an NLU with a rank of 4,000?

In list 5 of CLAT 2026, the printed AIR cut-off went beyond 4,000 only in some categories. The largest CLAT cutoff for General seats in list 5 was AIR 2,802. The largest EWS number was AIR 3,873. The CLAT cutoff for OBC went beyond 4,000 only at IIULER Goa. Those numbers were AIR 4,788 for B.A. LL.B. and AIR 5,170 for B.B.A. LL.B. The CLAT cutoff for SC went beyond 4,000 at 23 programmes. The CLAT cutoff for ST went beyond 4,000 at all 25 programmes with a national ST row. Home-state General rows can close higher than the national numbers. DSNLU closed at AIR 6,187 for Andhra Pradesh candidates.

Is 20,000 a good rank in CLAT?

The CLAT cutoff for ST went beyond AIR 20,000 at nine programmes in list 5 of CLAT 2026. No other national category went that far. The nine ST numbers ran from AIR 20,400 at DBRANLU Sonepat to AIR 28,638 at IIULER Goa (B.B.A. LL.B.). The CLAT cutoff for General seats stayed below 20,000 at every NLU. The OBC and EWS numbers stayed below 20,000 as well. The CLAT cutoff for SC reached AIR 15,773 at most. State-domicile rows can close higher. Goa-domicile General at IIULER Goa (B.A. LL.B.) closed at AIR 72,430.

Marks vs Rank: Frequently Asked Questions

The CLAT cutoff for NLSIU Bengaluru was the smallest General AIR in list 5 of CLAT 2026, at AIR 120. IIULER Goa (B.B.A. LL.B.) had the largest, at AIR 2,802. The table covers 37 UG programme lists at 25 of the 26 NLUs. The table shows the CLAT cutoff for General seats, sorted from the smallest rank to the largest. Seats are the General seats shown in the list 5 table. The numbers are ranks, not CLAT cutoff marks. Use them as a shortlist for the CLAT cutoff 2027, not as a forecast.

NLU Meghalaya has no CLAT 2026 allotment list, so no closing rank exists for it. NLU Delhi admits through AILET, which is scheduled for 13 December 2026, and is not part of CLAT. NLU-wise fees, seats and NIRF ranks are on the CLAT 2027 colleges page.

Which NLUs closed within General AIR 1,000 in CLAT 2026?

Fourteen programmes at 10 NLUs had a CLAT closing rank within General AIR 1,000 in list 5. The first five NLUs were NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata, NLU Jodhpur and GNLU Gandhinagar. The next five were NLIU Bhopal, MNLU Mumbai, RMLNLU Lucknow, HNLU Raipur and NLUO Cuttack.

What are the CLAT PG closing ranks?

The CLAT cutoff for NLSIU PG General seats was AIR 94 in list 5 of CLAT 2026. NALSAR closed at AIR 126. PG lists are separate from UG lists, so the PG CLAT cutoff 2026 must not be compared with UG ranks. The table gives eight NLUs from the PG lists.

The ten NLUs in the first table increased by 19 to 70 places from list 1 to list 5. In all 37 General rows, the AIR cutoff stayed the same or increased from list to list. A bigger CLAT closing rank in a later list means the printed cut-off moved to a weaker rank. The increase is MSM Unify's own subtraction of the two printed figures.

NLUs that closed above AIR 2,000 in list 5 show larger increases. Their CLAT cutoff for General seats increased by 284 to 566 places.

How did the CLAT cutoff 2026 change from list 1 to list 5?

The CLAT cutoff for NLSIU increased by 19 places from list 1 to list 5 in CLAT 2026. At IIULER Goa (B.A. LL.B.), the CLAT cutoff 2026 increased by 544 places. The CLAT 2026 counselling instructions scheduled the five lists as shown below. These are scheduled dates. Dates for CLAT 2027 lists: Not officially announced as of 13 October 2026.

What was the CLAT cutoff in 2025 and 2024?

MSM Unify could not retrieve the official closing ranks for CLAT 2025 and CLAT 2024. So no year-on-year comparison is shown. The trend above is the movement from list 1 to list 5 within CLAT 2026. The CLAT 2027 covers the full exam cycle.