By the Online Coaching 4u team
"What score do I need for NLSIU?" is close to the single most-asked CLAT question, and the honest answer is that no one, including the NLUs themselves before results are out, can give you a precise number in advance. What we can do is show you the range candidates actually needed last cycle, and explain why that range moves every year.
Quick facts (CLAT 2026 cycle, for directional reference only)
Top NLUs (General category): roughly 95-108 out of 120 marks
Mid-tier NLUs: closing ranks roughly in the 300-800 range
NLU Delhi: does not accept CLAT, uses AILET separately
Participating NLUs: approximately 24-26
Total estimated seats: ~4,000+ UG, ~1,600 PG (aggregator estimate)
Why we're giving ranges, not exact numbers
Before the specifics: CLAT cutoff data circulating online is compiled by third-party aggregators from public seat-allotment PDFs, and different aggregators sometimes report meaningfully different numbers for the same NLU and the same year. We cross-checked multiple sources for this piece and found real disagreement on exact closing ranks for several top NLUs, in some cases a difference of 50-100 rank positions. Rather than presenting a single confident number that might be wrong, we're giving you the range, and pointing you to where to check the authoritative figure yourself: each NLU publishes its own round-wise seat allotment list during counselling, and the Consortium's own site is the definitive source once that data is out for a given year.
Approximate CLAT 2026 cutoffs by NLU tier
| NLU tier | Examples | General category (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Top-tier | NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata | ~95-108 marks, closing rank roughly top 100-350 |
| Mid-tier | GNLU Gandhinagar, NLIU Bhopal, NLU Jodhpur, RMLNLU Lucknow | Closing rank roughly 300-800 |
| Newer/developing NLUs | DBRANLU Haryana, NLU Tripura, RPNLU Prayagraj, IIULER Goa | Closing rank often 1,500-4,000+ |
Category-wise, one aggregator's cross-NLU average puts General around 95-98 marks, OBC around 92-95, SC around 86-90, ST around 82-86 and EWS around 94-96, but this is a blended average across all NLUs, not a per-university figure, individual NLU category cutoffs vary more widely than this average suggests.
The NLU Delhi mix-up
This deserves its own section because it trips up enough aspirants: NLU Delhi does not participate in CLAT. It conducts its own separate entrance exam, AILET (All India Law Entrance Test), with its own dates, pattern and application process. If NLU Delhi is on your shortlist, a strong CLAT score alone won't get you there, you need to register and prepare for AILET separately.
Who's actually in the CLAT consortium
Roughly two dozen National Law Universities participate, including NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, NLIU Bhopal, WBNUJS Kolkata, NLU Jodhpur, HNLU Raipur, GNLU Gandhinagar, RMLNLU Lucknow, RGNUL Patiala, CNLU Patna, NUALS Kochi, NLUO Cuttack, NUSRL Ranchi, NLUJA Assam, DSNLU Visakhapatnam, TNNLU Tiruchirappalli, MNLU Mumbai, MNLU Nagpur, MNLU Aurangabad, HPNLU Shimla, DNLU Jabalpur, DBRANLU Haryana, NLU Tripura, RPNLU Prayagraj and IIULER Goa. Not every member university uses CLAT for both UG and PG admissions, some use it for one and not the other, so confirm on the specific NLU's own page rather than assuming.
The seat matrix isn't static either: NLSIU Bangalore recently expanded to around 310 total seats (including additional Karnataka-domicile seats), NLIU Bhopal added a new BSc LLB programme with a cybersecurity focus, and RPNLU Prayagraj and IIULER Goa are among the more recent additions to the Consortium, both factors that shift where cutoffs land year to year.
How to use this data without over-trusting it
Treat last year's cutoff as a rough anchor for where you'd need to land, not a target to hit exactly. A realistic approach: pick 6-8 NLUs spanning top, mid and safer tiers when you fill your preference list at counselling time, rather than only listing your top 2-3 choices, seat allotment happens across multiple rounds and having a wider spread genuinely improves your odds of landing somewhere you're happy with.
If you're still building your prep plan, our CLAT syllabus and exam pattern breakdown and CLAT study strategy guide cover what to focus on and how much time to give each section.
Compare every verified CLAT coaching institute we track on our CLAT coaching listings page.
Frequently asked questions
What marks did top NLUs like NLSIU Bangalore and NALSAR Hyderabad require in CLAT 2026?
Roughly 100-108 out of 120 for general-category closing ranks at NLSIU Bangalore, and around 100-104 at NALSAR Hyderabad, based on aggregator data. Exact closing ranks varied across sources, so treat these as directional rather than precise, and check each NLU's official seat-allotment list for the definitive figure.
Does NLU Delhi accept CLAT scores?
No. NLU Delhi runs its own separate entrance exam, AILET, and does not admit through the CLAT consortium. This is one of the most common points of confusion among CLAT aspirants targeting NLU Delhi specifically.
How many NLUs accept CLAT?
Around 24-26 National Law Universities are part of the Consortium, though not all use CLAT for every programme they offer, some use it only for PG admissions. Always confirm on the individual NLU's admissions page rather than assuming blanket participation.
Why do CLAT cutoffs change every year?
Cutoffs depend on that year's paper difficulty, the total number of candidates, the seat matrix at each NLU (which itself sometimes changes, NLSIU Bangalore added seats in a recent cycle), and category-wise reservation rules. A cutoff from two years ago is a rough reference point, not a guarantee.
How many total seats does CLAT offer across all NLUs?
Aggregator estimates put it at roughly 4,000-4,100 UG seats and around 1,600 PG seats across all participating NLUs, though this figure isn't published as a single official number by the Consortium and can shift as new NLUs join or existing ones adjust their intake.
