CLAT Cut Off 2026: Expected Category-Wise Passing Marks (Out of 120)

The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) is scheduled to conduct the CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) 2026 on December 07, 2025. Following the exam, aspirants will be eager to analyze the CLAT 2026 cut off to gauge their chances of securing a seat in a top-tier law school. The Consortium releases these cut off marks alongside the results to help candidates align their scores with admission requirements. Read on to view our detailed predictions for the CLAT 2026 cut off.

CLAT Cut Off

The admission authority determines the CLAT cut off by evaluating critical variables, including the total number of test-takers, exam difficulty, seat availability, and reservation policies. Separate cut-offs are published for both UG and PG programs across each round of the counseling process. Candidates meeting these specific threshold criteria are then eligible to proceed with the seat allotment and fee payment process.

CLAT Cut Off 2026

The expected CLAT 2026 cut off for premier NLUs is likely to fall in the range of 85-90 marks out of 120. These figures are essential for effective strategic planning during the admission and counseling phases. Our expert legal faculty at Result91 has analyzed student feedback and historical trends to provide these precise, category-wise, and institution-specific cut-off projections.

CLAT 2026 Cutoff Expected for General, OBC, SC, ST

The anticipated CLAT 2026 cutoff is expected to be higher than previous years. Given the moderate difficulty level of the recent exam, top-tier NLUs may see a cutoff surpassing 90 marks. For more detailed insights into the CLAT 2026 exam, continue following our updates.

The Consortium publishes unique cut-off lists for each round of counseling. To ensure a safe position at a top-5 NLU, General category candidates should aim for a score above 90. For OBC candidates, the target for top institutions should be at least 80 marks. Generally, a competitive score for the General category remains around the 70-mark threshold.

Our category-wise analysis is based on a comprehensive review of past question papers and shifting merit trends. Below, we outline the expected CLAT 2026 cut off ranges for the top-ranked National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore.

CLAT 2026 Cutoff Expected for General, OBC, SC, ST
Category	CLAT Expected Cut Off
General/UR	85-91 marks
EWS	81-85 marks
OBC	79-81 marks
SC	55-60 marks
ST	46-50 marks

CLAT Passing Marks out of 120 for General, OBC, ST, SC

There is no officially predefined passing mark for the CLAT out of 120; instead, the cutoff fluctuates annually based on performance and seat capacity. Historically, prestigious institutions like NLSIU Bangalore and NALSAR Hyderabad require scores between 85 and 95 for General category applicants. Below are the detailed trends for various categories.

While the CLAT cutoff for admission to various NLUs varies annually based on applicant volume and seat availability, historical data provides a reliable benchmark for candidates. Here is an overview of the projected ranges:

Approximate CLAT Cutoff Marks for NLUs (out of 120):
Top-Tier NLUs (e.g., NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata):

General Category: 85–95 marks
Reserved Categories: 70–80 marks
Mid-Tier NLUs (e.g., NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Gandhinagar, RMLNLU Lucknow):

General Category: 75–85 marks
Reserved Categories: 60–70 marks
Lower-Tier NLUs (e.g., CNLU Patna, DSNLU Vizag, MNLU Nagpur):

General Category: 65–75 marks
Reserved Categories: 50–60 marks

CLAT Cut off 2026 NLU Admission

CLAT is India's premier national-level law entrance exam, serving as the gateway to over 20 prestigious National Law Universities. Recognized as top-tier institutions globally, securing a seat in these schools is highly competitive and requires rigorous preparation.

After the intense effort of the CLAT exam, candidates are naturally anxious to assess their admission prospects. To assist students and their families, we have compiled the projected category-wise cut-off marks for CLAT 2026 across major NLUs.

CLAT Cut off 2026 NLU Admission
NLU Name	General	SC	ST	OBC	EWS	PwD
NLSIU Bangalore	89-91	56-59	50-52	79-82	78-80	78-79
NALSAR Hyderabad	86-87	53-55	50-51	78-80	76-78	73-75
NLIU Bhopal	83-85	47-49	46-48	76-78	73-75	69-71
WBNUJS Kolkata	85-87	53-55	49-51	73-75	74-76	76-78
NLU Jodhpur	85-86	50-53	49-50	73-75	73-76	73-76
HNLU Raipur	83-85	48-51	43-45	68-71	68-71	63-65
GNLU Gandhinagar	83-85	48-50	46-47	67-69	73-75	60-61
GNLU Silvassa	80-82	43-46	42-44	63-65	70-72	50-53
RMLNLU Lucknow	76-78	47-49	40-42	60-64	68-70	50-54
RGNUL Punjab	79-81	46-48	40-42	62-64	68-69	56-57
CNLU Patna	73-75	44-46	38-40	58-60	63-65	50-51
NUALS Kochi	73-75	43-45	38-40	60-62	63-65	50-51
NLU Odisha	74-76	44-46	38-41	62-63	64-66	47-50
NUSRL Ranchi	72-75	43-44	39-40	62-63	62-64	49-51
NLUJ Assam	70-72	40-42	36-38	58-60	58-60	43-45
MNLU Mumbai	80-82	47-49	43-45	68-70	70-72	48-50
HPNLU Shimla	68-70	41-43	36-38	59-61	56-58	39-41
NLU Agartala	63-65	39-41	33-35	49-51	50-52	30-32
MNLU Nagpur	69-72	46-48	40-41	60-62	56-58	40-43
DSNLU	68-70	40-43	40-43	61-63	59	55

CLAT Cut Off 2026 for Top 3 NLUs

If your goal is to secure a seat at elite institutions like NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, or WBNUJS Kolkata, aim for the following estimated cut-off benchmarks for 2026:

CLAT Cut Off 2026 for Top 3 NLUs
Category of the candidate	cut off marks (expected)
General	95–98
OBC	92–95
SC	86–90
ST	82–86
EWS	94–96
PwD	78–80

The competitive nature of NLSIU, NALSAR, and WBNUJS necessitates consistent, high-level performance across all sections of the CLAT paper to ensure a successful admission outcome.

CLAT Cutoff 2026 for Top 10 NLUs

Below, we detail the expected CLAT 2026 category-wise cut-off scores for the leading 10 National Law Universities in India.

CLAT Cutoff 2026 for Top 10 NLUs
Category of the candidate	cut off marks (expected)
General	87–98
OBC	83–95
SC	74–90
ST	70–86
EWS	85–96
PwD	65–80

CLAT Cut Off Last Year Trends

Recent changes to the CLAT exam structure, which reduced the total marks to 120, have created uncertainty regarding cutoff trends. While absolute marks may fluctuate, candidates' preferences for specific NLUs remain consistent. We have analyzed these shifts to provide realistic expectations for the 2026 admission cycle.

• The CLAT cut off for elite NLUs like NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, and WBNUJS Kolkata used to be approximately 66%, or a score of 100–110 out of 150. It would be challenging to score more than 100 out of 120 on the CLAT in 2024. Consequently, the overall cut-off marks for these top NLUs will decrease from earlier due to the decrease in overall marks.
• In the new pattern, a percentage score of 66% corresponds to a score of approximately 80–85 marks out of 120, which is probably the cutoff for the top NLUs this year.
• The cutoffs for Tier-2 and Tier-3 NLUs would be lower than those of top NLUs. Still, there isn’t much of a difference between NLUs. Following round one of CLAT 2023, NLSIU Bengaluru’s general category closing rank was 107. The corresponding number for GNLU Gandhinagar was 419.
• Students who received about 70 out of 150 marks, or 46-48%, in their prior exams were offered admission to significantly lower-ranked and recently opened NLUs like DBRANLU Sonipat. Thus, admission to some NLUs was still possible with a 50% CLAT 2024 score. The general category final rank at DBRANLU Sonipat last year was 1902.

What is the Good Score for CLAT 2026?

With the shift to a 120-mark pattern, a "good score" has been recalibrated accordingly. Candidates should target a score between 78 and 85 to remain competitive. Importantly, while the marks shift, the rank-based cutoff requirements remain largely stable.

Factors Affecting CLAT 2026 Cutoff Marks

Several variables dictate the final CLAT 2026 cut-off. Please note that these projections are subject to change based on the following critical factors:

NLU Preferences: Seat allotment is strictly based on the candidate's prioritized NLU list. If you do not select a specific university, it will not be considered during your counseling allocation.

Candidate Rank and Marks: Admission is primarily merit-driven. High-ranking candidates typically opt for prestigious NLUs like NLSIU Bengaluru and NALSAR Hyderabad, which directly influences the closing rank for those institutions.

Seat Availability: With approximately 1,300 LLM seats and over 4,000 five-year LLB seats across all NLUs, the total intake capacity is a primary determinant of the cutoff marks.

Reservation Policies: Most NLUs reserve 25% to 50% of seats for domicile candidates, with the remaining seats allocated across various categories (OBC, SC, ST, EWS). These policies significantly influence category-specific cut-offs.

Previous Year (2023) Opening and Closing Ranks

For historical reference, the following are the category-wise opening and closing ranks for five major NLUs during the CLAT 2023 session:

Previous Year (2023) Opening and Closing Ranks
NLUs	General	OBC	SC	ST
NLSIU Bengaluru	1-110	171-842	181-2674	1781-4059
NALSAR Hyderabad	25-168	923-1116	702-3297	3375-6174
NLU Bhopal	186-409	591-1267	4505-4739	8143-10510
NLU Bhopal (B.Sc LLB Hons.)	420-683	1848-1848	6165-6806	11806-16312
WBNUJS Kolkata	136-245	–	588-3718	6121-7793

CLAT Cut off Previous Year (2022) Opening and Closing Ranks

Below is the institutional breakdown of the CLAT 2022 cut-off marks and ranks for General category candidates.

CLAT Cut off Previous Year (2022) Opening and Closing Ranks
NLUs	Opening Rank	Closing Rank
NLSIU Bengaluru	1	85
NALSAR Hyderabad	08	162
WBNUJS Kolkata	117	257
NLU Jodhpur	155	378
NLIU Bhopal	217	451
GNLU, Gandhinagar	33	430
RMLNLU, Lucknow	377	756
HNLU, Raipur	430	837
RGNUL, Patiala	437	1184
NLUO, Odisha	470	1193

CLAT Cut off Previous Year (2021) Opening and Closing Ranks

Below is the institutional breakdown of the CLAT 2021 cut-off marks and ranks for General category candidates.

CLAT Cut off Previous Year (2021) Opening and Closing Ranks
NLUs	Opening Rank	Closing Rank
NLSIU Bengaluru	1	83
NALSAR Hyderabad	65	172
WBNUJS Kolkata	24	241
NLU Jodhpur	185	356
NLIU Bhopal	176	384