CLAT Cutoff Trends: How Many Marks You Need for NLSIU, NALSAR, NUJS & Beyond
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CLAT Cutoff Trends: How Many Marks You Need for NLSIU, NALSAR, NUJS & Beyond

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CLAT Exam Date:07 Dec' 25 - 07 Dec' 25

Shubham BhakuniUpdated on 09 Sep 2025, 01:00 PM IST

Over 60,000 candidates are expected to appear in CLAT 2026 for the 5-year LLB programmes. CLAT, being the only LLB entrance exam for 24 NLUs, requires students to stay well-informed about the admission parameters in NLUs, including competitiveness, cutoffs, and how marks are converted into ranks. While it is too early to predict the marks versus rank in CLAT 2026, examining previous trends may still help students clear the fog around it. The cutoff trends also provide insights into NLU admission trends, student preferences for NLUs, non-NLUs and courses.

CLAT Cutoff Trends: How Many Marks You Need for NLSIU, NALSAR, NUJS & Beyond
CLAT Cutoff Trends: How Many Marks You Need for NLSIU, NALSAR, NUJS & Beyond

The Top 3

The last three to four CLATs have shown that a score of 100 or more is difficult to achieve, but is crucial for general category students aiming for NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad and WBNUJS Kolkata. Anything less than 95 for the general category means NLSIU will be out of reach. In terms of rank, this score will be roughly translated into AIR 100-110 last year. The NLSIU general category admission closed at AIR 112.

CLAT Marks vs Rank in Top 3 NLUs

NLU name

Closing Rank Last Year (General)

Approximate Marks

NLSIU Bangalore

112

95+

NALSAR Hyderabad

165

94+

WBNUJS Kolkata

327

94+

It is also worth mentioning that last year’s CLAT was one of the most controversial law entrance exams in recent years and might not accurately reflect the trend in cutoff marks.

If we look at CLAT 2024, 2023, and 2022, the NLSIU BA LLB admissions have closed at around 98 to 100 marks. So, a score of 95 last year should be considered more as an exception than a general admission trend. It also applies to NALSAR and WBNUJS Kolkata, where a score of 95+ is required.

An overall assessment of CLAT marks vs rank data in the previous three years reveals that scoring 92 to 100 or above is very crucial for all India general category candidates aiming for tier 1 NLUs. The first 10-12 NLUs close general category admissions by All India Ranks between 1200-1300, and the score required for this rank will be around 85 to 87. At around CLAT AIR 1300, CNLU Patna will close the BA LLB admissions during the CLAT counselling. Any further drop from here is announced during the spot round admissions.

Closing Marks vs Rank in Top 13 NLUs

NLU

2025

2024

Closing Rank

Approx Marks

Closing Rank

Approx Marks

NLSIU Bengaluru

112

95

99

100

NALSAR Hyderabad

159

93.9

164

98-100

WBNUJS Kolkata (BA LLB)

327

92.2

275

96.5

NLU Jodhpur

367

91.8

365

92.5

GNLU Gandhinagar

444

91

434

92.5

NLIU Bhopal (BA LLB)

480

90.6

450

92.5

MNLU Mumbai

558

90.1

562

91

WBNUJS Kolkata (BSc LLB Hons)

711

89.4

998

90

RMLNLU Lucknow

780

89.6

733

90

HNLU Raipur

807

88.9

765

90

NLIU Bhopal (BSc LLB)

915

88.9

878

90

NLU Odisha BA LLB

1013

88.5

1147

89.5

NLU Odisha BBA LLB

1176

88.1

-

-

RGNUL Patiala

1279

87.5

1190

89.5

NUALS Kochi

1346

87.1

1136

89.75

CNLU Patna (BA LLB)

1398

86.9

1285

89.25

MNLU case

MNLU Mumbai is a unique case — it reserves around 73% of total intake for Maharashtra-domiciled candidates. Remaining seats are available for the general category of Maharashtra and the all-India category.

So, despite being a tier 2 NLU, MNLU general category admissions are highly competitive and close at around CLAT AIR 500.

In contrast, the remaining two NLUs in Maharashtra- MNLU Nagpur and Aurangabad, with equally high reservation but low student preferences, accept admissions at AIR 3500 (~80 marks) during the spot rounds.

At Lower Tier

Some NLUs that are yet to establish themselves or have started recently see multiple spot round admissions. IIULER Goa, which is not an NLU, also falls in this category. While the three to five rounds of CLAT counselling might give an appearance of admission closure, the spot rounds drag the process in several tier 3 NLUs up to 10 to 12 rounds. NLU Tripura, for example, can accept the general category admission at CLAT AIR 12,000 despite closing CLAT counselling at AIR 2855.

The reason for such a long-drawn admission process is students’ pursuit of better universities. Several non-NLUs with better opportunities are worth exploring. As a result, the tier 3 NLUs became relatively less competitive and more accessible to general category students between 5,000 to 12,000 ranks, and this translates to CLAT marks between 75 to 65.

Let's now look at how tier 3 NLUs have accepted students in spot rounds — the closing ranks, when compared with corresponding marks, help students understand NLU admission trends.

Tier 3 NLUs in closing marks vs rank: Counselling vs Spot Round

NLU

Closing rank in counselling

Approx. marks

Closing rank in spot round

Approx. marks

DSNLU Visakhapatnam

1682

85.7

2566

82.7

NUSRL Ranchi (BBA LLB)

1760

85.5

7782

69

TNNLU Tiruchirappalli (BA LLB)

1763

85.5

2424

83.2

DBRANLU Sonepat

1930

84.8

2470

83

TNNLU Tiruchirappalli (BCom LLB)

1947

84.8

2961

81.3

MNLU Aurangabad (BA LLB)

1949

84.8

No data available

No data available

NLUJA Assam

2141

84.1

4004

78.5

MPDNLU Jabalpur

2243

83.8

5398

74.6

MNLU Aurangabad (BBA LLB)

2393

83

No data available

No data available

HPNLU Shimla (BA LLB)

2555

82.4

5856

73.3

HPNLU Shimla (BBA LLB)

2634

82.1

5881

73.2

NLUT Agartala

2855

81.3

12515

65.4

NLUT Agartala

2855

81.3

12515

65.4

Final Thoughts

The analysis given above brings us to the following conclusions:

  • Marks required for top three NLUs: 98-100, within CLAT rank 320

  • Marks Required for top 12 NLUs: 90+ or CLAT rank below 1300.

  • Tier 3 NLUs can accept up to 65 marks or a CLAT rank of 12,000

  • CLAT counselling is not the end; students should watch the spot round admissions carefully.

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Finally, if there is a question of whether a general category student can get an NLU tag at CLAT AIR 12,515, the answer is yes. But, is it worth accepting the offer? It is debatable, with some inclined to accept the NLU tag while others would argue for better non-NLUs.

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Questions related to CLAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CLAT ?

Hello,

To check your CLAT exam hall ticket, go to the official website, log in with your registration or application number and password (or other login details), and the admit card will be displayed on the screen. You should then download and print at least two copies of the admit card for the exam and counselling process.

I hope it will clear your query!!

Hello,

Yes, you can prepare for CLAT through self-study. Many students do it and score well. But self-study works only if you are disciplined and follow a proper plan.

Here are a few points to keep in mind:

1. Know the syllabus and pattern.
Understand each section: English, Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quant.

2. Make a fixed timetable.
Study a little every day. Consistency matters more than long hours.

3. Use good books and online sources.
Choose reliable material so you don’t waste time.

4. Practice a lot.
Solve mock tests and previous papers regularly. This is the most important part of CLAT prep.

5. Analyse your mistakes.
Check where you go wrong and improve those areas.

6. Stay updated with current affairs.
Read daily news or monthly current affairs PDFs.

If you can follow these steps honestly, self-study is enough. If you feel stuck or need guidance with strategy, you can always use online classes or doubt-clearing support.

Hope it helps !

According to our prediction the date is tentatively on December 14, 2025 or CLAT 2026 admissions. You may read more about it here law.careers360.com/articles/clat-result

Choosing the right CLAT coaching is a personal decision that should align with your learning style, budget, and location. There isn't a single "best" one.

A humanistic approach suggests you consider these factors:

  1. Faculty & Focus: Look for institutions with experienced faculty who offer personalized doubt clearing, not just recorded lectures.

  2. Material Quality: The study material must be updated to the latest CLAT pattern, emphasizing Legal Reasoning and Current Affairs.

  3. Peer Environment: A strong peer group and competitive environment boost motivation.

The linked article from Careers360 provides context and lists major national players in the CLAT prep space, which you can use to start your comparison: https://law.careers360.com/articles/clat-online-coaching . Choose the one that feels like the best investment in your future

Yes, there are several law colleges in India that offer admission without requiring CLAT or other national-level entrance exams — and one such option is MERI Institute, Delhi .

At MERI Institute , students can pursue law courses based on their 12th-grade merit , without the stress of competitive entrance tests. This makes it an excellent choice for those who want to build a career in law but prefer a more straightforward admission process.

The institute focuses on practical legal education , with experienced faculty members, regular court visits, moot court training, and interactive seminars that help students understand real-world legal practices. The campus environment is supportive and student-friendly, offering both academic guidance and personal growth opportunities.

So, if you’re looking for law colleges without CLAT , MERI Institute in Delhi can be a great fit—providing quality education, a balanced learning approach, and a pathway to a successful law career without the pressure of tough entrance exams.