CLAT 2026: Is 70 Marks Enough This Year? NLU Chances Explained with Past Cut-Offs
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CLAT 2026: Is 70 Marks Enough This Year? NLU Chances Explained with Past Cut-Offs

Isha GargUpdated on 07 Dec 2025, 06:04 PM IST

Scoring 70 marks in CLAT 2026 generally places candidates around a rank of 10,700 to 11,500, though this can vary yearly. For general category students, 70 marks is usually below the top NLUs CLAT cutoff, like NLSIU Bengaluru and NALSAR Hyderabad, where scores above 90 are often needed. Reserved category candidates (SC, ST, OBC, EWS) have better chances with 70 marks, as CLAT cutoffs for these categories are lower. General candidates with 70 marks should consider NLUs with moderate cutoffs or reputable private and state universities that accept CLAT scores.

CLAT 2026: Is 70 Marks Enough This Year? NLU Chances Explained with Past Cut-Offs
CLAT 2026: Is 70 Marks Enough This Year? NLU Chances Explained with Past Cut-Offs

CLAT 2026 General Cut-Off for Top NLUs

NLUs

Expected CLAT 2026 cut-off marks for general

Expected CLAT 2026 cut-off rank for general

NLSIU Bengaluru

100+

100

NALSAR Hyderabad

100+

150

WBNUJS Kolkata

98+

250

NLU Jodhpur

95+

350

NLIU Bhopal

95+

450

GNLU Gandhinagar

95+

450

MNLU Mumbai

93+

600

RMNLU Lucknow

91+

750

HNLU Raipur

91+

800

NLU Odisha

89+

1200

Analysis of NLUs for 70 CLAT Marks - General Category Students

For general category candidates scoring around 70 marks in CLAT 2026, admission chances in top NLUs are almost negligible, even in the third round of counselling. This is because the rank associated with 70 marks usually falls between 10,700 and 11,500, which is below the usual cutoffs for the best NLUs.

Tier 1 National Law Universities, such as NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata (BA LLB), NLIU Bhopal (BA LLB), GNLU Gandhinagar, and NLU Jodhpur, typically require ranks well within the top few hundred. Admission in these NLUs generally demands scores above 90 marks. Therefore, general category candidates with 70 marks should focus on NLUs with moderate cutoffs or explore reputed private and state universities accepting CLAT scores.

NLUs for 70 CLAT Marks for EWS (2023-2025 Opening and Closing Rank)

University

2023

2024

2025

NUALS Kochi

5660* - 41647*

6867* - 14922*

4238* - 22632*

NLUJA Assam

-

-

3740* - 18701*

MNLU Nagpur

2710* - 14738

3974* - 6285*

7863* - 16868*

MNLU Aurangabad

13589* (opening rank)

7863* - 16868*

8328* - 23203*

*state category reservation

Analysis of NLUs for 70 CLAT Marks - EWS Category

From 2023 to 2025, NUALS Kochi shows wide closing ranks for EWS category students, ranging from over 41,000 in 2023 to about 22,600 in 2025. These ranks indicate state quota, meaning they are domicile ranks applicable to candidates from Kerala under the state reservation. NLUJA Assam has closing ranks near 18,700 for EWS. MNLU Nagpur’s opening and closing ranks range from 2,700 to 14,700 in 2023, and from 7,800 to 16,800 in 2025, all marked as domicile ranks under the Maharashtra state quota.

MNLU Aurangabad shows opening ranks from around 13,500 in 2023 to about 8,300 in 2025, while closing ranks are up to 23,200; these are domicile ranks for the Maharashtra state quota. These ranks correspond mostly to tier 3 NLUs, where state quota seats improve admission chances for local candidates with CLAT marks around 70.

NLUs for 70 CLAT Marks for OBC (Last 5-year Opening and Closing Rank)

University

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

DSNLU Visakhapatnam

-

8881 - 11160

7113* - 16077*

2068 - 2940

2472 - 3813

NLUJA Assam

6260* - 48871*

5542* - 39724*

4913* - 38136*

7386* - 37438*

10753* - 40275*

MNLU Nagpur

*6808 - *19330

6293* - 18196*

7420* - 22745*

3089* - 17245*

2230*- 15059*

MNLU Aurangabad

9091* - 22502*

19850* - 34225

12558 - 24704

14714* - 18004*

11062* - 19813*

*State category reservation

Analysis of NLUs for 70 CLAT Marks - OBC Category

The OBC category cutoffs across major NLUs such as DSNLU Visakhapatnam, NLUJA Assam, MNLU Nagpur, and MNLU Aurangabad show gradual shifts over five years. Many ranks represent domicile quotas, reserved for state candidates. DSNLU Visakhapatnam’s opening ranks fell from around 8,881 in 2022 to 2,068 in 2024, with closing ranks varying between 11,160 and 3,813 by 2025. NLUJA Assam consistently had high closing ranks, often above 4,900 and spiking above 40,000, taking a large number of applicants with broad state quota effects.

MNLU Nagpur and MNLU Aurangabad’s opening and closing ranks represent domicile ranks under the Maharashtra state quota. For MNLU Nagpur, opening ranks have ranged roughly from 6,293 to 2,230, while closing ranks have varied from about 19,330 down to 15,059 over the years. Similarly, MNLU Aurangabad’s opening ranks have shifted between approximately 9,091 and 14,714, with closing ranks spanning from 18,000 to over 30,000.

NLUs for 70 CLAT Marks for SC and ST (5-Year Analysis)

Category

Estimated rank range for 70 marks

NLUs likely for admission

SC

10700 - 11500 and above

CNLU Patna, NUALS Kochi, NUSRL Ranchi, TNNLU Tiruchirappalli, MNLU Nagpur, NLUJA Assam, DSNLU Visakhapatnam, MNLU Aurangabad, MPDNLU Jabalpur, DBRANLU Sonepat

ST

10700 - 11500 and above

GNLU Gandhinagar, GNLU Silvassa Campus, RMLNLU Lucknow, RGNUL Patiala, CNLU Patna, NUALS Kochi, NLU Odisha, NUSRL Ranchi, TNNLU Tiruchirappalli, MNLU Mumbai, MNLU Nagpur, NLUJA Assam, DSNLU Visakhapatnam, MNLU Aurangabad, HPNLU Shimla, MPDNLU Jabalpur, DBRANLU Sonepat, MNLU Mumbai, NLUT Agartala

Analysis of NLUs for 70 CLAT Marks - SC and ST Category

SC students scoring around 70 marks in CLAT 2026 have a reasonable chance of admission at several NLUs. These include CNLU Patna (BA & BBA LLB), NUALS Kochi, NUSRL Ranchi, TNNLU Tiruchirappalli, MNLU Nagpur, NLUJA Assam, DSNLU Visakhapatnam, MNLU Aurangabad, MPDNLU Jabalpur, and DBRANLU Sonepat, among others. These NLUs have historically admitted SC candidates with closing ranks often above 11,000.

ST candidates scoring around 70 marks in CLAT 2026 can expect admission at many NLUs, including GNLU Gandhinagar, GNLU Silvassa Campus, RMLNLU Lucknow, RGNUL Patiala, CNLU Patna, NUALS Kochi, NLU Odisha, NUSRL Ranchi, TNNLU Tiruchirappalli, MNLU Mumbai, MNLU Nagpur, NLUJA Assam, DSNLU Visakhapatnam, MNLU Aurangabad, HPNLU Shimla, MPDNLU Jabalpur, DBRANLU Sonepat, and NLUT Agartala. These institutes admit ST candidates at closing ranks well beyond 11,000.

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Questions related to CLAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CLAT ?

With an AIR of 34724 and OBC category rank of 7153, chances of getting a seat in DSNLU Visakhapatnam are low in early rounds. However, since you are already invited for counselling, there may be some chance in later rounds depending on seat vacancy and cut-off movement. You should participate

With a CLAT LLM rank of 13656, getting a top NLU is difficult. You may have chances in lower-ranked NLUs or private law universities, depending on seat availability and category.


You can check CLAT LLM counselling details here:

https://law.careers360.com/articles/clat-llm-cut-off


With a CLAT PG rank of 1257 in the SC category and being a woman candidate with Rajasthan domicile, you do have a realistic chance of securing admission to several National Law Universities, though the top NLUs may be difficult at this rank. Admission chances depend heavily on category-wise cut-offs,

With a CLAT PG rank of around 11,000, getting admission into the top National Law Universities (NLUs) is not likely, as their general category cut-offs usually close much earlier. However, you still have realistic chances in lower-ranked and newer NLUs, especially in the later rounds of CLAT counselling or through

With a CLAT 2026 All India Rank around 2070, Telangana domicile, and holding an OBC certificate (girl candidate), your chances of getting admission into a top-tier NLU like NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, NUJS Kolkata or NLU Jodhpur are quite low, as their closing ranks are usually much higher. However, you