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    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

    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 a rank of 3917 in CLAT PG, your best options for an LLM include top private universities that accept CLAT scores, along with CUETPG opportunities. Some of the best non-NLU options are BHU, LPU Jalandhar, UPES Dehradun, etc.

    Hello Santosh,

    Domicile cut-offs are unpredictable. You can apply and get a seat only if the domicile category is selected. You can apply, but the chances of getting either of them are rare.

    CLAT is an entrance examination conducted for admissions into law colleges. The qualifying marks vary with the colleges. You should check the details on the website to get a clear idea regarding cut offs for the colleges. You will also get the exam pattern through the article shared.

    The exact number for students appeared for CLAT has not been revealed yet. About 88,657 students appeared Nationwide for CLAT examination.

    Hello, it is highly unlikely to get admission to the GGSIPU Main Campus or VIPS. However, you can target other colleges affiliated with GGSIPU through the counselling process.