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    CLAT 2026 Counselling: Freeze vs Float – What Works Best?

    CLAT 2026 Counselling: Freeze vs Float – What Works Best?

    #CLAT
    Mirza Farhan BaigUpdated on 02 Jan 2026, 05:49 PM IST

    The Consortium of National Law Universities closed the CLAT 2026 counselling registration window on December 27, 2025. Now, the first round of CLAT 2026 seat allotment will be published on January 7, 2026 on the official website. Candidates who are allotted seats will have three options, i.e., Float, Freeze, and Exit. Any candidate who does not wish to participate in the CLAT counselling can select the ‘Exit’ option and leave the admission process. There will be a total of five rounds of CLAT counselling 2026. On the other hand, any candidate who is satisfied with their seat allotment or has got the seat in their preferred NLU can select the ‘Freeze’ option to confirm their seat in the respective NLU. Any candidate who selects the freeze option in the first, or second, third, or fourth round will not be considered for further rounds of counselling.

    CLAT 2026 Counselling: Freeze vs Float – What Works Best?
    CLAT 2026 Counselling: Freeze vs Float – What Works Best?

    Those unsatisfied with their allotted seat and want to be considered for CLAT 2026 NLU with better preference, can choose the ‘Float’ option. It is really important to note that the float option is available only till the fourth round of counselling. Candidates must pay the non-refundable CLAT 2026 confirmation fee regardless of whether they choose Freeze or Float. The confirmation fee of Rs. 20,000 has to be paid only once, even if you float and freeze later.

    CLAT 2026 Counselling Schedule

    Event

    Date

    Counselling registration window

    December 16, 2025 - December 27, 2025

    CLAT 2026 first merit list

    January 07, 2026

    Confirmation fee payment & admission (Round 1)

    January 07, 2026 – January 15, 2026

    CLAT 2026 second merit list

    January 22, 2026

    Confirmation fee payment & admission (Round 2)

    January 22, 2026 – January 29, 2026

    CLAT 2026 third merit list

    February 05, 2026

    Confirmation fee payment & admission (Round 3)

    February 05, 2026 – February 12, 2026

    Last date to pay university fee (Rounds 1–3 freeze candidates)

    April 24, 2026

    CLAT 2026 fourth merit list

    May 02, 2026

    Confirmation fee payment & admission (Round 4)

    May 02, 2026 – May 08, 2026

    CLAT 2026 fifth merit list

    May 15, 2026

    Confirmation fee payment & admission (Final round)

    May 15, 2026 – May 20, 2026

    Last date to pay university fee (Rounds 4 & 5 freeze candidates)

    May 30, 2026

    CLAT 2026 Freeze vs FLoat: Which One To Choose

    The Consortium of NLUs will publish the first CLAT 2026 seat allotment on January 7, 2026. Satisfied candidates can immediately apply for the Freeze option. On the other hand, any other candidate who has been allotted an NLU which they are not satisfied with can select the Float option. One selecting the Float option must remember that the seat allotment is based on their CLAT score and the NLU preference selected by them. If any candidate has been allotted an NLU which was in their top five preference during counselling registration, then it is highly recommended to freeze it later.

    CLAT 2026 Refund Policy

    Scenario

    Refund Outcome

    Not allotted seat after all rounds

    Full refund

    Exits before 1:00 PM on May 8, 2026

    Full refund

    Exits after 1:00 PM on May 8, 2026

    Rs. 5,000 deducted

    Found ineligible by NLU

    Rs. 5,000 deducted

    Forfeiting the seat after accepting

    Confirmation fee not refunded

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