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    CLAT 2026 Counselling Mistakes That Can Cost You a NLU Seat

    CLAT 2026 Counselling Mistakes That Can Cost You a NLU Seat

    #CLAT
    Sansar Singh ChhikaraUpdated on 26 Dec 2025, 05:17 PM IST

    The CLAT 2026 counselling process is currently underway. The Consortium of NLUs opened the CLAT 2026 counselling window on December 16, 2025, and candidates invited for counselling can complete their counselling registration online till December 27, 2025. The CLAT 2026 counselling is a very critical part of candidates’ way to any NLU. Candidates will be allotted seats to different NLUs through the CLAT 2026 counselling. Given the importance of the counselling process, candidates must make sure they avoid any unwanted mistakes that can cost them an NLU seat. In this article, we will discuss the common mistakes in CLAT 2026 counselling and how to avoid them.

    CLAT 2026 Counselling Mistakes That Can Cost You a NLU Seat
    CLAT 2026 Counselling Mistakes That Can Cost You a NLU Seat

    CLAT 2026 Counselling Schedule

    Event

    Date

    Counselling registration begins

    December 16, 2025

    Last date for CLAT counselling registration & fee payment

    December 27, 2025

    First allotment list released

    January 07, 2026

    Confirmation fee payment & admission (Round 1)

    January 07, 2026 – January 15, 2026

    Second allotment list released

    January 22, 2026

    Confirmation fee payment & admission (Round 2)

    January 22, 2026 – January 29, 2026

    Third allotment list released

    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

    Fourth allotment list released

    May 02, 2026

    Confirmation fee payment & admission (Round 4)

    May 02, 2026 – May 08, 2026

    Fifth and final allotment list released

    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

    Mistakes to Avoid in CLAT 2026 Counselling

    Here are some basic tips to avoid common mistakes in the CLAT 2026 counselling:

    Do not miss the CLAT 2026 counselling registration deadline

    The very first step to participate in the CLAT 2026 admission process is registering for the counselling process. The CLAT 2026 counselling registration opened on December 16, and candidates can register for the same until December 27. 2026. Candidates will not be allowed to register for the CLAT 2026 counselling after 6 pm on December 27, 2026.

    Pay the CLAT 2026 counselling fee on time

    The CLAT counselling registration 2026 will only be completed after the payment of the counselling fee. Candidates are required to pay a fee of Rs 30,000 as a counselling fee at the time of counselling registration. The CLAT 2026 counselling fee can only be paid through online mode of payment.

    Entering the Wrong Preference of NLUs

    While completing the counselling registration process, candidates will also be required to add their NLU choices in order of preference. Candidates must make sure that they enter their NLU preferences in the correct order. A rank-wise NLU preference order for CLAT 2026 has been given below:

    CLAT 2026 NLU Preference List

    1. NLSIU Bengaluru

    2. NALSAR Hyderabad

    3. WBNUJS Kolkata( BA LLB)

    4. NLU Jodhpur

    5. GNLU Gandhinagar

    6. NLIU Bhopal (BA LLB)

    7. MNLU Mumbai

    8. WBNUJS Kolkata (BSc.LLB Hons)

    9. RMLNLU Lucknow

    10. HNLU Raipur

    11. NLIU Bhopal (BSc LLB)

    12. NLU Odisha BA LLB

    13. NLU Odisha BBA LLB

    14. RGNUL Patiala

    15. NUALS Kochi

    16. CNLU Patna (BA LLB)

    17. GNLU Silvassa Campus

    18. MNLU Nagpur - BA LLB

    19. CNLU Patna (BBA LLB)

    20. MNLU Nagpur - BBA LLB

    21. NUSRL Ranchi BA LLB

    22. DSNLU Visakhapatnam

    23. NUSRL Ranchi BBA LLB

    24. TNNLU Tiruchirappalli BA LLB

    25. DBRANLU Sonepat

    26. TNNLU Tiruchirappalli BCom LLB

    27. MNLU Aurangabad- BA LLB

    28. NLUJA Assam

    29. MPDNLU Jabalpur

    30. MNLU Aurangabad - BBA LLB

    31. RPNLU Prayagraj

    32. HPNLU Shimla - BA LLB

    33. HPNLU Shimla - BBA LLB

    34. IIULER Goa BA LLB

    35. IIULER Goa BBA LLB

    36. NLUT Agartala

    Misunderstanding Freeze, Float and Exit Options

    During the CLAT 2026 seat allotment rounds, candidates will be given three options to choose from - Freeze, Float and Exit. Before the seat allotment rounds, candidates must get a good knowledge of these three options and their uses. To make things clear for candidates, the Freeze option will be used in case candidates are satisfied with the seat allotted and do not wish to participate in further counselling rounds. In case candidates want to accept the seat allotted to them, but want better seats, they can choose the Float option. If candidates are not satisfied with the seat and wish not to participate in the further admission process, they can choose the Exit option.

    Failing to Upload Correct Documents for Verification

    Candidates allotted seats in the CLAT 2026 seat allotment rounds are required to upload some documents for verification and seat confirmation. Candidates must make sure that they upload these documents in the specified format. No document copy should be blurred or incorrect.

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