Freeze, Float or Exit? A Rational Guide to CLAT 2026 Counselling Choices
The Consortium of National Law Universities (CNLU) is currently conducting the CLAT 2026 counselling process. The CLAT 2026 counselling registration is open from December 17 to December 27, 2025, until 10 pm. The CLAT 2026 first seat allotment will be published on January 7, 2026. Once the CLAT 2026 seat allotment is announced, candidates allotted seats will have three options to exercise: Freeze, Float, and Exit. Candidates who are satisfied with their seats can choose the Freeze option, those unsatisfied with their seat but want to be considered for better seats can choose Float and those candidates who do not want to be part of the further admission process can choose the Exit option. Read the complete article for more information on CLAT 2026 counselling, seat allotment, Freeze, Float, Exit and more.
CLAT 2026 Counselling Schedule
Event | Date |
Counselling registration begins | December 16, 2025 |
Last date for 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 |
CLAT 2026 Seat Allotment - Freeze, Flotat and Exit Options
Option | What It Means | When to Choose It | Impact on Seat Allotment |
Freeze | The candidate accepts the allotted NLU and course and does not wish to participate in further counselling rounds. | When you are fully satisfied with the allotted NLU and course. | Seat is confirmed and the candidate is not considered for further rounds. |
Float | The candidate accepts the current seat but wishes to be considered for a higher-preferred NLU or course in the next round. | When you are satisfied with the seat but want a possible upgrade. | Current seat is retained and the candidate is considered only for higher preferences. |
Exit | The candidate withdraws completely from the CLAT counselling process. | When you do not want to accept the allotted seat or continue counselling. | Seat is forfeited and the candidate is removed from all further rounds. |
CLAT 2026 Seat Allotment
The Consortium of NLUs will publish the first CLAT 2026 seat allotment on January 7, 2026. Candidates who have been allotted seats will be able to exercise the above given options through their candidate login once the seat allotment results are out. Apart from exercising these options, candidates willing to take admission will be required to complete admission formalities like document verification, fee payment etc.
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Questions related to CLAT
On Question asked by student community
Have a question related to CLAT ?
Hello,
CLAT or Common Law Admission Test, a national level examination, is conducted for admission to the law colleges and universities.
With your rank you can get mid tier NLUs and newer NLUs. Some of the Institutes are RGNUL Patiala, CNLU Patna, NLUT Agartala, etc. Keep a eye on the cut off scores and counseling rounds.
Here is a college predictor via your rank designed by Careers360.
https://law.careers360.com/clat-college-predictor
Check out the official website of Careers360 for more information regarding the colleges.
https://law.careers360.com/articles/clat-2026-rank-wise-college-list
Thank you.
Hello,
No, with a CLAT rank of 9515, it does not offer any admission to the University School of Law and Legal Studies.
As per the stats provided, USLLS BA LLB (Hons) lists the OBC category entries from 4600 to 5600 ranks.
For further clarifications visit
https://www.careers360.com/colleges/university-school-of-law-and-legal-studies-new-delhi/cut-off
Hope it helps with your query. Good luck.
Hello,
For your mentioned rank, the top elite law universities are constrained to be limited, especially when the chance is fairly divided among reserved category people.
But apart from CLAT rank, NRI admissions have some different processes.
Some NLUs handle counselling with required eligibility and quotas. The counselling registration window is open until December 27, 2025. You can apply to know through them. Because even missing application deadlines will lessen your eligibility.
NRI admissions regarding CLAT can be applied directly with the major required document proofs.
Cutoffs to 10,000 are being allotted after regular rounds for counselling, but the course fee for this will be 10-20 lakhs per annum only if the candidate is either of these: NRI, OCI, or PIO.
For further clarifications check the official portal
Consortium of (https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in/clat-2026/) NLUs.
Hope it helps with your query. Good luck.
Hello,
Here is your CLAT 2026 Rank-Wise College List - Available NLUs in your rank range. I am providing you the link. Kindly open and check it out.
https://law.careers360.com/articles/clat-2026-rank-wise-college-list
I hope it will help you. For any further query please let me know.
Thank you.
Hello,
With an OBC category rank of 2796 and All India Rank (AIR) 15163 in CLAT 2026, your chances of admission into a National Law University (NLU) are moderate too low for the top NLUs, but you may still secure a seat in some of the newer or lower-ranked NLUs depending on the cutoffs and counselling rounds.
For more access mentioned link below:
https://law.careers360.com/articles/nlu-cutoff
Hope it helps.
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