To clear CLAT 2026, aspirants need to target a score that aligns with their category's cut-off and desired National Law Universities (NLUs). For general category candidates aiming for top NLUs like NLSIU Bengaluru or NALSAR Hyderabad, securing more than 90 marks out of 120 is crucial. A score of 90+ roughly corresponds to an 80% or above cut-off score, considering negative marking and question reductions. This score range generally corresponds to ranks under 500, making several top NLUs accessible for candidates.
Candidates from the EWS category should aim for 85-95 marks, while OBC aspirants typically need between 80-90 marks to get into top NLUs. SC candidates with 75-85 marks have good chances in top and mid-tier NLU, including WBNUJS Kolkata and NLU Jodhpur. ST students in the same range can aim for HNLU Raipur, NUSRL Ranchi, and lower-tier NLUs like DBRANLU Sonepat or NLUT Agartala. Scoring below 85 marks generally limits the admission chances for general category students in counselling rounds.
NLU Name | General | EWS | OBC | SC | ST |
100+ | 95+ | 90+ | 83+ | 78+ | |
100+ | 95+ | 90+ | 82+ | 78+ | |
98+ | - | 56+* | 80+ | 74+ | |
95+ | - | 88+ | 79+ | 74+ | |
95+ | 90+ | 87+ | 77+ | 70+ | |
93+ | 81+ | 77+* | 71+* | 41+* | |
91+ | 85+ | 82+* | 53+* | 41+* |
*state category reservation
Good cutoff ranks in CLAT UG 2026 decide admission to top National Law Universities (NLUs). These ranks close after each counselling round based on seat availability and the number of candidates. General category students target ranks under 500 for NLSIU Bengaluru or NALSAR Hyderabad. Reserved categories benefit from quotas, allowing higher ranks like 3000+ for SC/ST in top NLUs.
NLU | General | EWS | OBC | SC | ST |
NLSIU Bengaluru | 100 | 700 | 1540 | 3130 | 3400 |
NALSAR Hyderabad | 150 | 550 | 1220 | 3273 | 3600 |
WBNUJS Kolkata | 300 | - | 4200* | 4750 | 6350 |
NLU Jodhpur | 350 | 980 | 1770 | 5450 | 5950 |
GNLU Gandhinagar | 440 | 1120 | 2300 | 5900 | 8570 |
NLIU Bhopal | 480 | 1370 | 1750 | 5760 | 8250 |
MNLU Mumbai | 1470 | 7500* | 8000* | 15600* | 13120* |
HNLU Raipur | 800 | - | 2400 | 7660 | 10500 |
*state category reservation
A good score in CLAT PG 2026 is expected to be 71 or more marks out of 120 for candidates aiming for admission to top National Law Universities (NLUs). According to the CLAT PG 2026 marks versus rank analysis, scoring 71+ marks generally gets a student into a rank within the top 100. This rank is sufficient to clear the CLAT LLM cut-off for premier NLUs such as NLSIU Bengaluru and NALSAR Hyderabad, making admission possible to these highly competitive institutions.
NLU | General | EWS | OBC | SC | ST |
NLSIU Bengaluru | 200 | 900 | 1200 | 1600 | 3600 |
NALSAR Hyderabad | 300 | 900 | 1400 | 2200 | 4300 |
WBNUJS Kolkata | 600 | - | 11000* | 2700 | 5500 |
NLU Jodhpur | 600 | - | 2000 | 3400 | 5500 |
GNLU Gandhinagar | 600 | 1200 | 2700 | 3800 | 6300 |
NLIU Bhopal | 600 | - | 1900 | 3700 | 6000 |
MNLU Mumbai | 700 | 4200* | 3600* | 5200* | 9300* |
HNLU Raipur | 1000 | - | 3400 | 5000 | 7500 |
*state category reservation
In CLAT UG 2026, a score of 90+ places a student among the top performers. This score ensures entry into leading NLUs such as NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, NLIU Bhopal, WBNUJS Kolkata, NLU Jodhpur, and GNLU Gandhinagar. Scores in the 85-90 range also secure strong ranks. These scores often open seats in respected NLUs like HNLU Raipur, RMLNLU Lucknow, RGNUL Patiala, CNLU Patna, NUALS Kochi, and NLU Odisha.
With 80-85, the chances shift toward newer or mid-tier NLUs, including NLUJ Assam, MPDNLU Jabalpur, and NLUT Agartala. Scores below 80 generally fall outside the usual cutoffs for general-category admission in the early rounds.
On Question asked by student community
Hi,
If you're sure that you want to pursue law, then CLAT is generally the better option. It is the gateway to most National Law Universities (NLUs), which are among the top law colleges in India.
However, CUET is also worth considering as it can help you get admission to
Hello Komal,
Here are the links to the CLAT Exam previous year question papers.
Hello Banju,
You can download the CLAT 2021 question paper with solutions from the link below:
https://law.careers360.com/articles/clat-2021-question-paper-with-solution
Hello Dear Student,
With a CLAT PG rank of 4649 and CUET PG score of 106 , getting top NLUs or central universities may be difficult. However, you still have good options for pursuing an LLM in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) at private and state-affiliated universities.
Some suitable options include:
Hello Dear Student,
You should prepare for CLAT if your goal is to get admission into a top National Law University (NLU) for a 5-year integrated law course like BA LLB or BBA LLB.
You should choose CUET UG if you want admission into:
Among top 100 Universities Globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026
Ranked #1 Law School in India & South Asia by QS- World University Rankings | Merit cum means scholarships | Applications Closing Soon
Excellent curriculum; an impressive range of electives, besides core law courses. Up to 100% merit scholarship on a first-come, first-served basis
In-house judicial coaching | Proven success in National Moot Court Competitions
North India's Largest Educational Group | NIRF Ranked 87 | NAAC A+ Grade | Highest Package 1.6 Cr | Application Closing Soon
Admissions open for B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) and LL.B Program (3 Years) | School of Law, MRU ranked No. 1 in Law Schools of Excellence in India by GHRDC (2023)