Is CLAT Tougher than JEE? Check Detailed Analysis

If you have secured a CLAT 2026 rank of 13656 and are aiming for admission to LLM programmes in National Law Universities (NLUs), it’s important to understand how selection usually works. LLM admissions at most NLUs depend primarily on the candidate’s CLAT PG rank, but the level of competition is high because many applicants compete for a limited number of seats. With a rank around 13656, the chances of securing a seat in the most sought-after NLUs like NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata or National Law University Delhi are quite slim because these institutions tend to have much higher closing ranks for most specialisations in their LLM programmes.

However, your rank keeps you in a position to explore other good NLUs and national law schools where the closing ranks are relatively lower or have larger seat matrices. Institutions such as Hidayatullah National Law University Raipur, National Law University Odisha, Gujarat National Law University, Tamil Nadu National Law University, Chanakya National Law University Patna and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University Lucknow have historically had closing ranks beyond the top five NLUs. These universities often offer quality legal education, experienced faculty, moot court activities, internships and decent placement opportunities for LLM graduates. Many of them also have specialisations in areas like constitutional law, corporate law, human rights law and international law, giving you options to pursue your interests.

It is also essential to remember that CLAT PG counselling usually happens in multiple rounds, including mop-up and stray vacancy rounds, through which seats in various universities are reallocated as candidates make changes or withdraw. With a rank in the mid-range, participating in all counselling rounds will improve your chances because some seats open up later in the process. Apart from NLUs, some universities and law schools that accept CLAT PG scores may also offer admission based on home-state quotas or reserved category benefits if applicable to you. Evaluating all these options with an open mind will help you find a suitable law institute where you can pursue your LLM and build your legal career.

All the best.

With a CLAT PG rank of 1257 in the SC category and being a woman candidate with Rajasthan domicile, you do have a realistic chance of securing admission to several National Law Universities, though the top NLUs may be difficult at this rank. Admission chances depend heavily on category-wise cut-offs, domicile reservations, and how many seats are available in a given year. For top-tier NLUs like NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, or NLUD, the closing ranks for SC category usually fall much lower, so chances there are minimal. However, you should definitely consider mid- and lower-ranked NLUs where SC category cut-offs often extend beyond 1200–1500 ranks.

You should prioritise NLUs that offer domicile or state quota benefits, especially those closer to your home state or neighbouring regions. National Law University Jodhpur (if applicable under domicile or category movement), Hidayatullah National Law University Raipur, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University Lucknow, Gujarat National Law University Gandhinagar, Maharashtra National Law University (Nagpur or Aurangabad), National Law University Odisha, and Tamil Nadu National Law University are some options where candidates in the SC category with similar ranks have secured seats in previous counselling rounds. Lower-tier NLUs like Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University, Himachal Pradesh National Law University, and Dharmashastra National Law University can also be kept in your preference list as safer options.

Your strategy should be to keep a wide preference list during counselling, placing mid-ranked NLUs first and then moving to lower NLUs, rather than restricting yourself only to a few choices. Also, stay active during subsequent counselling rounds and vacancy rounds, as many seats in the SC category are filled later due to withdrawals. Overall, while top NLUs may be tough, you have a fair chance of getting into a decent NLU if you plan your preferences smartly and remain flexible.

With a CLAT PG rank of around 11,000, getting admission into the top National Law Universities (NLUs) is not likely, as their general category cut-offs usually close much earlier. However, you still have realistic chances in lower-ranked and newer NLUs, especially in the later rounds of CLAT counselling or through vacant seats.

At this rank, you may consider NLUs such as NLU Tripura, NLU Meghalaya, NLU Nagaland, NLU Sikkim, NLU Andhra Pradesh, NLU Odisha, NLU Jabalpur, and NLU Aurangabad, particularly if you belong to a reserved category like SC, ST, OBC, EWS, or have domicile or women reservation applicable. Cut-offs for these universities tend to go higher in rank compared to older NLUs, and seats often open up in subsequent counselling rounds due to withdrawals.

If you do not secure an NLU seat, you should also strongly consider reputed state and private law universities that accept CLAT PG scores or conduct their own entrance tests. Universities such as Faculty of Law, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Delhi University (DU – through CUET PG), Jamia Millia Islamia, Symbiosis Law School, Christ University, Jindal Global Law School, and Nirma University are good alternatives for LLM aspirants. Many of these institutions offer strong academic exposure, experienced faculty, and good research opportunities, sometimes even better than newer NLUs.

Overall, while a rank of 11,000 limits options in top NLUs, admission is still possible in newer NLUs or good non-NLU law universities, provided you actively participate in counselling rounds and keep backup options ready.

With a CLAT 2026 All India Rank around 2070, Telangana domicile, and holding an OBC certificate (girl candidate), your chances of getting admission into a top-tier NLU like NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, NUJS Kolkata or NLU Jodhpur are quite low, as their closing ranks are usually much higher. However, you still have realistic chances in several mid-tier and newer NLUs, especially if OBC reservation and domicile or women reservation is applicable.

Based on previous years’ counselling trends, you can reasonably expect chances in NLUs such as NLU Odisha (Cuttack), NLIU Bhopal (borderline, depending on category movement), NLU Assam (Guwahati), DSNLU Visakhapatnam, TNNLU Tiruchirappalli, HPNLU Shimla, NLU Tripura, NLU Meghalaya, NLU Sikkim, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar NLU Sonipat. Some of these universities see rank movement in later rounds and vacancies, particularly for reserved categories and women candidates.

Since you are from Telangana, you should definitely keep NALSAR Hyderabad in your preference list, but only after all higher NLUs, as the domicile quota is limited and usually closes at a much better rank. Still, it is worth trying because domicile and category together can sometimes help in spot or vacancy rounds.

Your best strategy would be to prepare a balanced preference list: first include all top NLUs, then mid-tier NLUs like NLU Odisha and NLIU Bhopal, followed by newer and lower-ranked NLUs where your rank has a stronger chance. Make sure you actively participate in all counselling rounds, including vacancies, as many seats open up after withdrawals.

Cut-offs vary every year depending on seat intake, category distribution, and counselling dynamics, so even if you miss out in early rounds, you should not lose hope. Keep your documents ready, track counselling updates closely, and stay flexible with preferences to maximize your chances of securing an NLU seat.

Hello there,

Here is a list of government and semi-government colleges that accept CLAT score:

1. IIM Rohtak
2. Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University
3. National Forensic Science University
4. CUSAT
5. Jamia Hamdard University

However, these universities also carry out separate registration to apply using your CLAT Scorecard.

I hope this helps you.

Thankyou.