CLAT 2026 Cutoff: What to Expect vs Last Year

If you are preparing for CLAT 2026, your preparation strategy must be aligned with real cutoff trends, not social media speculation. CLAT 2025 introduced slight anomalies at the very top, but the broader cutoff structure across NLUs remains largely stable when compared with CLAT 2024.

Understanding this comparison helps you set realistic score targets, choose NLU preferences wisely, and avoid panic-driven expectations.

Best CLAT Coaching Online 2026–2027 by NLTI

What Changed in CLAT 2025?

CLAT 2025 saw minor softening at the very top, especially for NLSIU Bengaluru. Traditionally, NLSIU closes near 98–100 marks for general-category candidates. However, in 2025, the closing mark dipped closer to 95, which was widely considered an exception driven by paper profile and counselling dynamics, not a permanent shift.

For other top NLUs:

• NALSAR Hyderabad closed around the 94 mark range

• WBNUJS Kolkata closed near the 92 mark range

Across the top 10–12 NLUs, general-category admissions typically closed between 90–92 marks, corresponding roughly to AIR 1,200–1,300.

At the lower end:

• Mid-tier NLUs closed around 85–90 marks

• Newer NLUs, through extended spot rounds, saw admissions even near 65–75 marks

So yes, CLAT 2025 was slightly more forgiving at the margins, but the overall competitive structure did not change radically.

Read More: Live Classes vs Recorded Modules: Best for CLAT Prep

What This Means for CLAT 2026 Aspirants

CLAT 2026 is expected to revert to the long-term equilibrium rather than follow the temporary softness seen in 2025. Based on consistent multi-year trends:

Top 3 NLUs (NLSIU, NALSAR, WBNUJS)

Target 98–100+ marks for safety. Treat 95 as a cushion, not a guarantee.

Top 10–12 NLUs

A reliable target remains 90–95 marks.

Mid-tier NLUs (GNLU, NLIU, MNLU, RMLNLU, etc.)

Expect closing ranges between 85–90 marks.

Tier-3 NLUs & Spot Rounds

Admissions may go down to 65–80 marks, depending on demand and withdrawal patterns.

In short:

100+ marks = Safe top-tier territory

90–95 marks = Strong national-level competitiveness

85–90 marks = Mid-tier zone

65–80 marks = Extended opportunity through later rounds

Read More: Adaptive Tests & Personal Feedback in CLAT 2026 Coaching

Key Strategic Lessons for CLAT 2026

1. Prepare for 100, not 95

Treat CLAT 2025’s softened top cutoff as an outlier. Long-term NLSIU cutoffs historically sit closer to 100.

2. Track mock percentiles, not just scores

Rank ultimately decides your seat. Always benchmark against national-level mock ranks.

3. Do not rely on spot rounds as a strategy

Spot rounds depend on unpredictable withdrawals. Preparation must assume regular counselling only.

4. Category cutoffs will continue to differ sharply

Reserved-category students will see significantly lower closing ranks, but competition within categories is also tightening year by year.

Rank-Based Historical Cutoff Table (General Category)

Read More: CLAT 2026: Scoring, Negative Marking, Cutoffs & Tie-Breakers

Final Takeaway

CLAT 2026 cutoffs will remain high and competitive despite small year-to-year fluctuations. Aspirants should still target 95+ for top NLUs and treat anything below 90 as unstable for national-level seats. One soft year does not change the long-term cutoff trend.

We at NLTI help students benchmark their mock scores against multi-year cutoff data, ensuring target setting is realistic and strategy stays score-driven rather than assumption-based.