CLAT 2027 Cut Off: Category-Wise Marks, Rank & NLUs

Understanding the CLAT cut-off, category-wise reservation trends, and the NLU admission process is the most critical step when planning your law school goals. Whether you are aiming for a top college like NLSIU Bengaluru or planning your strategy for CLAT 2027 through NLTI's CLAT 2027 Coaching, looking at closing ranks, domicile rules, and marks trends will help you figure out what a safe score for top NLUs looks like.

 The CLAT cut-off changes every year based on exam difficulty, total students, available seats, reservation policies, and state domicile rules. There is no single national cut-off.

Table of Contents

1. CLAT 2026 Cut Off: NLU-Wise Closing Ranks

2. CLAT 2026 Cut Off: Top NLUs

3. Does Domicile Affect CLAT Cut Off?

4. CLAT Marks vs Rank: Rough Estimate

5. CLAT Cut Off Trends: Previous Years

6. What Factors Affect the CLAT Cut Off?

7. Does CLAT Cut Off Change After Round 1?

8. How to Use CLAT Cut Off for CLAT 2027

9. FAQs on CLAT Cut Off 2026

CLAT Cut Off 2026: NLU-Wise Closing Ranks

The table below shows the CLAT 2026 final fifth-allotment closing ranks for major NLUs. Domicile-based reservations are separately mentioned wherever applicable.

Note: A dash does not mean that the category has no reservation. Some NLUs have category seats linked to domicile or other reservation conditions. Always check the individual NLU's admission and reservation rules before comparing ranks.

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CLAT 2026 Cut Off: Top NLUs

For the General category, the final closing ranks for some of the major NLUs were:

These ranks are useful as a reference for CLAT 2027, but the closing rank can change from year to year.

Does Domicile Affect CLAT Cut Off?

Yes. Domicile can significantly affect the admission cut-off at some NLUs.

Several NLUs have seats reserved for candidates who meet their respective state domicile requirements. For example:

• RMLNLU Lucknow and RPNLU Prayagraj have UP domicile reservations.

• CNLU Patna has Bihar domicile reservations.

• NUALS Kochi has Kerala domicile-linked reservations.

• MNLU Mumbai, MNLU Nagpur, and MNLU Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar have Maharashtra domicile reservations.

• NLUJA Assam has Assam domicile reservations.

• NLUT Agartala has Tripura domicile reservations.

This means that two students with similar ranks may not have exactly the same NLU options if only one of them qualifies for a particular domicile reservation.

What should you check?

Before comparing your rank with an NLU's cut-off, check:

• Whether the NLU has a domicile reservation.

• Whether you meet its domicile requirements.

• The number of seats available under that reservation.

• The category-wise closing rank.

• The specific course you are applying for.

For example, NLU Jodhpur's 2026 brochure provides a 25% Rajasthan State Domicile horizontal reservation, showing why the General closing rank alone does not tell the complete admission picture.

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CLAT Marks vs Rank: Rough Estimate

Students often want to know how many marks they need for a particular rank, or look for a reliable CLAT score vs rank analysis. However, there is no fixed marks-to-rank conversion.

The same marks can result in different ranks depending on the difficulty of the paper and overall candidate performance. The following table can be used only as a rough reference.

A small difference in marks can lead to a significant difference in rank, especially at higher scores. Therefore, students should use this table to understand the broad rank range, rather than treating it as an exact prediction. 

CLAT Cut Off Trends: Previous Years

Looking at previous years can help students understand how closing ranks move over time.

The movement shows why students should not rely on one year's cut-off alone. Comparing the last 2–3 years gives a better idea of the possible range.

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What Factors Affect the CLAT Cut Off?

The CLAT cut-off can change because of several factors:

• Number of candidates

• Difficulty level of the paper

• Number of seats

• Category and reservation

• Domicile reservation

• Course or programme

• Candidate preferences

• Counselling round

• Withdrawals and upgrades

The Consortium's 2026 counselling data shows separate allotment lists for different NLUs and programmes, which is why a single national cut-off does not exist.

Does CLAT Cut Off Change After Round 1?

Yes. The closing rank can change during counselling.

Candidates may upgrade to another NLU, withdraw their seats, or leave vacancies. As a result, later counselling rounds can have different closing ranks from the first allotment.

CLAT 2026 had five central allotment rounds, with the fifth being the final central allotment. Vacant seats could still be reported separately by individual NLUs after the central counselling process.

How to Use CLAT Cut Off for CLAT 2027

Students preparing for CLAT 2027 can use previous cut-offs as a reference while building their NLU preference list.

1. Check your rank: Your rank is more useful than marks when comparing yourself with previous NLU closing ranks.

2. Check your category: Do not compare your rank only with the General-category closing rank if you belong to a reserved category.

3. Check domicile: Find out whether your state has a domicile reservation at any of the NLUs you are considering.

4. Check the course: Some NLUs have different programmes, and their closing ranks can vary.

5. Look at previous-year trends: Compare at least two or three years instead of relying on one closing rank.

6. Consider counselling movement: A closing rank can change between the first and final allotment rounds.

Do not treat a previous closing rank as a guaranteed admission rank. To build a foolproof strategy, many candidates rely on expert mentorship-driven coaching like NLTI to fine-tune their college preferences.

FAQs on CLAT Cut Off 2026

1. What is the CLAT cut-off?

The CLAT cut-off is generally the closing rank at which seats are allotted to candidates in a particular NLU, category, programme, and counselling round.

2. Is CLAT cut-off based on marks or rank?

NLU admission cut-offs are generally represented through closing ranks. Your marks determine your rank, but the marks required for a particular rank can change depending on the difficulty of the paper and overall performance.

3. What is the CLAT cut-off for NLSIU Bengaluru?

In the CLAT 2026 fifth allotment, the General-category closing rank for NLSIU Bengaluru was 108.

4. Does domicile affect CLAT admission?

Yes. Several NLUs have domicile-based reservations. Students who meet the relevant domicile requirements may be considered for seats under those reservations.

5. Can the CLAT cut-off change after Round 1?

Yes. Closing ranks can move in subsequent counselling rounds because of upgrades, withdrawals, and vacancies.

6. How many marks are required for a good NLU in CLAT?

There is no single marks requirement because the marks-to-rank relationship changes every year. Students should consider their rank, category, domicile, and the NLU-wise closing ranks together.

7. Is the CLAT cut-off the same for all categories?

No. Closing ranks can vary significantly across categories and reservation structures. Some NLUs also have domicile-based reservations.

8. Can I get an NLU with a lower rank than its previous-year closing rank?

It is possible if the cut-off moves in a later year or counselling round, but previous closing ranks should only be treated as a reference and not a guarantee.

Final Takeaway

There is no single CLAT cut-off for every student.

When checking your chances for an NLU, consider your rank, category, domicile, course preference, and previous-year closing ranks together. The CLAT 2026 cut-off gives you a useful reference for CLAT 2027, but the actual closing ranks will depend on the competition and counselling process in that admission cycle.

Preparing for CLAT 2027? You can start your preparation today through NLTI's specialized programs featuring mentorship-driven coaching, a structured study plan, and regular mock practice to secure your seat at a top National Law University.