CLAT 2026 Counselling Begins: Click Here for Dates, Registration, Seat Allotment and Latest Updates
Published On - Dec 18, 2025 12:49PM IST
The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 counselling process was started by NLU on 17 December 2025. It is the initial step for admission to the undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes in the faculties of law at 24 National Law Universities (NLUs). The candidates who appeared for the exam and have qualified for the exam will be required to now follow the next essential stage of registration, document verification, and seat allotment. The CLAT 2026 counselling procedure this year has been updated in several ways to facilitate the admission process and to make it more transparent.
CLAT 2026 Admissions Counselling Calendar
Particulars | Schedule |
Registration for Admissions Counselling (including payment of Counselling Registration Fee) | 06:00 P.M., December 17, 2025, to 10:00 P.M., December 27, 2025 |
Publication of First Allotment List (First round of counselling starts) | January 07, 2026, at 10:00 A.M. |
Payment of Confirmation Fee to Consortium for Freeze and Float options and Admission by NLUs for the First Allotment List | 10:00 A.M. on January 07, 2026, to 1:00 P.M. on January 15, 2026 |
Publication of Second Allotment List (Second round of counselling starts) | 10:00 A.M. on January 22, 2026 |
Payment of Confirmation Fee to Consortium for Freeze and Float options and Admission by NLUs for the Second Allotment List | 10:00 A.M. on January 22, 2026, to 1:00 P.M. on January 29, 2026 |
Publication of Third Allotment List (Third round of counselling starts) | 10:00 A.M. on February 05, 2026 |
Payment of Confirmation Fee to Consortium for Freeze and Float options and Admission by NLUs for the Third Allotment List | 10:00 A.M. on February 05, 2026, to 1:00 P.M. on February 12, 2026 |
Payment of University Fee (after adjusting for Confirmation Fee and Counselling Registration Fee) to NLU concerned for candidates who chose Freeze Option in First, Second & Third Allotment Lists | April 24, 2026, by 5:00 P.M. |
Publication of Fourth Allotment List (Fourth round of counselling starts) | 10:00 A.M. on May 2, 2026 |
Payment of Confirmation Fee to Consortium for Freeze and Float options and Admission by NLUs for the Fourth Allotment List | 10:00 A.M. on May 2, 2026 to 1:00 P.M. on May 8, 2026 |
Publication of Fifth and Final Allotment List (Fifth round of counselling starts) | 10:00 A.M. on May 15, 2026 |
Payment of Confirmation Fee to Consortium for Freeze option and Admission by NLUs for the Fifth and Final Allotment List | 10:00 A.M. on May 15, 2026 to 1:00 P.M. on May 20, 2026 |
Payment of University Fee (after adjusting for Confirmation Fee and Counselling Registration Fee) to NLU concerned for candidates who chose Freeze Option in Fourth & Fifth Allotment Lists | May 30, 2026 by 5:00 |
CLAT 2026 Admission Counselling Process Guide
Phase 1: Registration (Dec 17 - Dec 27, 2025)
Deadline: 10:00 PM on December 27, 2025.
Check Invitation: Log in to the CLAT 2026 portal at https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in/clat-2026/ to see if you are invited (candidates will receive an email and SMS also).
Update Preferences: Minimum 15 NLUs for UG and 5 for PG.
Candidates can only be considered for the NLUs they are listed.
They can update this list as many times as they like until the deadline.
Pay Registration Fee:
General: INR 30,000
ST/SC/OBC/EWS/PWD: INR 20,000
Note: This fee is refundable if you don't get a seat or exit early.
Phase 2: The Three Options (If Allotted a Seat)
In each of the five counselling rounds of the CLAT 2026, if the candidates are offered a seat, they must choose one of these:
Freeze: If the candidates are satisfied with their seat, they can accept it and stop participating in further rounds.
Float: They can accept the seat for no, but want to try for a "higher preference" NLU in the next round.
Exit: They no longer want to participate in the counselling process.
Warning: If you do nothing after being allotted a seat, you will be marked as "Not Interested" and removed from all future rounds.
Phase 3: Fees & Deadlines
Confirmation Fee: If they choose to Freeze or Float, they must pay a non-refundable Confirmation Fee to hold their spot.
University Fees:
If they want to freeze in rounds 1-3, then pay the remaining fees by April 24, 2026.
If you freeze in rounds 4-5, then pay the remaining fees by May 30, 2026.
Phase 4: Refund Rules
Situation | Refund Amount |
Never allotted a seat after 5 rounds | Full Refund |
Exit before getting a seat | Full Refund |
Exit before May 8, 2026 (after having a seat) | Full Refund |
Exit after May 8, 2026 (after having a seat) | INR 5,000 deduction |
Found ineligible during document check | INR 5,000 deduction |
Allotted a seat for the first time in Round 5 and Exit | Full Refund |
Required Documents for the CLAT 2026 Admissions Counselling Process
For the UG Programme
S.No. | Document Required |
1 | Grade 10 Statement of Marks |
2 | |
3 | Grade 12 Statement of Marks |
4 | Character/Conduct Certificate from the last attended institution |
5 | Transfer/Migration Certificate from the last attended institution |
6 | Caste Certificate (SC/ST/OBC etc.) - if applied and allotted under reserved category |
7 | PWD/SAP Certificate - if applied and allotted under PWD category |
8 | Domicile/Residence Certificate - if applied and allotted under domicile/resident category |
9 | Any other supporting category‑claim documents (EWS, Defence Personnel Ward Certificate, Ex‑servicemen Certificate, etc.) |
For the PG Programme
S.No. | Document Required |
1 | Grade 10 Statement of Marks |
2 | CLAT 2026 Admit Card |
3 | Grade 12 Statement of Marks |
4 | LL.B./B.L./Equivalent Degree Statement of Marks |
5 | Character/Conduct Certificate from the last attended institution |
6 | Transfer/Migration Certificate from the last attended institution |
7 | Caste Certificate (SC/ST/OBC etc.) - if applied and allotted under the reserved category |
8 | PWD/SAP Certificate - if applied and allotted under the PWD category |
9 | Domicile/Residence Certificate - if applied and allotted under the domicile/resident category |
10 | Any other supporting category‑claim documents (EWS, Defence Personnel Ward Certificate, Ex‑servicemen Certificate, etc.) |
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