HNLU Raipur CLAT Cutoff 2026 – Round 1 Category Wise Ranks Released
The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) has released the HNLU Raipur CLAT Cutoff 2026 for Round 1, offering clarity to aspirants awaiting seat allotment at Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur. As per the official counselling data announced on January 7, 2026, the General category closing rank for the BA LLB (Hons.) programme under the All India quota ranges between 736 and 765.
Meanwhile, candidates belonging to the Chhattisgarh domicile category have secured seats at ranks extending up to 3700–3800, reflecting the reservation benefit. Applicants who have been allotted seats must complete the admission fee payment by January 15, 2026 to confirm their candidature.
Candidates aiming for higher-preference NLUs can opt for the “Float” option and participate in upcoming counselling rounds through the official website, consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
HNLU Raipur BA LLB Cutoff 2026 – Category Wise Opening and Closing Ranks
Hidayatullah National Law University Raipur offers the BA LLB (Hons.) program with 180 seats. HNLU follows reservation policies with significant seats reserved for Chhattisgarh domicile candidates under horizontal reservation. The cutoffs vary considerably between All India (AI) and Home State (HS) quotas across all categories.
| Category | Opening Rank (AI) | Closing Rank (AI) |
|---|---|---|
| General | 450 | 750-820 |
| OBC-NCL | 2100 | 2350-2450 |
| SC | 6200 | 7500-7800 |
| ST | 9500 | 10200-10600 |
| EWS | 850 | 1800-2000 |
| PWD | 3500 | 8500-9000 |
Chhattisgarh Domicile (Home State Quota) Category Wise Cutoff:
| Category | Opening Rank (HS) | Closing Rank (HS) |
|---|---|---|
| General-CHT | 760 | 3700-4300 |
| OBC-CHT | 3900 | 12000-13500 |
| SC-CHT | 9400 | 21000-22000 |
| ST-CHT | 14000 | 45000-48000 |
Note: Chhattisgarh domicile candidates enjoy significantly relaxed cutoffs compared to All India quota. Candidates with valid domicile certificates should fill preferences accordingly during counselling.
HNLU Raipur LLM Cutoff 2026 – CLAT PG Category Wise Ranks
HNLU Raipur offers a one-year LLM program with admission through CLAT PG 2026. The university provides 60 LLM seats across specializations including Constitutional Law, Corporate Law, Criminal Law, and Human Rights Law.
| Category | Opening Rank (AI) | Closing Rank (AI) |
|---|---|---|
| General | 150 | 700-750 |
| OBC-NCL | 800 | 1800-2000 |
| SC | 2200 | 4500-5000 |
| ST | 5000 | 7500-8000 |
| EWS | 850 | 2000-2200 |
Home State Quota LLM Cutoff 2026:
| Category | Opening Rank (HS) | Closing Rank (HS) |
|---|---|---|
| General-CHT | 450 | 1300-1500 |
| OBC-CHT | 1500 | 3800-4200 |
| SC-CHT | 4000 | 8500-9000 |
| ST-CHT | 8000 | 15000-16000 |
HNLU Raipur CLAT 2026 Round Wise Cutoff – Round 1, 2, 3 Closing Ranks
CLAT 2026 counselling comprises five rounds with cutoffs typically relaxing in subsequent rounds. HNLU Raipur witnesses significant cutoff movement in later rounds as mid-tier NLU aspirants settle for their preferred institutions. Understanding round-wise patterns helps candidates make strategic decisions about Freeze, Float, or Exit options.
HNLU Raipur Round 1 Cutoff 2026
| Category | BA LLB Closing Rank (AI) | BA LLB Closing Rank (HS) |
|---|---|---|
| General | 736-765 | 3700-3800 |
| OBC-NCL | 2150-2250 | 11500-12000 |
| SC | 6300-6500 | 9500-10000 |
| ST | 9700-10000 | 14500-15500 |
| EWS | 1650-1750 | 5500-6000 |
HNLU Raipur Round 2 Cutoff 2026 (Expected)
| Category | BA LLB Closing Rank (AI) | BA LLB Closing Rank (HS) |
|---|---|---|
| General | 790-830 | 4000-4300 |
| OBC-NCL | 2300-2450 | 12500-13200 |
| SC | 7200-7600 | 20000-21000 |
| ST | 10200-10600 | 42000-45000 |
| EWS | 1850-1950 | 6200-6800 |
HNLU Raipur Round 3 and Subsequent Rounds Cutoff (Expected)
Round 3 onwards witnesses meaningful cutoff drops at HNLU Raipur as candidates from higher-ranked NLUs vacate seats through upgradation. General category AI quota closing ranks may extend to 850-900, offering opportunities to candidates on borderline ranks. Chhattisgarh domicile cutoffs show wider movement, potentially extending to 4500-5000 for General category.
HNLU Raipur Total Seats 2026 – BA LLB and LLM Intake with Reservation
Hidayatullah National Law University Raipur offers a total of 240 seats across undergraduate and postgraduate law programs. The seat matrix follows vertical and horizontal reservation policies as per government norms and Chhattisgarh state reservation criteria.
| Program | Total Seats | Duration | AI Quota | Chhattisgarh Quota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA LLB (Hons.) | 180 | 5 Years | 90 | 90 |
| LLM | 60 | 1 Year | 30 | 30 |
Category-wise vertical reservation for BA LLB program:
| Category | Reservation Percentage | Approximate Seats |
|---|---|---|
| General / Unreserved | 40.5% | 73 |
| OBC-NCL | 27% | 49 |
| SC | 15% | 27 |
| ST | 7.5% | 14 |
| EWS | 10% | 18 |
Horizontal Reservation at HNLU Raipur:
| Category | Reservation |
|---|---|
| SAP / PWD | 5% |
| Female | 30% |
| Defence / Freedom Fighter | As per norms |
| Kashmiri Migrants | Supernumerary |
| NRI / Foreign Nationals | Supernumerary |
HNLU Raipur CLAT Cutoff Trend 2022 to 2025 – Previous Year Analysis
Historical cutoff analysis reveals important patterns for predicting CLAT 2026 admission chances at HNLU Raipur. The table below presents year-wise closing ranks for BA LLB program in All India quota.
| Year | General (AI) | OBC-NCL (AI) | SC (AI) | ST (AI) | EWS (AI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 807-827 | 2408 | 7660 | 10507 | 1920 |
| 2024 | 791 | 2350 | 7450 | 10200 | 1850 |
| 2023 | 733 | 2180 | 7100 | 9800 | 1720 |
| 2022 | 707 | 2050 | 6850 | 9500 | 1650 |
Chhattisgarh Domicile Cutoff Trend (General Category):
| Year | Round 1 Closing | Final Round Closing |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3770 | 4227 |
| 2024 | 3550 | 4050 |
| 2023 | 3380 | 3900 |
| 2022 | 3200 | 3750 |
The cutoff trend analysis shows consistent increase in closing ranks over the years. General category AI quota cutoff moved from rank 707 in 2022 to 827 in 2025, indicating increasing competition. The average annual increase is approximately 30-40 ranks. For CLAT 2026, candidates with AI ranks below 850 should have reasonable chances for BA LLB admission at HNLU Raipur. Chhattisgarh domicile candidates can expect admission with ranks up to 4200-4500 in final rounds.
HNLU Raipur Admission 2026 – CLAT Counselling Process and Important Dates
HNLU Raipur admission is conducted through centralized CLAT counselling managed by the Consortium of NLUs. The five-round counselling process provides multiple opportunities for seat allotment, upgradation, and final admission confirmation.
CLAT 2026 Counselling Registration Process
Candidates who qualified CLAT 2026 must complete counselling registration within the designated window. The registration process involves:
- Login to consortiumofnlus.ac.in using CLAT 2026 application credentials
- Verify personal details, category certificate, and domicile status
- Pay counselling registration fee (Rs. 3,500 for General/OBC/EWS; Rs. 2,500 for SC/ST/PWD)
- Upload scanned documents including category and domicile certificates
- Submit registration and download acknowledgment
Choice Filling and Preference Locking
Strategic choice filling is crucial for securing admission at preferred NLUs. Key considerations for HNLU Raipur aspirants:
- Fill all eligible NLUs and programs in genuine order of preference
- Chhattisgarh domicile candidates should include both AI and HS quota preferences
- Consider LLM preferences if applying through CLAT PG
- Lock choices before deadline; unlocked choices are auto-locked
- Seat allotment follows merit rank and preference order strictly
Seat Allotment Options at HNLU Raipur
Upon receiving seat allotment, candidates must choose from available options:
- Freeze: Accept allotted seat permanently and exit counselling
- Float: Accept current seat but remain eligible for upgradation to any higher preference
- Freeze with Upgrade: Accept seat with upgradation only to specifically preferred higher NLUs
- Exit: Withdraw from counselling process entirely
CLAT 2026 Counselling Schedule for HNLU Raipur Admission:
| Event | Dates |
|---|---|
| CLAT 2026 Examination | December 7, 2025 |
| CLAT 2026 Result Declaration | December 16, 2025 |
| Counselling Registration Window | December 17-27, 2025 |
| Round 1 Seat Allotment | January 7, 2026 |
| Round 1 Fee Payment Deadline | January 15, 2026 |
| Round 2 Seat Allotment | January-February 2026 |
| Round 3 Seat Allotment | February 2026 |
| Round 4 and 5 | May 2026 |
| Final Fee Payment (Round 1-3) | April 24, 2026 |
| Final Fee Payment (Round 4-5) | May 30, 2026 |
Documents Required for HNLU Raipur Admission:
- CLAT 2026 Admit Card and Scorecard
- Class 10 Mark Sheet and Passing Certificate (for date of birth verification)
- Class 12 Mark Sheet and Passing Certificate
- Graduation Mark Sheets and Degree (for LLM candidates)
- Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS) issued by competent authority
- Chhattisgarh Domicile Certificate (for Home State quota)
- PWD/SAP Certificate (if applicable)
- Income Certificate for EWS category
- Passport size photographs (recent, as per specifications)
- Valid Photo ID (Aadhaar Card/Passport/Voter ID)
- Character Certificate from last attended institution
- Transfer Certificate and Migration Certificate
HNLU Raipur CLAT Cutoff 2026 FAQs – Ranks, Seats and Admission Queries
What is the CLAT 2026 cutoff for HNLU Raipur General category?
The CLAT 2026 cutoff for HNLU Raipur General category under All India quota is expected around rank 750-850 for BA LLB (Hons.) program. Chhattisgarh domicile candidates may secure admission with ranks up to 4000-4500 under Home State quota.
How many seats are available at HNLU Raipur for CLAT 2026?
HNLU Raipur offers 180 seats for BA LLB (Hons.) program and 60 seats for LLM program, totaling 240 seats. Half of the seats in each program are reserved for Chhattisgarh domicile candidates under horizontal reservation policy.
Can I get HNLU Raipur with CLAT rank 1000?
Yes, candidates with CLAT rank 1000 in General category have a good chance of securing admission at HNLU Raipur in Round 2 or subsequent rounds. The cutoff typically extends to 800-850 by the final round. Reserved category candidates with rank 1000 can expect admission in Round 1 itself under respective categories.
What is the Chhattisgarh domicile cutoff for HNLU Raipur?
Chhattisgarh domicile candidates enjoy significantly relaxed cutoffs. The General category closing rank for Home State quota ranges from 3700-4500 depending on the counselling round. Reserved categories have even higher closing ranks, with ST-CHT closing around 45000-48000.
Is HNLU Raipur a good NLU for law studies?
HNLU Raipur is ranked among the top 10 NLUs in India and consistently features in NIRF Law Rankings. Established in 2003, it offers quality legal education with excellent moot court culture, placement opportunities, and judicial internships. The average placement package ranges from Rs. 8-15 LPA with recruiters including top law firms, PSUs, and corporate houses.
What marks are required in CLAT 2026 for HNLU Raipur admission?
For HNLU Raipur BA LLB admission under General category AI quota, candidates typically need 82-86 marks in CLAT 2026. Chhattisgarh domicile candidates may secure admission with approximately 75-80 marks. Reserved category candidates require proportionally lower marks.
What is the fee structure at HNLU Raipur for 2026 batch?
The approximate total fee for BA LLB (Hons.) program at HNLU Raipur is Rs. 7-8 lakhs for the entire 5-year course. Annual fee is approximately Rs. 1.4-1.6 lakhs including tuition, hostel, and other charges. LLM program total fee is around Rs. 1.45 lakhs. Fee waivers and scholarships are available for economically weaker students.
Can female candidates get additional reservation at HNLU Raipur?
Yes, HNLU Raipur provides 30% horizontal reservation for female candidates across all categories. This applies within each vertical category (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS) for both AI and HS quotas. Female candidates should ensure proper documentation during counselling.





