OBC Cutoff For Clat 2026: Category-Wise Ranks, Counselling & Admission Process
The OBC Cutoff For CLAT 2026 is the minimum rank required for admission to National Law Universities (NLUs) under the Other Backward Classes category, with NLSIU Bengaluru closing at 1,018 in Round 1. This year’s cutoff for OBC candidates for top NLUs like NALSAR Hyderabad settled at 915, reflecting a competitive landscape for law aspirants. The Consortium of National Law Universities released the CLAT 2026 cutoffs on January 7, 2026, following the exam conducted on December 7, 2025.
CLAT 2026 Notification, Application & Exam Date Schedule
The table below outlines the key dates for the CLAT 2026 examination and application process.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | July 20, 2025 |
| Application Start | August 1, 2025 |
| Application Close | October 31, 2025 |
| Correction Window | November 9, 2025 |
| Admit Card Release | November 22, 2025 – December 7, 2025 |
| Exam Date | December 7, 2025 |
| Result Announcement | December 16, 2025 |
CLAT 2026 Category-wise Cutoff: General, OBC, SC & ST Closing Ranks
The following table presents the Round 1 closing ranks for various categories in top National Law Universities for CLAT 2026 admissions.
| NLU | General Closing Rank | OBC Closing Rank | SC Closing Rank | ST Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bengaluru (National Law School of India University, Bengaluru) | 101 | 1018 | 3072 | 5000 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad (NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad) | 148 | 831 | 3251 | 2786 |
| NLIU Bhopal (National Law Institute University, Bhopal) | 431 | 1562 | 4955 | 9461 |
| NLU Jodhpur (National Law University, Jodhpur) | 310 | 1273 | 4042 | — |
CLAT Cutoff Trends: OBC Closing Ranks 2025 vs 2026
A comparison of OBC closing ranks for top NLUs in CLAT 2025 and 2026 highlights admission trends.
| NLU | OBC Closing Rank 2025 (Round 1) | OBC Closing Rank 2026 (Round 1) |
|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bengaluru (National Law School of India University, Bengaluru) | 1324 | 1018 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad (NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad) | 1219 | 915 |
| NLIU Bhopal (National Law Institute University, Bhopal) | 1757 | 1714 |
| NLU Jodhpur (National Law University, Jodhpur) | 1699 | 1273 |
| HNLU Raipur (Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur) | 2385 | 1994 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar (Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar) | 2138 | 1834 |
CLAT 2026 Counselling Schedule: Registration, Choice Filling & Seat Allotment Dates
The CLAT 2026 counselling process involves several stages, from registration to final seat allotment.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Counselling Registration | December 17 – December 27, 2025 |
| Seat Allotment Round 1 | January 7, 2026 |
| Seat Allotment Round 2 | January 22, 2026 |
| Seat Allotment Round 3 | February 5, 2026 |
| Seat Allotment Round 4 | May 2, 2026 |
| Seat Allotment Round 5 | May 20, 2026 |
FAQs
Q? When was the CLAT 2026 cutoff released?
A. The CLAT 2026 Round 1 cutoff was officially released on January 7, 2026, by the Consortium of National Law Universities.
Q? What is a good OBC rank for top NLUs in CLAT 2026?
A. An OBC rank under 1,000 is generally considered good for securing admission to top-tier NLUs like NLSIU Bengaluru and NALSAR Hyderabad in CLAT 2026.
Q? How many counselling rounds were conducted for CLAT 2026?
A. The CLAT 2026 counselling process was conducted in five rounds of seat allotment, concluding on May 20, 2026.
Q? Did the OBC cutoff for CLAT 2026 increase or decrease compared to 2025?
A. For many top NLUs, the OBC closing ranks for CLAT 2026 were lower (indicating higher competition) compared to 2025, as seen in NLSIU Bengaluru’s shift from 1324 in 2025 to 1018 in 2026.
Q? Where can I find the official CLAT 2026 cutoff lists?
A. The official CLAT 2026 cutoff lists and merit lists are available on the Consortium of National Law Universities’ website, consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
