CLAT LLM Third Round Cut-Offs 2026: Closing Rank For Each NLU

CLAT LLM Third Round Cut-Offs 2026

*state reservation

CLAT PG 2026 Third Round: Analysing Trends of Top NLUs

An analysis of the CLAT LLM 2026 data shows that top NLUs reached their capacity almost immediately, leaving no room for general category movement in the third round. This occurs because the majority of high-ranking CLAT aspirants choose the freeze option, locking in their seats at premier law universities immediately.

At NLSIU Bengaluru, the general category closing rank shifted by only one point between round 1 (AIR 87) and round 2 (AIR 88). In the third round, Bengaluru saw zero movement for the All India general seat. The only entry recorded was at AIR 841, but this was strictly due to the horizontal reservation for the Women category (Gen-W).

During the CLAT PG 2026 round 1, the general category at NALSAR Hyderabad closed at AIR 114. By the second round, this shifted to AIR 122 (with state reservation), but no new allotments in the third round. WBNUJS Kolkata saw its general rank move from AIR 449 in round 2 to AIR 463 in the third round, allotting only two candidates. Similarly, NLU Jodhpur moved from AIR 480 to AIR 489, allotting a single student from the general category. For students aiming for these institutions, the probability of entry in later rounds is almost negligible.

CLAT PG 2026 Third Round: Analysing Trends of Remaining NLUs

The CLAT PG 2026 third round indicates tighter cut-offs compared to those of the previous year. In 2025, students with a general rank of 1800 could expect admission into NLU Odisha or HNLU Raipur, but in the 2026 academic year, these same institutions closed much earlier, near the 900-1000 rank. The NUALS Kochi general rank closed at AIR 2114 in 2025, but for the CLAT PG 2026 course, it has closed at AIR 1287 in the third round.

While the drop in closing rank at top-tier institutions remained steady, the remaining NLUs showed movement in the CLAT LLM 2026 third round. Institutions like CNLU Patna and NUALS Kochi saw their general category ranks stabilise from round 2 to round 3. Newer institutions like DBRANLU Sonepat and NLUT Agartala, which closed at AIR 2426 and 2579, respectively, continue to provide opportunities for candidates with higher ranks on the merit list.

The third round also highlights the impact of category-based admissions in these universities. For instance, NLIU Bhopal saw an OBC closing rank of 950 and an ST rank of 5108. In the newer campuses, closing ranks for reserved categories pushed even further, with DBRANLU Sonepat reaching AIR 8663 for ST candidates. This indicates that while general category seats are rapidly filling, candidates in reserved categories still find viable openings in mid-range and newer NLUs during this stage of the CLAT LLM 2026 counselling.