The registration window for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 counselling for Round 1 is set to close today, December 27, 2025, at 10:00 PM. Candidates who have cleared the CLAT 2026 exam and have been invited for counselling must complete the registration process on the official website, consortiumofnlus.ac.in, before the deadline to be considered for seat allotment in the National Law Universities (NLUs).
The CLAT 2026 exam facilitates admissions into the 5-year LLB and LLM programs offered by participating NLUs. The Consortium of NLUs has implemented an online counselling process consisting of multiple rounds. To participate in the CLAT 2026 counselling, eligible candidates are required to register on the CLAT portal, fill out their NLU preferences, and pay the counselling fee. During registration, candidates must provide personal and academic details, upload required documents, and pay the counselling fee. It is important to provide bank account details for refund purposes, if any. Candidates can select a maximum of 15 NLUs to increase their chances of admission.
The counselling fee for the general category is ₹30,000, while reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC/BC/EWS/PwD) have to pay ₹20,000. Candidates who do not receive a seat in any of the CLAT counselling rounds or withdraw before the last date are eligible for a full refund of INR 50,000.
The seat allotment process is based on the candidate's CLAT score, category, and NLU preferences. The Consortium of NLUs will release five allotment lists for both UG and PG programs. The CLAT 2026 first merit list will be released on January 7, 2026, at 10:00 AM. This list will display the allotted NLU, category, seat type, and instructions regarding the Freeze, Float, or Exit options.
Candidates who are allotted a seat have to choose between "Freeze," "Float," or "Exit". "Freeze" means the candidate is satisfied with the allotted seat and does not want to participate in further rounds. "Float" means the candidate is keeping the current seat but is also open to upgrading to a higher preference in subsequent rounds. The "Exit" option is for candidates who want to withdraw from the counselling process. Candidates must make their choice within the stipulated deadline. Missing the deadline may result in seat cancellation and removal from the counselling process.
Here are the tentative dates for the CLAT 2026 allotment lists: * Round 1: January 1, 2026 * Round 2: January 14, 2026 * Round 3: January 28, 2026 * Round 4: May 20, 2026 * Round 5: May 29, 2026
Candidates can check the allotment list by logging in to the CLAT 2026 portal using their registered mobile number and password. After each round, candidates need to take necessary actions and pay the confirmation fee, if required. Those who opt to "Freeze" their seat in rounds 1-3 must pay the remaining university fees by April 24, 2026. For rounds 4 and 5, the deadline is May 30, 2026.
With the CLAT 2026 counselling registration closing today, candidates are advised to complete the process promptly to avoid missing out on the opportunity to secure a seat in their preferred NLU.
