The Consortium of National Law Universities has released the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 counselling schedule. Registration for admissions to five-year undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law programs for the 2026-2027 academic session opened today, December 16, at 9 PM . Qualified candidates must complete their registration on the official website by December 27 .
Candidates who passed the CLAT 2026 examination are eligible to register. They must do so through the official website: consortiumofnlus.ac.in . Invitations to participate in the counselling process will be sent to eligible candidates via email, SMS, and their CLAT portal.
Registration Requirements and Fees
To finalize CLAT 2026 counselling registration, candidates must update their preferences for National Law Universities (NLUs). They are also required to pay the counselling registration fee. The deadline for both steps is December 27 .
- Applicants for UG programs must specify a minimum of 15 NLU preferences.
- Applicants for PG programs must specify a minimum of 5 NLU preferences.
The counselling registration fee structure is as follows:
- General Category: Rs 30,000
- Reserved Categories: Rs 20,000
Counselling Rounds and Seat Allocation Options
The CLAT 2026 counselling process will include five distinct rounds. After a seat is provisionally allotted in any round, candidates receive three options to manage their admission status: ‘Freeze’, ‘Float’, or ‘Exit’.
- Freeze: This option confirms acceptance of the currently allotted seat. Choosing ‘Freeze’ requires candidates to pay a non-refundable confirmation fee to secure their admission.
- Float: This option allows candidates to retain their presently allotted seat while remaining eligible for an upgrade to a higher-preference NLU in subsequent counselling rounds.
- Exit: This option enables candidates to withdraw entirely from the CLAT counselling process. If a confirmation fee was previously paid, it may be forfeited upon choosing ‘Exit’.
CLAT 2026 Counselling Schedule
The complete schedule, including dates for allotment lists and payment deadlines for CLAT 2026 counselling, is provided below:
| Particulars | Schedule |
|---|---|
| Registration for Admissions Counselling (including fee payment) | December 16–27, 2025 |
| Publication of First Allotment List (First round starts) | January 7, 2026 |
| Payment of Confirmation Fee for Freeze and Float options (First Allotment) | January 7–15, 2026 |
| Publication of Second Allotment List (Second round starts) | January 22, 2026 |
| Payment of Confirmation Fee for Freeze and Float options (Second Allotment) | January 22–29, 2026 |
| Publication of Third Allotment List (Third round starts) | February 5, 2026 |
| Payment of Confirmation Fee for Freeze and Float options (Third Allotment) | February 5–12, 2026 |
| Payment of University Fee for Freeze Option (First, Second & Third Allotment) | April 24, 2026 |
| Publication of Fourth Allotment List (Fourth round starts) | May 2, 2026 |
| Payment of Confirmation Fee for Freeze and Float options (Fourth Allotment) | May 2–8, 2026 |
| Publication of Fifth and Final Allotment List (Fifth round starts) | May 15, 2026 |
| Payment of Confirmation Fee for Freeze option (Fifth and Final Allotment) | May 15–20, 2026 |
| Payment of University Fee for Freeze Option (Fourth & Fifth Allotment) | May 30, 2026 |
Students are advised to regularly check their CLAT portal and emails for updates. Adhering to the published timeline is essential for all candidates participating in the CLAT 2026 counselling and admission process.