The CLAT 2026 counselling process is expected to begin around December 14, 2025, soon after the CLAT 2026 results are announced on its official website, consortiumofnlus.ac.in. While the Consortium has not officially released the CLAT counselling dates 2026, the schedule is usually declared shortly after the result. The entire CLAT counselling 2026 procedure will be held online and includes steps like registration, choice filling, fee payment, and finally securing your seat in an NLU. Every candidate who has qualified for the exam must complete the registration to take part in the counselling round. Scroll down to know complete information about the CLAT Counselling 2026.

CLAT Counselling Overview

The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a national-level entrance exam for admission to LLB and LLM programs at 25 National Law Universities (NLUs) in India. Many prestigious private law schools also recognise CLAT UG scores. There is a separate CLAT PG exam for admission to LLM programs.

CLAT Counselling Overview
AspectDetails
Mode of CounsellingOnline
Who Can Participate
  • Candidates listed in the CLAT merit list 
  • Consortium-invited
Registration RequirementMandatory online registration with document upload
Counselling Fee
  • ₹30,000 for General/OBC 
  • ₹20,000 for SC/ST candidates
Seat Allotment Basis
  1. CLAT rank 
  2. Category rules
  3. NLU preference order
Seat Acceptance Options
  • Freeze (keep seat)
  • Float (wait for a better NLU)
  • Exit (leave process)
Documents Needed
  • ID proof 
  • Marksheets
  • Category Certificates
  • Scorecard
  • Admit card
Refund RulesRefund is allowed with possible deductions depending on the stage
Final AdmissionDone directly at the allotted NLU after seat confirmation
Official Website consortiumofnlus.ac.in

 

CLAT 2026 Counselling Schedule

The CLAT counselling important dates have been provided in the table below so Candidates avoid missing any step of the admission process. Check the table given below for complete counselling schedule.

CLAT Exam Analysis

CLAT Counselling Schedule 2026 
Events Important Dates 
CLAT Exam7 December 2025
Declaration of ResultsAround 17 December 2025
Counselling Window Opens19 December 2025 (expected)
Last Day to Register for Counselling30 December 2025 (expected)
Round 1 Seat Allocation1 January 2026
Round 1 Confirmation Fee Deadline1 to 8 January 2026
Round 2 Seat Allocation14 January 2026
Round 2 Confirmation Fee Window14 to 20 January 2026
Round 3 Seat Allocation28 January 2026
Round 3 Confirmation Fee Window28 January to 4 February 2026
University Fee Payment (General Deadline)14 May 2026
Round 4 Allotment Release20 May 2026
Round 4 Confirmation Fee Window20 to 24 May 2026
Round 5 (Final) Allotment29 May 2026
Round 5 Confirmation Fee Window29 May to 2 June 2026
Final University Fee Deadline10 June 2026
Refund ProcessingWithin two months after counselling concludes

CLAT Counselling Fees 2026

Candidates are required to pay a non-refundable counselling fee to participate. While the exact amount for 2026 will be updated by the consortium, historically, it has been around INR 50,000 for General category candidates (may vary for reserved categories). This fee is usually paid online during registration.

CLAT RESULT 2026

CLAT 2026 Counselling Fees 

Counselling Fee

₹30,000 (General category)

₹20,000 (SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PwD)

Payment ModeOnline payment (debit card, credit card, net banking, UPI)
Refund Rules
  • Full refund if withdrawn within the official window.
  • Refund minus deduction if withdrawn after seat allocation.

 

CLAT 2026 Counselling Rounds Explained

CLAT 2026 counselling rounds are the steps students follow to get a seat in a law college. There are in total 3 rounds in it. The process starts with online registration and document upload.These rounds help give seats in a fair way and allow students to aim for their preferred college

  • In Round 1 seats are given based on rank and college choice Students can accept the seat or wait for a better one
  • Round 2 offers seats that were left in Round 1 Students can accept the new seat or keep waiting
  • Round 3 repeats the same steps with the seats still left Students must confirm the seat or leave the process

CLAT Answer KEY 2026 

How to Apply for CLAT Counselling 2026

Applying for the CLAT Counselling is quite a simple process candidates should check the steps given below for a smooth experience.

  1. Visit the official CLAT counselling portal, consortiumofnlus.ac.in
  2. Register using your CLAT 2026 roll number and other credentials.
  3. Pay the counselling fee online.
  4. Fill in your preferred law colleges and courses in the choice filling section.
  5. Lock your choices before the deadline.

Documents Needed for CLAT 2026 Counselling

Candidates need to keep the important documents beforehand to be ready for the CLAT Counselling stages.

  • CLAT 2026 scorecard
  • 10th & 12th marksheets and certificates
  • Birth certificate / proof of age
  • Category certificate (if applicable)
  • Passport-sized photographs
  • Identity proof (Aadhaar / PAN / Passport)

CLAT 2026 Seat Allotment

Seat allotment in CLAT 2026 is done based on several important factors that determine which law college a candidate can get into.

  • The candidate’s CLAT rank
  • Reservation for different categories
  • Preferences chosen during choice locking
  • Availability of seats in the desired law colleges

How to Check CLAT 2026 Counselling and Seat Allotment Results

Aspirants need to check the simple steps to check the CLAT Counselling and seat allotment results.

  1. Visit the official NLU counselling portal, consortiumofnlus.ac.in
  2. Log in using your credentials.
  3. Click on the “Seat Allotment Result” tab.
  4. Download and print the allotment letter for future reference.

When Should You Choose Freeze, Float, or Exit in CLAT Counselling?

In CLAT counselling every candidate has three options to choose based on the college allotted to them. If you're happy with the college and course you've been given, you can choose Freeze. If you're okay with the current allotment but still hope for a better option in the next round, you can choose Float Lastly, if you don't want to accept the current allotment and wish to leave the counselling process altogether, you can choose Exit. This will remove you from the process and make you ineligible for any further rounds with no refund.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in CLAT 2026 Counselling

  • Missing important deadlines for registration or choice locking
  • Not keeping all the required documents ready on time
  • Forgetting to pay the fees before the deadline
  • Choosing colleges without looking at previous years’ cutoffs
  • Not paying attention to rules that apply to specific categories

Top Colleges for CLAT 2026

Candidates can check the list of top colleges that offer admission on the basis of CLAT Score in the table given below.

Best CLAT Colleges 2026
College NameLocation
NLSIU BangaloreBangalore
NLU DelhiDelhi
NLU MumbaiMumbai
NLU HyderabadHyderabad
CLAT Counselling FAQ's

The CLAT schedule is announced after the results are declared on the official CLAT website, consortiumofnlus.ac.in

No, the fee for CLAT Counselling is not refundable.

No once a college is selected (freezed), no changes are allowed to be made so candidate need to make the choice carefully.

In CLAT exam there are three rounds for counselling after which only the final admission is given to the candidates.

Candidates need a CLAT scorecard, 10th & 12th marksheets, ID proof, and category certificate (if applicable) to carry out the CLAT Counselling process.

Yes, you can participate in subsequent rounds of CLAT to improve your chances.

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