With the CLAT exam becoming increasingly competitive each year, predicting the expected cutoff for top NLUs is one of the most sought-after insights for aspirants. While the actual cutoff depends on exam difficulty, student performance, and seat availability, trend-based predictions help students understand where they stand and how to shape their strategy for admissions.
This year, the paper was moderate in overall difficulty, but variations across sections—especially the Analytical Reasoning twist—may influence the cutoff ranks slightly.
Factors Influencing CLAT 2026–27 Cutoffs
• Overall difficulty level (moderate)
• Sectional surprises (Analytical Reasoning impact)
• Number of candidates (upward trend)
• Normalisation of marks (if any)
• Seat matrix changes across NLUs
CLAT 2026–27 Expected Cutoff: NLU-Wise Opening & Closing Rank Prediction
Below is the complete NLU-wise expected cutoff table for the GENERAL category based on exam difficulty, previous trend analysis, and expert insights from CLAT Gurukul.
A) NLU-Wise Expected Cutoff Table (General Category)
| National Law University (NLU) | Expected Opening Rank | Expected Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bengaluru | 1 | 85 – 120 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 25 – 50 | 150 – 180 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | 100 – 130 | 220 – 270 |
| NLU Jodhpur | 110 – 140 | 330 – 380 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 150 – 180 | 420 – 470 |
| NLIU Bhopal | 180 – 220 | 450 – 520 |
| HNLU Raipur | 350 – 420 | 700 – 850 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | 320 – 380 | 650 – 820 |
| RGNUL Patiala | 450 – 550 | 900 – 1100 |
| NUALS Kochi | 600 – 700 | 1200 – 1350 |
| CNLU Patna | 700 – 900 | 1300 – 1500 |
| NUSRL Ranchi | 900 – 1100 | 1500 – 1700 |
| NLU Assam (NLUJA) | 1500 – 1800 | 4000 – 4500 |
| DSNLU Visakhapatnam | 1000 – 1500 | 2500 – 3000 |
| TNNLU Tiruchirappalli | 1300 – 1600 | 3000 – 3500 |
| MNLU Mumbai | 300 – 350 | 700 – 900 |
| MNLU Nagpur | 1200 – 1500 | 2000 – 2200 |
| MNLU Aurangabad | 2000 – 2400 | 3500 – 3800 |
B) Category-Wise Expected Cutoff Tables (NLU-Wise)
(Predictions for CLAT 2026–27 | GENERAL, OBC, SC, ST, EWS)
⭐ Top NLUs – Category-Wise Expected Closing Ranks
| NLU | GEN | OBC | EWS | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bengaluru | 85–120 | 280–350 | 180–220 | 1200–1500 | 1800–2200 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 150–180 | 400–500 | 260–300 | 1500–1800 | 2600–3000 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | 220–270 | 650–750 | 450–520 | 2000–2400 | 3000–3400 |
| NLU Jodhpur | 330–380 | 900–1100 | 700–820 | 2800–3300 | 3800–4300 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 420–470 | 1200–1500 | 900–1100 | 3000–3500 | 4000–4500 |
| NLIU Bhopal | 450–520 | 1400–1600 | 1000–1200 | 3200–3600 | 4300–4800 |
| MNLU Mumbai | 700–900 | 1800–2200 | 1200–1500 | 3500–4000 | 4800–5500 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | 650–820 | 1600–1900 | 1100–1350 | 3500–4200 | 4800–5300 |
| HNLU Raipur | 700–850 | 1900–2200 | 1400–1600 | 3800–4500 | 5300–6000 |
| CNLU Patna | 1300–1500 | 3000–3500 | 2200–2500 | 6000–7000 | 8500–9500 |
C) Counselling Strategy Guide for CLAT 2027
1. Know Your Rank Bracket
Rank below 150: Top 3 NLUs possible
Rank 150–400: Jodhpur, GNLU, NLIU
Rank 400–800: HNLU, RMLNLU
Rank 800–1500: NUALS, CNLU, RGNUL
Rank 1500–3000: Lower NLUs + MNLUs
2. Prepare a Smart Preference List
Put colleges in this order:
Tier 1 → Tier 1.5 → Tier 2 → New NLUs
Avoid random listing; every seat is important.
3. Track Seat Movement
Round 1 → Highest ranks
Round 2 → Strong reshuffling
Round 3 → Dropouts create new openings
4. Use “Float/Freeze” Wisely
Float if aiming for higher NLU
Freeze if happy with current offer
Exit only if unsure—be cautious
5. Watch Last Year’s Closing Ranks
Patterns repeat 80–90% of the time.
6. CG Mentors’ Golden Rule
“Take the best NLU you can get THIS year — not the one you hope will open in Round 3.”
Final Note
These cutoffs are predicted by CLAT Gurukul experts using multi-year data trends and the difficulty analysis of the recent CLAT paper.
While highly accurate, final cutoffs will depend on the consortium’s counselling rounds.
