CLAT Selection Process 2026

CLAT Selection Process 2025

Selection process of CLAT 2026 begins with the online registration and application submission, which is the first step for all aspirants. Candidates are required to fill out personal, educational, and contact details accurately and upload relevant documents, such as photographs, signatures, and academic certificates. Along with the application, the prescribed application fee must be paid within the stipulated timeline. Only candidates who successfully complete this stage are issued the admit card, which is mandatory to appear for the examination. 

The next stage is the CLAT 2026 examination for both UG and PG aspirants. The test evaluates candidates across multiple skill areas, including English language comprehension, logical reasoning, legal aptitude, general knowledge, and current affairs. For PG admissions, the focus shifts more towards legal research, comprehension, and analytical skills. The test is timed and competitive, with multiple-choice questions designed to assess accuracy, speed, and analytical thinking. 

The evaluation and result declaration stage occurs after the examination. Candidates can view their scores, All India Rank (AIR), and category-wise rank when CLAT results are normally made available online. The main factor used to shortlist applicants for admission is their CLAT exam result. While specific universities may occasionally take into account other considerations, like as academic records, for PG programs, merit in UG admissions is solely based on the candidate's performance on the CLAT exam.

Counseling and seat assignment are the last stage of the CLAT 2026 selection procedure. Candidates must take part in the Consortium of NLUs' centralized counseling, where seats are distributed according to All India Rank, category reservation, and program and university preference. Candidates must complete their desired NLUs and courses as part of the online counseling process. Candidates must finish document verification and pay the admission costs in order to confirm their seat after the temporary seat allocation. In later rounds, any open seats are redistributed according to availability and merit.

Factors Affecting CLAT Selection Criteria 2026

There are various parameters that influence the CLAT selection process 2026. Beyond these, the reservation policy followed by the institute, your caste category, your academic achievements, and the number of seats available are also taken into consideration before allocating a final seat. 

• CLAT Score: In order to qualify the exam, you have to score above the minimum marks. Moreover, to get admission to your desired course, it is essential for you to bring a good score.
• CLAT Rank/ Merit: On the basis of scores obtained, you are ranked in descending order. In order to get the desired course and institute, you need to have a good rank in the exam.
• Counselling Process: Successful completion of the counselling process is another criterion that plays a significant role during the selection process.

Step by Step Guide of Selection Process of CLAT 2026

CLAT selection process 2026 has several stages which have to be mandatorily qualified in order to be considered for the CLAT admission process 2026. The detailed step-by-step guidelines are provided below.

CLAT Registration:

• First and foremost, you need to register for CLAT 2026 by visiting the official website, filling the application form and paying the application fees.
• While filling the CLAT 2026 application form, you have to provide authentic documents for verification purposes.
• Successfully completing the online registration form sets the foundation for proceeding further with the CLAT selection process 2026.

Download CLAT Admit Card:

• Once you have completed the application process, you are required to download your CLAT 2026 admit card from the official website by using your login credentials.
• The hall ticket is an essential document without which you will not be allowed to sit for the exam. 

Appear for CLAT 2026:

• Now you need to appear for the CLAT 2026 and qualify it with very good marks.
• Within a few days, the results will be announced, and all the students who have qualified for the exam will get a chance to proceed further.

Check CLAT Result & Merit List:

• After the exam has been successfully conducted, the official exam conducting body releases the CLAT 2026 result and CLAT 2026 merit list on the official website.
• The merit list plays a pivotal role in getting admission to the desired college or university accepting CLAT scores.

CLAT Counselling, Document Verification & Seat Allotment:

• The CLAT counselling process 2026 will begin with filling out the registration form and paying the counselling fees.
• While filling the counselling application form, you will have to mark your choices in order of preference and lock them.
• You will also be required to attach certain documents for verification purposes.
• On various factors such as total number of students who have qualified for the exam, number of seats available, overall result analysis, overall exam difficulty level, academic achievements of aspirants, reservation policy of the institute, etc, the final seat allocation will be done.

College Reporting: 

• All those who have been allocated seats will have to report to the college allocated in order to confirm their seat and fulfill further admission formalities.
• On the other hand, students who have not been allocated seats or are dissatisfied with the seat allocated to them in the first round, can participate in subsequent counselling and seat allotment rounds.

CLAT Eligibility Criteria 2026

Aspirants willing to be part of the selection process of CLAT 2026 need to be aware of the CLAT eligibility criteria 2026. Given below are the eligibility requirements for both UG and PG law programs on the basis of CLAT scores.

Eligibility for UG Program

The CLAT 2026 offers admission to various integrated law courses at undergraduate level. The eligibility criteria for these programs is explained below. Fulfilling the eligibility norms will offer a chance to participate in the CLAT selection process 2026 for undergraduate programs. 

• All those students who have completed class 12 from a recognised school in any stream are eligible for the undergraduate law courses offered by CLAT participating institutes.
• All those students who have scored a minimum of 45% marks (in case of General/ NRI/ PIO/ OCI/ OBC category) and 40% marks (in case of reserved category; SC/ ST/ PwD) in the last qualifying exam are eligible to apply. 
• Students who will be appearing for class 12th examination in March/ April 2026 can also apply using provisional marksheets and certificates. However, they will be required to submit the final marksheets and certificates at the time of counselling process.
• There is no upper age limit to apply for the bachelors degree programs like BA LLB, BBA LLB, B.Com LLB, B.Sc LLB, B.Tech LLB etc. 

Eligibility for PG Program

All those who are looking to pursue LLM course in various specializations on the basis of CLAT 2026 entrance test must be well aware of the CLAT PG eligibility criteria to be able to get a chance to be part of the CLAT selection criteria 2026 for postgraduate law programs. 

• All those students who have completed their LLB degree or any other equivalent bachelor’s degree from a recognised university are  eligible for the CLAT admission process 2026. 
• All those students who have scored a minimum of 50% marks (in case of General/ NRI/ PIO/ OCI/ OBC) and 45% marks (in case of reserved category; SC/ ST/ PwD) in the last qualifying exam are eligible to apply PG programs on the basis of marks secured in CLAT entrance test.
• Students who are in their final year of graduation or who are waiting for their results can also apply using the marks scored in the last qualifying exam. 
• There is no upper age limit to apply for the LLM degree.

CLAT Counselling Process 2026

Once the exam has been conducted, the merit list is released containing the names of students who are shortlisted for the counselling process. During the counselling process, document verification will be held and the seats will be allocated to students under the CLAT seat allotment 2026. Multiple allotment lists will be released and students will get an option to either freeze/ float or exit the counselling rounds. To participate in the counselling process, you will be required to register on the official website in order to exercise web options accordingly.