CLAT 2026 records improvement in Highest Marks Scored: Will cutoffs increase for all NLUs?

CLAT 2026's highest score is 112.75 by Geetali (AIR 1), a 9-mark increase from 2025's 103.5 (Saksham Gautam). This jump indicates higher overall scores. Expect tougher cutoffs for all NLUs, especially NLSIU, NALSAR, and NUJS. Aim for 5-10 ranks better than last year's closing rank for your preferred NLU.

CLAT 2026 records improvement in Highest Marks Scored: For CLAT 2026, the highest marks in the UG examination reached an impressive 112.75 out of 119, scored by Geetali (AIR 1). This is not a small increase; it is a big jump compared to recent years and shows how well top scorers handled accuracy, speed, and the overall difficulty of the paper. When you compare this with CLAT 2025, the difference becomes clear. Last year’s topper, Saksham Gautam, secured AIR 1 with around 103.5 marks, and even then, the exam was considered extremely competitive. Many students scored in the top percentile range. The rise of nearly 9 marks at the top in CLAT 2026 clearly shows that overall scores have increased . In the PG exam too, performance improved, with the highest score touching 104.25, pointing to stronger results across the board.

Higher scores narrow the rank band, so losing even a single mark can drop you several places. This will push cutoffs up for all top NLUs, especially NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, and NUJS Kolkata, in the early counselling rounds.

CLAT UG 2026 Topper Marks Trend & Cutoff Impact Analysis

The table shows the sharp rise in CLAT UG topper marks from 2025 to 2026, highlighting a significant jump in the highest scores.

CLAT Year	Topper Name	AIR	Highest Marks (UG)	Change from Previous Year	Likely Impact on NLU Cutoffs
2026	Geetali	AIR 1	112.75 out of 119 marks	9 marks	*Strong increase in cutoffs across all NLUs*
2025	Saksham Gautam	AIR 1	103.5 out of 120 marks	Baseline year	Cutoffs already competitive

You should also avoid depending too much on last year’s cutoff figures. With better scores this year, simply matching a previous cutoff may not be enough. Keeping a safety gap of 5–10 ranks better than last year’s closing rank will greatly improve your chances of getting your preferred NLU in Round 1 or Round 2.

In short, CLAT 2026 has set a higher standard. If you are going through counselling this year, expect tougher cutoffs, quicker seat filling, and very little room for mistakes, and plan your choices carefully.

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