What Score Do You Need for NLSIU, NALSAR or NLU Delhi? CLAT 2026 Closing Ranks
The short answer
For CLAT 2026, general category students needed roughly 100 to 102 marks out of 120 for the top two NLUs. Here are the final-round closing ranks. Marks are approximate and change with every paper.
- NLSIU Bengaluru: closing rank about 120, around 102 marks.
- NALSAR Hyderabad: about 168, around 100 marks.
- WBNUJS Kolkata: about 343, around 98 marks.
- NLU Delhi: admits through AILET, a separate test. The general category closed at roughly rank 70 to 78.
CLAT 2027 is on 6 December 2026. Use these numbers to set your target, not to predict your result.
Every year, students ask me one question just before CLAT. “Sir, how many marks do I need for NLSIU?” The honest answer is a rank, and a rank depends on the paper.
So here is what the CLAT 2026 data actually showed, how to read it, and how to set a smart target for CLAT 2027.
What Is a Closing Rank?
A closing rank is the rank of the last student who got a seat in a college. If NLSIU closed at rank 120, students ranked 1 to 120 in that category got a seat there.
Marks do not decide the seat. Your rank does. Marks only help you guess your rank.
CLAT 2026 Closing Ranks for the Top 6 NLUs
These are general category, all-India seats, from the final (5th) counselling list. Marks are approximate and out of 120.
| NLU | CLAT 2026 closing rank | Approx. marks (out of 120) | CLAT 2025 closing rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bengaluru | 120 | ~102 | 112 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 168 | ~100 | 159 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata (BA LLB) | 343 | ~98 | 327 |
| NLU Jodhpur | 364 | ~97 | 367 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 398 | ~97 | 444 |
| NLIU Bhopal (BA LLB) | 459 | ~96 | 480 |
Do not compare 2025 marks with 2026 marks directly. The papers had different difficulty. Look at the ranks instead.
NLSIU Bengaluru: Closing Rank by Category
NLSIU is the most competitive seat, so it is a good example of how categories differ. In the Consortium’s final list for CLAT 2026, the closing ranks were:
| Category | CLAT 2026 closing rank at NLSIU |
|---|---|
| General | 120 |
| EWS | 740 |
| OBC (NCL) | 1,177 |
| SC | 3,142 |
| ST | 5,227 |
These are the all-India cut-off ranks from the Consortium’s final (5th) list. Reserved categories have their own pools, so always compare your rank within your own category. NLSIU also keeps extra seats for Karnataka students, which close at different ranks.
Want to see where your score fits? Message us on WhatsApp at +91 7983667303.
WhatsApp Us: +91 7983667303What About NLU Delhi?
NLU Delhi does not take students through CLAT. It has its own test, AILET, which is out of 150 marks. So a CLAT score and an AILET score cannot be compared.
In 2026, the general category BA LLB closed at roughly rank 70 to 78, depending on the merit list. Reports differ slightly, so check NLU Delhi’s own lists for the exact figure. NLU Delhi has about 110 to 123 BA LLB seats, and the number can change by year.
A lower seat count means very high competition. If NLU Delhi is your dream, prepare for both tests. Our guide on AILET 2028 explains the pattern.
Why the Closing Rank Moves
Three things change the number every year:
- Paper difficulty. A harder paper lowers marks, but the rank list still ends up in a similar place.
- Seats. More seats push the closing rank further down.
- Student choices. Students leave a seat when they get a better one, and ranks shift in later rounds.
The top NLUs barely move. NLSIU closed its first list at 101 and its final list at 120. Newer and mid-tier NLUs move by hundreds of ranks. So the top end is the least flexible.
How to Set Your Target Score for CLAT 2027
- Pick a college range, not one college. For example, “any top 6 NLU”.
- Look at the rank you would need. For the top 6, that is roughly the first 450 to 500 general ranks.
- Add a safety margin. Aim 3 to 5 marks above the estimate. The paper may be easier, and marks cluster at the top.
- Check your mocks. Your last 5 mocks tell you where you stand today.
- Plan the gap. If you are 10 marks short, find the section where you lose the most marks, and fix that first.
Two tools can help. Enter your score in our CLAT college predictor to see which NLUs fit. Then use the CLAT mock analyser to find where your marks are leaking.
What If Your Score Is Below These Numbers?
Many good NLUs close at higher ranks. Newer NLUs closed near rank 2,000 to 2,400 in CLAT 2026. Your category and home state also change your options.
Please do not decide your future from one number. A student with a lower rank who works hard in college can build a great career. Choose a college range, apply on counselling day, and keep options open.
For the last weeks before the test, our last 25 days plan shows how to lift your score.
Important: Use These Numbers Carefully
- The ranks are from CLAT 2026. CLAT 2027 will be different.
- The marks are estimates from marks-versus-rank analysis.
- The predictor and these tables are not connected to the Consortium of NLUs or NLU Delhi.
- Always check the official website once results are out.
THE PROBLEM, AND THE FIX
KNOW YOUR TARGET. THEN BUILD THE SCORE.
The problem: you know the rank you need but your mock scores are stuck below it.
The solution: TITAN 2028, our 15-month CLAT, AILET and SLAT program with mentors from NLUs, to plan the climb from your current score to your target. Attend a demo class and see.
Mentorship to Close the Score Gap
At MEGA LAW & G.K., every batch has mentorship from current NLU students, with one mentor for every 10 students. We also provide one-on-one mentorship to all students, taken by me for strategy and decision guidance. Query? WhatsApp us at +91 7983667303.
“Do not chase a number. Know your target, find your weak section, and fix it one mock at a time.”
Manav Lawania, Founder, MEGA LAW & G.K.
Read next on MEGA LAW
- CLAT College Predictor: See Which NLUs Match Your Score or Rank
- CLAT Mock Analyser: Find Where You Lose Marks
- Last 25 Days Before CLAT 2027: What to Revise, What to Stop, and a Day-by-Day Plan
- How to Choose a CLAT Book: A 7-Point Honest Checklist
- CLAT 2028 Complete Guide: Exam Date, New Pattern, Syllabus, Eligibility & Preparation
Frequently asked questions
What rank is needed for NLSIU Bengaluru?
In CLAT 2026, the general category all-India seats at NLSIU closed at about AIR 120 in the final list. Reserved categories close at higher ranks: EWS 740, OBC 1,177, SC 3,142 and ST 5,227.
How many marks do I need for NLSIU, NALSAR and NLU Delhi?
For CLAT 2026, NLSIU needed roughly 102 out of 120 and NALSAR roughly 100, in published estimates. NLU Delhi uses AILET, which is out of 150, so the score is not comparable. Treat all marks as approximate.
Is 100 marks enough for a top NLU in CLAT?
Around 100 was in the range of the top two NLUs in CLAT 2026, but the exact marks change with paper difficulty. A score near 100 is strong. Plan for a few marks above your target for safety.
Do closing ranks stay the same every year?
No. They move with the paper's difficulty, the number of seats and how many students accept or reject seats. Use last year's data as a guide, not a promise.
Why do closing ranks change between counselling rounds?
Students leave seats for better ones, so lower-ranked students move up. Top NLUs change very little between the first and final list. Mid-tier and newer NLUs change much more.
Which NLU can I get with a rank around 1,000?
Several NLUs closed near or above that range for general category in CLAT 2026. Use the CLAT college predictor and the official Consortium lists, as home-state and category seats change the picture.
What is the NLU Delhi cutoff?
NLU Delhi admits through AILET, not CLAT. In 2026, the general category BA LLB closed at roughly rank 70 to 78 depending on the list, and published reports differ slightly. Check NLU Delhi's own lists for the exact figure.
Are these closing ranks official?
The ranks come from the Consortium's final (5th) CLAT 2026 allotment lists. The marks are estimates from marks-versus-rank analysis, and the Consortium does not publish a marks table. Always check the official website.
About the Author
Manav Lawania, India's Teens & Twenties Mentor. Founder of MEGA LAW & G.K. and UsefullBooks, Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Former Intelligence Officer, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India. 15+ years of teaching experience and 4,000 to 5,000 students counselled for CLAT and AILET. Manav scored 13 out of 100 in Class 12 before rebuilding his own path, and that comeback is the lens he brings to every student he now mentors. He writes and teaches under the belief that CLAT preparation is as much about having the right data as it is about having the right mindset.