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CLAT Reservation 2025: Criteria for Reserved Categories at NLUs
July 24, 2026
Reader's Digest: Want to know which CLAT reservation category you qualify for and how many seats each NLU sets aside for it? This guide breaks down the CLAT Reservation 2027 criteria - SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PwD, domicile and women quotas - NLU by NLU, so you can fill your counselling preferences with a clear picture of where you stand.
Reservation can meaningfully change your admission chances in CLAT - but there is no single national rule. The Consortium of NLUs sets the overall framework, while each National Law University applies its own category splits, domicile quotas and horizontal reservations. Understanding the CLAT reservation criteria for each NLU before you lock your preferences is one of the most underrated steps in the CLAT seat allotment process.
During CLAT counselling, you rank the participating NLUs in your order of preference. There is no five-NLU limit - fill in as many preferences as you genuinely want, because leaving an NLU out simply removes it from your allotment chances. So check every NLU's reservation criteria before finalising your CLAT admission choices.
What This Guide Covers
- CLAT reservation categories - the vertical and horizontal categories recognised across NLUs.
- NLU-wise CLAT seat matrix - category-wise and NLU-wise seat distribution.
- Documents required - what you need to submit to claim a reserved seat during CLAT counselling.
CLAT 2027 Reservation Categories
Refer to the CLAT reservation list of the sections eligible for reserved seats at NLUs:
- Scheduled Caste (SC)
- Scheduled Tribe (ST)
- Other Backward Classes (OBC / OBC-NCL)
- Economically Weaker Section (EWS)
- Persons with Disabilities (PwD / SAP)
- State/Domicile quota for the respective NLU's home state
- NRI / NRI-Sponsored / Foreign National candidates
- Candidates from North-Eastern states
- Wards of Kashmiri Migrants
- Women (horizontal reservation at several NLUs)
- Wards of Serving/Retired Defence Personnel
How reservation works in CLAT: categories are applied either vertically (SC, ST, OBC, EWS - separate merit lists with their own seats) or horizontally (PwD, women, domicile - seats carved across all vertical categories, not in addition to them). Getting this distinction right is key to reading any NLU seat matrix correctly.
CLAT 2027: Participating NLUs & Total Seats
For the CLAT 2027 cycle, 26 National Law Universities plus IIULER (NLU Goa) participate in the centralised admission process. NLU Delhi is the only NLU that does not accept CLAT — it conducts its own AILET exam instead.
The Consortium expanded the pool in its April 2026 meeting, inducting NLU Tripura (Agartala) and NLU Meghalaya (Shillong), each offering 60 UG seats from the 2027–28 session.
Reference note: The most recent fully published seat matrix is for CLAT 2026 (below). The category-wise seat counts for CLAT 2027 are released by each NLU in its official brochure alongside the notification. Use the 2026 figures below as a reliable reference for scale and structure, and confirm the exact CLAT 2027 numbers from each NLU's official brochure once published.
Total Seats - CLAT 2026 (Reference)
| Particulars | CLAT UG Seats | CLAT PG Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Core CLAT seats | 3,705 | 1,436 |
| NRI / Foreign National seats | 247 | 69 |
| Supernumerary seats (various categories) | 140 | 94 |
| Total | 4,092 | 1,599 |
Source: Consortium of NLUs seat matrix, CLAT 2026 cycle. NLSIU Bengaluru had the highest UG intake at 310 seats.
NLU-Wise CLAT Seat Matrix (UG) - 2026 Reference
The table below shows the core UG (CLAT) seat intake per NLU for the 2026 cycle. Category-wise splits within each NLU follow that NLU's reservation policy (see the NLU-by-NLU section). Treat these as reference figures and confirm CLAT 2027 counts against the official brochure.
| NLU | Course | UG Seats (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bengaluru | BA LLB (Hons) | 310 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | BA LLB (Hons) | 132 |
| NLIU Bhopal | BA LLB (Hons) | 116 |
| NLIU Bhopal | BSc LLB (Cyber Security) | 59 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | BA LLB (Hons) | 108 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | BSc LLB (Hons) | 50 |
| NLU Jodhpur | BA LLB / BBA LLB (Hons) | 164 |
| HNLU Raipur | BA LLB (Hons) | 170 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 5-year LLB (all streams) | 172 |
| GNLU Silvassa | BA LLB (Hons) | 66 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | BA LLB (Hons) | 169 |
| RGNUL Patiala | BA LLB (Hons) | 180 |
| CNLU Patna | BA LLB (Hons) | 69 |
| CNLU Patna | BBA LLB (Hons) | 69 |
| NUALS Kochi | BA LLB (Hons) | 60 |
| NLUO Cuttack | BA LLB (Hons) | 106 |
| NLUO Cuttack | BBA LLB (Hons) | 53 |
| NUSRL Ranchi | BA LLB (Hons) | 120 |
| NUSRL Ranchi | BBA LLB (Hons) | 60 |
| NLUJA Assam | BA LLB (Hons) | 60 |
| DSNLU Visakhapatnam | BA LLB (Hons) | 120 |
| TNNLU Tiruchirapalli | BA LLB (Hons) | 56 |
| TNNLU Tiruchirapalli | BCom LLB (Hons) | 56 |
| MNLU Mumbai | BA LLB (Hons) | 100 |
| MNLU Nagpur | BA LLB (Hons) | 120 |
| MNLU Nagpur | BA LLB (Adjudication & Justicing) | 60 |
| MNLU Nagpur | BBA LLB (Hons) | 60 |
| MNLU Aurangabad | BA LLB (Hons) | 60 |
| MNLU Aurangabad | BBA LLB (Hons) | 60 |
| HPNLU Shimla | BA LLB (Hons) | 120 |
| HPNLU Shimla | BBA LLB (Hons) | 60 |
| DNLU Jabalpur | BA LLB (Hons) | 120 |
| DBRANLU Sonipat | BA LLB (Hons) | 120 |
| NLU Tripura | BA LLB (Hons) | 60 |
| RPNLU Prayagraj | BA LLB (Hons) | 60 |
| IIULER Goa | BA LLB (Hons) | 120 |
| IIULER Goa | BBA LLB (Hons) | 60 |
| Total (core CLAT UG seats) | 3,705 |
Source: Consortium of NLUs, CLAT 2026 seat matrix. Excludes NRI/Foreign National and supernumerary seats. NLU Meghalaya joins from the 2027–28 session (~60 UG seats).
CLAT Reservation Criteria for NLUs (At a Glance)
The category-wise reservation percentages below are stable across cycles; the seat counts follow each NLU's brochure.
Standard vertical reservation pattern followed by most central NLUs:
| Category | Typical Reservation |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% |
| Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) | 27% |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 10% |
| General / Unreserved | Remaining seats |
Common horizontal reservations (carved across all categories):
| Category | Typical Reservation |
|---|---|
| Persons with Disabilities (PwD / SAP) | 5% |
| Women | up to 30% (NLU-dependent) |
| State Domicile | 25%–70%+ (varies sharply by NLU) |
State NLUs (Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, etc.) apply their own state reservation lists, which differ substantially from the central pattern above. Always read the specific NLU's policy.
Comprehensive Reservation Policy: NLU by NLU
NLSIU Bengaluru
NLSIU Bengaluru applies the standard vertical pattern (SC 15%, ST 7.5%, OBC-NCL 27%, EWS 10%) with strong horizontal reservations: PwD 5%, Women 30%, and Karnataka Students 25% (compartmentalised horizontal).
Who counts as a "Karnataka Student"? Candidates who have studied for at least 10 years in a recognised institution in Karnataka. Those who have not may still qualify if they are children of defence personnel, Karnataka State Government employees, Karnataka-cadre All India Service officers, or Central Armed Police Force personnel who declared Karnataka as home state and served outside it for a corresponding period.
2026 reference: 310 UG / 120 PG seats. See NLSIU Bangalore cut-off.
NALSAR Hyderabad
NALSAR Hyderabad splits intake into All India (75%) and Resident Students of Telangana (25%), applying SC 15%, ST 7.5%, OBC/BC and EWS 10% within each pool. Horizontal: 30% women and 5% PwD. NALSAR also publishes a detailed vacant-seat conversion order.
2026 reference: 132 UG / 66 PG seats. See NALSAR Hyderabad cut-off.
NLIU Bhopal
NLIU Bhopal offers BA LLB and a BSc LLB (Cyber Security) programme and applies Madhya Pradesh state reservation, with roughly 50% seats horizontally reserved for MP domicile within each category. OBC reservation is limited to non-creamy-layer candidates with a valid certificate.
2026 reference: 116 (BA LLB) + 59 (BSc LLB) UG seats; 60 PG. (The earlier page mislabelled this NLU and its figures — corrected here.)
WBNUJS Kolkata
WBNUJS splits seats into All India and West Bengal Domicile pools, applying West Bengal's OBC-A/OBC-B classification, plus Foreign National, NRI/NRI-sponsored and J&K supernumerary seats. PwD is horizontal.
2026 reference: 108 (BA LLB) + 50 (BSc LLB) UG; 100 PG.
NLU Jodhpur (NLUJ)
NLU Jodhpur applies vertical SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS reservation with Rajasthan domicile and Rajasthan MBC (Non-Creamy Layer) horizontal reservation, plus PwD. A valid Rajasthan domicile / MBC certificate is required.
2026 reference: 164 UG / 80 PG seats. See NLU Jodhpur cut-off.
HNLU Raipur
HNLU applies Chhattisgarh state reservation across All-India and CG-domicile pools, with SAP 5%, Dependents of Freedom Fighters (CG) and 30% women horizontal reservation, plus NRI, FN, Kashmiri-migrant and J&K supernumerary seats.
2026 reference: 170 UG / 90 PG seats.
GNLU Gandhinagar & GNLU Silvassa
GNLU applies SC 15%, ST 7.5%, OBC 27%, EWS 10% vertically, with 30% women, 5% PwD and 25% Gujarat domicile (non-compartmentalised, excluding EWS) horizontally, plus supernumerary NRI/FN/J&K/NEI/Sports seats. GNLU Silvassa mirrors this with a 25% DNH & DD (UT) domicile horizontal reservation.
2026 reference: Gandhinagar 172 UG / 57 PG; Silvassa 66 UG / 33 PG. See the full NLU list.
RGNUL Patiala
RGNUL applies SC 15%, ST 7.5% and Foreign National seats, with EWS 10% as a supernumerary quota, plus SAP 5%, Punjab Residents + BC 10%, and Kashmiri-migrant / J&K supernumerary seats.
2026 reference: 180 UG / 58 PG seats.
RMLNLU Lucknow
RMLNLU applies Uttar Pradesh state reservation - OBC of UP 27%, SC of UP 21%, ST of UP 2%, plus EWS - with horizontal reservation for SAP 5%, Dependents of Freedom Fighters 2%, Defence 5% and women 20%. FN/NRI and Kashmiri-migrant seats are supernumerary.
2026 reference: 169 UG / 48 PG seats.
CNLU Patna
CNLU applies Bihar state reservation for BA LLB and BBA LLB - Unreserved 40%, EWS 10%, SC 16%, ST 1%, EBC 18%, BC 12% and Women of Backward Classes (WBC) 3% - with 5% PwD horizontal. Bihar uses EBC/BC sub-categories rather than a single "OBC"; declare the correct one.
2026 reference: 69 (BA LLB) + 69 (BBA LLB) UG seats.
NUALS Kochi
NUALS Kochi splits seats into All-India and Kerala state-domicile pools (State Merit, SC, ST, SEBC), with SAP 5% horizontal and supernumerary EWS, Transgender and J&K-migrant seats.
2026 reference: 60 UG / 60 PG seats.
NLUJA Assam
NLUJA applies Assam state reservation - SC 7%, ST (Plains) 10%, ST (Hills) 5%, OBC/MOBC-NCL - with SAP 5% and Assam domicile/PR horizontal reservation.
2026 reference: 60 UG / 40 PG seats.
Other participating NLUs
NLU Odisha (NLUO) Cuttack, NUSRL Ranchi, DSNLU Visakhapatnam, TNNLU Tiruchirapalli, the MNLU campuses (Mumbai, Nagpur, Aurangabad), HPNLU Shimla, DNLU Jabalpur, DBRANLU Sonipat, RPNLU Prayagraj, plus newly inducted NLU Tripura and NLU Meghalaya, each publish their own category-wise seat matrix and state-domicile rules. See MNLU Mumbai cut-off.
Documents Required to Claim CLAT 2027 Reservation
For Undergraduate (UG) courses:
- Class 10 mark sheet
- Class 12 mark sheet
- Character/Conduct Certificate from the last institution attended
- Transfer/Migration Certificate
- Caste Certificate (SC/ST/OBC, if claiming that category)
- PwD/SAP Certificate (if applicable)
- Domicile/Residence Certificate (if claiming a domicile seat)
- EWS certificate, defence-ward certificate, or other category-specific supporting documents
For Postgraduate (PG/LLM) courses:
- Class 10 mark sheet
- Class 12 mark sheet
- LLB / 5-year integrated LLB consolidated mark sheet
- Character/Conduct Certificate
- Transfer/Migration Certificate
- Caste Certificate (if applicable)
- PwD/SAP Certificate (if applicable)
- Domicile/Residence Certificate (if applicable)
- Any other category-specific supporting documents
Get your paperwork right early - check the CLAT eligibility criteria and CLAT photo & signature specifications before you apply.
How to Add/Edit Your Reservation Category in the CLAT Form
Some NLUs (for example, domicile categories) require you to select the reservation option inside the application. To edit it:
- Visit the official Consortium portal at consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
- Log in to your CLAT account.
- Click Edit Application.
- Go to the relevant NLU's Reservation tab.
- Select your reservation category from the drop-down.
- Click Submit to save your changes.
Changes are only possible while the application/correction window is open, so act early. See the CLAT application form guide for the full process.
Conclusion
Key takeaways on CLAT Reservation 2027:
- Every NLU has its own reservation policy — vertical (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) plus horizontal (PwD/women/domicile).
- 26 NLUs + IIULER Goa participate in CLAT 2027; NLU Delhi admits via AILET, not CLAT.
- Newly inducted NLU Tripura and NLU Meghalaya join the pool from 2027–28.
- The most recent published matrix (CLAT 2026) had 3,705 core UG + 1,436 PG seats (4,092 / 1,599 including NRI, FN and supernumerary) - use as reference and confirm 2027 counts from each NLU's brochure.
- There is no cap of five on NLU preferences; rank as many as you want during counselling.
- Keep your caste, domicile, EWS and PwD documents ready before you apply.
Plan preparation alongside strategy: start with the CLAT syllabus, a structured CLAT study plan, and the latest CLAT cut-off trends.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the mode of CLAT 2025 Seat Allotment?
How many seats are offered through CLAT 2025 Exam?
Can I change my NLU preference during the CLAT 2025 Seat Allotment process?
Will the CLAT seat be allotted based on the domicile?
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Zubeen Siddiqui
Content Writer | MBA & CAT Preparation
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