NLSAT 2026 Exam Date, Notification, Registration, Syllabus, Admission Process & cut off [Check Complete Info]

Reader's Digest: Planning to enter the 3-Year Law Program of NLSIU. Read this blog to get a complete idea of the NLSAT Exam 2026 to get into the top National Law School of India for pursuing 3-year LLB Program.

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The National Law School of India University, Bangalore, is among the country's most prestigious law schools.

Until the inception of its 3-year LL.B program in 2022, NLS was traditionally known for its integrated 5-year BA LLB course.

The 3-year LLB course at NLSIU has sought to attract graduates who want to study law and aim for a more wholesome, rigorous legal education.

Overview of the 3-year LLB program

The three-year LLB course at NLSIU is designed with a systematic approach to helping graduates from different disciplines gain sound footing in the law. It aims to produce legally knowledgeable professionals with practical skills in dealing with contemporary legal issues.

What is NLSAT 2026?

NLSAT is an entrance test carried out by NLSIU Bangalore, for admissions into its 3-year LLB course.

This program started in 2022 by NLSIU Bangalore.

The test analyses candidates based on their law study aptitude, awareness of current affairs, and capability to interpret and apply law principles.

The pattern of the NLSAT test has been kept such that it can analyze several skills, such as critical reasoning, reading comprehension, and general awareness.

Read More: Online Coaching for NLSAT 2026 by LegalEdge

NLSAT 2026 Key Details

• It is designed to test the candidate for comprehension, critical thinking, analytical abilities, and aptitude for studying law.
• It retains candidates who show a keen interest in law and are properly endowed with the skills to pursue the rather demanding LL.B. course at NLSIU.

NLSAT 2026 Important Dates

NLSAT 2026 IMPORTANT EVENTS	NLSAT 2026 IMPORTANT DATES
Starting Date to Apply	TBA
Last Date to Apply	TBA
Last Date for Online Fee Payment	TBA
Admit Card Release Date	TBA
NLSAT Exam Date	TBA
Result Date	TBA

NLSAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

The NLSAT 2026 eligibility criteria for applying for the program are as under:

1. Educational Qualification: The candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in any field from a recognized national or international university.

2. Minimum Marks Requirement:

   • General Category: The applicants should have graduated with at least 45% of the total marks aggregate.
   • SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PWD Category:  The applicants should have graduated with at least 40% of the total marks aggregate.

3. Final Year Students: Final year students who are appearing for their Bachelor's degree are also eligible to apply. However, their last admission offer is dependent upon securing the above-specified minimum aggregate marks while completing their degree successfully.

4. Submission of Proof: Submission of proof of completion of the qualifying degree, with the specified minimum aggregate marks, is to be made at least by December 31, 2025.

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These standards guarantee applicants achieve the required level of education to qualify for admission into the program.

International Students

Candidates can apply for the NLSAT – International Examination for the “international student” category if they fulfil the following conditions:

• They should be a citizen of a country other than India; AND
• They should have completed a minimum of ten years of their education in a school/college/university outside India.

Read More: Best Books for NLSAT 2026 Exam prep

NLSAT 2026 Exam Pattern

All candidates who wish to apply for the programme are bound to sit for the NLSAT examination. The format of the examination is as follows:

1. Exam Structure: The NLSAT will consist of a single question paper divided into two parts:

Section	Type of Question	Marks
Part A	Multiple-Choice Questions	75
Part B	Subjective Questions	75

2. Attempt Requirement: All candidates are to attempt both Part A and Part B of the question paper.

3. Exam Duration: The examination will last for 150 minutes in total.

Part A

• Question Format:

  • Part A will consist of Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs).
  • The total marks for this section are 75.
  • Each question carries 1 mark.

• Marking Scheme:

  • 0.25 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer.
  • 0.25 marks will also be deducted for each unanswered question.

• Content Areas:

  • Comprehension: Questions will test your capacity to read and interpret written texts.
  • Current Affairs: Questions will address recent developments and significant national and international news.
  • Critical Reasoning: Questions will challenge your ability to reason logically, testing your capacity to analyze arguments and draw conclusions.

Part B

Part B of the NLSAT exam will include subjective questions and will be scored out of a maximum of 75 marks. The section will test candidates in two main areas:

1. Legal Aptitude/Reasoning (60 marks):

   • This section will consist of problem-based questions designed to assess candidates' legal reasoning abilities.
   • Candidates are expected to write short answers for each question, with responses in the 200-250 word range.
   • There will be 5 questions, each worth 12 marks.
   • No prior knowledge of law is required for this section.

2. Analytical Ability (15 marks):

   • In this section, candidates will be required to write an essay of no more than 500 words.
   • The essay will test the candidate's knowledge of the issue, ability to make coherent and logical arguments, and skill in writing a well-structured essay.
   • This section focuses on analytical skills, and knowledge of the law is not expected.

Read More: NLSAT 2026 Exam Pattern

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NLSAT 2026 Admission Process

Total Number of Seats: 120

Admission to the programme shall be through an all-India written admission test, the National Law School Admissions Test (NLSAT).

• Stage 1 - Part A Evaluation:

  • Part A of the exam serves as the initial stage of the admissions process.
  • Candidates' performance in Part A will be used to create a rank list.
  • To qualify for the evaluation of Part B, candidates must score more than zero marks in Part A.

• Stage 2 - Part B Evaluation:

  • Only candidates who have scored above zero in Part A will be considered for Part B evaluation.
  • Part B answer scripts will be evaluated in a 1:5 ratio based on Part A's performance, meaning five candidates per available seat will qualify for evaluation.
• Stage 3 

  The final admission process for the NLSAT involves preparing a comprehensive rank list based on the combined performance in Parts A and B of the exam. Admission offers will be made according to this final rank list, provided candidates meet the following conditions:

• Eligibility Conditions:
  • Minimum Score Requirement: Candidates must secure more than zero marks in both Parts A and B of the NLSAT.
• Percentile Requirement:
  • Candidates in the General and EWS categories must have a cumulative score (sum of Parts A and B) above the 75th percentile of eligible candidates.
  • Candidates in the SC/ST/OBC-NCL or PWD categories must have a cumulative score above the 40th percentile of eligible candidates.

Read More: How to Fill NLSAT Application Form?

How to apply for NLSAT 2026?

• Visit the Official Website:

  • Go to the official NLSIU website: www.nls.ac.in.
  • Look for the NLSAT application link under the "Admissions" or "Examinations" section.

• NLSAT 2026 Registration:

  • Click on the NLSAT registration link.
  • Fill in the required details to create a new account, including your name, email address, mobile number, and other personal details.
  • Verify your email and mobile number through the OTP sent.

• Filling the NLSAT Application Form:

  • Log in with your registered email and password.
  • Complete the application form with your personal, academic, and contact details.
  • Upload the necessary documents, such as:
    • Passport-sized photograph.
    • Signature.
    • Scanned copies of your ID proof (Aadhaar, PAN, etc.).
    • Relevant educational certificates (if required).

• Application Fee Payment:

  • Pay the application fee online through the available payment modes (credit/debit card, net banking, or UPI).
  • The fee amount is usually specified on the application form or the NLSIU website.

• Submission:

  • Review all the details you have filled in to ensure there are no errors.
  • Submit the application form after ensuring all the information is correct.

• Download Confirmation:

  • After submission, download the application confirmation page for your records.
  • Keep a copy of the filled application form and payment receipt for future reference.

Application fee for NLSAT 2026

The application fees for the NLSAT are as follows:

• General Category: Rs. 2500 
• Reserved Categories (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PWD/EWS): Rs. 2000

Read more: NLSAT Test Series by LegalEdge

NLSAT 2026 Syllabus [Subject-Wise]

Part A

Subject	Questions Per Section	Marks Per Section
English Comprehension	25	25
Current Affairs	25	25
Critical Reasoning (including logical reasoning and legal aptitude)	25	25
Total	75	75

Part B

Subject	Questions Per Section	Marks Per Section
Legal Aptitude and Reasoning	6	60
Analytical Ability	1 Essay-Based Question	15
Total	7	75

Read More: Understand NLSAT Syllabus in Detail

NLSAT 2026 Exam Centers

The NLSIU Bangalore will release the list of exam cities for the NLSAT exam along with the exam notification. Candidates will be given the choice to select at least three cities (nearest first) as their preferred test centre location. They must select their options in the NLSAT 2026 application form. 

NLSAT 2026 Admit Card/Hall Ticket

NLSIU Bengaluru will release the NLSAT Admit Card 7-10 days before the examination date. All those candidates who have applied for NLSAT 2026 can download the NLSAT LLB 2026 Admit Card by visiting the official website of NLSAT, i.e. nls.ac.in to download the admit card.

NLSAT Cut Off Marks and Ranks (2022–2025)

Year	Category	Cut Off Marks / Percentile	Last Admission Rank	Waiting List Conversion Rank
2025	General	TBA	TBA	TBA
	Reserved Categories	TBA	TBA	TBA
2024	General	~85–90 percentile	Not disclosed	Not disclosed
	Reserved Categories	~70–80 percentile	Not disclosed	Not disclosed
2023	General	~85–90 percentile	Rank 110–120	Up to Rank 145
	Reserved Categories	~70–80 percentile	Rank 250–300	Up to Rank 350+
2022	General	~85–90 percentile	Not disclosed	Not disclosed
	Reserved Categories	~70–80 percentile	Not disclosed	Not disclosed

NLSAT 2026 Results

NLSIU, Bangalore, will announce the results of NLSAT 2026 a few weeks after the conduction of the exam. The results of NLSAT 2026 will be published on the official website nls.ac.in. Candidates can check NLSAT 2026 results by entering their application number and password.

Conclusion

• The NLSAT 2026 is a competitive exam that will test candidates' aptitude and preparedness for admission to the 3-year LLB program at NLSIU, demanding concentrated preparation in comprehension, critical reasoning, and legal aptitude.
• Admission to the 3-year LLB programme in NLSIU is a methodical three-stage process in which only the most meritorious candidates are chosen by their performance in both halves of the exam.
• The program invites graduates from a wide range of academic disciplines, providing opportunities for both domestic and foreign students to undertake a world-class legal education at NLSIU.
• Aspirants need to be careful about the important dates, the eligibility criteria, and the pattern of the examination and adhere to the step-by-step application procedure for a hassle-free experience.
• Acing the NLSAT and gaining admission to NLSIU is a gateway to a strong legal education, which can equip the graduate with the tools necessary for a successful career in law.