AILET 2026 Third Merit List Admission Phase Concludes

The National Law University (NLU) Delhi has officially wrapped up the third round of the All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) 2026 admission cycle. As of 11 February 2026, the critical window for the third provisional merit list has closed, marking a significant milestone in the 2026-27 academic session intake. Candidates whose names appeared in the third list, released on February 4, were given a strict deadline to complete their provisional admission formalities, including the mandatory fee payment and document submission. This phase serves as the penultimate stage for many high-ranking law aspirants before the counseling process enters a planned hiatus leading up to the final vacancy rounds in May.

Seat Confirmation and Fee Protocols

Shortlisted candidates for both the undergraduate BA LLB (Hons.) and the postgraduate LLM (Non-Residential) programs were required to deposit a provisional admission confirmation fee of ₹50,000. According to the official NLU Delhi Admissions portal, this payment window closed strictly at 11:00 AM yesterday, February 10, 2026. The university has clarified that failure to remit this amount within the stipulated timeline results in the automatic cancellation of the admission offer. The seat is then subsequently treated as a vacancy to be filled in the next round of merit.

• Fee Adjustment: The ₹50,000 confirmation fee, along with the initial counseling registration fee (₹30,000 for General and ₹20,000 for Reserved categories), will be adjusted against the total university tuition.
• Letter of Offer: Selected candidates were required to download, sign, and re-upload their provisional admission offer letters as part of the formal acceptance process.
• Document Scrutiny: The National Law University Delhi is now cross-verifying the uploaded character certificates and academic marksheets to ensure eligibility compliance.
• Undertaking Submission: A signed undertaking by both the student and their parent/guardian was a mandatory prerequisite for seat retention during this round.

Vacancy Assessment and Final Merit List

The conclusion of the third round allows the university administration to conduct a thorough audit of the remaining seat matrix. While the third list was expected to fill a majority of the 123 BA LLB and 81 LLM seats, a small buffer often remains due to late-stage withdrawals or non-payment. The Ministry of Education guidelines ensure that these provisional seats are distributed fairly based on the All India Rank (AIR). The university has announced that any remaining vacancies will be addressed in the fourth and final provisional merit list, which is scheduled for release on May 5, 2026.

• Refund Policy: For registered candidates who did not receive an allotment in the first three rounds, the counseling fee refund process is expected to initiate after the completion of the entire cycle in June.
• Balance Payment: Those who secured seats in the first three rounds must pay the remaining balance of the university fees by the April 30 timeline.
• Waitlist Status: Aspirants still on the waitlist are advised to monitor the official portal for any supplementary notifications regarding spot rounds or fourth-list eligibility.

Conclusion

With the 11 February closure of the third-round formalities, the first major phase of the NLU Delhi admission cycle comes to an end. This rigorous provisional selection process ensures that only the most dedicated and qualified candidates enter one of India's most prestigious legal institutions. As the university prepares for the upcoming academic session starting in July, the focus now shifts to the final balance fee payments and the end-of-cycle vacancy rounds. Aspirants are encouraged to keep their digital records updated and remain vigilant for the May 5 notification, which will provide the final opportunity for entry into the Class of 2031 (for UG) and the Class of 2027 (for PG).

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