The Consortium of NLUs is set to conclude the second allotment confirmation for the CLAT 2026 session on January 29Aspirants must finalize their document uploads and pay the ₹20,000 confirmation fee to validate their seat status. This process is a prerequisite for candidates choosing to Freeze or Float their current National Law University allotment. Ensure all PDFs are correctly formatted before the portal locks to maintain eligibility for the third merit list scheduled for February 5.

The admission cycle for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT 2026) has entered its most active phase as the deadline for the second round of seat confirmation approaches. Following the release of the second merit list on January 22, thousands of law aspirants are currently logged into the official Consortium of NLUs portal to complete their administrative formalities. As of January 28, the majority of applicants have successfully navigated the digital interface to secure their provisional seats. The window for these essential tasks is scheduled to close promptly at 1:00 PM on January 29, 2026, leaving those who have yet to pay their fees with a narrow margin for error.

Finalizing Confirmation Fee Payments

A significant hurdle in the CLAT 2026 admission process is the mandatory payment of the seat confirmation fee. This transaction is the only method for a candidate to signal their intent to join the legal academic session.

• Payment Requirement: Applicants must remit a non-refundable fee of ₹20,000 through the online payment gateway.
• Freeze vs. Float: Whether a student chooses to "Freeze" their current seat or "Float" for a potential upgrade in the third round, the payment must be completed to stay in the counselling process.
• Adjustable Credit: The Consortium has clarified that this amount will be adjusted against the final university fees once the student reports to their allotted NLU in mid-2026.
• Consequence of Default: Failure to process the payment by the January 29 deadline results in the automatic cancellation of the seat and the removal of the candidate from the further counselling rounds.

Document Upload Protocols for Law Aspirants

Parallel to the financial requirements, the 2026 session requires a robust digital verification of all academic and category credentials. Applicants are urged to double-check their dashboards to ensure all files have been accepted by the system.

• Verification Standards: All certificates, including Class 10/12 mark sheets and domicile proofs, must be uploaded in a high-resolution PDF format to the Consortium website.
• Category Validation: For those claiming reservation, the SC/ST/OBC or EWS certificates must be current; NTA guidelines suggest these should not be older than one year as of the January 2026 counselling start date.
• Correction of Errors: During this window, any candidate flagged for "discrepancy" in their documents must re-upload the correct files immediately to avoid rejection.
• Confirmation Status: Once both the fee and documents are submitted, the candidate's status on the dashboard should transition to "Provisionally Admitted" or "Float Active."

Timeline for Remaining Admission Rounds

As the January 28 dateline passes, the NLU Consortium is preparing to reconcile the data for the third allotment list. The efficiency of this counselling phase determines how many vacancies will be available for the next tier of waitlisted students.

• Third Allotment: The next list is slated for publication on February 5, 2026, at 10:00 AM.
• Vacancy Matrix: A detailed report on the remaining seats across all 25 NLUs will be released shortly after the second round closes to guide those in the "Float" category.
• University Reporting: Students who have already frozen their seats must note that the final balance of university fees is typically due by late April 2026.
• Administrative Support: For technical issues during document uploads, applicants can reach the helpdesk via the Consortium contact page before the 1:00 PM cutoff.

Conclusion

The successful completion of fee payments and document uploads by applicants marks the finalization of the second round in the CLAT 2026 journey. By January 28, the vast majority of future law students have already solidified their status, yet the final hours remain critical for those still pending. This administrative diligence ensures a transparent transition into the prestigious National Law Universities. As the portal prepares to transition toward the third counselling round, candidates are advised to keep a printed copy of their payment receipt and allotment letter as proof of their provisional admission into the 2026 academic batch.