As of February 1, 2026, candidates for CLAT 2026 have successfully concluded their mandatory document verification and seat acceptance formalities following the second allotment round. The Consortium of NLUs has confirmed the closure of the Round 2 payment window, marking a critical transition for law aspirants into their respective universities. Thousands of students have now secured their provisional admission by opting for the 'Freeze' facility across 24 National Law Universities. This structured process ensures that all academic and eligibility credentials are authenticated before the commencement of the third merit list scheduled for February 5.

The admission cycle for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 reached a significant milestone today, February 1, 2026. Following the release of the second provisional allotment list on January 22, thousands of law aspirants across India have successfully finished their essential document verification and university-level admission formalities. This phase effectively solidifies the intake for a large portion of the 4,000+ available seats across the participating National Law Universities.

Overview of Round 2 Admission Milestones

The Consortium of NLUs reported a high rate of seat acceptance during the second round, which concluded its payment and verification window on January 29, 2026. This period was dedicated to candidates who were either freshly allotted seats or those who had chosen the "Float" option in the previous round.

• Seat Acceptance Trends: A majority of candidates allotted to top-tier institutions like NLSIU Bengaluru and NALSAR Hyderabad chose the "Freeze" option, indicating a high level of satisfaction with their initial or upgraded allotments.
• Payment Completion: The mandatory non-refundable confirmation fee was successfully processed for candidates moving forward in the admission cycle.
• Verification Success: Institutional helpdesks have concluded the digital and physical verification of certificates, ensuring that all candidates meet the minimum eligibility of 45% (40% for SC/ST) in their qualifying exams.

Rigorous Document Authentication Standards

For the 2026 academic session, the verification process was conducted with heightened scrutiny to maintain the integrity of the NLU Admission Process. Candidates were required to produce a comprehensive set of documents to validate their eligibility and reservation claims.

• Academic Proofs: Verification included the original Class 10 and Class 12 certificates, ensuring that the marksheets were issued by recognized boards.
• Category Validation: For candidates under SC, ST, OBC, or PwD categories, the validity of the certificates was checked against current government mandates and state-specific rationalization rules.
• Migration and Transfer: Students moving from different states provided necessary Migration and Character certificates to finalize their institutional enrollment.

Institutional Readiness for the Third List

With the second round formalities now behind them, the focus of the participating universities has shifted toward internal audits of vacant seats. These vacancies will form the basis of the third provisional allotment list, which is highly anticipated by those currently on the waiting list.

• Vacancy Assessment: Universities are currently reporting "Exit" or "Withdrawal" data to the central portal to update the seat matrix.
• Waiting List Movement: While the top 10 NLUs show minimal vacancies, mid-tier and newer NLUs are expected to see significant movement in the third round.
• Next Update: Aspirants still in the "Float" category are looking toward February 5, 2026, when the next set of allotments will be officially declared.

Conclusion

The completion of the second round of document verification and admission formalities on January 29 marks the end of a pivotal phase in the CLAT 2026 journey. By February 1, the Consortium has ensured that the majority of the provisional seats are backed by verified credentials and fee payments. This systematic approach paves the way for the upcoming third allotment list, maintaining the transparency and merit-based standards expected of the National Law Universities' entry process.