CLAT 2026 Confirmation Fee Payment Window for Round 2 Active
The Consortium of NLUs has opened the confirmation fee payment window for the CLAT 2026 second allotment list. Candidates who have been allotted a seat in the second merit list must pay a non-refundable fee of ₹20,000 by January 29, 2026.This step is mandatory for students choosing either the "Freeze" or "Float" options to secure their admission in National Law Universities. Ensure timely payment through the official candidate portal to avoid seat forfeiture and withdrawal from the 2026–27 centralized counseling process.
Following the release of the second merit list today, the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) has officially activated the payment link for seat confirmation. Law aspirants who have secured an allotment in the second round must log in to their dashboard to complete the financial formalities. The confirmation fee is a vital requirement for any candidate who wishes to retain their provisionally allotted seat, whether they intend to join the current university or hope for an upgrade in the upcoming third list.
Mandatory Fee and Action Windows
The Consortium has specified that a non-refundable confirmation fee of ₹20,000 must be paid by all newly allotted candidates. This payment window will remain open until 1:00 PM on January 29, 2026. It is important to note that students who already paid this amount during the first round of allotment do not need to pay it again, but they must still log in to the payment link area to re-confirm their choice of "Freeze" or "Float" for the new allotment.
- Payment Deadline: January 29, 2026, at 1:00 PM.
- Fee Amount: ₹20,000 (applicable to both General and Reserved categories).
- Consequence of Non-Payment: Failure to pay the confirmation fee within the deadline will result in the immediate cancellation of the seat and removal from the 2026 counseling process.
- Transaction Safety: Candidates are advised to use stable internet connections when accessing the payment link to avoid transaction failures.
| Category | Action Required | Fee to be Paid |
| First-time Allottees | Choose Freeze/Float | ₹20,000 |
| Upgraded Candidates | Choose Freeze/Float | Nil (if paid in R1) |
| Satisfied with Seat | Choose Freeze | Final University Fee (Later) |
| Seeking Better NLU | Choose Float | ₹20,000 (if not paid) |
Understanding the Freeze and Float Options
The 2026 NLU admission guidelines require students to make a strategic decision at the time of fee payment. By selecting the "Freeze" option, a student accepts the current university as their final choice and exits the subsequent counseling rounds. Conversely, the "Float" option allows the student to secure their current seat by paying the confirmation fee while remaining eligible for a seat in a higher-preference university in the third allotment list, which is scheduled for release on February 5.
- Freeze Policy: Once a seat is frozen, the candidate must pay the remaining university fees directly to the respective NLU by the specified April/May deadlines.
- Float Policy: If a candidate is upgraded in the next round, the earlier seat is automatically vacated and offered to the next eligible person in the NLU admission merit list.
- University Fees: These are separate from the Consortium fees and vary significantly across different National Law Universities.
- Refund Policy: The counseling registration fee paid in December is refundable under specific conditions, but the confirmation fee is typically adjusted against the first-semester tuition.
Conclusion
The activation of the payment link marks the final administrative hurdle for students in the second round of CLAT 2026. With the January 29 deadline approaching, the Consortium has urged candidates not to wait until the last hour to process their confirmation fee. Ensuring a successful transaction is the only way to safeguard a place in the competitive NLU admission cycle for the 2026–27 session. As the third allotment list looms in early February, the actions taken this week will determine the final academic destination for thousands of future legal professionals.