The CLAT 2026 counselling process enters a vital phase on January 31 as candidates prepare for Round 2 seat movement. Learn about the 'Float' and 'Freeze' options, the importance of confirmation fees, and the updated seat matrix across top NLUs for this admission cycle.

The centralised admission process for the National Law Universities (NLUs) is witnessing significant activity as the month of January concludes. Following the release of the initial merit lists by the Consortium of NLUs, the transition between Round 1 and Round 2 has officially begun. As of today, January 31, the window for the first set of confirmation fee payments has closed, and the administrative machinery is now calculating the vacant slots created by those who opted to exit or failed to report. This period is critical for thousands of law aspirants who are pinning their hopes on "upward shifting," where seats in higher-preference universities become available due to shifting candidate choices.

Round 2 Dynamics and Allotment Timeline

The Consortium has established a rigorous five-round schedule to ensure that the 4,000+ undergraduate and 1,500+ postgraduate seats are filled efficiently. With the Round 2 allotment list expected to go live shortly, the focus is on the "Opening and Closing Ranks" for flagship institutes like NLSIU Bangalore and NALSAR Hyderabad.

• Confirmation Window: Candidates allotted seats in the recent cycle must pay the non-refundable confirmation fee to remain in the admission race.
• Movement Trends: Historical data suggests that significant movement occurs in the second and third rounds as candidates with multiple offers from private universities or AILET-affiliated colleges withdraw their CLAT seats.
• Provisional Nature: All current allotments remain provisional until the final physical document verification is completed at the respective university.
• Login Vigilance: Aspirants are advised to monitor the official portal, consortiumofnlus.ac.in, for their specific dashboard updates and invitation letters.

Managing the Freeze, Float, and Exit Options

A central pillar of the CLAT 2026 admission strategy is the effective use of participation options. Candidates must choose their path carefully, as a single error in selection can lead to the permanent forfeiture of their seat and the initial counselling fee of ₹30,000 (General) or ₹20,000 (Reserved).

• The 'Float' Strategy: This is the most popular choice in January, allowing students to secure a baseline college while waiting for vacancies in their dream Consortium member school.
• Upward Movement: It is important to note that a "Float" choice only allows for upward movement in the preference list; a candidate cannot move to a lower-ranked university once a seat is accepted.
• Mandatory Fees: Even for a "Float" decision, the payment of the confirmation fee is mandatory to prevent the seat from being marked as vacant for the next round.

Documentation and University Fee Deadlines

As the counselling rounds advance, the administrative focus shifts toward the final settlement of university-specific fees. For candidates who have chosen the "Freeze" option in these early rounds, the Consortium has set a hard deadline in April for the remaining balance payment.

• Domicile Verification: Candidates claiming seats under state quotas must ensure their domicile certificates are dated as per the 2025-26 requirements.
• Category Shifts: Any vacancy in a reserved category that cannot be filled is eventually converted into an unreserved seat in the final admission stages.
• Scorecard Accuracy: The CLAT 2026 results evaluated out of 119 marks (following the withdrawal of one question) are being used for all rank-based allotments.
• Refund Rules: Partial refunds of the counselling fee are only available if the "Exit" option is exercised before the prescribed cutoff date in May.

Conclusion

The current phase of CLAT 2026 counselling represents a game of patience and strategy for the aspirants involved. As the Consortium prepares to publish the next set of allotment results, the expected movement across the seat matrix offers a glimmer of hope for those on the waitlist. With the admission cycle for 2026 moving at a steady pace, the final picture of the NLU batch of 2031 will begin to crystallize over the coming weeks of February.