CLAT 2026 Round-3 Confirmation Fee Window Closes Today as per Consortium Schedule

The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) will officially close the Round-3 seat confirmation fee payment window today, February 12, 2026.Candidates who have been allotted a seat in the third merit list must pay the mandatory ₹20,000 fee and choose their 'Freeze' or 'Float' option by 1:00 PM. This critical turnstile in the CLAT 2026 admission cycle requires immediate action to prevent automatic seat cancellation and forfeiture of admission eligibility. While the PG allotment continues, UG aspirants are advised to monitor official notifications regarding revised merit lists following recent judicial directives to ensure their university placements remain secure.

The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) is set to conclude a vital administrative phase of the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 today. According to the strictly enforced CLAT 2026 Admission Calendar, the window for paying the Round-3 seat confirmation fee and exercising seat options will close at precisely 1:00 PM. This deadline serves as a decisive turnstile for aspirants who secured an allotment in the third provisional merit list, requiring them to validate their intent to join the premier legal institutions of the country.

Final Hour Requirements for Seat Confirmation

As the clock ticks toward the afternoon cutoff, candidates must log in to the official CLAT 2026 Portal to complete their financial and procedural obligations. The seat confirmation process is mandatory for those who have been allotted a seat for the first time or those who have successfully obtained an upgrade in this round. Failure to process the non-refundable ₹20,000 fee before the 1:00 PM deadline will result in the candidate being treated as uninterested, leading to the automatic cancellation of the allotted seat and removal from the subsequent counseling rounds.

• Payment Status: The ₹20,000 confirmation fee must be paid online via the candidate dashboard. This amount is later adjusted against the final university fee.
• Freeze Option: Candidates choosing this option lock their current allotment and will not be considered for further upgrades in the May rounds.
• Float Option: This allows students to hold their current seat while remaining eligible for a higher-preference NLU in the fourth allotment list.
• Exit Option: Aspirants who no longer wish to participate in the NLU Admission Process can formally withdraw, though specific refund rules apply after this turnstile.

Judicial Impact on the UG Merit List

While the postgraduate (PG) counseling continues as per the original timeline, the undergraduate (UG) admission track has encountered a significant turnstile due to a recent ruling by the Allahabad High Court. The court has directed the Consortium to revise the UG merit list following a dispute over the final answer key. Specifically, for Question No. 9 in Booklet C, the court mandated that both options 'B' and 'D' be treated as correct.

Although the Consortium has decided to file a special appeal against this judgment, the release of the UG Third Provisional Allotment List was deferred for many candidates to ensure that any potential revisions do not impact those already admitted in Rounds 1 and 2. This administrative interval has created a unique situation where PG candidates are finalizing their Round-3 joinings today, while many UG aspirants await the final outcome of the judicial appeal before the next major counseling milestone in May.

Preparation for Final University Enrollment

For candidates who successfully "Freeze" their seats during this turnstile, the next major hurdle is the final document verification and university fee payment. The Consortium has emphasized that the seat confirmation fee is merely a security deposit to hold the seat. To finalize enrollment at any of the 25 participating National Law Universities, students must clear the balance university fees by April 24, 2026.

Candidates must ensure that high-resolution digital copies of their 10th and 12th-grade marksheets, CLAT admit card, and relevant category certificates are uploaded on the portal. Any discrepancies found during this verification turnstile can lead to the immediate forfeiture of the seat, even if the fee has been paid in full.

Conclusion

The closing of the Round-3 fee window today represents the final major administrative turnstile for the spring phase of the CLAT 2026 admission cycle. As the Consortium of NLUs navigates the complexities of judicial directives for the UG track, the disciplined execution of the PG timelines ensures that the 2026-27 academic session remains on course. For the aspirants, these final hours are critical; a single missed deadline or a failed transaction can reverse months of preparation. Students are urged to verify their "Payment Successful" status on the dashboard well before the 1:00 PM cutoff to ensure a smooth transition into their legal professional training. With the fourth allotment list not scheduled until May 2, this February window is the last opportunity for many to secure their place in the primary merit-based intake of the year.

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