As of January 27, 2026, the confirmation window for the CLAT 2026 second allotment list is nearing its final hours. Candidates who received an NLU seat must exercise their Freeze, Float, or Exit options and pay the requisite confirmation fee by January 29, 2026.Failure to complete this mandatory step before the 1:00 PM deadline will result in the forfeiture of the allotted seat and removal from the subsequent admission rounds. Aspirants are advised to verify their status on the official consortium portal to ensure their documentation and fee payments are successfully processed.

The second phase of the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 centralized counselling is currently in its final stages. Following the release of the second merit list on January 22, the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) has signaled that the confirmation window will officially close on January 29, 2026, at 1:00 PM. This deadline is critical for candidates who have been newly allotted a seat or have seen an upgrade in their NLU assignment. Aspirants must log in to their counselling dashboard to secure their position, as any unconfirmed seats will be treated as vacant and moved to the third allotment list scheduled for early February.

Mandatory Actions and Fee Requirements

Candidates appearing in the second allotment list are required to choose between three primary options to remain active in the admission process.

• Freeze Option: This is for students satisfied with their current allotment who wish to finalize their admission at the specific NLU.
• Float Option: This allows candidates to hold their current seat while remaining eligible for an upgrade in future rounds.
• Exit Option: Choosing this will result in the candidate leaving the consortium counselling process entirely.
• Confirmation Fee: A non-refundable payment of ₹20,000 is mandatory for those selecting Freeze or Float, which must be paid via the official portal before the window shuts.

NLU-Wise Cutoff Trends and Vacancies

The second round has shown a notable shift in closing ranks compared to the initial list released on January 7. While the top three NLUs (NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, and WBNUJS Kolkata) remain highly competitive, the second allotment has provided significant opportunities for candidates in the mid-rank categories.

• NLSIU Bengaluru: The closing rank for the General category stabilized around 112 in this round.
• NALSAR Hyderabad: The cutoff for the second allotment list was recorded at rank 159 for the General category.
• Upgradation Potential: Data from the consortium indicates that approximately 15% of candidates who opted for the "Float" option in Round 1 successfully moved to a higher-preference NLU.

Documentation and Final Verification

Securing a seat in the second allotment is only the first step toward final admission. Every consortium participant must ensure that their uploaded documents are verified by the respective NLU.

• Document Checklist: Candidates must have clear scans of their Class 10 and 12 mark sheets, CLAT 2026 Admit Card, and valid Category/Domicile certificates.
• Verification Status: Students should check their portal for any "Incomplete" or "Rejected" document status, as these must be rectified before the confirmation period ends.
• University Fee: It is important to note that the current payment is only a confirmation fee; the remaining university tuition must be paid at a later date specified in the admission calendar.

Conclusion

As the January 29 deadline for the second allotment approaches, candidates must act swiftly to avoid the cancellation of their provisional seats. The confirmation process is the only way to ensure that a student's hard-earned rank translates into a seat at one of the premier law schools. Once the window closes, the consortium will begin the reconciliation of vacancies to prepare the third list. For many, this confirmation marks the beginning of their professional legal journey, and missing the timeline could mean waiting another year for the next cycle.