The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) is set to close the confirmation window for the CLAT 2026 second allotment round today.Candidates must complete their fee payment by 1:00 PM on January 29 to secure their provisionally allotted undergraduate or postgraduate law seats.Failure to exercise the 'Freeze' or 'Float' options within this deadline will lead to the automatic cancellation of the current allotment and removal from the process.Ensure all documents are uploaded to the portal to avoid disqualification before the third merit list is released on February 5, 2026.

As of January 29, 2026, the Consortium of National Law Universities is approaching the final hours of the second round of seat allocation. Aspirants who were assigned a seat in the second provisional list published on January 22 have until 1:00 PM today to finalize their status. This deadline is critical for maintaining a position within the competitive admission cycle for India’s premier law schools. Any candidate who fails to act by this afternoon will forfeit their allotted seat, which will subsequently be moved into the vacancy pool for the upcoming third round of counselling.

Key Actions for Allotted Students

The counselling portal requires users to choose between three primary paths to determine their future in the 2026 admission process.

• Freeze Option: For those entirely satisfied with their current NLU, selecting this choice locks the seat and concludes their participation in further rounds.
• Float Option: This allows a candidate to hold their current seat while remaining eligible for an upgrade in the third, fourth, or fifth rounds if a vacancy arises in a higher-preference NLU.
• Exit Option: Students who have decided to opt out of the NLUs system entirely must select this to withdraw and potentially claim a refund of their initial registration fee.

Financial and Documentation Requirements

To validate a 'Freeze' or 'Float' decision before the deadline, a non-refundable seat confirmation fee of ₹20,000 must be paid through the official gateway.

• Payment Status: The Consortium has clarified that mere selection of an option without successful payment will result in the seat being declared vacant.
• Document Verification: Candidates must ensure that digital copies of their Class 10 and 12 mark sheets, along with category certificates, are correctly uploaded for review by the allotted NLUs.
• Third Round Timeline: Once this window closes, the authorities will process the remaining vacancies and publish the third allotment list on February 5, 2026.

Strategic Importance of the Second Round

The second round often sees significant movement in the middle-tier NLUs, as many top-rankers from the first round settle their admissions or move to specialized programs.

• Seat Retention: By choosing the 'Float' option, a candidate can safely explore better opportunities without the risk of losing their existing spot in the 2026 batch.
• Automatic Forfeiture: If no action is taken by the 1:00 PM cutoff, the system automatically removes the student from the centralized counselling database, preventing them from participating in the remaining three rounds.

Conclusion

The closing of the CLAT 2026 second allotment confirmation window represents a decisive moment for law aspirants across the country. With the 1:00 PM deadline fast approaching, the urgency to complete fee payments and upload necessary documentation cannot be overstated. Whether a candidate chooses to freeze their current NLU or float for a better prospect, timely action is the only way to ensure they remain part of the 2026 admission journey. Following the conclusion of this round, the focus will shift to the third merit list, which is expected to bring further clarity to the final seat matrix of the prestigious National Law Universities.