CLAT 2026 Round 1 seat confirmation fee window closes on January 15. Candidates must pay ₹20,000 to Freeze or Float their allotment. Check the NLU schedule.

The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) is currently facilitating the first phase of seat acceptance following the release of the CLAT 2026 first merit list on January 7. Aspirants who have been allotted a seat in any of the 24 participating National Law Universities have a limited window to secure their position. As of today, the online portal remains active for the payment of the seat confirmation fee, a mandatory step for those who wish to either lock their current seat or remain in consideration for a higher preference in subsequent rounds.

Mandatory Actions for Allotted Candidates

With the January 15 deadline approaching, candidates must log in to the official Consortium website to exercise their choices. Failure to take action within this timeline will result in the automatic cancellation of the current allotment and removal from the 2026 admission cycle.

• Freeze Option: Candidates satisfied with their allotted NLU must select the 'Freeze' option. This signifies that the student is accepting the seat and does not wish to participate in further rounds of counselling.
• Float Option: If a student accepts the current seat but hopes for an upgrade to a higher-preference NLU in the second or third list, they must choose 'Float'. This requires the same confirmation fee payment but keeps the candidate's eligibility active for future shifts.
• Exit Option: Those who no longer wish to participate in the NLU admission process can choose to 'Exit'. Choosing this will not require any additional fee, but it permanently forfeits the current seat.
• Fee Adjustment: The amount paid during this stage is non-refundable but will be adjusted against the total university fee at the time of final admission in May 2026.

CLAT 2026 Round 1 Payment and Document Schedule

The following table outlines the critical dates that law aspirants must adhere to during this first week of counselling to ensure their candidacy remains valid:

Financial Requirements and Documentation Verification

The Consortium has set a uniform confirmation fee for all candidates, regardless of their category, who choose to move forward with their allotment. This fee is distinct from the registration amount paid in December and serves as a guarantee of the student's intent to join the CLAT ecosystem.

• Fee Amount: Every candidate selecting Freeze or Float must pay ₹20,000 through the online portal via credit card, debit card, or net banking.
• Document Uploads: Alongside the payment, students must upload their Class 10 and 12 mark sheets, CLAT 2026 admit card, and relevant category/domicile certificates for verification by the respective NLUs.
• Verification Process: Each NLU will independently verify the uploaded digital documents. If a discrepancy is found during this counselling phase, the seat may be cancelled, and a processing fee of ₹5,000 may be deducted from the initial registration amount.
• Technical Support: Candidates facing payment failures are advised to complete their transactions well before the 1:00 PM cutoff on January 15 to avoid last-minute server congestion.

Conclusion

The closing of the Round 1 confirmation window marks the first major hurdle in the NLU admission journey for 2026. As the Consortium moves toward finalizing the first batch of admitted students, the focus remains on the strict adherence to the timeline provided. Candidates who successfully navigate this stage will either prepare for the second list on January 22 or wait for the final university fee payment window in April. With thousands of students competing for limited seats, the timely payment of the confirmation fee is the only way to ensure that a hard-earned CLAT rank translates into a confirmed law school seat.

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