CLAT 2026 Round 1 Counselling Confirmation Fee Window Remains Open Until January 15

The CLAT 2026 confirmation fee payment window for Round 1 is active. Candidates must complete the process by January 15, 2026, to secure their NLU admission.

The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) has officially activated the portal for the payment of the confirmation fee for the first round of CLAT 2026 counselling today. This follows the morning release of the first provisional seat allotment list, which marks the primary phase of the counselling process for undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes. Candidates who have been allotted a seat in this opening round are now required to finalize their choice through the official website.

The window for fee submission and document verification will remain accessible until the middle of the month. As per the official schedule, all necessary online formalities must be completed by 1:00 PM on January 15, 2026.

Round 1 Allotment and Fee Specifications

• The confirmation fee is a mandatory payment of ₹20,000 for all candidates who decide to proceed with either the 'Freeze' or 'Float' options.
• This amount is non-refundable; however, it is adjusted against the final tuition fees during the NLU admission at the respective university.
• Candidates must log in to their CLAT 2026 portal to view their specific seat allotment and initiate the payment via the integrated digital gateway.
• The counselling process requires that the payment be successfully reflected in the system before the candidate can download their provisional allotment letter.

Operational Options in the Counselling Process

• Freeze Option: This selection is made by candidates who are satisfied with their current seat allotment and do not wish to be considered for any further shifts in subsequent rounds.
• Float Option: This allows a candidate to accept the current seat while remaining eligible for an upgrade to a higher-preference university if vacancies arise in later rounds of the counselling process.
• Exit Option: If a candidate chooses to withdraw entirely from NLU admission for the 2026 academic year, they may opt to exit, which results in the forfeiture of their current claim.

Conclusion

The first round of NLU admission serves as the critical entry point for thousands of law aspirants across the country. By keeping the confirmation fee window open until January 15, the Consortium provides a specific duration for candidates to review their seat allotment and complete document uploads. Once this period concludes, the system will automatically process the remaining vacancies for the second list, which is scheduled for release on January 22. Adherence to these dates is essential for any candidate wishing to maintain their status within the CLAT 2026 counselling process.