The Consortium of National Law Universities is set to publish the CLAT 2026 second allotment list on January 22 at 10:00 AM. Candidates who opted for the float option or were waitlisted in Round 1 can check their updated status on the official portal. Successful aspirants must complete the confirmation fee payment by January 29 to secure their provisional admission for the 2026-27 academic session.

Following the conclusion of the first round of admissions, the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) is now preparing to release the second allotment list on January 22, 2026. This upcoming phase is highly anticipated by law aspirants who opted for the "Float" option in the initial round, as well as those who were previously on the waitlist. The release, scheduled for 10:00 AM, will provide a fresh merit breakdown for the 24 participating NLUs, reflecting the vacancies created after the January 15 payment deadline for the first round.

Key Dates for the Second Round

The transition into the second phase follows a strict administrative timeline. Candidates must ensure they track these milestones on the official website, consortiumofnlus.ac.in, to avoid missing out on their preferred law programs for the 2026 session.

As the second allotment becomes available, candidates will once again have the choice to "Freeze" their seat if they are satisfied or "Float" if they still hope for an upgrade in the third round. It is important to remember that if a candidate is allotted a seat for the first time in this round, they must pay the non-refundable confirmation fee of ₹20,000 to remain in the process.

Dynamics of Rank Movement

The second merit list often sees significant movement in the middle-rank brackets. While the top three NLUs—NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, and WBNUJS Kolkata—typically have very high retention rates from Round 1, other national law universities experience shifts as students settle into their final choices or move to other professional courses.

• Floaters’ Advantage: Those who chose to float their first-round seats will automatically be considered for an upgrade in this second merit cycle based on their higher preferences.
• Waitlist Activation: Aspirants who did not receive an offer in the first list may find their names in the second allotment if they meet the revised cutoff ranks for various categories.
• Vertical and Horizontal Reservation: The seat allocation will continue to respect state-specific quotas and category reservations (SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwD), which may cause the closing ranks to vary significantly between different NLUs.

Mandatory Steps for Newly Allotted Candidates

For candidates receiving their first admission offer on January 22, the procedure involves more than just checking the result. The Consortium requires a series of digital actions to validate the seat.

1. Selection of Option: Candidates must log in to their dashboard and choose Freeze, Float, or Exit.
2. Fee Payment: The confirmation fee must be paid online before the January 29 deadline.
3. Document Upload: All academic transcripts, including Class 10 and 12 mark sheets, and relevant category certificates must be uploaded for digital verification by the respective NLU.
4. University Fee Adjustment: The initial registration fee (₹30,000 for General or ₹20,000 for Reserved) and the confirmation fee will both be adjusted against the total first-year tuition.

Conclusion

The announcement of the CLAT 2026 second allotment on January 22 represents a vital opportunity for law aspirants to advance in the NLU admission hierarchy. This round will effectively redistribute seats vacated by those who opted out or failed to meet the first-round deadlines. As the second merit list goes live, candidates should be prepared to make quick, informed decisions regarding their legal education. By securing a seat in this phase, students can move one step closer to finalizing their enrollment before the third round commences in early February. With the 2026 session intake reaching its halfway mark, staying vigilant regarding the January 29 payment cutoff remains the highest priority for every successful candidate in the second allotment cycle.