CLAT 2026 Third Counselling Merit List Scheduled for Release on February 5

Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) is finalising the third provisional allotment list for CLAT 2026, set for release on February 5. This high-stakes announcement follows the conclusion of the second round of counselling and represents a critical juncture for law aspirants seeking admission to the country's premier legal institutions. Candidates must prepare to exercise their freeze, float, or exit options within the strict administrative window. This round is expected to see a significant shift in closing ranks as vacancies are filled across 24 participating NLUs for the 5-year integrated law and LLM programmes.

Counselling Procedures and Mandatory Candidate Actions

• Release Timing: The third merit list will be published on the official Consortium of NLUs portal at 10:00 AM on February 5, 2026.
• Confirmation Fee: Candidates allotted a seat for the first time in this round must pay a non-refundable confirmation fee to secure their position before the February 12 deadline.
• Freeze and Float Options: Allotted students can choose to 'Freeze' their seat if satisfied, or 'Float' if they wish to be considered for a higher preference NLU in subsequent rounds.
• Exit Option: Those who no longer wish to participate in the counselling process can opt to exit; however, they will not be considered for any future allotments in the current cycle.
• Seat Matrix Impact: This round is crucial as it typically accounts for seats vacated by candidates who secured admissions through earlier AILET or other independent law entrance results.

Navigating the Final Rounds of National Law Admissions

• Document Verification: Every aspirant must ensure that their digital dossiers, including Class 10 and 12 mark sheets and category certificates, are ready for institutional scrutiny.
• Payment Deadlines: The window for paying the confirmation fee and completing university-level formalities remains open from February 5 to February 12, 2026.
• Subsequent Lists: Following this round, the fourth merit list is tentatively scheduled for release in May 2026 to fill any remaining allotment gaps after the board examination season.
• Administrative Vigilance: Candidates are strictly advised to monitor their registered mobile numbers and the portal dashboard for real-time notifications regarding their specific allotment status.

CLAT 2026 Round 3 Milestone Calendar

Conclusion

The upcoming release of the third merit list on February 5 marks a definitive step toward finalizing the 2026-27 academic batch for the National Law Universities. For the thousands of aspirants awaiting their results, this round offers a vital opportunity to move up the preference list or secure a maiden seat. The rigorous counselling framework ensures that the most deserving candidates find their place in the nation’s legal training hubs. As the process moves forward, the focus shifts from examination scores to institutional allotment and physical document verification. Success in this phase depends on timely action and a thorough understanding of the freeze-float mechanics. Candidates should refer to the official CLAT instruction manual for detailed step-by-step guidance.