The UG and PG program in participating National Law Universities under CLAT shall be made through centralized counselling conducted by the CLAT office. The basis of allotment of seats shall be ‘merit-cum-preference’, i.e., CLAT score and order of preference given by the candidate in the CLAT application form. Online counselling shall start from 1st June. The entire procedure shall be completed as per the CLAT calendar, which is available on CLAT's official website www.clat.ac.in
The stepwise procedure, which shall be adopted by the CLAT office, for admission is as follows:
STEP 1
Publication of first indicative list based on merit cum preference (1st June)
The first university-wise indicative list based on merit-cum-preference will be published on the CLAT website.
STEP 2
Payment of counselling fee and exercising of option by provisionally selected candidates
(6th -10th June )
A specified number of candidates from various categories based on merit cum preference will be allowed to participate in the counselling process against an actual number of seats available with participating NLUs.
The provisionally selected candidates must deposit the requisite counselling fee of Rs. 50,000/- and exercise any one of the following options:
Lock – The candidates choosing the ‘Lock’ option confirms their choice of the allotted NLU. Such candidates shall not be considered for further shifting to any other NLU(s) of their higher choice in case of any vacancy arising after that at the subsequent stage during the counselling process.
Shifting – The candidates choosing the ‘Shifting’ option shall be considered against any vacancy arising in NLU(s) of their higher choice via subsequent allotment list. There shall be an upward shift in the order of candidates’ preferences provided in the application form. There shall be no downward shifting at any stage of the CLAT office's counselling procedure.
Note: The default choice of all candidates shall be selected as ‘lock.’ The candidates failing to deposit the requisite counselling fee through the CLAT website by the specified date will lose their right to be considered for admission under CLAT, and their names will be dropped from the CLAT counselling merit.
The adjustable counselling fee of Rs. 50,000/- deposited with the CLAT-2018 office will be transferred to the respective participating NLU, where the candidate has finally taken admission after completing the counselling process.
STEP 3
Publication of the second list having the names of finalized candidates after payment of counselling fee and additional waitlisted candidates (13th June )
The CLAT office shall publish a second list of eligible candidates who have paid their counselling fees and reserved seats in the participating NLUs.
A list of waitlisted candidates who are provisionally selected against dropped-out candidates, if any, will also be released in the second list.
The additional candidates provisionally selected against dropped candidates must pay Rs' required counselling fee. 50,000/- and exercise their option of ‘lock’ or ‘shift.’ (14th-17th June ).
Provisionally selected candidates can withdraw from admission up to 17th June. However, a fee of Rs. 10,000/- will be deducted from the deposited counselling fee (Up to 17th June ).
Any withdrawal after the stipulated period will result in forfeiture of the entire counselling fee amount.
STEP 4
Publication of third list allotting seats to candidates (20th -22nd June )
The CLAT-2018 office shall publish a comprehensive third allotment list of candidates who have paid their counselling fees and reserved their seats in the participating NLUs.
The comprehensive list shall include candidates who have paid the counselling fee against the first and second indicative lists.
A list of waitlisted candidates will also be released along with the third allotment list provisionally selected against dropped-out candidates.
These candidates must also pay the required counselling fee of Rs. 50,000/- and reserve their seats.
STEP 5
Completion of admission formalities at the allotted NLUs (23rd-25th June )
After the candidates are allotted seats under the third list, they must approach the allotted NLU to balance the admission and other fees.
The candidates will also have to carry relevant certificates/documents in original issued by the competent authority to support the various claims made by them and complete their admission formalities.
The respective universities will check the certificates in original when candidates are admitted.
The candidates not possessing the required certificates/documents in original or failing to meet the eligibility requirements will not be allowed to seek admission in participating NLUs.
The candidates seeking admission under various categories, especially those belonging to the reserved categories such as SC/ST/OBC/Specially Abled Person/DFF/NRI and the unreserved category candidates seeking admission under state domicile category, will be required to obtain the relevant and authentic certificates/ documents from the competent authorities and produce the
same at the time of admission in the concerned NLU. Those candidates who fail to report at the allotted NLU after the publication of the CLAT merit list and fail to complete the admission formalities as per the CLAT calendar will automatically lose their claim for admission and their entire amount of the counselling fee of Rs. 50,000/- will be forfeited.
STEP 6
Publication of the fourth and final allotment list (29th June )
The CLAT office shall publish a comprehensive fourth allotment list of candidates who have paid their counselling fees and reserved seats in the participating NLUs.
The comprehensive list shall include candidates who have paid the counselling fee against the first, second, and third indicative list.
STEP 7
Completion of admission formalities at the allotted NLUs against the fourth allotment list (4th-6th July)
The candidates whose names appear in the fourth allotment list will be required to approach the allotted NLU with the total amount towards the admission and other fees. The shifted candidates must report and fulfil the admission formalities in NLU allotted to them against the fourth list.
The candidates will also have to carry relevant certificates/documents in original issued by the competent authority to support the various claims made by the candidates and complete their admission formalities.
The respective universities will check the original certificates at the time of their admission.
The candidates not possessing the required certificates/documents in original or failing to meet the eligibility requirements will not be allowed to seek admission in participating NLUs.
The candidates seeking admission under various categories, especially those belonging to the reserved categories such as SC/ST/OBC/Specially Abled Person/DFF/NRI and the unreserved category candidates seeking admission under state domicile category, will be required to obtain the relevant and authentic certificates/documents from the competent authorities and produce the same at the time of admission in the concerned NLU.
Those candidates who fail to report at the allotted NLU after the publication of the CLAT merit list and fail to complete the admission formalities as per the CLAT calendar will automatically lose their claim for admission and their entire amount of the counselling fee of Rs. 50,000/- will be forfeited. Suppose a waitlist candidate fails to get a seat in any NLUs due to the nonavailability of vacancies. In that case, the entire amount of Rs. 50,000/- deposited by such candidates shall be refunded to them without deduction.
ADMISSION PROCEDURE FAQ
QUESTION 15. Should I send the Application Form printouts to the CLAT office (Chanakya National Law University) by post?
ANSWER- NO, the applicant is not required to send the hard copy of the printout of their application to the CLAT office.
However, the applicant is strongly advised to keep a hard copy of their application for their record and future communication with the CLAT Office if required.
QUESTION 16. I have successfully filled up the Application Form, but now, can I change/correct the details as entered in the Application form?
ANSWER- NO CHANGE can be made after the Application Form's Final Submission. However, if the time is still left for filling up the Online- Application Form, the applicant has to fill in a Fresh/New Application Form along with the prescribed fee. In such a case, the system will generate the new ID and the fee paid for the previously filled Application form will not be refunded. Make note that the last application form shall be treated as Final.
QUESTION 17. How will I receive my admit card?
ANSWER- The eligible candidate has to download their Admit Card from the CLAT website (www.clat.ac.in) from 20th April. Please note that the Admit Card will not be sent via e-mail, post, or any other means to the candidate. They must carry proof of their identity (issued by GOI or state government), such as an identity card, Aadhar Card, voter identity card, driving license, passport, etc., to the examination venue.
QUESTION 18. What should I do if I receive a Blank/Zero Registration Number after submitting the Application Form?
ANSWER- It means that the Application Form has not been submitted successfully, and you must apply afresh.
QUESTION 19. What details should I retain after successfully submitting my Application Form?
ANSWER- The candidate must retain the following:
The hard copy of the Filled-in form.
Fee receipt Detail.
Auto-generated ID and Password.
QUESTION 20. Can a candidate apply for CLAT offline?
ANSWER - NO, a candidate can only apply through the Online mode.
QUESTION 21. How will I recover my lost password through which I registered and submitted an online Application for CLAT?
ANSWER- You must click the ‘forgot password’ button and follow the directions to ‘recover/reset your password.’
QUESTION 22. How will I recover my login ID?
ANSWER- Please note that your e-mail ID is your login ID.
QUESTION 23. What is the procedure for making the payment online?
ANSWER - The candidate will be able to make the payment using their Net-Banking Account/Debit /Credit Cards or other payment options available on the payment gateway of the CLAT online application form. The charges may vary depending on the payment option.
QUESTION 24. How can I get previous years' question papers?
ANSWER– The Previous year’s Question Papers can be downloaded from the CLAT website on Rs' payment. The 400/-through online mode only(which is not included in the CLAT fee of Rs.4,000/-). The CLAT office will provide no hard copy.
QUESTION 25. What is the procedure for allotment of Law Universities for admission?
ANSWER- During the online submission of the application form, the candidates will be required to fill up all the 18 available choices of National Law Universities for the UG/PG course in order of their preferences. Seats shall be allotted on merit-cum-choice basis.
QUESTION 26. Can the candidate change their choices of National Law Universities subsequently?
ANSWER- NO, Choice, once indicated and submitted, shall be treated as final. However, in submitting multiple application forms, the last submitted form will be treated as final.
QUESTION 27. Is any seat available for NRI/NRI sponsored /Foreign National candidates?
ANSWER- Yes. Some participating Law Universities offer seats for NRIs/NRI sponsored/Foreign nationals. Candidates are advised to refer to the CLAT website for e-brochure and visit the respective NLUs website.
QUESTION 28. Is there any minimum cut-off score in CLAT Exam prescribed for admission?
ANSWER- NO. There is no minimum cut-off score prescribed. Candidates' candidature shall be considered in their respective categories, in order of merit.
QUESTION 29. Is there any Transfer of a student from one participating University to another participating university after their CLAT admission?
ANSWER- NO, CLAT Rules do not provide for such transfers. Upgradation to the University of Higher Choice is done only by the CLAT office during admission.
QUESTION 30. What is the prescribed fee for the CLAT online application form?
ANSWER- The prescribed fee is:
For General / OBC / SAP and other category candidates: Rs.4000/-
For SC/ST category candidates: Rs.3500/-
Please Note: The candidates must bear the bank transaction charges to remit the fee online.
QUESTION 31. What is the Counselling fee?
ANSWER– Counselling fee is the payment (Rs.50 000/-) made to the CLAT office by a candidate to show their seriousness/commitment to admission to any of the participating NLU(s). The counselling fee is not separate. The adjustable advance is paid to the CLAT office, which subsequently gets adjusted at the admission fee from the fee payable to the respective University by a candidate.
QUESTION 32. Can I get my counselling fee refunded if I don’t want to take admission?
ANSWER- Please Note that:
There shall be no refund of the counselling fee after the last withdrawal date from the admission process, i.e., 21st June.
The counselling fee of those candidates who withdraw up to 21st June will be refunded after deducting Rs.10,000/-.
QUESTION 33. Is there any reservation available on a domicile basis in any law universities?
ANSWER- YES. Some of the participating Law Universities have the provision of domicile-based reservations for which the candidates are advised to refer to the respective NLUs Brochure available on their website and the CLAT website.
QUESTION 34. Is there any reservation of seats in CLAT for the women candidates?
ANSWER- YES. Some of the participating universities provide horizontal reservations for female candidates. Candidates are advised to refer to the NLU’s Brochure on the CLAT website.
QUESTION 35. Do the CLAT participating universities have common rules of reservation?
ANSWER- NO. The CLAT-participating universities are governed by their respective State Acts and follow the reservation policies/rules prescribed by their Acts/State Governments. The candidates are advised to look into the respective NLUs Brochure's detailed information on the CLAT website to know about the University wise specific reservations.
Participating National Law Universities reserve the right to change the total number of seats and break up of seats as per their policy before the final allotment. The reservation policy is subject to change as the concerned State Government occasionally decides.
