Know the CLAT 2026 reservation criteria including SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PwD, NRI & State Quota. Get detailed category-wise reservation percentages, state quota details, horizontal reservation, seat allotment impact, and cutoff trends.
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CLAT 2026 reservation policy was released in the official notification by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) on Jul 20, 2025. The CLAT 2026 has reservation policy which includes certain percentage of seats reserved seats for categories such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, Persons with Disabilities, and candidates from North-Eastern States, Kashmiri Migrants, and foreign nationals including NRIs and PIOs.
A total of 3,451 seats are reserved for undergraduate LLB courses and 1,271 seats for postgraduate LLM courses. A total of 283 seats are allocated for candidates under the NRI category.
It is important to have a clear understanding of the CLAT reservation structure for aspirants aiming to secure their admission at NLUs.
The reservation system ensures that candidates from various socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds have access to quality education at top law colleges in India.
What Is the Category-Wise Reservation in CLAT 2026?
The CLAT reservation system allocates seats according to social groups in order to guarantee their fair representation. In order to promote social equality, candidates from underrepresented groups benefit from this reservation by having easier access to higher legal education.
For candidate’s reference, the CLAT 2026 category-wise reservation % is shown in the table below:
| Category | Reservation Percentage |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) Category | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) Category | 7.5% |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL) Category | 21.6% |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) Category | 8% |
| General Category | No reservation |
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How Does the State Quota Work in CLAT 2026 NLUs?
State quota reservations are offered by many National Law Universities, particularly to applicants from the state in which the NLU is situated. This gives local applicants a fair chance at admission even after fierce national competition.
The exact number of state quota seats varies by institution. Candidates must check individual NLU reservation matrices to understand specific allocations.
| NLU College | State Quota Example |
| National Law University, Jodhpur | Reserved seats for Rajasthan candidates |
| Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai | Reserved seats for Maharashtra candidates |
| Tamil Nadu National Law University, Tiruchirappalli | Reserved seats for Tamil Nadu candidates |
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What Is Horizontal Reservation in CLAT 2026 (PwD, Women, etc.)?
Horizontal reservation in CLAT 2026 gives certain groups, such as women and people with disabilities (PwD), equitable opportunities by distributing a set percentage of seats among all categories. Several vertical categories (such as SC, ST, and OBC) connect with this "cross-cutting" reservation.
To ensure her participation in both the vertical SC quota and the horizontal female quota, for instance, a woman who is also a SC candidate can be counted towards both.
Across all categories, horizontal reservation offers some groups more opportunities, including:
| Horizontal Reservation Category | Purpose |
| Persons with Disability (PwD) | 5% reservation in total seats |
| Women | Some NLUs provide a fixed number of seats to female candidates |
| Kashmiri Migrants | Reserved seats in select NLUs |
| Children of Armed Forces Personnel | Reserved seats in select NLUs |
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How Does Reservation Affect CLAT 2026 Seat Allotment?
The reservation mechanism is essential for seat distribution during the CLAT 2026 counselling process. The seats are distributed according to the official reservation policy and the candidates are initially ranked on the basis of merit.
- Making the Merit List: Every applicant is ranked based on their CLAT results.
- Reservation: Applicants who wish to make a reservation must submit the required paperwork, such as a caste or PwD certificate.
- Category-Based Seat Allocation: The merit list of qualified applicants in each category is used to fill reserved seats.
- Unfilled Seats: Reserved seats may be moved to the public category if there are no qualified applicants for them.
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How Does CLAT 2026 Reservation Impact Cutoff & Admission Chances?
A major factor that determines the CLAT cutoffs is reservation. Reserved categories typically have lower cutoff scores than the general category since they have a distinct merit list and simplified qualifying requirements.
| Category | Expected Cutoff Trend |
| General | Highest cutoffs due to intense competition |
| OBC/SC/ST | Relatively lower cutoffs owing to relaxation in eligibility criteria |
| PwD | Lowest cutoff, aimed at inclusion |
The cutoff scores for SC/ST applicants were much lower than those for general category candidates generally at the top NLUs. This maintains academic standards while providing candidates from the reserved category with an equal opportunity to gain admission.
The CLAT 2026 reservation policy aims to ensure merit-based admissions while fostering inclusion. Candidates should thoroughly review the qualifying requirements and seat allocation according to their category before applying.
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