Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna is a premier law institution offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in law. CNLU admits students based on CLAT for UG and PG programmes, followed by centralized counselling. Admission to doctoral programmes is conducted through a university-regulated entrance test and personal interview. The university offers UG, PG, and doctoral programmes in law, with popular courses including the BA LLB (Hons.), BBA LLB (Hons.), LLM, and PG Diploma. The admission cycle runs from December to July, and all applications are submitted online through the CNLU admission portal at cnlu.ac.in.

CNLU Patna offers a total of 69 seats each for BA LLB (Hons) and BBA LLB (Hons) programs with a 5-year duration. Eligibility for UG programs requires 10+2 with minimum 45% marks (40% for SC/ST) and valid CLAT UG scores. PG programs including LLM (1 year, 69 seats) require LL.B. degree and CLAT PG scores. PG Diploma programs (1 year) require graduation with minimum 55% marks and merit-based selection. Doctoral programs including PhD (3-6 years) and LLD (3-6 years) require PG in Law or equivalent and CNLU Entrance Test. The university follows Bihar state and national reservation norms with vertical and horizontal reservations applied during CLAT-based admissions.

Undergraduate Programs and Admission 2026

CNLU Patna offers two popular 5-year integrated law programs at the undergraduate level. These are merit-based programs with admission through CLAT UG followed by counselling by the Consortium of NLUs.

BA LLB (Hons.) Program

BA LLB (Hons.) is a 5-year integrated law program at CNLU. The program combines arts education with legal studies, providing a comprehensive foundation in law.

BA LLB Program Details

Particulars Details
Duration 5 Years
Total Seat Intake 69
Eligibility Criteria 10+2 with minimum 45% marks (40% for SC/ST)
Selection Process CLAT UG + Consortium Counselling

BBA LLB (Hons.) Program

BBA LLB (Hons.) is a 5-year integrated law program at CNLU. The program combines business administration education with legal studies, providing expertise in both fields.

BBA LLB Program Details

Particulars Details
Duration 5 Years
Total Seat Intake 69
Eligibility Criteria 10+2 with minimum 45% marks (40% for SC/ST)
Selection Process CLAT UG + Consortium Counselling

UG Admission Process

  • Register and appear for CLAT UG 2026
  • Apply through the CLAT Consortium official portal
  • Shortlisting based on CLAT All India Rank (AIR)
  • Participate in CLAT counselling and seat allotment
  • Report to CNLU for admission formalities

UG Documents Required

  • Class 10 Mark Sheet and Passing Certificate
  • Class 12 Mark Sheet and Passing Certificate
  • CLAT Admit Card and Scorecard
  • Transfer / Migration Certificate
  • Conduct / Character Certificate
  • Category / Reservation Certificate (if applicable)
  • PwD Certificate (if applicable)
  • Recent Passport-Size Photographs
  • Valid Government Photo ID (Aadhaar / PAN / Passport / Driving License)

UG Seat Distribution 2026

CNLU Patna offers a total of 69 seats each for BA LLB (Hons) and BBA LLB (Hons) programs. The seat distribution amongst various categories is as follows:

Category Number of Seats
Unreserved 28
EWS 7
SCs of Bihar 11
STs of Bihar 1
Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) of Bihar 12
Backward Classes (BC) 8
Women of Backward Classes (WBC) 2

Postgraduate Programs and Admission 2026

CNLU Patna offers postgraduate law programs including LLM and PG Diploma courses. Admissions to postgraduate programs are primarily based on CLAT PG scores, which serve as the single gateway for PG law programmes.

Master of Laws (LLM) Program

LLM is a 1-year postgraduate law program at CNLU. The program provides specialized legal education for law graduates seeking advanced knowledge in specific areas of law.

LLM Program Details

Particulars Details
Duration 1 Year
Total Seat Intake 69
Eligibility Criteria LL.B. degree with minimum 50% marks
Selection Process CLAT PG + Consortium Counselling

PG Diploma Programs

CNLU Patna offers specialized 1-year PG Diploma programs in various areas of law including Cyber Law, Industrial and Intellectual Property Law, Child Rights Law, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Human Rights Law.

PG Diploma Program Details

Particulars Details
Duration 1 Year
Specializations Cyber Law, Industrial and Intellectual Property Law, Child Rights Law, Corporate Social Responsibility, Human Rights Law
Eligibility Criteria Graduation with minimum 55% marks
Selection Process Merit-based selection

PG Admission Process

  • Register and appear for CLAT PG 2026
  • Apply through the CLAT Consortium official portal
  • Shortlisting based on CLAT All India Rank (AIR)
  • Participate in CLAT counselling and seat allotment
  • Report to CNLU for admission formalities

Doctoral Programs and Admission 2026

CNLU Patna offers doctoral programs including PhD and LLD (Doctor of Laws). Admission to doctoral programmes is conducted through a university-regulated entrance test and personal interview.

PhD Program

PhD is a 3-6 year doctoral program at CNLU. The program is offered in Interdisciplinary and Law specializations, providing advanced research opportunities in legal studies.

PhD Program Details

Particulars Details
Duration 3-6 Years
Specializations Interdisciplinary, Law
Eligibility Criteria LL.M. or equivalent degree
Selection Process CNLU Entrance Test and Interview

LLD (Doctor of Laws) Program

LLD is a 3-6 year doctoral program at CNLU. The program provides advanced legal research and scholarship opportunities for law graduates.

LLD Program Details

Particulars Details
Duration 3-6 Years
Eligibility Criteria PG in Law or equivalent degree
Selection Process CNLU Entrance Test and Interview

Admission Cutoff Scores and Analysis

CLAT UG Cutoff 2026

Tabulated below are CNLU Patna CLAT UG Cutoff 2026 for the category-wise home state:

Category Round 1 (Closing rank) Round 2 (Closing rank)
SC 17421 17550
ST 30407 -
BC 3352 3421
EBC 7369 7751
EWS 2450 2470

CLAT UG Cutoff Analysis

The CLAT UG cutoff data shows that EWS category has the lowest closing rank (2450 in Round 1), indicating higher competition within this category. BC category shows moderate competition with closing rank of 3352 in Round 1. SC and ST categories show higher closing ranks, with ST category having the highest closing rank of 30407 in Round 1. The cutoff ranks increase slightly from Round 1 to Round 2 across most categories, indicating seat availability in later rounds.

CLAT PG Cutoff 2026

Tabulated below are CNLU Patna CLAT PG Cutoff 2026 for the category-wise home state:

Category Round 1 (Closing rank) Round 2 (Closing rank) Round 3 (Closing rank)
SC 5356 5724 -
ST 14916 - -
BC 2461 2565 2875
EBC 4859 5126 -
EWS 1832 2011 -

CLAT PG Cutoff Analysis

The CLAT PG cutoff data shows that EWS category has the lowest closing rank (1832 in Round 1), indicating higher competition within this category. BC category shows moderate competition with closing rank of 2461 in Round 1. SC and ST categories show higher closing ranks, with ST category having the highest closing rank of 14916 in Round 1. The cutoff ranks increase progressively from Round 1 to Round 3 for BC category, indicating seat availability in later rounds. PG cutoffs are generally lower than UG cutoffs, reflecting different competition levels.

Reservation Criteria and Seat Distribution

CNLU Patna follows Bihar state and national reservation norms, with vertical and horizontal reservations applied during CLAT-based admissions.

Reservation Policy

Particulars Reservation
Unreserved (General) 40%
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) under Unreserved 10%
Scheduled Castes (SC) of Bihar 16%
Scheduled Tribes (ST) of Bihar 1%
Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) of Bihar 18%
Backward Classes (BC) of Bihar 12%
Women of Backward Classes (WBC) of Bihar 3%

Additional Reservation Information

  • 5% seats are reserved for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) across all categories, as per university and government norms
  • CNLU follows Bihar state reservation norms for applicable categories
  • Reservation benefits under state categories are applicable only to eligible Bihar domicile candidates
  • Admission is conducted through CLAT centralized counselling, and seat allocation is based on CLAT rank, category, domicile rules, and seat availability

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques. What is the application process for CNLU admission?

Ans. The application process for CNLU admission involves the following steps:

  • Register on CLAT Portal: Visit the official CLAT website and complete the CLAT registration process
  • Select CNLU, Patna: Choose Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna while filling in college preferences
  • Appear for CLAT Exam: Download the admit card and appear for the exam at the allotted centre
  • Check CLAT Result and Merit List: CLAT results are released by the Consortium, followed by centralized counselling
  • Participate in CLAT Counselling: Register for counselling, lock preferences, and select CNLU based on rank and availability
  • Seat Allotment and Verification: Seats are allotted based on CLAT score, category, and seat availability
  • Fee Payment and Admission Confirmation: Pay the admission fee and complete document verification to confirm admission

Ques. What are the eligibility requirements for CNLU undergraduate programs?

Ans. For CNLU undergraduate programs (BA LLB and BBA LLB), the eligibility requirements are:

  • Candidates must have passed 10+2 or equivalent from a recognized board
  • Minimum marks required: 45% for General category and 40% for SC/ST categories
  • Valid CLAT UG score is mandatory for admission
  • Candidates from all over India are eligible to apply

Ques. How are seats allocated at CNLU during counselling?

Ans. Seat allocation at CNLU during counselling follows a merit-based process:

  • Seats are allocated based on CLAT All India Rank (AIR)
  • Category-wise reservation is applied as per Bihar state and national norms
  • Domicile rules are considered for applicable categories
  • Seat availability in the chosen program and specialization is a key factor
  • Multiple counselling rounds are conducted to fill all available seats
  • Candidates can freeze, accept, or upgrade their allocated seats in each round
  • Final seat confirmation requires fee payment and document verification

Ques. What is the fee structure for CNLU programs?

Ans. CNLU does not charge any separate application or counselling fee. Candidates are only required to pay the CLAT application fee for UG and PG admissions. The university fee structure varies by program:

  • Admission confirmation fee must be paid to the Consortium to confirm admission under the final allotment list
  • University Fee is charged after adjusting for Confirmation Fee and Counselling Registration Fee
  • Exact fee amounts are notified by the university during the counselling process
  • Fee payment is mandatory to confirm admission and complete the enrollment process

Ques. Can I modify my program preferences after submitting the application?

Ans. Applicants can modify their program choices only during the designated correction or counselling period. Outside this window, no changes are permitted under any circumstances. It is important to finalize preferences carefully before submission. Planning ahead ensures that the selected options align with the candidate's goals. During the counselling process, candidates get opportunities to modify their choices in each round before locking their preferences.

Ques. What documents are required for CNLU admission?

Ans. The following documents are required for CNLU admission:

  • Class 10 Mark Sheet and Passing Certificate
  • Class 12 Mark Sheet and Passing Certificate
  • CLAT Admit Card and Scorecard
  • Transfer / Migration Certificate
  • Conduct / Character Certificate
  • Category / Reservation Certificate (if applicable)
  • PwD Certificate (if applicable)
  • Recent Passport-Size Photographs
  • Valid Government Photo ID (Aadhaar / PAN / Passport / Driving License)

All documents must be submitted in original and photocopied form during the document verification process at CNLU.