Indian Law Institute (ILI) is a deemed-to-be university and centre for legal research in New Delhi. Established in 1956, it operates under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956. Its Bhagwan Das Road campus stands opposite the Supreme Court of India, and the institute has a NAAC B++ grade from its Second Cycle of accreditation.

ILI held the 35th position in the Law category of NIRF 2024. The institute is particularly known for legal research and its Legal Information Resource Centre (LIRC), one of India's specialised law libraries. It also produces two recognised legal reference publications, the Journal of the Indian Law Institute (JILI) and the Annual Survey of Indian Law (ASIL).

Students graduating from ILI commonly enter judicial services, legal practice before the High Courts and Supreme Court, teaching and research, government legal departments, and public policy. ILI does not organise campus placements.

  • LL.M. (Master of Laws): The flagship full-time course lasts 1 year, has 53 seats, and uses AIAT and interview performance for admission.
  • Ph.D. (Law): This research degree takes at least 3 years, with selection through a written test and interview.
  • One-Year PG Diploma Programmes: Available specialisations are Corporate Law, Cyber Law, Intellectual Property Rights Law (PGDIPRL), and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
  • Online Certificate Courses: ILI offers online certificates in Cyber Law and Intellectual Property Rights.

Under the General Quota, the complete fee for the 2-semester LL.M. is INR 1.50 Lakhs. Each 1-year PG Diploma costs INR 35,000, while each certificate course has a fee of INR 10,000.

Admission Update: The next admission cycle, for the 2027-28 batch, is expected to begin in March 2027.

ILI Admission Dates 2027

The 2027-28 admission process is tentatively expected to begin in late March 2027. Its projected stages, based on the anticipated schedule, are listed below.

EventDate
Application portal expected to open for the 2027-28 cycleLate March 2027
Expected application deadline for the 2027-28 cycleLate April 2027
Tentative All India Admission Test (AIAT)Late May 2027
Expected merit list releaseMid July 2027
Tentative admission confirmationLate July 2027

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

ILI Courses and Fees

ILI provides postgraduate, diploma, certificate, and doctoral study in law across 6 course categories. The table presents the General Quota fee structure for the 2026 academic year, along with course length and eligibility.

CourseDurationEligibilityTotal Fees (General Quota)
LL.M. (Master of Laws)1 year (2 semesters)LL.B. with at least 50% marks and a valid AIAT scoreINR 1.50 Lakhs
Ph.D. (Law)Minimum 3 yearsLL.M. or an equivalent postgraduate degree, followed by a written test and interviewINR 90,000 (3 years)
PG Diploma in Corporate Law1 yearLL.B. or an equivalent degreeINR 35,000
PG Diploma in Cyber Law1 yearLL.B. or an equivalent degreeINR 35,000
PG Diploma in IP Rights Law (PGDIPRL)1 yearLL.B. or an equivalent degreeINR 35,000
PG Diploma in ADR1 yearLL.B. or an equivalent degreeINR 35,000
Certificate Course (Cyber Law / IP)Short-term (online)Any graduateINR 10,000

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

The full-time LL.M. runs for 1 year over 2 semesters and has 53 approved seats. Among these programmes, only the LL.M. requires AIAT. Diploma applicants are selected separately on merit, while Ph.D. applicants must take ILI's written research aptitude test and attend an interview.

ILI Admission Process

Admission methods differ by programme. LL.M. selection is based on AIAT and a viva-voce, Ph.D. applicants complete research-based assessment, and the four PG Diplomas use academic merit.

LL.M. Admission

For LL.M. entry, ILI conducts the All India Admission Test (AIAT), a national written examination followed by a viva-voce. The assessment totals 200 marks: 140 marks for objective questions, 40 marks for subjective legal writing, and 20 marks for the interview.

  • Eligibility: Applicants need a 3-year LL.B. or 5-year integrated LL.B. with at least 50% marks from a university recognised by the Bar Council of India.
  • Application: The form must be submitted online through the ILI admission portal at iliadm.samarth.edu.in.
  • Admission sequence: Register for AIAT, take the written examination, attend the viva-voce, check the merit list, pay the fee, and confirm the seat.

CLAT PG and other centralised law entrance examinations are not valid for admission to this programme. AIAT is the only accepted entrance test. Applicants who clear its written stage are invited to the New Delhi campus for the viva-voce.

Ph.D. (Law) Admission

Ph.D. applicants submit a research proposal before taking a written examination on research methods and legal knowledge. A faculty committee then conducts a detailed interview. Eligibility calls for an LL.M. or an equivalent postgraduate law qualification with a strong academic record. There is no fixed intake, as admission is offered on a rolling basis according to the chosen research field and the availability of a suitable supervisor.

PG Diploma Admission

Selection for the 1-year diplomas in Corporate Law, Cyber Law, PGDIPRL, and ADR is made directly from academic merit. An LL.B. or equivalent degree is required, and applications go through the ILI admission portal. These courses allow practising advocates and law graduates to gain a specialisation without undertaking a complete LL.M.

ILI Career Outcomes

As a law institute focused on research, ILI does not run campus recruitment. Its LL.M. and Ph.D. alumni independently build careers in the judiciary, legal practice, universities, and government legal services. Access to the Supreme Court of India and the institute's established research work are especially relevant to students interested in appellate practice or legal teaching.

ILI releases JILI and ASIL each year, and both publications are widely cited by Indian courts and law faculties. Published research completed during an ILI LL.M. can strengthen a graduate's profile for teaching applications and judicial service examinations.

Career PathwayTypical RouteNotes
JudiciaryState Judicial Services / Higher Judicial ServicesAn ILI LL.M. can support applications for civil judge and HJS positions.
Supreme Court / High Court BarDirect enrolment with a State Bar CouncilThe institute's location and alumni connections can help graduates seeking access to Supreme Court practice.
AcademiaFaculty roles at universities and NLUsFor applicants who have cleared UGC NET, an ILI Ph.D. and JILI publications can support an academic profile.
Government Legal ServicesLaw Officer / Legal Adviser posts in Central Ministries and PSUsThis is a common option for LL.M. graduates trained in drafting and legal research.
Corporate / In-House CounselLegal teams in large companies and firmsAn ILI diploma in Corporate Law or IP provides added subject specialisation.

ILI Rankings

ILI is included in the NIRF Law rankings. It placed 35th in 2024, after holding the 17th position in 2023. The institute's Second Cycle NAAC accreditation carries a B++ grade.

Ranking BodyCategory2024 Rank2023 Rank
NIRFLaw3517

ILI Campus and Infrastructure

ILI's campus on Bhagwan Das Road is opposite the Supreme Court of India. The Delhi High Court, India International Centre, and India Gate complex are within walking distance, giving students convenient access to major judicial and public institutions in New Delhi.

The institute's main library is the Legal Information Resource Centre (LIRC). Its resources include legislation, law reports, legal treatises, and electronic databases, while the RefRead platform provides access to the e-library. ILI also publishes the Journal of the Indian Law Institute (JILI), a peer-reviewed quarterly journal, and the Annual Survey of Indian Law (ASIL), an annual review of important court and legislative developments across the principal areas of Indian law.

ILI vs Faculty of Law DU vs NLU Delhi

LL.M. applicants considering ILI often compare it with the Faculty of Law at the University of Delhi and National Law University, Delhi. Although all three serve postgraduate law students in New Delhi, they differ in their type of institution, entrance route, intake, and academic emphasis.

ParameterILI, New DelhiFaculty of Law, Delhi UniversityNLU Delhi (NLUD)
Established195619242008
TypeDeemed University (research institute)Central University departmentNational Law University
LocationOpposite Supreme Court, New DelhiNorth Campus, Delhi UniversityDwarka, New Delhi
LL.M. Admission ExamAIAT (ILI's own test)DUET (DU entrance)CLAT PG
LL.M. Seats53Larger intakeLimited intake
Primary StrengthLegal research and JILI and ASIL publicationsLong teaching history and alumni networkNLU ecosystem with a CLAT-based route

ILI stands out for its research publications and location near India's highest courts. The Faculty of Law at Delhi University offers a broader alumni base and a lower fee burden. NLUD appeals to applicants who prefer the NLU system and the CLAT PG route. Each institution attracts LL.B. graduates from across India who want to specialise through an LL.M. in New Delhi.

ILI FAQs

Ques. How much does the complete LL.M. programme at ILI New Delhi cost?

Ans. General Quota students pay INR 1.50 Lakhs for both semesters of the LL.M. The semester-wise amount is INR 81,000 in Semester 1 and INR 69,000 in Semester 2. The total fee under the NRI Quota is INR 2.43 Lakhs.

Ques. Which entrance test does ILI accept for its LL.M.?

Ans. LL.M. applicants must take ILI's All India Admission Test (AIAT), which examines legal knowledge and reasoning. ILI does not consider CLAT PG or another centralised law entrance test. Those who clear the written examination attend a viva-voce at the ILI campus in New Delhi.

Ques. What kind of institution is ILI New Delhi?

Ans. ILI is an autonomous deemed university formed under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956. The Government of India awarded it deemed university status in 2004, and it operates through its own Governing Council. Although it is not a central university, UGC recognition gives it full authority to award degrees.

Ques. Where did ILI place in the NIRF Law rankings?

Ans. ILI was ranked 35th in India in the NIRF 2024 Law category, compared with 17th in NIRF 2023. It also has a NAAC B++ grade from its Second Cycle of accreditation.

Ques. What is the annual LL.M. intake at ILI?

Ans. The programme has 53 approved seats each year. Admission depends entirely on merit determined through AIAT and the viva-voce. Beyond the general merit pool, ILI does not provide management or NRI quota seats for the LL.M.

Ques. Who can apply for the ILI LL.M. programme?

Ans. An applicant must have a 3-year LL.B. or a 5-year integrated LL.B. from a university recognised by the Bar Council of India, with at least 50% marks. Students in their final LL.B. year may apply provisionally, but they must provide the degree certificate before their admission is confirmed.

Ques. Are campus placement services available at ILI?

Ans. ILI does not hold campus placements because its primary focus is legal research. Graduates find opportunities independently in judicial services, appellate advocacy, teaching, research, and government legal work. The institute's publications and its location near the Supreme Court also give Bar-focused students useful networking opportunities.