Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna is Bihar’s only National Law University and one of the most affordable NLUs in India. With CLAT 2026 counselling now closing its Fifth and Final Round on 30 May 2026, the Round 1 cutoff data is the most reliable signal of where CNLU’s seats actually finished for Bihar-domicile and General-category aspirants. This guide compiles the verified 2026 closing-rank picture, breaks down CNLU’s 30% Bihar-domicile state quota under the Bihar Reservation Act framework, and tells CLAT 2027 aspirants from Bihar exactly what All-India Rank (AIR) band to target.
CLAT 2026 Cutoff Picture — Round 1 (General)
Per published Round 1 allotment data, CNLU Patna’s closing ranks for the General category were:
- BA LLB (Hons) — General — Round 1: AIR ~1141
- BBA LLB (Hons) — General — Round 1: AIR ~1287
By Round 5 (the final round), the cutoffs drift mildly outward as upgrades cascade and withdrawals occur, but the Round 1 closing rank is the single most useful benchmark for Bihar aspirants because it reflects the “tight” admission window — the AIR you must beat to be sure of a seat without depending on residual movement.
Bihar Domicile Quota — How CNLU Patna Reserves Seats
CNLU Patna offers a 30% domicile reservation for Bihar residents. This is a substantial quota and is the single biggest reason CNLU is strategically vital for any Bihar CLAT aspirant. The implementation follows the Bihar Reservation Act framework — meaning CNLU recognises the State of Bihar’s category list, not the Central list, for its reserved seats:
- EBC (Extremely Backward Class) — Bihar-issued certificate required.
- BC (Backward Class) — Bihar-issued certificate required.
- SC (Scheduled Caste) — Bihar-issued certificate required.
- ST (Scheduled Tribe) — Bihar-issued certificate required.
- EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) — Bihar-issued certificate required.
Critical compliance point: A category certificate issued by any other state does not qualify for CNLU’s Bihar quota. We have seen aspirants who grew up in Bihar but obtained their SC/ST certificate from a different state (often because of a parent’s posting) lose their state-quota claim at the document-verification stage. If you are a Bihar aspirant, secure a Bihar-issued category certificate well before counselling. Talk to a Bihar tehsildar / SDM office — not your current-residence revenue office.
Realistic AIR Bands for Bihar Aspirants
Combining the 2026 Round 1 closing ranks with previous-year (2025) trends — where BA LLB (General) closed around AIR 1398 and BBA LLB (General) around AIR 1555 — here are realistic target ranks for Bihar-domicile aspirants planning for CLAT 2027:
- General + Bihar Domicile: Target AIR ≤ 1,100 for a safe BA LLB seat at CNLU; AIR ≤ 1,250 for BBA LLB.
- EBC / BC + Bihar Domicile: Realistic shot at AIR ~3,000 – 5,000 via state quota (subject to category sub-cutoffs).
- SC + Bihar Domicile: Realistic shot at AIR ~5,000 – 8,000 via state quota in most years; verify against latest closing-rank PDFs.
- ST + Bihar Domicile: Wider band, typically AIR 6,000 – 10,000 via state quota (very limited seats; vary year-to-year).
- EWS + Bihar Domicile: Closer to General by a fixed margin (~10–15% rank gap).
These are realistic bands — not floors and not ceilings. Final closing ranks vary by ±15% each cycle based on candidate behaviour and Float/Freeze decisions.
Why CNLU Patna Is a Strategic Anchor
Beyond the quota, three structural factors make CNLU Patna a strategic anchor for any Bihar aspirant:
- Annual tuition fee ~ ₹95,000 — Among the lowest of all 26 NLUs. Compare this to ~₹3 lakh+ at NLSIU and ~₹2.7 lakh at NLU Delhi (which is CLAT-fed only for LLM, not BA LLB). The 5-year programme cost differential runs into several lakh rupees.
- Established in 2006 — CNLU was created under the Chanakya National Law University Act, 2006 enacted by the Bihar Legislature. It is now ~20 years old, with a settled placement record and BCI recognition.
- Home-state retention — For aspirants whose families anchor in Patna, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Gaya, or anywhere across Bihar, studying at CNLU lets you stay closer to family while still earning an NLU-tier degree.
If you are weighing CNLU Patna against a higher-tier NLU at 3× the fee or a private law school (Symbiosis Pune, Jindal Sonipat) at 5–7× the fee, run the 5-year ROI math carefully. For Bihar households, CNLU often wins on a tuition + boarding + opportunity-cost basis.
What to Track Between Now and CLAT 2027
- CNLU Patna’s institutional residual-vacancy notifications after 30 May 2026 — these go out on CNLU’s own website, not the Consortium’s.
- The Consortium’s CLAT 2026 page — final closing ranks PDF, typically published after Round 5 wraps.
- The Bar & Bench Consortium tracker and Live Law’s Consortium coverage for governance changes that may affect CNLU’s seat matrix.
- Our CLAT 2026 NLU-wise cutoff table — kept updated through every counselling round.
- The CLAT 2027 notification — expected late July 2026, with registration tentatively opening 1 August 2026 (see our CLAT 2027 notification tracker).
Self-Check — 10 MCQs on CNLU Patna & Bihar Quota
Practice Quiz — 10 CLAT-Style Questions
Click an option to reveal the answer and explanation.
FAQ — CNLU Patna & Bihar Quota
Q1. My family lives in Bihar but my Class 12 was from Delhi. Am I a Bihar domicile?
A. Domicile depends on the criteria specified by the Government of Bihar — typically continuous residence, parents’ Bihar ID, or birth in Bihar — and a properly issued Bihar Domicile Certificate. Schooling from another state does not by itself disqualify you, but you must hold a valid Bihar-issued domicile certificate at counselling.
Q2. Are CNLU’s General-category cutoffs going to climb significantly in CLAT 2027?
A. Possibly mildly. As the CLAT applicant pool grows year-on-year and CNLU’s national reputation strengthens, General-category closing ranks tend to inch upwards by 5–10% per cycle. Treat AIR ~1,100 as your aggressive General target for BA LLB in 2027.
Q3. Can I claim Bihar quota at CNLU with a domicile certificate from Jharkhand?
A. No. Jharkhand and Bihar are separate states post-2000; only a Bihar-issued domicile + category certificate qualifies for CNLU’s state quota.
Q4. Does CNLU Patna offer an integrated LLM?
A. CNLU offers a regular LLM and BA LLB / BBA LLB undergraduate programmes. The LLM seats are filled via CLAT-PG, separately from the UG counselling process discussed in this article.
Plan Your CNLU Patna Strategy With CLAT Gurukul
From document checklists for the Bihar domicile + category certificate, to a 12-month CLAT 2027 plan calibrated to your current scores, CLAT Gurukul is built for Bihar aspirants who want CNLU on their list. Call 7033005444 or visit our contact page to start a focused conversation. For batch options, see our CLAT courses page.
