Participating Universities for CLAT

The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a national-level entrance examination for admission to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law programs offered by National Law Universities (NLUs) across India. The exam is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities. 

Participating Universities 

National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore 

• NLSIU was the first National Law University established in India in 1986. 
• This prestigious law school was founded with the aim of leading reforms in legal education and playing a key role in transforming the Indian legal system through research and policy initiatives. 

NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad 

• NALSAR University was founded by an Act of the Andhra Pradesh State Legislature in 1998, which was later amended in 2005 and 2010.  
• The university's vision is to deliver high-quality legal education that emphasizes constitutionalism, the rule of law, and justice, with a special focus on promoting social justice for marginalized communities. 

National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal 

• NLIU was established through the Rashtriya Vidhi Sansthan Vishwavidyalaya Adhiniyam, under Act No. 41 of 1997, passed by the Madhya Pradesh State Legislature.  
• The university is recognized by the University Grants Commission and the Bar Council of India. 

West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata 

• NUJS was founded under the WBNUJS Act, 1999 (West Bengal Act IX of 1999), which was passed by the West Bengal Legislature in July 1999.  
• The university was recognized under Clause (f) of Section 2 of the UGC Act, 1956 in August 2004 and received permanent affiliation from the Bar Council of India in July 2005. 

National Law University (NLU), Jodhpur 

• NLUJ, located in the vibrant and colorful city of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, is one of India's top law schools. Consistently ranked among the best in the country. 
• NLUJ has been dedicated to producing outstanding lawyers and legal scholars since its inception in 1999, with a focus on advancing and challenging the limits of legal knowledge. 

Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur 

• Named after the renowned legal figure Justice Mohammed Hidayatullah, HNLU was established by the Government of Chhattisgarh through the Hidayatullah National University of Law, Chhattisgarh, Act (Act No. 10 of 2003). 

Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar 

• GNLU is a statutory university established by the Government of Gujarat under the Gujarat National Law University Act, 2003.  
• It is recognized by the Bar Council of India (BCI) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) under Sections 2(f) and 12B.  
• The university is also a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI). 

Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Silvassa 

• In addition to its main campus located in Gandhinagar, GNLU has established an additional campus (GNLU-SILVASSA) in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (DNH & DD).  
• The first batch of undergraduate and postgraduate programs began in the academic year 2023-24. 

Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow 

• RMLNLU was established by an Act of the Government of Uttar Pradesh in 2005 (U.P. Act No. 28 of 2005) and officially came into existence on January 4, 2006.  
• The university was founded to address emerging challenges in the legal field and to further the vision set forth by the establishment of the country's first National Law School. 

Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Patiala 

• The Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Punjab, was established by the Punjab State Legislature through the passage of the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab Act, 2006 (Punjab Act No. 12 of 2006).  
• The Act aimed to create a nationally recognized university in Punjab to meet the growing demand for a Centre of Excellence in legal education in the era of globalization and liberalization. 

Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna 

• CNLU was established in Patna under the Chanakya National Law University Act, 2006 and is listed under Section 2(f) and 12(B) of the UGC Act, 1956. 

National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi 

• NUALS was established by Act 27 of 2005 of the Kerala State Legislature.  
• Through this Act, the National Institute for Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), which was set up by the Bar Council of Kerala Trust in 2002, was merged with NUALS.  
• The university is recognized by the University Grants Commission under Sections 2(f) and 12B of the UGC Act. 

National Law University Odisha (NLUO), Cuttack 

• NLUO was established in 2009 under The National Law University Orissa Act, 2008 (Act 4 of 2008), passed by the Odisha State Legislature, and began its academic activities in the 2009-10 academic year.  
• The university is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under Section 12(B) of the UGC Act, 1956 and has been receiving grants under the XII th Plan. 

National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi 

• NUSRL was established by Act No. 4 of the Jharkhand State Assembly in 2010.  
• The university was recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in September 2011 under Section 22 and later under Section 12B in 2018 of the UGC Act of 1956. It is also recognized by the Bar Council of India (BCI). The university began its operations in September 2010. 

National Law University and Judicial Academy (NLUJA), Assam 

• NLUJA was established by the Government of Assam through the enactment of the National Law School and Judicial Academy, Assam Act, 2009 (Assam Act No. XXV of 2009). 

Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU), Visakhapatnam 

• The name of DSNLU Andhra Pradesh University of Law was changed to "Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University" on May 14, 2012. 

Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU), Tiruchirappalli 

• TNNLU was established by the Government of Tamil Nadu through an Act of the State Legislature (Act No. 9 of 2012) with the aim of offering world-class legal education.  
• The university was the vision of the former Hon'ble Chief Minister Dr. J. Jayalalithaa, who laid its foundation stone on February 13, 2012. 

Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai 

• MNLU Mumbai, founded on March 20, 2014, under the Maharashtra National Law University Act 2014, is one of India's leading National Law Universities.  
• The Act aimed to establish a National Law University in Maharashtra to provide advanced legal education and foster society-oriented research in legal studies, contributing to the betterment of society and the advancement of the nation's people. 

Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Nagpur 

• MNLU Nagpur was established by the Maharashtra Government through the enactment of the Maharashtra National Law University Act (Maharashtra Act No. VI of 2014). 

Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Aurangabad 

• MNLU was established under the Maharashtra National Law University Act, 2014. 
• The Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad, was founded with the aim of providing high-quality legal education, developing advanced clinical pedagogies, and promoting research in the field of law. 

Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla 

• HPNLU was established by the State Government in 2016 through an Act of the Legislature (Act 16 of 2016). The university began its operations on October 5, 2016. 

Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU), Jabalpur 

• MPDNLU was established in 2018 through the Madhya Pradesh Dharmashastra National Law University Act (24 of 2018), with the goal of promoting legal education and achieving excellence as a university dedicated to providing value-based legal education. 

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University (DBRANLU), Sonipat 

• DBRANLU is a National Law University situated at Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Sonipat, Haryana, India.  
• It is the 23rd National Law University established in India by the Haryana State Government in 2012 through State Legislature Act No. 15 of 2012.  
• In 2014, the university's name was changed from 'The National Law University Haryana' to 'Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University Sonipat' through an amendment. 

National Law University (NLUT), Tripura 

• NLUT, established by Act No. 3 of 2022 of Tripura, is a premier institution of legal education, located in the green capital city of Agartala. 

Dr. Rajendra Prasad National Law University, Prayagraj 

• Uttar Pradesh National Law University, Prayagraj, was established in 2020 through the Uttar Pradesh National Law University Act, 2020 (U.P. Act No. 26 of 2020).  
• It was renamed Dr. Rajendra Prasad National Law University by an amendment in August 2023 (U.P. Act No. 11 of 2023).  
• The university is a newly established institution focused on legal excellence, providing an exceptional environment for aspiring lawyers, judges, academics, and other professionals. 

India International University of Legal Education and Research (IIULER), Goa 

• IIULER was established by the Goa Government through the enactment of the India International University of Legal Education & Research of the Bar Council of India Trust at Goa Act (Act No. 16 of 2021).  
• The university takes pride in being the first International Law University established by the Bar Council of India Trust. 

Conclusion 

The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) serves as the gateway for admission into the prestigious National Law Universities (NLUs) across India. These institutions, each with their unique legacy and vision, offer world-class legal education that empowers students to become the future leaders of the legal profession. From the first NLSIU in Bangalore to the recent establishment of IIULER in Goa, the participating universities contribute to the advancement of legal studies, research, and social justice. As India continues to grow in the global legal landscape, these universities play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of lawyers, scholars, and judges.