List of Top 23 NLUs In India,are India’s most prestigious law schools. The first NLU, National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore was established under the National Law School of India Act, 1986. Currently, offering five-year integrated law courses, as well as postgraduate and PhD courses in law.
- Recently, the National Institute of Ranking Framework (NIRF) Report 2020 was released by MHRD and, 10 of the 23 NLUs have ranked among the top law colleges in India.
- The top 3 positions for law colleges in India has been secured by NLSIU Bangalore, NLU Delhi and NALSAR Hyderabad with 78.66 scores, 74.02 scores and 73.12 scores respectively. These NLUs were among the top three law colleges in NIRF Report 2019 as well.
- However, this year NLIU Bhopal dropped down to 17th position from 11th position last year. The rankings for NLUs like RGNUL Patiala, NLU Jodhpur, WBNUJS – Kolkata, GNLU Gandhinagar have been changed as well. Read here to know more about NLUs in India.
Also See: List-of-nit-in-india/
| NLUs in India | NIRF Ranking 2019 | NIRF Ranking 2020 | Seats (UG+PG courses) |
| National Law School of India University, Bangalore | 1 | 1 | 120 + 50 |
| National Law University, Delhi | 2 | 2 | 80+ 80 |
| National Academy of Legal Study & Research (NALSAR) University of Law, Hyderabad | 3 | 3 | 105 + 50 |
| The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata | 5 | 6 | 127 + 44 |
| National Law Institute University, Bhopal | 11 | 17 | 80 + 80 |
| National Law University, Jodhpur | 6 | 5 | 104 + 50 |
| Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur | 12 | Not ranked | 187 + 84 |
| Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar | 9 | 7 | 187 + 63 |
| Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow | 14 | 11 | 178 + 32 |
| Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala | 10 | 10 | 196 + 44 |
| Chanakya National Law University Patna | Not ranked | Not ranked | 140 |
| National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi | Not ranked | Not ranked | 68 + 59 |
| National Law University Odisha, Cuttack | 17 | Not ranked | 180 + 46 |
| National University of Study & Research in Law, Ranchi | Not ranked | Not ranked | 140+ 50 |
| National Law University & Judicial Academy, Assam | Not ranked | 16 | 60 + 30 |
| Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU) Visakhapatnam | Not ranked | Not ranked | 120 + 24 |
| The Tamil Nadu National Law School, Tiruchirapalli | Not ranked | Not ranked | 120 + 18 |
| Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai | Not ranked | Not ranked | 122 + 62 |
| Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur | Not ranked | Not ranked | 120 + 20 |
| Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad | Not ranked | Not ranked | 60 + 32 |
| Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla | Not ranked | Not ranked | 148 + 52 |
| Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur | 29 | Not ranked | 120 |
| Dr B R Ambedkar National Law University Sonipat, Haryana | Not ranked | Not ranked | 120 |
Courses offered at NLUs
The undergraduate, as well as postgraduate courses offered at NLUs, are:
| UG Courses | PG courses |
| BA LLB (Hons.) (Five-year Integrated Law course) | LLM |
| BBA LLB (Five-year Integrated Law course) | LLD |
| BSc LLB (Five-year Integrated Law course) | PhD in Law |
| BLS LLB (Five-year Integrated Law course) | PG Diploma in Urban Environmental Management and Law (NLU Delhi) |
| BCom LLB (Five-year Integrated Law course) | Post Graduate Diploma in Tourism and Environmental Law (NLU Delhi) |
| BBA LLB (Hons.) | Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Law and Policy (NLU Delhi) |
NLU Admission Process
Candidates seeking admission to National Law Universities have to appear for Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). However, for admission to NLU Delhi, aspirants have to clear the All India Law Entrance Test (AILET). NLU Delhi does not accept CLAT score.(List of Top 23 NLUs In India)
Like NLU Delhi, Himachal Pradesh NLU, Shimla also conducted its own entrance exam called HP-NLET, however, it has now become a part of CLAT Consortium and accepts CLAT scores for admissions.
Let us understand the basic difference between both the above-mentioned law entrance exams for NLU admissions:
What is CLAT?
CLAT is a national-level law entrance exam, conducted for admissions at 22 National Law Universities in India (except for NLU Delhi). This law entrance exam is conducted on a rotational basis by NLUs, now known as ‘Consortium of NLUs’. Through CLAT, admissions are open for more than 2800 seats for five-year integrated law courses and around 750 seats for postgraduate law courses.
What is AILET?
All India Law Entrance Test, popularly known as AILET, is the only entrance exam conducted and accepted by NLU Delhi. This national level exam is conducted once a year for admission to the university’s five-year integrated LLB and LLM courses. Both the courses offer 70 seats each.(List of Top 23 NLUs In India)
Difference in CLAT and AILET exam pattern for UG courses:
This year, CLAT Consortium has made major changes in the exam pattern of CLAT 2020. NLU Delhi has not released any notification regarding new/ revised pattern of its entrance exam. Check the table below for key features of CLAT pattern and AILET pattern for UG courses:
| Exam Features | CLAT UG | AILET UG |
| Exam mode | Computer-based test | AI-enabled remotely proctored mode |
| Test duration | 2 hours | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Test subjects | Five subjects as under: English including Comprehension Current Affairs including General Knowledge Quantitative Techniques (Elementry Mathematics) Legal Reasoning Logical Reasoning | Five subjects as under: English Comprehension General Knowledge and Current Affairs Elementary Mathematics Legal Aptitude Logical Reasoning |
| Type of questions | Multiple choices questions (MCQs) | Multiple choices questions (MCQs) |
| Total marks | 150 marks | 150 marks |
| Marking scheme | 1 mark awarded for each question answered correctly 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong attempt | 1 mark awarded for each question answered correctly 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong attempt |
Difference in CLAT and AILET exam pattern for LLM courses:
The CLAT consortium has announced that the ‘Descriptive Paper’ of CLAT LLM has been removed due to COVID-19 risks. Moreover, the exam will be held in a Social-distanced Computer-basest test. There will be one question paper carrying 120 questions of objective type. However, the exam pattern of AILET 2020 for LLM courses is the same even though the exam mode has been changed. Check the exam pattern of CLAT and AILET for PG course:
| Exam Features | CLAT PG | AILET PG |
| Exam mode | Computer-based test mode | AI-enabled remotely proctored exam |
| Test duration | 2 hours | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Test subjects | One question paper based on: Sec A – Constitutional Law Sec B – Contract, Torts, Criminal Law, International Law, IPR and Jurisprudence. and, other law topics and Contemporary Issues | Major law subjects as under: Criminal Law Constitutional Law Law of Contract Jurisprudence Law of Torts International Law |
| Type of questions | Multiple-choice questions | Multiple-choice questions |
| Total marks | 120 marks | 150 marks |
| Marking scheme | 1 mark awarded for each MCQ answered correctly 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong attempt for MCQ | 1 mark awarded for each question answered correctly 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong attempt |
Eligibility Criteria for NLU Admissions
The eligibility criteria for undergraduate and postgraduate law courses offered at NLUs (including NLU Delhi) is as under:(List of Top 23 NLUs In India)
Academic criteria for UG admissions:
- Candidates passed or appearing in the class 12th qualifying examination are eligible to apply for NLU admissions
- They must have secured at least 45% marks in the qualifying examination if belonging to General/ OBC/ PWD/ NRI/ PIO/ OCI categories
- For candidates belonging to SC/ ST categories, 5% relaxation in minimum qualifying marks is given i.e. they should obtain at least 40% marks in the qualifying examination of Class 12th
- Candidates who completed their Class 10+2 education from open schools are not eligible for admission to NLUs
Academic criteria for PG admissions :
- Candidates seeking admission to LLM courses offered at NLUs should possess an LLB degree or an equivalent from any recognised law college or university.
- They should have obtained at least 55% marks in the qualifying law degree if they belong to General/ OBC/ PWD/ NRI/ PIO/ OCI categories
- For candidates belonging to SC/ ST categories, the minimum marks required is 50% or an equivalent grade
- Candidates appearing in the final year examination of their law degrees are also eligible to apply
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