The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) has postponed the third allotment list for CLAT UG 2026 following a significant order by the Allahabad High Court, which directed the revision of the final answer key and the merit list. The decision has led to a temporary halt in the undergraduate counselling process, with the next schedule to be announced later.

The third allotment was scheduled to be released on February 5, 2026, but has now been deferred until the Consortium completes the revision process in compliance with the court’s directions.

Allahabad High Court Order: What Triggered the Postponement?

The order was passed by a single-judge bench of the Allahabad High Court while hearing a petition challenging discrepancies in the CLAT UG 2026 final answer key. The petitioner argued that certain objections raised during the official answer-key challenge window were accepted by subject experts but were later ignored in the final version without adequate reasoning.

After examining the records, the court observed that the Oversight Committee overruled the recommendations of the Expert Committee without providing valid justification, which was deemed arbitrary.

Key Observations by the Court

• The court held that Question 9 of Booklet C (and its corresponding questions in other booklets) had two correct options.

• Candidates selecting either of the two correct options should be awarded marks.

• The final answer key must be revised accordingly, and the merit list recalculated.

• The court clarified that seat allotments made in Round 1 and Round 2 will not be disturbed.

• All subsequent counselling rounds, including the third allotment, must be conducted based on the revised merit list.

Consortium of NLUs’ Response

Following the order, the Consortium announced the postponement of the third allotment list and stated that it is examining legal options, including filing an appeal before a higher bench. However, until further orders, the Consortium is required to comply with the High Court’s directive.

The Consortium will release:

• A revised final answer key

• Updated scorecards

• A revised merit list

• A fresh counselling schedule for the remaining rounds

What Candidates Should Know

• Candidates awaiting the third allotment will have to wait until the revised results are announced.

• Students already allotted seats in the first two rounds will not lose their admissions.

• The revised merit list may affect rankings, cut-offs, and seat availability for upcoming rounds.

• Candidates are advised to regularly check official notifications for updates on the revised counselling schedule.

Background: CLAT UG 2026

• Exam conducted: December 7, 2025

• Final answer key released: December 16, 2025

• Counselling: Round 1 and Round 2 completed successfully

• Round 3: Postponed due to court intervention

Why This Matters

The High Court’s intervention underscores the importance of transparency and fairness in national-level entrance examinations, especially when rankings directly influence admissions to premier institutions like National Law Universities.