Top NLUS In India 2025 [Top 10]

The most popular legal schools in the country are the National Law Universities NLUs. The NLSIU Bangalore was India’s first NLU, founded in 1986. Currently, the country is home to 23 national law universities (NLUs). These NLUs are the forerunners of legal education in India, offering integrated LLB, LLM, and Ph.D. programs in a variety of fields.

NLSIU Bangalore is the top law school in India, according to the Government of India’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking of top law schools. Other NLUs, such as NLU Delhi, NALSAR Hyderabad, and NLU Jodhpur, follow.

Surprisingly, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) only lists 20 law schools in its top law schools list, 11 of which are NLUs.

Top 10 NLUS colleges in India

The best legal schools in India, according to the NIRF Rankings 2021, are NLSIU Bangalore, NLU Delhi, NALSAR Hyderabad, IIT Kharagpur, and NLU Jodhpur. Other legal schools on the list are WBNUJS Kolkata, GNLU Gandhinagar, SIU Pune, Faculty of Law, Jamia Millia Islamia, and RGNLU Patiala.

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There are around 1,500 law schools in India. Around 780 private colleges, 270 public/government colleges, and 80 private-public colleges are located around the city. Among India’s top law schools, there are around 16 public/government law institutions and three private law colleges.

NIRF Rank 2020	Name of the Institute	City
1	National Law School of India University	Bengaluru
2	National Law University	New Delhi
3	Nalsar University of Law	Hyderabad
4	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Kharagpur
5	National Law University	Jodhpur
6	The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences	Kolkata
7	Gujarat National Law University	Gandhinagar
8	Symbiosis Law School	Pune
9	Jamai Millia Islamia	New Delhi
10	The Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law	Patiala

Admission to NLUs through CLAT 2025

CLAT (Common Legal Admission Test) is one of the most widely used law admission exams. It is conducted around the country in an offline, pen-and-paper manner. CLAT applications are usually available in the first week of January, with the admission exam taking place in the first or second week of May. The consortium aims to finish its admissions process by the end of August. The majority of the NLUs start their classes in the first week of August.

AILET provides admission to NLU Delhi

AILET, the admission examination for NLU Delhi, is also an offline exam that is held across the country. Around the second-third week of January, AILET releases the application form for BA LLB, LLM, and Ph.D. programs. The exam will be held in May-June, and sessions will begin in the first week of August.

NLUs Eligibility Criteria 2025

The CLAT Consortium’s 22 national law universities all have identical qualifying criteria for admission to law programs. In its admission notification, NLU Delhi defined its eligibility criteria individually. Even though the basic qualifying criteria for admission are the same throughout NLUs. The eligibility criteria for NLU are listed below.

Academic requirements for UG admissions:

NLU admissions are open to those who have passed or are scheduled to take the Class 12 qualifying examination.
If they fall into the General/ OBC/ PWD/ NRI/ PIO/ OCI categories, they must get at least 45 percent on the qualifying test.
Candidates from the SC/ ST categories are given a 5% reduction in the minimum qualifying marks, requiring them to score at least 40% in the Class 12 qualifying test.

Academic requirements for PG admissions:

Candidates seeking admission to NLU-offered LLM programs must have earned an LLB or equivalent from a recognized law college or university.
If they fall under the General/ OBC/ PWD/ NRI/ PIO/ OCI categories, they must score at least 55 percent on their qualifying law degree.
For candidates from the SC/ST categories, a minimum of 50% or an equivalent grade is required.
Candidates who are currently enrolled in their last year of law school are also eligible to apply.

NLUs Fee Structure 2025

The annual costs for undergraduate legal programs at NLUs range from 1.5 lakh to 2.62 lakh per year. The annual costs for LLM programs range from Rs. 1.13 lakh to Rs. 1.89 lakh. The annual fees at top-ranked NLUs tend to be more because they provide a variety of services in addition to regular classes. Candidates can learn more about the NLU fee structure by clicking on the fast links below.

Law Courses offered by top NLUs in India 2025

National law schools offer five-year integrated LLB, LLM, and Ph.D. programs. NLUs provide a variety of law programs, which can be seen on the list below.

Law Programmes offered by NLUs;

UG Courses	PG courses
BA LLB (Hons.)	LLM
BBA LLB	LLD
Bcom LLB	PhD in law
BSc LLB	PG Diploma in Urban Environmental Management and Law
BLS LLB	Post Graduate Diploma in Tourism and Environmental Law
	Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Law and Policy

FAQs on Top NLUs In India

Q: What are National Law Schools/Universities (NLUs) and how do they operate?

A: National Law Universities are recognized as centers of legal brilliance. They are at the top of the Indian legal education system, as well as attract several international students. National Law Schools offers a one–of–a–kind experience with superior academic standards, infrastructure and libraries, all-around growth, moot court competitions, and the fact that the brightest brains in law choose to study there.

Q: Which NLU in India is the best?

A: NLSIU Bangalore is the finest National Law University in India, according to the NIRF Ranking 2023, followed by NLU Delhi and NALSAR Hyderabad.

Q: What is the total number of NLUs in India?

A: In India, there are a total of 23 National Law Universities.

Q: Are all NLUs beneficial?

A: When it comes to legal education, NLUs is India's most prominent universities. All National Law Universities are recognized by the University Grants Commission and are associated with the Bar Council of India (BCI) (UGC). As a result, when compared to other law schools in the country, NLUs are generally thought to be superior.

Q: Which NLU offers the most affordable legal program?

A: The lowest fee structures for undergraduate and postgraduate legal degrees are offered by RMNLU, Lucknow, and HNLU, Raipur.

Q: Do NLUs belong to the government?

A: Yes, the state legislature created all of the National Law Universities. As a result, all NLUs are state law universities that are associated with BCI and recognized by the University Grants Commission.

Q: Is it possible to go into NLU without taking the CLAT?

A: Except for NLU Delhi, all NLUs take the CLAT law entrance exam for student selection. If you want to study at NLU Delhi, you must take the AILET exam. NLSIU held its entrance exam, the NLAT, for admissions in 2020. For admission to any other NLU, however, you must take the CLAT exam.

Q: What professional alternatives do I have once I graduate from an NLU?

A: Manifold. National Law Schools provide a wide range of job opportunities with a good salary and social standing.

Q: Is there any form of reservations in NLUs?

A: Yes, it is correct. Because they are government schools, many National Law Universities have reservations. Seats are designated for SCs and STs in all NLUs, and a few of them additionally have seats reserved for OBCs. Regional quotas are rare, and some have unique provisions for women, military wards, and even NRI-backed candidates.

Q: What are the various NLUs' fee structures?

A: The fee is normally in the range of a lakh rupees per annum, and it varies from student to student. An education at one of the National Law Universities, on the other hand, will allow you to earn the entire five-year tuition in a matter of months. Furthermore, there are several scholarships, grants, and student loan opportunities. Every socio-economic group is represented in National Law Schools. Some national law schools are noted for their idea that all a student has to do is qualify, and they will cover the costs.

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