AILET 2026 LLM OBC-NCL Cutoff: Round-Wise Expected Score Trends

OBC-NCL students need an expected score of 46 to 54 marks out of 100 to secure admission in the AILET LLM programme at NLU Delhi, based on the 2025 OBC-NCL closing rank of 196 and the corresponding expected score of 50 to 52 marks from that cycle.

National Law University Delhi admits LLM students through AILET, a 100-mark Multiple Choice Question paper with 0.25 negative marking per wrong answer. The LLM programme has 70 merit seats, of which 22 per cent are reserved for OBC-NCL candidates, amounting to roughly 15 to 16 seats. Over the past two years the OBC-NCL closing rank in LLM counselling has risen from 146–176 in 2024 to 196 in 2025, reflecting steadily growing competition for reserved seats. NLU Delhi releases 3 to 4 merit lists for LLM, and the closing rank expands slightly with each successive round.

• Expected AILET 2026 LLM score for OBC-NCL: 46 to 54 marks out of 100, based on 2025 closing rank and score trends.
• The OBC-NCL LLM closing rank in 2025 was 196, up from a range of 146–176 in 2024.
• NLU Delhi releases 3 to 4 LLM merit lists; the closing rank relaxes with each successive round.
• OBC-NCL scores are typically 8 to 15 marks lower than the General category closing score.
• Scoring 52 marks or above places an OBC-NCL student comfortably within Round 1 or Round 2 selection range.

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Expected AILET 2026 LLM Cutoff for OBC-NCL Category

AILET LLM 2026 counselling proceeds in 3 to 4 rounds. Based on the 2025 OBC-NCL closing rank of 196 and an expected score of 50 to 52 marks in that cycle, the 2026 round-wise score and rank expectations for OBC-NCL students are as follows. All figures below are estimated based on previous year trends and should be read as indicative.

Students scoring 52 marks or above have a strong chance of appearing in the Round 1 or Round 2 merit list. A score of 54 marks or above places an OBC-NCL student well within the safe zone for AILET 2026 LLM admission, based on 2025 closing data. Students who fall short of Round 1 should remain active during subsequent rounds, as seats do open up.

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Round-Wise AILET LLM 2025 OBC-NCL Closing Rank

NLU Delhi released merit lists in 3 rounds for AILET LLM 2025 counselling. The OBC-NCL closing rank expanded across rounds as confirmed students vacated seats and the institute extended offers to the next eligible student on the merit list. The Round 1 general rank was 41, expanding to 45 in Round 3 and 58 at final close, while the OBC-NCL pool followed a parallel upward trajectory.

The AILET LLM OBC-NCL final closing rank for 2025 was 196. Students who held OBC-NCL overall merit ranks up to 196 received LLM admission offers in 2025. The gap between the Round 3 rank (176) and the final closing rank (196) shows that 20 additional OBC-NCL students gained admission through later rounds.

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Year-Wise Historical OBC-NCL LLM Cutoff Trends (2023–2025)

The AILET LLM OBC-NCL closing rank has increased each year, pointing to rising competition for the roughly 15 to 16 seats reserved in this category. The table below tracks the year-wise trend along with the General category closing rank and expected score range.

The OBC-NCL LLM closing rank has risen by approximately 40 to 60 positions between 2023 and 2025. This consistent upward shift points to a 2026 expected OBC-NCL closing rank of 200 to 230. The corresponding expected score range of 46 to 54 marks reflects this trend, though the exact figure will depend on exam difficulty and the size of the OBC-NCL applicant pool.

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Category-Wise AILET LLM 2025 Cutoff Comparison

NLU Delhi maintains separate merit lists for each category. OBC-NCL students are evaluated against other OBC-NCL candidates only, not against the General pool. The 2025 LLM closing ranks and expected score ranges across all categories are listed below.

OBC-NCL is the second most competitive reserved category after EWS in the LLM programme. OBC-NCL students scoring above 52 marks typically secure admission in Round 1 or Round 2 of LLM counselling, while those scoring between 46 and 52 marks may need to wait for later rounds.

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Factors That Affect the AILET LLM OBC-NCL Cutoff

The OBC-NCL score and rank cutoff shift each year based on several key variables. Understanding these helps students assess their chances and plan their preparation.

• Size of the OBC-NCL applicant pool: More students applying under OBC-NCL directly pushes the closing rank upward, as more students compete for the same 15 to 16 seats.
• Paper difficulty: A harder paper lowers the overall score distribution, which may bring the absolute score cutoff down while rank cutoffs remain broadly stable.
• Total seat intake: With 22 per cent of 70 LLM merit seats reserved for OBC-NCL, any revision to the total intake immediately changes the number of available seats in this category.
• Merit list rounds: NLU Delhi releases 3 to 4 LLM merit lists. The closing rank relaxes in each round as admitted students confirm their seats and vacated spots are offered to the next eligible student.
• Certificate validity: The OBC-NCL certificate must be issued on or after April 1 of the admission year. Candidates with an expired certificate are moved to the General pool, which can slightly reduce OBC-NCL competition and ease the closing rank.

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