NLU students urge CLAT Consortium to respond on fee reforms

National Law University students across India have urged the CLAT Consortium to reduce application and counselling fees, calling them unaffordable. Despite repeated representations since November 2024, the Consortium has not responded. Students seek need-based waivers and transparent consultation

Hyderabad: Urging the Consortium of National Law Universities (CLAT Consortium) to respond to their pending representations on fee reform, the student representatives from National Law Universities (NLUs) across the country want the Consortium to reduce the CLAT application and admission counselling fee.

Multiple communications in this regard were made by student bodies, highlighting serious issues in the present CLAT application and counselling fee framework, students said in a press release.

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Between November 2024 and September 2025, a series of representations highlighting financial and procedural barriers in the counselling process, including non-refundable Rs 20,000 confirmation and Rs 30,000 counselling fees (Rs 20,000 for reserved categories), were submitted to authorities concerned.

Apart from raising the issue of application fee of Rs 4,000 for general (Rs 3,500 for reserved category applicants), students sought introduction of need-based waivers and a more equitable counselling structure.

Despite repeated and well-substantiated communications, the Consortium has not issued any acknowledgement or response to date, students said.

“This continued inaction has caused considerable concern within the student community, given that the representations pertain to matters of equity, inclusivity, and accessibility in legal education,” they said.

The NLU students urged the Consortium to initiate a consultative process with student representatives to deliberate upon possible reforms to the fee structure, in keeping with the principles of equity and transparency.