Top National Law Universities (NLUs) As Per NIRF 2023 Ranking!

India witnessed a monumental shift, in the realm of legal education, with the establishment of National Law Universities (NLUs). It all began in 1987 with the inception of the prestigious National Law School of India University in Bangalore. This groundbreaking move was followed by the establishment of NALSAR in Hyderabad in 1998, marking the dawn of a new era in legal academia.

Modelled after the esteemed Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), NLUs emerged as bastions of excellence, governed by state statutes, with the Chief Justice or High Court Chief Justice serving as Chancellor. However, exceptions exist such as RMLNLU in Lucknow and Dr B R Ambedkar National Law University in Rai, Haryana, where the Chancellorship is held by the Chief Minister and Governor respectively.

Presently, India boasts a total of 25 NLUs, out of which 24 conduct admissions through the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), a standardised entrance examination. The National Law University, Delhi (NLU Delhi), stands apart by conducting its admission test, the All India Law Entrance Test (AILET).

The rise of NLUs has not only revolutionised legal education but also paved the way for a more standardised and accessible admission process, ensuring that aspiring legal scholars across the country have equal opportunities to pursue their dreams.

Here is a list of the National Law Universities (NLUs) in India

• National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru
• NALSAR University of Law (NALSAR), Hyderabad
• The WB National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), Kolkata
• National Law University (NLU), Jodhpur
• Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar
• National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal
• Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai
• National Law University Odisha (NLUO), Cuttack
• Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur
• Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Patiala
• Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow
• Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna
• National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi
• National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi
• Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU), Visakhapatnam
• National Law University and Judicial Academy (NLUJA), Assam
• Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU), Tiruchirapalli
• Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Nagpur
• Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla
• Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Aurangabad
• Dharamshastra National Law University, Jabalpur
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonepat
• Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Silvassa
• National Law University (NLU), Tripura
• National Law University (NLU), Delhi

There are 11 National Law Universities in India (NLUs) which have also secured a ranking by the National Institutional Ranking Framework, Ministry of Education, Government of India.

• National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, NIRF Rank # 1
• National Law University (NLU), Delhi, NIRF Rank # 2
• NALSAR University of Law (NALSAR), Hyderabad, NIRF Rank # 3
• The WB National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), Kolkata, NIRF Rank # 4
• Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar, NIRF Rank # 7
• National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal, NIRF Rank # 18
• Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Patiala, NIRF Rank # 20
• Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow, NIRF Rank # 21
• National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi, NIRF Rank # 24
• National Law University and Judicial Academy (NLUJA), Assam, NIRF Rank # 28
• National Law University Odisha (NLUO), Cuttack, NIRF Rank # 30

Students can also note that there are many private colleges and universities across the nation that recognise and accept CLAT or AILET scores for their admission processes. Prospective students keen on pursuing legal studies can easily ascertain the acceptability of their scores by referring to the eligibility criteria section on the respective office websites.