NLU Students Protest CLAT and Counselling Fees, Call Them Financially Exclusionary

Students from top National Law Universities have launched a protest against the fee structure for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), calling it financially exclusionary and inconsistent with the National Education Policy (NEP) in terms of inclusivity.

The application fee is ₹4,000 (₹3,500 for SC/ST), while counselling and confirmation fees total ₹50,000 (₹40,000 for reserved categories).

Student groups from NALSAR, NLSIU, DNLU, DSNLU, and NLIU have backed an online petition demanding reforms. They argue that high upfront costs hurt applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds, especially since banks release education loans only after admission.

Cases challenging the fee are pending before the Kerala (listed for July 31) and Delhi High Courts (listed for September 9).