On Friday, September 11, 2020, the Supreme Court directed that National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru can hold a separate entrance exam for the five-year integrated B.A LL.B (Hons) course on September 12.

At the same time, the apex court mentioned that results will not be declared, and no admission will be done without the court’s permission.

On September 3, 2020, the NLSIU had announced its decision to not consider the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) for its admissions to the five-year integrated B.A LL. B (Hons) course for the academic session 2020-2021, in the wake of the current pandemic.

The university stated, “We are fully committed to ensuring that no student is denied the opportunity to study at NLSIU this Academic Year. Hence, NLSIU is compelled by the current circumstances to conduct a separate admissions process for the B.A., LL.B and LL.M programmes for the Academic Year 2020-21.”

The university has decided to conduct the National Law Aptitude Test 2020 exclusively via online. Because of the repeated postponement of the CLAT 2020 examination the decision has been taken. “If NLSIU is unable to complete admissions before the end of September 2020 it will inevitably result in a ‘Zero Year’ with no admission,” read the notice.

In a notification the university said, “On August 28th the Executive Committee of the Consortium of National Law Universities postponed CLAT 2020 from September 7 to September 28, 2020. A Faculty Sub-Committee was constituted to develop a revised admission procedure. The Sub-Committee considered all available options and concluded that a common entrance test conducted online at the earliest and with the lowest possible application fee would be a fair, transparent and accessible admissions process.”

The online registration process commenced on September 3, 2020 and ended on September 10, 2020. Candidates belonging to the general category are required to pay an application fee of ₹150, while SC/ST candidates need to pay ₹125 as a registration fee, the notification mentioned.

In order to apply, candidates must have scored an aggregate percentage of 45 percent or its equivalent grade in the case of General Category and PWD students in class 12 examination. In case of SC/ST quota, candidates should have scored an aggregate percentage of 40 percent or its equivalent grade in class 12 examination. There is no upper age limit to apply.

The candidates are advised to read the official notification here.

Read: NLSIU to go ahead with its own entrance test

Also read: Ex-VC of NLSIU moves SC against decision on separate entrance test