The Bar Council of India (BCI) has once again extended the deadline for existing Centres of Legal Education (CLEs) to apply for renewal of affiliation for the 2026-27 academic year. The new deadline is now set for August 31, 2026. This change was communicated through a circular issued by the BCI on August 6.
Originally, the deadline for submission was December 31, 2025. However, this was subsequently postponed to January 16, 2026, then to March 5, 2026, and later to July 31, 2026. The BCI explained that closing the portal prematurely could prevent CLEs, which have the necessary documentation, from submitting complete applications, potentially impacting admissions for the academic session of 2026-27.
According to Bar & Bench, several National Law Universities were not on the BCI’s approved list even after the July 31 deadline. However, since then, Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Nava Raipur, and National Law University Odisha (NLUO), Cuttack have successfully renewed their affiliations. Nevertheless, certain courses at National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru; National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal; Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU), Tiruchirappalli; and Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar have yet to secure BCI approval.
The BCI has granted provisional approval to HNLU for the 2026-27 academic year, waiving the late fee for this period. Institutions with the necessary documentation, including valid affiliation orders, but facing technical or administrative obstacles in submitting their applications online, can now provide a written undertaking. This should be accompanied by self-attested copies of their documents for verification, along with a commitment to finalize the application by the new deadline of August 31.
Approvals granted under this extension are conditional, pending verification, scrutiny, and inspection by the BCI. Applications submitted during the extension period must include the applicable late fee, except for universities conducting courses directly through their own departments or faculties that have already paid the fee before the earlier deadline.
More Read
The extension only applies to the continuation or renewal of currently sanctioned courses, sections, and intake. It does not cover new Centres of Legal Education, new courses, additional sections, increased intake, or new campuses.
Furthermore, the BCI emphasized that merely submitting an application, paying fees, or providing an undertaking does not constitute approval or confer any rights to admit students. They warned that failing to submit the final application by August 31, or if any false or fabricated documents are discovered, could lead to the withdrawal of approval. The BCI also noted that the portal would close after this date, and no further extensions will “ordinarily” be granted.
