National Law University (NLU) Delhi announced a full scholarship for the All India Rank 1 (AIR 1) holder in the first year of the BALLB program. This announcement is evident to showcase the development in legal education that represents the recognition of the academic excellence of NLU.
National Law University (NLU), Delhi has launched an initiative that will facilitate more accessible and merit-focused premier legal education across India for law aspirants. In August 2025, the university made an announcement for two important initiatives:
- A full scholarship without any tuition fees to the holder of the All India Rank 1 (AIR 1) after the first year of the B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) programme
- A discounted (sometimes free) application fee is applicable for the All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) 2026 for a wide range of candidates.
NLU Scholarships for AIR 1 - Overview
- The full scholarship will cover the tuition fees for the first-year student (i.e., AIR 1) in the B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) Program.
- This initiative aims to not only highlight exceptional talent, but also to relieve the financial burden of the premier law aspirant of the country.
- Along with the scholarship announcement, NLU Delhi has also introduced a slew of changes to promote better access to leading legal education.
The scholarship offers financial assistance for tuition for the first academic year. With it, NLU Delhi is demonstrating its broader commitment to funding exceptional students irrespective of economic circumstances, and stimulating a wider competitive field to ensure the best candidates for a legal career.
Reduced Application Fee for AILET 2026
In addition to the scholarship initiative, NLU Delhi also has substantially reduced the fees for AILET applications in all categories. This is an interesting move considering the problematic history of the increasing cost of law entry. The new fee scheme for the 2026 AILET is shown below:
| Category | Previous Fees | New Fees (2026) | Change |
| General | 3500 | 3000 | ↓ 500 |
| SC / ST / PwD | 1500 | 1000 | ↓ 500 |
| SC/ST (BPL) & BPL Women | Exempted | Exempted | - |
- This is a reduction in fees for each of the General, SC, ST, and PwD candidates
- Candidates from SC/ST and women candidates, with Below Poverty Line (BPL), are still exempt from fees.
- Overall, this initiative will help to allow students from a number of backgrounds to compete with many diverse candidates to apply and compete for a place at NLU Delhi.
Important Dates and Application Process
- AILET 2026 Application Portal opened: August 7, 2025
- Last Date to Apply: October 10, 2025 (Indian Nationals)
- Exam Date: December 14, 2025 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
- AILET 2026 conducted for: B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), LL.M., and Ph.D. programs
Students must verify they meet specific eligibility criteria for each course. The process is entirely online, with a couple of correction windows permitted for limited alterations after submission.
Access to NLU Delhi AILE
The National Law University, Delhi, conducts the All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) for its 5-year BA LLB Only program. This means they do not take into consideration any other exam; all candidates will be offered positions based solely on their performance in AILET - the only test accepted by NLU-D. This means all Indian Rank 1 would only be determined based on AILET performance.
Higher Competition
With this scholarship now becoming more apparent and available, the expectation of AILET, become a much stronger competition, as most aspiring law students can now visualize the financial and academic gain the number one spot confers.
NLU Delhi Scholarships
- The new full AIR 1 scholarship joins an impressive catalogue of financial support available to students at NLU Delhi, including:
- Central scholarship schemes for SC/ST/OBC/Minority segments
- Fee compensation based upon demonstrated need cum merit for eligible applicants
- Special scholarships targeting students with exceptional performance or extreme financial distress
These programs generally cover the costs of tuition, boarding/lodging, and the costs of study materials for deserving candidates. The added benefit of the AIR 1 full scholarship is that it ensures that the top performer in AILET, as ranked by AIR 1, will have zero tuition fees in the first year of study, in the most critical period of their education.
Impact & Vision
NLU Delhi's actions constitute a pilot model for parity in excellence:
- Encouraging Merit: Like many others, the AIR 1 represents a tangible opportunity for the best among the best to aspire further, supporting the development of scholarship as a norm and academic culture.
- Promoting Equity: By removing 'fee' from the consideration of whether to apply over a financial barrier, especially for disadvantaged students, or first-generation law students.
These initiatives demonstrate that NLU, Delhi's corporate intention, has a two-fold aim: to be the national leader of legal education in India, while upholding a standard by which equity, accessibility, and bold scholarship are the new bottom line.
