The Bar Council of India (BCI), for the fifth time, has extended the deadline for existing Centres of Legal Education (CLEs) to submit applications for extension of approval for the 2026-27 academic session.

The new cut-off date is September 15. It was originally fixed at December 31, 2025, before being pushed to January 16, then March 5, then July 31 and most recently to August 31.

As of the fourth deadline extension, 4 National Law Universities (NLUs) remained without BCI approval: 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 (GNLU), Gandhinagar.

NLIU has since secured renewal, while NLSIU, TNNLU and GNLU continue to remain without BCI approval.

The notice states that the extension applies only to existing CLEs seeking extension of approval for existing courses at previously sanctioned intake for the 2026-27 academic session. All concerned CLEs have been asked to complete pending requirements, including uploading their respective university's affiliation order for 2026-27 and the requisite fee, within the extended period.