National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru and Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU), Tiruchirappalli are still not on the Bar Council of India's (BCI) approved list of law colleges, even after the fifth extended deadline for renewal lapsed on September 15.

The BCI had, for the fifth time, extended the deadline for existing Centres of Legal Education (CLEs) to apply for extension of approval for the 2026-27 academic session. The cut-off was originally fixed at December 31, 2025 and was subsequently pushed to January 16, then March 5, July 31, August 31 and finally to September 15.

As on September 4 - after the fifth deadline extension - NLSIU, TNNLU and Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) lacked BCI approval. GNLU has since secured it.

The notice extending the deadline to September 15 had stated that the extension applied only to existing CLEs seeking extension of approval for existing courses at previously sanctioned intake for the 2026-27 academic session. All concerned CLEs were asked to complete pending requirements, including uploading their respective university's affiliation order for 2026-27 and the requisite fee, within the extended period.