The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the autonomous body under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways responsible for developing and maintaining India’s national highway network, has opened applications for Young Professional (Legal) positions. With 5 vacancies on offer and a selection process built entirely around an existing law entrance score, this is a distinctive opportunity for young law graduates to step directly into a central government body without sitting through a separate written exam or interview.
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
The selected candidates will be deployed at the LA (Legal Affairs) Division, NHAI Headquarters, where they will support the authority’s legal work — a function that is central to an organisation that regularly deals with land acquisition, contracts, arbitration, and highway development litigation across the country.
Key highlights:
- Number of posts: 5
- Post: Young Professional (Legal)
- Deployment: LA Division, NHAI Headquarters
- Monthly consolidated salary: ₹60,000
- Age limit: Up to 32 years
- Last date to apply: 8 September 2026
- Selection mode: Merit-based on CLAT (Post Graduate) 2026 score — no separate written test or interview
- Engagement type: Contractual, initially up to 2 years
WHO CAN APPLY
Eligibility is straightforward: candidates need a Degree in Law from a recognised University, National Law School, or Institute. What sets this recruitment apart is the selection method rather than conducting a fresh exam, NHAI is using the candidate’s CLAT (Post Graduate) 2026 score as the sole basis for merit ranking. This means candidates who have already appeared for CLAT PG 2026 can apply directly using their existing score, saving time and effort.
In case of a tie in CLAT PG scores, preference will first go to the candidate born earlier, and if birthdates also match, merit will be decided alphabetically by the candidates’ initials.
WHY THIS MATTERS FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
For law graduates eyeing a career in public sector legal work, infrastructure law, or government service, this opportunity offers several advantages:
- Direct entry into a central autonomous body without an additional exam or interview round.
- Hands-on exposure to legal matters in one of India’s largest infrastructure organisations, covering land acquisition, contracts, and highway-related litigation.
- A strong addition to a legal resume, particularly for those interested in infrastructure, administrative, or public law.
- A competitive consolidated salary of ₹60,000 per month, with the possibility of contract extension based on performance.
The engagement is initially for up to 2 years, extendable by 1 additional year depending on NHAI’s requirements and the candidate’s performance, with a total cap of 3 years under any circumstances. NHAI also reserves the right to terminate the contract at any time without assigning a reason, so candidates should treat this as a fixed-term professional engagement rather than a permanent government job.
HOW TO APPLY
- Visit the official NHAI website (nhai.gov.in) and locate the Young Professional (Legal) recruitment notification.
- Read the detailed notification carefully to confirm eligibility and understand the CLAT PG 2026 score requirement.
- Apply online, entering personal details, educational qualifications, and CLAT PG 2026 score.
- Upload the required documents as specified in the notification.
- Review the application preview carefully before final submission, since corrections after submission may not be possible.
- Submit the application before the deadline of 8 September 2026.
Shortlisted candidates will later be required to produce original documents for verification.
The NHAI Young Professional (Legal) recruitment is a rare opportunity that rewards candidates for an exam they may have already taken. For law graduates with a strong CLAT PG 2026 score, this is a fast, low-friction pathway into meaningful legal work at a major central government infrastructure body, without the wait and uncertainty of a separate selection process.
Candidates are advised to check the official NHAI website (nhai.gov.in) for the complete notification, exact document requirements, and any updates before the 8 September 2026 deadline.