CM Himanta's Son Nandil Graduates in Law from NLSIU
Synopsis
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma celebrated his son Nandil's law graduation from NLSIU Bengaluru on 17 October 2026, recalling Nandil's gap year gamble on CLAT that earned him an All India Rank of 40 and a seat at India's premier law university.
Key Takeaways
Nandil Sarma graduated with a law degree from NLSIU Bengaluru on 17 October 2026 .
He secured an All India Rank of 40 in CLAT after taking a dedicated gap year to prepare.
NLSIU , established in 1986 , is India's first and most prestigious national law university.
CM Sarma admitted to initial 'questions and worries' about his son's gap-year decision before Nandil proved himself.
The post was shared by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma alongside his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma , making it a rare personal family moment in his public communications.
A Chief Minister set aside the weight of office on Saturday, 17 October 2026, and simply watched his son walk across a stage. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared a deeply personal milestone on X — the graduation of his son Nandil Sarma from the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, one of India's most prestigious law institutions.
In his post, CM Sarma recalled the moment Nandil told him and his wife Riniki that he wanted to take a year off to prepare for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). 'The father in me had a few questions and, admittedly, a few worries too,' Sarma wrote — a candid admission that resonated far beyond the corridors of power. Nandil went on to secure an All India Rank of 40 in CLAT, earning his seat at NLSIU.
Nandil's bet on himself — and what it cost
The decision to take a gap year for CLAT preparation is one tens of thousands of Indian families navigate each year, often with anxiety on both sides. For the Sarmas, the tension was no different. What changed it was Nandil's conviction. An AIR of 40 in CLAT placed him among the top performers nationally, opening the doors of NLSIU — the country's first and arguably most storied national law university, established in 1986 in Bengaluru.
NLSIU and the weight of the degree
NLSIU is widely regarded as the gold standard of legal education in India, having produced generations of lawyers, judges, and public servants. Completing a five-year law programme there marks not just an academic credential but entry into one of the country's most competitive professional networks. Nandil's graduation closes that chapter — and, as his father put it, opens the next one.
CM Sarma ended his post with a line that landed more like a father than a politician: 'We spend years guiding our children, only to discover just how much they teach us along the way.' It is the kind of reflection that rarely makes its way into press briefings — and perhaps that is exactly why it did.
Point of View
But it does something subtler: it connects a powerful leader to an experience shared by millions of middle-class Indian families navigating high-stakes entrance exams. In an era when politicians curate near-perfect public images, the admission of 'a few worries' is its own kind of political gesture.
NationPress
17 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nandil Sarma?
Nandil Sarma is the son of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma. He recently graduated with a law degree from NLSIU Bengaluru.
What rank did Nandil Sarma get in CLAT?
According to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's post, Nandil secured an All India Rank of 40 in CLAT after taking a gap year dedicated to preparation.
What is NLSIU Bengaluru?
NLSIU stands for National Law School of India University, established in 1986 in Bengaluru. It is widely considered India's premier national law university and one of the most competitive institutions to gain admission to through the CLAT examination.
Why did CM Himanta share this post?
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma shared the post to mark his son Nandil's law graduation from NLSIU Bengaluru, describing it as a proud personal milestone and reflecting on his initial worries about Nandil's decision to take a gap year for CLAT preparation.
