The Consortium of National Law Universities released the CLAT 2026 Final Answer Key on December 16, 2025, at 5:00 PM. The Common Law Admission Test 2026 was conducted in offline mode on December 7, 2025, across examination centres nationwide. Students can download the final answer key from the official website consortiumofnlus.ac.in and use it to verify their responses against the officially accepted answers. The CLAT 2026 result was declared on December 17, 2025, based on this final key.
Source: CLAT 2026 Final Answer Key — Consortium of National Law Universities Official
- The Consortium of NLUs released the CLAT 2026 provisional answer key on December 10, 2025, at 5:00 PM in four question booklet sets — A, B, C, and D — matching the booklets distributed on exam day.
- Students could compare their own responses (available via the individual response sheet on the CLAT portal) with the provisional answer key to calculate their expected score before the official result.
- The objection / challenge fee for CLAT 2026 was INR 500 per question — refunded in full if the Expert Committee accepted the challenge; questions with upheld objections were either re-keyed or dropped from scoring entirely.
- The final answer key, released on December 16, 2025, incorporates all accepted objections; cross-checking your response sheet against this key gives you the same score as the official CLAT 2026 result declared on December 17, 2025.
Use the CLAT 2026 final answer key alongside your response sheet to verify your official score and understand how accepted objections may have shifted individual question marks.
In 2025, over 75,000 students appeared for CLAT UG across more than 100 exam cities, making it India’s most competitive law entrance examination.
CLAT 2026 Provisional Answer Key (Out)
The Consortium of NLUs released set-wise provisional answer keys for all four question booklet sets on December 10, 2025. The question booklet code (A, B, C, or D) was printed on the cover of the booklet distributed to each student on exam day — students needed to download the answer key matching their booklet code to correctly map questions to answers.
| CLAT 2026 Set-Wise Answer Key | Download PDF |
|---|---|
| CLAT 2026 Provisional Answer Key — Set A | Download PDF |
| CLAT 2026 Provisional Answer Key — Set B | Download PDF |
| CLAT 2026 Provisional Answer Key — Set C | Download PDF |
| CLAT 2026 Provisional Answer Key — Set D | Download PDF |
| CLAT 2026 Final Answer Key (All Sets Consolidated) | Download PDF |
CLAT 2026 Unofficial Answer Key (Out)
| CLAT 2026 Unofficial Answer Key | Availability |
|---|---|
| CLAT 2026 Unofficial Answer Key by LegalEdge | Available at LegalEdge official website |
| CLAT 2026 Unofficial Answer Key by ClatGuru | Available at ClatGuru official website |
| CLAT 2026 Unofficial Answer Key by CLATapult | Available at CLATapult official website |
| CLAT 2026 Unofficial Answer Key by Supergrads | Available at Supergrads official website |
CLAT Answer Key 2026 — Important Dates
All key dates in the CLAT 2026 answer key cycle are listed below. All events fall in the past as of today — the exam, the provisional key release, the objection window, the final key, and the result have all been completed.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| CLAT 2026 Exam | December 7, 2025 (Sunday, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM) (Over) |
| CLAT 2026 Provisional Answer Key Released | December 10, 2025 (5:00 PM onwards) (Over) |
| CLAT 2026 Objection / Challenge Window | December 10, 2025 (5:00 PM) – December 12, 2025 (5:00 PM) (Over) |
| CLAT 2026 Final Answer Key Released | December 16, 2025 (Out) |
| CLAT 2026 Result Declared | December 17, 2025 (Out) |
CLAT 2025 Answer Key with Solutions PDF (Out)
The CLAT 2025 exam was held on December 1, 2024. The Consortium of NLUs released the final answer key for CLAT 2025 on December 7, 2024, after processing objections raised during the challenge window. The 2025 final key included revisions to answers for 3 questions and withdrawal of 4 questions from Logical Reasoning — all of which affected raw score computation for that cycle.
| CLAT 2025 Set-Wise Answer Key with Solutions | Download PDF |
|---|---|
| CLAT 2025 Answer Key with Solutions — Set A | Download PDF |
| CLAT 2025 Answer Key with Solutions — Set B | Download PDF |
| CLAT 2025 Answer Key with Solutions — Set C | Download PDF |
| CLAT 2025 Answer Key with Solutions — Set D | Download PDF |
How to Download the CLAT 2026 Answer Key
The CLAT 2026 final answer key is publicly available on the official website. You do not need to log in to download the final answer key PDF — it is hosted as an open document in the notifications section. To download your individual response sheet and match it question-by-question with the answer key, you will need to log in to your CLAT account.
Here are the steps to download the CLAT 2026 Answer Key:
- Open the official website of the Consortium of National Law Universities at consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
- Navigate to the CLAT 2026 section on the homepage and click on Notifications.
- Locate the link titled "CLAT 2026 Final Answer Key" or "Provisional Answer Keys and Objection Notification" depending on which version you need.
- Click the relevant link — the PDF will open in a new browser tab.
- Identify your question booklet set code (A, B, C, or D), which is printed on the front cover of the question booklet distributed to you on exam day.
- Navigate to the page for your booklet set within the PDF and note the correct answer for each question number.
- Save or print the answer key PDF for offline reference and comparison with your response sheet.
Note: The provisional answer key may differ from the final answer key if objections were accepted. Always use the final answer key to calculate your expected score.
Ques. Can I download the CLAT 2026 answer key without logging in?
Ans. Yes. The CLAT 2026 final answer key PDF is publicly hosted in the Notifications section of the Consortium of NLUs website and does not require a login to download. However, your individual response sheet — which shows your specific answers — is accessible only through your registered CLAT account. You need both documents to calculate your personal score.
Ques. How do I know which answer key set (A, B, C, or D) applies to me?
Ans. Your question booklet set code (A, B, C, or D) is printed on the front cover of the question booklet you received in the exam hall on December 7, 2025. If you no longer have the booklet, you can check your response sheet on the CLAT portal — it also indicates the booklet set used for your exam. Download the answer key that matches your set to correctly compare answers.
Details Mentioned on the CLAT 2026 Answer Key
The official CLAT 2026 answer key — both provisional and final — contains the following information:
- Exam name: Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026
- Question Booklet Set: Set A / Set B / Set C / Set D (one set per PDF, clearly marked)
- Section headers: Each section (English Language, Current Affairs including GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques) is identified in the key
- Question number: Sequential numbering from 1 to 120, corresponding directly to the question numbers in the question booklet
- Correct option: The officially accepted answer for each question (Option A, B, C, or D)
- Withdrawn questions: Questions dropped from scoring (if any) are noted separately — these carry zero marks for all students regardless of the response marked
- Revised answers: In the final answer key, questions where the accepted answer was changed from the provisional key are highlighted or separately listed
- Issuing authority: Consortium of National Law Universities, along with the date of release
Note: The final answer key supersedes the provisional answer key in all respects. Only the final answer key is used to compute the official CLAT 2026 score and rank.
How to Challenge the CLAT 2026 Answer Key (Closed)
The CLAT 2026 objection window closed on December 12, 2025, at 5:00 PM and is no longer open. The information below describes how the objection process worked for CLAT 2026 — and will apply in the same way to future CLAT answer key challenge cycles.
Eligibility: Only registered candidates who appeared for CLAT 2026 on December 7, 2025, were eligible to raise objections. No third-party submissions were accepted.
Fee: INR 500 per question challenged, paid online through the CLAT portal. The fee was fully refunded if the Expert Committee upheld the objection. If the objection was rejected, the fee was forfeited.
Here are the steps to challenge the CLAT 2026 answer key (for reference):
- Log in to your CLAT 2026 candidate account at consortiumofnlus.ac.in using your registered mobile number / application number and password.
- Click on the Submit Objections link visible on the dashboard — this link was active only during the objection window (December 10–12, 2025).
- Select your Question Booklet Set (A, B, C, or D) from the dropdown.
- Select the type of objection — "About the Answer Key" (correct answer disputed) or "About the Question" (question is ambiguous, out of syllabus, or contains an error).
- Select the question number you wish to challenge.
- Enter a detailed explanation of the objection and upload supporting documents (textbook references, judgements, official sources — evidence is mandatory; unsupported objections are not considered).
- Pay the INR 500 fee per question through the online payment gateway and submit before the deadline.
- Each question requires a separate submission — one form per challenge, with its own explanation and supporting evidence.
Note: The Expert Committee’s decision on each objection is final. Questions with accepted objections either had their answer revised or were entirely withdrawn from scoring — the revised outcomes appear in the final answer key released on December 16, 2025.
Ques. Is the CLAT 2026 answer key challenge fee refundable?
Ans. Yes — partially. The INR 500 fee per question was refundable only if the Expert Committee upheld your objection. If your challenge was rejected, the fee was forfeited. This refund structure is designed to discourage frivolous objections while still making it financially viable for well-researched challenges.
- Objection accepted: INR 500 refunded
- Objection rejected: INR 500 forfeited
- Objection window closed: December 12, 2025, at 5:00 PM (no late submissions accepted)
Ques. What happens if no supporting document is uploaded with an objection?
Ans. Objections submitted without supporting documentation were not taken up by the Expert Committee, regardless of the merit of the claim. Valid supporting documents include textbook references, Supreme Court or High Court judgements, gazette notifications, and other authoritative published sources. Bare assertions without evidence were rejected outright.
CLAT 2026 Answer Key vs Response Sheet
Both the answer key and the response sheet are essential documents for verifying your CLAT 2026 score. They serve different purposes and must be read together to calculate your raw marks accurately.
Key Differences Between the CLAT 2026 Answer Key and Response Sheet
- Answer Key: Released by the Consortium of NLUs; contains the officially correct answer for each of the 120 questions across all four sets (A, B, C, D). The same for every student with the same booklet set.
- Response Sheet: Candidate-specific; shows the exact answers you marked on your OMR sheet during the CLAT 2026 exam on December 7, 2025. Accessible only through your individual CLAT login.
- Scope: The answer key covers all 120 questions; your response sheet covers only your marked responses, including unanswered questions (shown as blank).
- Purpose: Matching your response sheet against the final answer key question-by-question gives you the same score that appears in your official CLAT 2026 result.
- Provisional vs Final Key: The provisional answer key (December 10) was the initial release; the final answer key (December 16) reflects accepted objections. If any question you answered was re-keyed or withdrawn in the final version, your calculated score from the provisional key will differ from your official score.
- Tie-breaking: Your response sheet also carries section-level data (Legal Reasoning marks) that the Consortium uses for tie-breaking — this is not visible in the answer key itself.
How to use both documents together: Download your response sheet from your CLAT portal and the final answer key PDF for your booklet set. For each question number, check if your marked option matches the correct option in the final key. Apply +1 for each match and −0.25 for each mismatch. Unanswered questions score zero.
How to Calculate Your Score Using the CLAT 2026 Answer Key
To calculate your CLAT 2026 score, you need your individual response sheet (downloadable from your CLAT portal) and the final answer key for your booklet set. Match every question number in the response sheet against the corresponding answer in the final answer key, then apply the marking scheme.
- For every question where your marked option matches the correct option in the final answer key: add +1 mark
- For every question where your marked option differs from the correct option: deduct 0.25 marks
- For every question left unanswered (blank in your response sheet): no marks added or deducted
- For every question withdrawn by the Consortium (if any): zero marks for all students, regardless of the option marked
- Sum all positive marks and subtract all negative marks to get your total raw score (scores can be in fractions due to the 0.25 deduction)
Note: Only the official CLAT 2026 result will contain your certified final score; any calculation using the answer key is an estimate, though it should match exactly if done against the final key.
CLAT 2026 Score Calculation Example
| Parameter | Value (Example) |
|---|---|
| Total Questions in CLAT 2026 | 120 |
| Questions Attempted | 105 |
| Number of Correct Answers | 88 |
| Number of Incorrect Answers | 17 |
| Unanswered Questions | 15 (no marks deducted) |
| Score from Correct Answers | 88 × 1 = 88.00 |
| Negative Marks (Incorrect) | 17 × 0.25 = −4.25 |
| Total CLAT 2026 Score | 88.00 − 4.25 = 83.75 (out of 120) |
Ques. What is the marking scheme for CLAT 2026?
Ans. The CLAT 2026 marking scheme is uniform across all five sections:
- Correct answer: +1 mark
- Incorrect answer: −0.25 marks
- Unanswered / skipped: 0 marks (no deduction)
CLAT 2026 Marking Scheme — Section-Wise Breakdown
| Section | Approximate Questions | Marks per Correct Answer | Negative Marking (Incorrect) | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 22–26 | +1 | −0.25 | 22–26 |
| Current Affairs including General Knowledge | 28–32 | +1 | −0.25 | 28–32 |
| Legal Reasoning | 35–39 | +1 | −0.25 | 35–39 |
| Logical Reasoning | 24–28 | +1 | −0.25 | 24–28 |
| Quantitative Techniques | 10–14 | +1 | −0.25 | 10–14 |
| Total | 120 | +1 | −0.25 | 120 |
Note: Legal Reasoning carries the highest weightage and is also the first tiebreaker — a higher Legal Reasoning score determines rank when two students have the same total CLAT score.
CLAT Marks vs Rank 2026
The table below provides the expected All India Rank (AIR) range for a given marks bracket in CLAT 2026 for General category students. These figures are based on CLAT 2025 actual rank data and historical trends — they reflect observed patterns in score distribution and should be treated as approximate estimates rather than precise predictions. Actual ranks for CLAT 2026 depend on the difficulty level of that specific exam and the performance of the full candidate pool.
| CLAT 2026 Marks (Out of 120) | Expected All India Rank (General Category) | NLU Admission Possibility |
|---|---|---|
| 115–120 | 1–50 | NLSIU Bengaluru (top choice guaranteed) |
| 110–114 | 51–200 | NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad |
| 105–109 | 201–500 | NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata, NLIU Bhopal |
| 100–104 | 501–1,100 | WBNUJS Kolkata, NLIU Bhopal, NLU Jodhpur |
| 95–99 | 1,101–2,500 | NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Gandhinagar, HNLU Raipur |
| 90–94 | 2,501–4,500 | GNLU, RMLNLU Lucknow, RGNUL Patiala |
| 85–89 | 4,501–7,000 | CNLU Patna, NUALS Kochi, NLUO Cuttack |
| 80–84 | 7,001–10,000 | Mid-tier NLUs — NUSRL Ranchi, NLU Nagpur |
| 75–79 | 10,001–14,500 | Lower-tier NLUs; at least one NLU seat likely |
| 70–74 | 14,501–20,000 | Newer NLUs; admission depends on category and seat availability |
| 65–69 | 20,001–27,000 | Outside most NLUs for General category; good for OBC/EWS |
| 60–64 | 27,001–36,000 | SC/ST category NLU admissions possible |
| Below 60 | 36,001 and above | Outside NLU cut-offs for most categories |
Note: SC/ST and PwD category students typically qualify for NLU admissions with 10–20 marks lower than the General category thresholds shown above. Tiebreakers (Legal Reasoning section score, then age) can also shift final ranks within a marks bracket.
Download Previous Year CLAT Answer Keys with Question Papers
Practising with previous year CLAT question papers and answer keys is one of the most effective preparation strategies — they reveal the exam’s passage-based question style, section weightage patterns, and the difficulty level the Consortium targets each year. The table below provides set-wise downloads for the three most recent CLAT cycles.
CLAT 2025 Answer Key with Question Paper (All Sets)
CLAT 2025 was held on December 1, 2024. The final answer key released on December 7, 2024, included revisions to 3 answers and withdrawal of 4 questions from the Logical Reasoning section following the objection review. These changes — especially in Logical Reasoning — are worth studying as examples of how the Expert Committee evaluates contested questions.
| CLAT 2025 Question Paper and Answer Key | Download PDF |
|---|---|
| CLAT 2025 Question Paper + Answer Key — Set A | Download PDF |
| CLAT 2025 Question Paper + Answer Key — Set B | Download PDF |
| CLAT 2025 Question Paper + Answer Key — Set C | Download PDF |
| CLAT 2025 Question Paper + Answer Key — Set D | Download PDF |
CLAT 2024 Answer Key with Question Paper (All Sets)
CLAT 2024 was held on December 3, 2023. The 2024 cycle followed the same four-set structure (A, B, C, D) and the same +1/−0.25 marking scheme. Comparing CLAT 2024 and 2025 question papers reveals how the Consortium has evolved its passage style — particularly in Legal Reasoning, where passage length and analytical depth have increased year on year.
| CLAT 2024 Question Paper and Answer Key | Download PDF |
|---|---|
| CLAT 2024 Question Paper + Answer Key — Set A | Download PDF |
| CLAT 2024 Question Paper + Answer Key — Set B | Download PDF |
| CLAT 2024 Question Paper + Answer Key — Set C | Download PDF |
| CLAT 2024 Question Paper + Answer Key — Set D | Download PDF |
CLAT 2023 Answer Key with Question Paper (All Sets)
CLAT 2023 was held on December 18, 2022. The 2023 paper marked one of the earlier large-scale shifts to comprehensive passage-based questions across all five sections — including in Quantitative Techniques, where data interpretation from prose passages replaced standalone arithmetic problems. The 2023 key is especially useful for understanding the foundational question style that all subsequent CLAT exams have followed.
| CLAT 2023 Question Paper and Answer Key | Download PDF |
|---|---|
| CLAT 2023 Question Paper + Answer Key — Set A | Download PDF |
| CLAT 2023 Question Paper + Answer Key — Set B | Download PDF |
| CLAT 2023 Question Paper + Answer Key — Set C | Download PDF |
| CLAT 2023 Question Paper + Answer Key — Set D | Download PDF |
Colleges Accepting CLAT 2026
Twenty-four National Law Universities (NLUs) are members of the Consortium of NLUs and accept CLAT 2026 scores for UG admissions to their five-year integrated LLB programmes. The table below lists the major participating NLUs grouped by general tier — tier reflects the approximate AIR range required for General category admission in recent cycles, not an official Consortium classification.
| Category | College Name | Location | Approx. UG Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 NLU | National Law School of India University (NLSIU) | Bengaluru, Karnataka | 80 |
| NALSAR University of Law | Hyderabad, Telangana | 120 | |
| The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS) | Kolkata, West Bengal | 120 | |
| Tier 2 NLU | National Law Institute University (NLIU) | Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh | 120 |
| National Law University, Jodhpur (NLUJ) | Jodhpur, Rajasthan | 120 | |
| Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU) | Raipur, Chhattisgarh | 120 | |
| Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) | Gandhinagar, Gujarat | 120 | |
| Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU) | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh | 120 | |
| Tier 3 NLU | Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL) | Patiala, Punjab | 120 |
| Chanakya National Law University (CNLU) | Patna, Bihar | 100 | |
| National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) | Kochi, Kerala | 80 | |
| National Law University, Odisha (NLUO) | Cuttack, Odisha | 120 | |
| National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL) | Ranchi, Jharkhand | 120 | |
| Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU) | Mumbai, Maharashtra | 120 | |
| Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU) | Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh | 120 |
Note: NLU Delhi conducts its own entrance exam (AILET) separately and does not participate in CLAT. Seat numbers are approximate and subject to annual revision by each NLU.
CLAT 2026 Answer Key FAQs
Ques. How can I download the official CLAT 2026 answer key?
Ans. You can download the CLAT 2026 final answer key directly from the official Consortium of NLUs website without logging in. Follow these steps:
- Go to consortiumofnlus.ac.in
- Click on the CLAT 2026 section and then navigate to Notifications
- Click on the "CLAT 2026 Final Answer Key" link — the PDF will open in a new tab
- Find the page for your question booklet set (A, B, C, or D) and download or print the PDF for your records
Ques. What is the difference between the CLAT provisional answer key and the final answer key?
Ans. The provisional answer key is the first version released by the Consortium of NLUs — it is open to challenge during the objection window. The final answer key is published after the Expert Committee reviews all submitted objections. Questions whose answers were accepted as incorrect may be re-keyed (new correct option) or withdrawn entirely (zero marks for everyone). For CLAT 2026, the provisional key was released on December 10, 2025, and the final key — incorporating Expert Committee decisions — was released on December 16, 2025. Always use the final answer key to calculate your score, since the official result is based on it.
Ques. What is the challenge fee for the CLAT 2026 answer key objection?
Ans. The challenge fee for CLAT 2026 was INR 500 per question. This fee was refunded in full if the Expert Committee accepted the objection. If the objection was rejected, the INR 500 was forfeited. This differs from NTA-conducted exams (NEET, JEE), where the challenge fee of INR 200 is non-refundable. The CLAT 2026 objection window closed on December 12, 2025, at 5:00 PM — no submissions were accepted after this deadline.
Ques. How is the CLAT 2026 rank determined when two students have the same score?
Ans. When two or more students score identically in CLAT 2026, the Consortium of NLUs applies these tiebreakers in order:
- First tiebreaker: The student with a higher score in the Legal Reasoning section is ranked higher.
- Second tiebreaker: If the Legal Reasoning scores are also equal, the older student (by date of birth) is ranked higher.
Ques. Can I use the CLAT 2026 answer key to predict my NLU admission chances?
Ans. Yes. Once you calculate your expected score using the final answer key, you can estimate your All India Rank (AIR) from the Marks vs Rank table on this page, and then compare that AIR against the previous year closing ranks for each NLU. A score above 100 typically places you in contention for the top three NLUs (NLSIU, NALSAR, NUJS) in the General category. Scores between 85 and 100 are competitive across mid-tier NLUs. Remember that cut-offs shift slightly each year based on the difficulty of the paper and the total number of applicants — so treat these as directional guidance, not guarantees.
Ques. What is the CLAT 2026 marking scheme?
Ans. The CLAT 2026 UG marking scheme is:
- Correct answer: +1 mark
- Incorrect answer: −0.25 marks (one-quarter negative marking)
- Unanswered / skipped question: 0 marks (no deduction)
- Withdrawn question: 0 marks for all students
Ques. Where can I access my CLAT 2026 response sheet?
Ans. Your CLAT 2026 response sheet is available through your candidate account on the Consortium of NLUs website. Log in at consortiumofnlus.ac.in using your registered mobile number and password. The response sheet shows each question number and the option you marked during the exam on December 7, 2025. Use it alongside the final answer key for your booklet set (A, B, C, or D) to calculate your exact raw score.
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