CLAT 2026 Provisional Answer Key to Be Released on Dec 10, 2025

The Consortium of National Law Universities (CNLUs) has announced that the provisional answer key for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 will be released on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 5:00 PM on its official website.

The announcement comes a day after the successful conduct of the examination on December 7, which saw a record 92,344 candidates register for the test, a 17% increase from last year. This year, the attendance rate was at 96.83% for undergraduate and 92.45% for postgraduate programmes across 156 centres in 93 cities.

Among the total applicants, 75,009 candidates registered for the undergraduate programme, while 17,335 applied for the postgraduate programme. The exam also had participation from 548 candidates under the PwD category, with dedicated support provided by a Nodal Officer to ensure an inclusive examination experience.

Also Read

• CLAT Result 2026: Check Seat Matrix, Cut-Off, Counselling & Toppers List
• CLAT 2026 Exam Analysis by LegalEdge

Key Exam Statistics

*Approximate figures based on attendance percentage

Gender Distribution: Male-Female ratio stands at 0.72:1

Important Dates and Objection Window for CLAT Answer Key 2026

• Candidates will have a limited 48-hour window to challenge the provisional answer key.
• The objection portal will open at 5:00 PM on December 10, 2025, and will automatically close at 5:00 PM on December 12, 2025.
• Missing this deadline means losing the opportunity to raise any concerns about questions or answers.
• The Consortium has set up a special portal where students can submit their objections with proper supporting documents.
• Each objection requires a fee of Rs. 1,000 per question, which will be refunded if the objection is accepted by the Consortium.

Check: CLAT 2026 Question Paper with Answer Key and Solution PDF

How to Download CLAT 2026 Answer Key

Students can download the provisional answer key by following these steps:

1. Visit the official website: consortiumofnlus.ac.in
2. Look for the CLAT 2026 section or "Latest Notifications" on the homepage
3. Click on the "Provisional Answer Key 2026" PDF link
4. Enter your login credentials if required (registration number and password)
5. Download and save the PDF file to your device for future reference

Read More

CLAT Answer Key 2025

Once the objection period ends and all challenges are reviewed, the Consortium will release the final answer key, which will be used for calculating results. Students should download both versions to track any changes made after the evaluation of objections.

How to Calculate Your Score Using the Answer Key

Calculating your estimated score is straightforward if you follow these steps carefully:

Step 1: Match your responses

Go through the answer key question by question and compare each of your marked answers with the correct option provided in the official key.

Step 2: Count correct answers

Every correct answer earns you 1 mark. Count all the questions you answered correctly and note this number down.

Step 3: Count incorrect answers

Identify all the questions you answered incorrectly. Remember, CLAT has negative marking, so each incorrect answer will reduce your score by 0.25 marks.

Step 4: Apply the marking formula

Use this simple formula to calculate your estimated score:

Total Score = (Correct Answers × 1) – (Incorrect Answers × 0.25)

For example, if you answered 90 questions correctly and 20 incorrectly, your score would be: (90 × 1) – (20 × 0.25) = 90 – 5 = 85 marks.

Step 5: Use rank predictors

After calculating your raw score, you can use online CLAT rank predictors to estimate your All India Rank (AIR) based on previous years' trends and expected cut-offs.

Also Read

CLAT Cutoff 2026

Every year, the CLAT Cutoff is released in different rounds. Check the CLAT 2025 Round-wise cutoff for top NLUs below:

How to Challenge the Provisional Answer Key

If you believe any answer in the provisional key is incorrect, you can object to the specified window. Here's how:

• Identify questionable answers: Carefully compare the provisional key with reliable sources like standard textbooks, legal precedents, or verified reference materials. Only challenge answers where you have strong evidence.
• Log in to the objection portal: Visit the official CLAT website during the objection window and sign in using your registered credentials to access the dedicated objection submission portal.
• Submit your challenge: Select the question number you want to challenge, upload supporting documents (case laws, textbook references, official sources) in PDF format, and write a clear, logical explanation for why the given answer is incorrect.
• Pay the objection fee: Each objection costs Rs. 1,000, payable online. This fee is fully refundable if your objection is accepted by the Consortium. Make sure to submit all objections before 5:00 PM on December 12, 2025.
• Track the final answer key: Once all objections are reviewed, the Consortium will release the final answer key. Check if your challenged questions have been modified, as accepted objections directly impact score calculations and final results.

Also Read

CLAT College Predictor 2026

Why Reviewing the Answer Key Matters?

Checking the answer key is not just about knowing your score—it serves multiple important purposes:

• Helps you understand exactly which questions you got right or wrong
• Allows you to estimate your score and expected rank before official results
• Identifies your strong and weak areas for future preparation
• Reduces post-exam anxiety by providing clarity on your performance
• Enables you to make informed decisions during the counselling process
• Gives you time to prepare alternative plans if needed
• Ensures transparency in the evaluation process

Also Read:

• CLAT Seat Allotment

Common Mistakes to Avoid

While using the answer key, students often make these errors:

• Forgetting to account for negative marking while calculating scores
• Counting unattempted questions as incorrect answers
• Relying only on memory instead of carefully checking each response
• Submitting objections without proper documentary evidence
• Missing the objection deadline due to procrastination
• Comparing scores with friends instead of focusing on personal analysis
• Not verifying passage-based answers carefully
• Overestimating performance due to exam pressure and memory errors

So, Candidates are advised to regularly check the official CLAT website for all updates regarding the answer key, objection process, final answer key, and result declaration. Stay alert for notifications and make sure not to miss any important deadlines.