The consortium of national law universities (NLUs) will conduct the common law admission test (CLAT) in 2026 as a national level entrance examination for both under graduate (UG) and post graduate (PG) courses in law.
The aspirants preparing for CLAT can analyse their performance; predict their scores; plan their subsequent steps for admission and counselling through the use of the CLAT 2026 question paper and answer keys.
This is an article prepared by Vivechna IAS & Judiciary Academy outlining the expected release dates, download process, examination pattern, and guidelines for the correct use of the CLAT 2026 question paper and answer keys for successful preparation for the examination.
Why CLAT 2026 Question Paper & Answer Keys Are Important
The official question paper and answer key, as per the latest guidelines, will assist aspirants in numerous ways:
- Predicting expected score prior to final outcome
- Realisation of difficulty of the CLAT 2026 exam
- Evaluation of strengths & weaknesses based on sections
- Estimating rank range/possibility of admission to NLUs
- Refining preparation strategies by using “real” questions
Each year at the conclusion of the exam, alternative answer keys to those of the Consortium of NLUs will be provided by coaching companies via the internet.
CLAT 2026 Expected Release Timeline
Based on previous years’ trends, the tentative schedule for CLAT 2026 is as follows:
| Event | Expected Timeline |
| CLAT 2026 Exam Date | 7 December 2025 |
| Provisional Answer Key | 1 day after the exam |
| Objection Window | Shortly after provisional key |
| Final Answer Key & Result | Mid-December 2025 |
How to Download CLAT 2026 Question Paper & Answer Key
Once released, candidates can download the CLAT 2026 question paper and answer keys by following these steps:
- Visit the official website of the Consortium of NLUs
- Click on the “CLAT 2026” section
- Select the relevant links for:
- CLAT 2026 UG or PG Question Paper
- Set-wise Answer Keys (A, B, C, D)
- CLAT 2026 UG or PG Question Paper
- Download the PDF files for future reference
Many reputed coaching institutes, including Vivechna IAS & Judiciary Academy, also release expert-reviewed unofficial answer keys for early score estimation.
Expected CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern (UG)
CLAT 2026 is expected to follow the revised pattern introduced in recent years.
Key Highlights:
- Total Questions: ~120
- Duration: 2 Hours
- Mode: Offline (OMR-based)
Section-Wise Question Distribution (Expected)
| Section | No. of Questions |
| English Language | 22–26 |
| Current Affairs & GK | 28–32 |
| Legal Reasoning | 28–32 |
| Logical Reasoning | 22–26 |
| Quantitative Techniques | 10–14 |
CLAT 2026 PG Exam Pattern
The CLAT PG examination consists of comprehension-based questions from core law subjects such as:
- Constitutional Law
- Criminal Law
- International Law
- Jurisprudence
- Contract Law & Torts
- Intellectual Property Law
Strong conceptual clarity and regular practice with previous year papers are key to scoring well in CLAT PG.
Availability of Previous Year CLAT Question Papers
Aspirants preparing for CLAT 2026 should also practise previous year CLAT question papers like:
- CLAT 2025 Question Paper
- CLAT 2024 Question Paper
- CLAT 2023 Question Paper
These papers help in understanding:
- Repeated question patterns
- Section-wise weightage
- Changing difficulty levels
At Vivechna IAS & Judiciary Academy, aspirants get structured guidance and detailed analysis of past CLAT papers.
How to Use CLAT 2026 Question Paper & Answer Key Effectively
Here’s how you can make the best use of these resources:
- Immediate Score Estimation: Use unofficial answer keys right after the exam
- Performance Analysis: Identify weak and strong areas
- Timed Practice: Solve the paper under exam-like conditions
- Trend Analysis: Compare papers across different years
- Counselling Planning: Predict rank range and shortlist NLUs early
Important Limitations to Remember
- Unofficial answer keys may contain errors
- Only the final official answer key is fully reliable
- The Consortium may revise answers after objections
- Always download the updated final PDFs
Conclusion
The Question Paper along with Answer Keys for CLAT 2026 is an invaluable tool for candidates seeking to gain entrance into the best NLUs. You can use this resource for estimating your score, understanding how well you did on the exam, and practicing with previous question papers. Using this tool strategically may greatly enhance your likelihood of achieving your desired outcome on the exam.
If you want expert advice, conceptual understanding, and preparation focused on the exam, you can turn to Vivechna IAS & Judiciary Academy to support your efforts in preparing for CLAT, Judiciary and other law entrance examinations.
FAQs: CLAT 2026 Question Paper & Answer Keys
Q1. When will CLAT 2026 answer key be released?
The provisional answer key is expected to be released within one day after the CLAT 2026 exam, followed by the final key after objections.
Q2. Where can I download the CLAT 2026 question paper?
You can download it from the official Consortium of NLUs website or trusted coaching platforms like Vivechna IAS & Judiciary Academy.
Q3. Are unofficial CLAT answer keys reliable?
Unofficial keys are useful for rough score estimation, but final marks should be calculated only using the official final answer key.
Q4. Can I challenge the CLAT 2026 answer key?
Yes, candidates can raise objections during the official objection window by paying the prescribed fee.
Q5. Is practising previous year CLAT papers useful?
Absolutely. Solving previous year CLAT papers improves speed, accuracy, and understanding of the exam pattern.
