CLAT 2025: Errors in provisional answer key, high objection fees and more

Questions have also been raised over the efficacy of the provisional answer key published by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs).
 CLAT 2025
CLAT 2025
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The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2025 has stirred disappointment among aspirants, with students and coaching centres raising concerns over the examination process.

Questions have also been raised over the accuracy of the provisional answer key published by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs).

High cost, low returns

The registration fee for the CLAT 2025 undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) exams is one of the highest among competitive exams in India. CLAT aspirants have now been burdened with an additional fee of ₹1,000 per objection to challenge errors in the provisional answer key. The only relief to the high pricing is that the objection fee will be refunded, provided the objection is found to be valid or sustained.

Inconsistencies in answer keys and sample papers

A major bone of contention among aspirants has been the provisional answer key, which is the basis of evaluating individual performance and rankings. Multiple coaching institutes as well as students have indicated discrepancies in the provisional answer key.

Harshvardhan Tripathi and Sagar Joshi of Law Prep Tutorial told Bar & Bench that several questions in the paper were not framed in accordance with the syllabus or sample papers released by the Consortium. While most of the sections were relatively doable for the students, they found 12 discrepancies in the answer key. The Consortium had only released two sample papers this year which was also seen as inconsistent with the syllabus and examination guidelines provided.

With 24 reading passages, the PG paper was remarked as lengthy by many students. Speaking to Bar & Bench, Chief Learning Officer of Rostrum Legal Chandrika Bose said that this is only a provisional key, and mistakes in it are expected as with every year. The CLAT PG answer key had 10 to 12 mistakes. Many questions had vague options and could have more than one correct option.

The Consortium did not provide any sample paper for the CLAT PG 2025 aspirants.

Deviation from test pattern and syllabus

Some students also lamented the change in the paper pattern and deviations in the syllabus. One student particularly highlighted the General Knowledge section, saying,

"Instead of focusing on current affairs, it included subjective, passage-based questions akin to English or Critical Reasoning, negating months of focused preparation."

The syllabus also said that no prior legal knowledge is required. However, students pointed out that this was not the case.

As per the CLAT 2025 calendar released by the Consortium, the final answer key will be published on December 9, and the results will be released on December 10. No mechanism has been provided to raise objections against the final answer key, a glaring omission that many students deem unfair and arbitrary.

Bar & Bench tried to contact the Consortium regarding the concerns raised by CLAT 2025 candidates. However, at the time of publication of the story, we received only an automated response stating that the objection window had been closed.

"Objections raised over email/phone calls/support tickets will not be considered. Only those objections which are submitted through your login and paid will be considered," the response stated.

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