The CLAT 2026 objection window officially closed on 12 December 2025 at 5 PM, marking the end of the challenge period for candidates who reviewed discrepancies in the provisional key. The Consortium of National Law Universities will now prepare the CLAT final answer key 2026, which will form the basis for the evaluation and ranking process of the law entrance exam. This year, the Consortium introduced a student-friendly revision by reducing the objection fee to INR 500 from the earlier INR 1000, making the challenge process more accessible. Candidates whose objections are found valid will receive a refund of the fee after verification.
Expert Review Before Releasing CLAT Final Answer Key 2026
The Consortium’s academic panel has begun reviewing all objections received during the window. Each challenge will be evaluated based on accuracy, relevance, and compliance with examination standards. This detailed review ensures transparent scoring, consistent marking, and fair assessment across all question sets. The CLAT answer key 2026 plays a crucial role, as even small corrections can influence candidate rankings, seat allotments, and counselling outcomes. Once the final key is published, no further challenges will be permitted.
What Happens After CLAT 2026 Objection Window Closure?
Before presenting the steps that follow the closure, it is important for candidates to understand the significance of this phase. The release of the final answer key marks the transition from the evaluation stage to the admission cycle managed by NLUs. Candidates must stay prepared with login credentials, document scans, and knowledge of preferred colleges, as timelines move quickly after the final key is issued. Here are the next key developments expected after the release of the CLAT final key 2026:
- Publication of CLAT 2026 results
- Release of All India Rank list
- Opening of NLU counselling registration
- Seat allotment rounds and fee payment in INR
- Admission confirmation and document verification
Expected Release Timeline for CLAT Final Answer Key
Although the CLAT 2026 final answer key date has not been officially confirmed, past year patterns indicate that the Consortium typically publishes the final key within 2–3 days of closing the objection window. The answer key will be released for Set A, Set B, Set C, and Set D, and candidates must cross-check their specific question paper code to avoid misinterpretation. Students should keep their registered email IDs and mobile numbers active for official notifications as the result and counselling schedule will follow shortly after the publication of the final key.
