AILET 2026 Question Paper with Answer Key: Download PDF (BA LLB & LLM)
AILET 2016 Question Paper and Answer Key relate to the exam conducted by National Law University (NLU) Delhi on 1 May 2016 for admission to the BA LL.B. (Hons.) LLB, PHD programme. AILET 2016 was held in offline OMR mode with 150 MCQs covering English, General Knowledge, Legal Aptitude, Reasoning, and Elementary Mathematics, carrying +1 for a correct answer and -0.25 for an incorrect answer.
AILET 2026 Question Paper And Answer Key PDF
AILET is also held for the LLM programme on the same day, and the LLM paper follows a different structure focused on legal subjects rather than the BA LLB sections. AILET 2026 LLM question paper and answer key are available below for postgraduate aspirants.
AILET 2026 Exam Pattern (BA LLB, LLM & PhD)
AILET 2026 followed a structured MCQ-based pattern across all 3 programmes, testing the relevant skills within a fixed time limit under negative marking. The programme-wise structure is outlined below.
| Parameter | BA LLB (Hons.) | LLM | PhD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Questions | 150 MCQs | 100 MCQs | 100 MCQs |
| Total Marks | 150 | 100 | 100 |
| Duration | 120 min | 120 min | 120 min |
| Sections | English, CA & GK, Logical Reasoning | Branches of Law | Research Methodology (50) + Law/Social Sciences (50) |
| Marking | +1 correct, −0.25 wrong | +1 correct, −0.25 wrong | +1 correct, −0.25 wrong |
AILET 2026 was conducted in offline mode (OMR-based), medium English, conducted by NLU Delhi for all three. For LLM, the old descriptive and English components are removed all 100 questions are objective, from various branches of law. For PhD, Part B covers Law or Social Sciences depending on the programme; JRF holders and foreign nationals are exempt from the test.
AILET 2026 Section-wise Weightage
In AILET 2026 section- wise weightage for BBA LLB consists of 150 questions are spread unevenly across the 3 sections, with Logical Reasoning carrying the largest share close to half the paper.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 50 | 50 |
| Current Affairs & General Knowledge | 30 | 30 |
| Logical Reasoning | 70 | 70 |
AILET 2026 Marking Scheme and Score Calculation
AILET 2026 one mark per correct answer and deducted 0.25 marks per wrong answer, with no penalty for unattempted questions. The probable score can be worked out from the answer key using the formula below.
Total Score = (Number of Correct Answers × 1) − (Number of Wrong Answers × 0.25)
Because the paper is lengthy and carries negative marking, the score depends heavily on accuracy rather than the raw number of attempts.
AILET 2026 Paper Analysis (Difficulty Level)
AILET 2026 was moderate overall and followed a familiar, predictable pattern with no major surprises. The paper was lengthy, so time management was the main challenge. The section-wise difficulty is outlined below.
| Section | Difficulty Level | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | Easy–Moderate | Six reading-comprehension passages; tested reading speed and inference |
| Current Affairs & GK | Moderate–Difficult | Current-affairs dominant; the toughest, most differentiating section |
| Logical Reasoning | Moderate | Longest section; critical and analytical reasoning, lengthy but scoring |
High-Weightage Topics in AILET 2026
AILET 2026 concentrated most of its marks within a few key areas in each section, led by Logical Reasoning, which alone carried 70 of the 150 marks. AILET 2026 high-weightage topics that contributed the largest share of questions are listed below.
| Section | High-Weightage Topics | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Logical Reasoning (70 marks) | Critical reasoning (assumptions, conclusions, strengthen/weaken) and analytical reasoning (arrangements, coding-decoding) | Highest |
| English Language (50 marks) | Reading-comprehension passages and inference-based questions | High |
| Current Affairs & GK (30 marks) | Current affairs — international relations, government schemes, awards, sports, defence | High |
AILET 2026 Most Asked Topics and Question Types
AILET 2026 followed a familiar pattern, with each section drawing on a recurring set of topics and question types across English Language, Current Affairs & GK, and Logical Reasoning. AILET 2026 Most Asked Topics and Question Types are covered below.
| Section | Common Question Types / Topics |
|---|---|
| English Language | Reading-comprehension passages, inference, tone, vocabulary-in-context, grammar |
| Current Affairs & GK | Current affairs (international relations, government initiatives, science & technology, sports, awards, defence) and static GK (history, constitution, culture) |
| Logical Reasoning | Critical reasoning (assumptions, conclusions, strengthen/weaken, inference), analytical reasoning (coding-decoding, family tree, arrangements), and a small set of legal-reasoning questions |
How Much Legal Knowledge AILET Actually Tests
A common misconception is that AILET BA LLB needs prior legal study. In practice, the Logical Reasoning section carries only a handful of legal-reasoning questions around four to five in 2026 and these are principle-application questions that do not require prior legal knowledge. The bulk of the section is general critical and analytical reasoning.
AILET vs CLAT: Key Differences
AILET and CLAT are often prepared for together, but they are distinct exams with different scope and structure.
| Aspect | AILET | CLAT |
|---|---|---|
| Conducted by | NLU Delhi | Consortium of NLUs |
| Admission to | NLU Delhi only | 24+ other National Law Universities |
| Questions | 150 | 120 |
| Strongest weightage | Logical Reasoning (≈ half the paper) | Comprehension-based across all sections |
| Quantitative section | Not a separate section | Quantitative Techniques included |
Note: NLU Delhi does not accept CLAT scores, so AILET is the single entrance route to NLU Delhi.
AILET 2026 Answer Key and Objection Process
NLU Delhi releases AILET 2026 answer key after the exam, alongside the result. Candidates are given a short window to raise objections against the provisional key with supporting proof before the final key is published. The score and rank are then calculated on the basis of the final answer key.
AILET Year-wise Comparison (2024–2026)
Comparing AILET 2026 question paper with the previous two cycles shows whether the pattern, difficulty, and question style shifted between years.
| Aspect | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Difficulty | Moderate (lengthy) | Easy–Moderate | Moderate–Difficult |
| English | Easy–Moderate, 6 passages | Easy, passage-based | Easier, passage-based |
| Current Affairs & GK | Current-affairs dominant; toughest section | Balanced static + current | Static GK made it tougher |
| Logical Reasoning | Lengthy but scoring | Manageable, passage-heavy | Challenging and time-consuming |
| Exam Pattern | No Change | No Change | No Change |
| Marking Scheme | No Change | No Change | No Change |
Across these years, the three-section structure stayed stable, with Current Affairs & GK and the length of the paper acting as the main difficulty levers.
AILET 2026 Result, Cut-off and Merit List
NLU Delhi declared AILET 2026 result along with the final AILET answer key, with the scorecard showing the All India Rank, sectional scores, and overall score. There are no passing marks; the score directly decides the rank and merit position. Because AILET 2026 question paper was moderate and competition is high for NLU Delhi's limited seats, cut-offs are expected to stay on the higher side, in line with recent cycles where General-category scores around the 100-mark have been competitive. Final category-wise cut-offs are set by NLU Delhi each year.
What Happens After AILET Exam
AILET journey after the test follows a fixed sequence. NLU Delhi first releases the answer key and declares the result with individual scorecards showing the All India Rank and sectional scores. Shortlisted candidates are then invited for counselling based on rank and category, after which seats are allotted across successive merit lists. The final step is document verification and fee payment to confirm admission.
AILET 2026 Counselling Process
AILET 2026 Counselling process is conducted entirely online by NLU Delhi in up to four rounds. The main steps are below.
| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1. Invitee list | Candidates shortlisted at about three times the seats in each category, by rank |
| 2. Registration | Pay the counselling fee — ₹30,000 (General) / ₹20,000 (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD) — and upload documents |
| 3. Merit lists | Category-wise provisional merit lists across up to four rounds |
| 4. Seat confirmation | Pay the provisional admission fee within the deadline to lock the seat |
| 5. Admission | Final admission after document verification and balance-fee payment |
For AILET 2026, the result was declared on 18 December 2025, counselling registration ran from 19–27 December 2025, the first merit list came on 8 January 2026, and rounds continued to early May 2026, with a spot round for any vacant seats.
Top Colleges Accepting AILET 2026
AILET is primarily the gateway to National Law University, Delhi ranked among the top law schools in India which is the main institution admitting through this exam.Top Colleges Accepting AILET 2026 are listed in the table below
| Institution | Programme | Approx. Seats |
|---|---|---|
| NLU Delhi | BA LLB (Hons.) | 120 (110 Indian + 10 Foreign/OCI/PIO) |
| NLU Delhi | LLM | ~70 |
A limited number of other private law colleges also consider AILET scores, but NLU Delhi remains the principal destination, as it does not accept any other entrance exam.
What AILET Toppers Recommend
Saher Nitin Gole, AILET 2025 topper (AIR 1), scored 122.5 out of 150. Based on toppers' interviews, the following preparation trends are commonly observed:
- Accuracy is prioritised due to the 0.25-mark negative marking.
- The General Knowledge section is largely based on current affairs.
- Reading Comprehension and Logical Reasoning focus heavily on passage-based questions.
- Previous year papers are used to understand recurring question patterns and topic trends.
| AILET Previous Year Question Paper | |
|---|---|
| AILET Question Paper 2025 | AILET Question Paper 2024 |
| AILET Question Paper 2023 | AILET Question Paper 2022 |
| AILET Question Paper 2021 | AILET Question Paper 2020 |
| AILET Question Paper 2019 | AILET Question Paper 2018 |
| AILET Question Paper 2017 | AILET Question Paper 2016 |
AILET 2026 FAQs
Ques: Will solving AILET 2026 paper really help me clear upcoming AILET ?
Ans: Absolutely. AILET has the same 150-question, three-section format, so the 2026 paper gives you a near-perfect preview of the exam pattern same reading-based English, current-affairs-driven GK, and reasoning-heavy section.
Ques: How many years of AILET papers should I practise?
Ans: The last 4–5 years of AILET previous year question paper. These papers match the current pattern, so they reflect what the exam looks like today. Older papers add little for format practice, since the structure has changed since then.
Ques: How much time do I actually get per question?
Ans: 150 questions in 120 minutes works out to roughly 48 seconds each. That's why AILET is estimated to be lengthy and why smart, accurate attempts matter far more than trying to solve every single question.
Ques: Can I trust AILET 2026 answer key to check my score?
Ans: For a quick self-evaluation, yes. But if a question has two close options, go with the official NLU Delhi key as the final call; coaching institute keys can sometimes differ on a few tricky answers.
Ques: Are pre-2022 AILET papers still worth solving?
Ans: Only up to a point. AILET dropped Mathematics and Legal Aptitude before 2022, so older papers don't match today's three-section format. They're still useful for practising English, reasoning, and GK question types just not for the current structure or timing.
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