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These 30 out of 200 official answers in CLATaclysm 2015 may be wrong, say 2 experts & group of students. So, what now?

Three independent parties with interests in the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2015 have gone through the CLAT paper with a fine toothcomb, trying to figure out which questions could be wrong.

As first reported by Legally India on Tuesday, the CLAT answer key contained a number of obvious errors, with the CLAT committee delaying the final results to re-examine the answer sheets.

Download model answer paper here (via CLAT website).

Group of students

A group of students, who preferred to be anonymous, have compiled a list of 17 questions that they think are wrong. We have published this below.

Question 2

The answer for the question has to be (c) [ABBBA] instead of (a) [BABBA] for the following two reasons:
1. In the second statement, the word “censured” would be used instead of “censored” because critics does not have an authority to censor the movie, they can only criticize (censure) it.
2. In the fourth statement, the word “broach” would be used instead of “brooch”. Broach means to talk about a subject which is difficult to discuss because it is embarrassing
Brooch means a decorative pin worn by women Therefore, the because the second statement and the fourth statement will be B and B
respectively, the only possible answer could be (c) i.e. ABBBA

Question 23

Options (a), (b) and (c) are eliminator as they do not contain ‘no telling’, hence the sentence cannot continue. Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Question 25

Dulcet means melodious whereas Raucous means Harsh. Therefore, they are antonyms. The correct answer should be both (c) and (d) as in both the options the words are antonyms to each other.

Palliative and Exacerbating are antonyms. Theory and Practical are also antonyms.

Question 35

The answer should be (b) i.e. discouragement of imports as it is clearly mention in the first line of the third paragraph.

Question 36

The answer should be (d). As no Indian cars are sold abroad, therefore the performance is worse than poor and it is equivalent to disrepute, therefore answer (d).

Question 60

Kathak will also be the right answer as it is also one of those dance which was essentially performed solo (e.g. Birju Maharaj) and now it is performed in group as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Institute_of_Kathak_Dance Massey, Reginald (2004). India's dances: their history, technique, and repertoire. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 81-7017-434-1.

Question 111

The answer will be [(b) Ramu cannot be prosecuted for theft] because tree is an immovable property and when it became a movable property by cutting it down, it was never moved after that which is a prime requirement of the principle.

Question 113

The answer will be [(a) Mr. X cannot enter into contract because he is of unsound mind when he entered into the contract]. It is clearly mentioned in the facts of the case that Mr. X enters into a contract with Mr. Y when he is of unsound mind. No question of burden of proof will
arise as nothing like that is mentioned in the principle

Question 114

The answer will be [(c) It was not a valid offer because willingness to enter into a contract was absent]. Option (b) would be incorrect because nothing like “invitation to offer” is mentioned in the principle. The word “willingness” is mentioned in the principle which makes (c) a much better option than (b).

Question 124

Here, the answer would be clearly [(c) Pawan is not liable because typing sound did not disturb anyone else other than Jeevan]. It is clearly mentioned in the principle, “The use or enjoyment, envisaged herein, should be normal and reasonable taking into account surrounding situation”.

In the present question, Jeevan is not a reasonable person because the facts clearly mention that he “could not put up with any kind of continuous noise”. It was only Jeevan who was being disturbed by the typing noise which clearly indicates that the enjoyment envisaged by Pawan is normal and a reasonable one.

Question 128

The answer would be [(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is correct explanation of A] because both the Assertion and Reason are statements given by famous jurists namely Ihering and Bentham respectively. However, it is obvious that with greater happiness to greater
number, social control will be the natural outcome and vice-versa.

Question 134

The answer would be clear [(d) A is false but R is true]. The line is direct pick-up from the Preamble which clearly mentions that “We, the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic”. Here in the assertion, only the last two words “Democratic Republic” are mentioned, therefore the answer would be (d).

Question 136

The answer would be [(b) She is guilty of attempt to commit suicide]. It is clearly mentioned in the definition of attempt as given in the question, “If the actual transaction has commenced which would have ended in the crime if not interrupted, there is clearly an attempt to commit the crime.” Here as Rani started running, the actually transaction has commenced which would have ended in suicide if not interrupted.

Questions 161-168

Question 166

As per the table drawn above, the price of all the things remaining with the four persons would amount to (4900 + 1500 + 2700 + 2700) which is equal to 11800, therefore answer would be (b)

Question 167

Clearly as per the table, the answer would be (b) Record Player

Question 182

In statement ‘B’ word “wealth” is mentioned instead of “health”, therefore none of the options
would be correct.

Question 186

The options (c) and (d) in the question are exactly the same. Moreover, if this is the question where CLAT authorities have given “Marks for All”, then also it is grave injustice for those students who have correctly solved the question and marked it as (c) or (d) have the same advantage as compared to those students who weren’t able to solve the question or those who have solved it incorrectly.

Therefore, 1 mark should only be given to those students who have marked it as (c) or (d).

IMS CLAT mentor Rajneesh Singh

Below a rough collection of Singh’s notes on wrong question. He says that there are at least  24 wrong or misleading questions.

CLAT 2015 confirmed list of 24 wrong answers (excluding legal)

  • English – 8 errors
  • GK – 1 error
  • LR - 15

LA section is not final. some of them may not have errors. 

I have posted the opinions of different people on each question

Legal - 9 (open for discussion)

CLAT 2015 – Confirmed wrong answers

Question number 2

The answer is incorrect. For the second sentence the correct option is censured and not censored. The learned paper setter should have known that critics censure and not censor. This makes the official answer to question 2 incorrect

Question number 6

The 2nd statement – “Beyond all reason” is a phrase not beyond all reasons. So, option B is also incorrect.

While sentence C is wrong, sentence B is also incorrect. The plural ‘reasons’ at the end of the given sentence is an improper usage. The proper sentence should be, “Your stand is beyond all reason”. In sentence D, the word business is used as an uncountable noun. There are no grammatical errors in that sentence. The correct answer should be option C.

Question number 10

Correct Answer should be 4, instead of 3.

Question number 22

Q22 is wrong as BUT or though has to be part of the right answer

Question number 23

The answer should be option d. The question was copied from CAT 1997.

Question number 25

The answer is incorrect. The analogy given is Dulcet: Raucous. The relationship between the two is clearly antonymous in nature. One needed to go for a pair showing a similar relationship. The correct answer is option C.

Question number 35

The answer for question 35 is definitely wrong. The official answer is option D - discouragement of exports. This is wrong. Nowhere does the author in the passage talk about the government discouraging exports. The passage talks about the government discouraging imports. This means option B should be the correct option: discouragement of imports.

Question number 36: A question mark

As per the answer key its answer is (B) but it is more likely to be (D) because while Korean Cielos are sold in India, no Indian cars are sold abroad which shows India's disrepute in the international market and not its poor performance in context of the passage.

Question number 56

Which is the largest online shop is debatable and unclear. Question should be cancelled. (see RT, Business Insider, and Forbes)

Question number 113

The question and options are confusing. Still the best answer is option A and not C.

It is a well settled legal principle that the burden of proof always rests with the party instituting the suit unless the contrary is mandated by law. Moreover, given the set of facts that clearly state that Mr. X was usually of sound mind, which further presses upon the fact that deviation from usual mental state need be proven by the other party and not Mr. X.

According to the principle, a person cannot enter into a contract if he was of unsound mind at the time. There is no mention of the concept of burden of proof in the principle. Applying the principle, A is the correct answer.

Question number 114

The answer should be C instead of B

Question number 115

In order to answer this question, the ambit of ‘course of employment’ need be understood. Here, course of employment refers only to dropping the customer and coming back. It is true that the accident has taken place when the driver was coming back, and thus it is within the course of employment; but dropping Ruhina safely was never within the course of employment and hence the employer firm is not liable.

"Acting in the course of employment" means the worker acting at his or her employer's direction or in the furtherance of his or her employer's business. This is the currently accepted legal definition. Picking up his fiancée was not in the course of his employment. If he had gone on a murder spree while driving back, it would not be considered to be in the course of employment and the company would not be responsible. Likewise, there is no liability here.

“One day, the Manager asked him to drop a customer at the airport and get back at the earliest”.

Moreover, there was a clear instruction for a speedy return without any other delays.

Considering these, option B is the most appropriate.

Question number 116

Answer should be B.

Reason: In this question the shopkeeper was doing legal work and it was a case of necessity. If the queue gets long, that's not his problem. And it definitely doesn't amount to nuisance.

Essentials Of Public Nuisance :

  • Wrongful Act.
  • Injury or loss caused by such act to another.
  • Unlawful Interference.

In the given facts of question 116 none of the essentials are fulfilled.

In CLAT 2013 same question was given and the answer was B.

The principle clearly states that the interference has to be unlawful, and in the instant case; the interference is not unlawful because the defendant has committed no wrong. The act alleged of causing nuisance is that of the customers and cannot be attributed to the shopkeeper.

In this case, the answer (A) does not seem to be correct at all. The answer should be (B) i.e. not liable. Going by the principle, the defendant can't be made liable for nuisance. There was 'unlawful interference'.

Question number 117

Answer should be B. Please get some legal knowledge before publishing answers. In question no. 117, It is nowhere mentioned that he is of unsound mind so if definitely amounts to murder. Answer will be B. Please read section 300 of IPC.

There is no express statement that ‘A’ is unsound of mind. If his sanity is determined by the fact that he threw an infant into the well, the facts should have been clearer. There are records of nine week old babies learning to swim.

The three-year-old could have been a proficient swimmer. The question is flawed and marks should be awarded for all candidates.

Question number 122

Given principle clearly states that in circumstances when silence is equivalent to speech, there is a duty to speak. In the given set of facts, A is auctioning the horse and it shall be presumed by all the bidders that it is of sound mind if nothing at all is spoken in that regard.

The given answer (C) is incorrect. Can recall having read this question elsewhere. There was a duty upon A to tell B about the unsoundness of the horse. He should be held liable for fraud. Hence (a) is the correct answer.

The given answer (D) seems to be the most appropriate answer. Because, though Pavan can be made liable, the reasoning given in (A) and other options does not resonate with the principle to the question.

Question number 124

They have considered answer (D) correct whereas the correct option should be (C). In fact, the same question appears in previous entrance exams of NLSIU (1996) and NALSAR (1998) and the answer has always been that - one need not consider the delicate nature/special circumstance of a neighbour. We have seem the same fact situation/illustration using the names Kannan/Krishnan and even Jeevan/Pavan in numerous books also, along with Sriram Law Academy and Career Launcher's material.

This is the question.

PRINCIPLE: “Nobody shall unlawfully interfere with a person’s use or enjoyment of land, or some right over, or in connection with it. The use or enjoyment, envisaged herein, should be normal and reasonable taking into account surrounding situation.”

FACT: Jeevan and Pavan were neighbours in a residential locality. Pavan started a typing class in a part of his house and his typing sound disturbed Jeevan who could not put up with any kind of continuous noise. He filed a suit against Pavan.

(a) Pavan is liable, because he should not have started typing class in his house
(b) Pavan is liable, because as a neighbour, he should have realised Jeevan’s delicate nature
(c) Pavan is not liable, because typing sound did not disturb anyone else other than Jeevan
(d) None of the above

Question No. 124

Answer should be C.

Reason: It is a sensible case because no one in the neighbourhood gets disturbed with that sound. Same question was asked in question of NLS 1996 and the answer was C.

Question number 136

Answer should be B instead of A

This question is highly debatable because it is really difficult to conclude as to whether the act of running towards the well constitutes attempt or preparation. In my view, it is definitely a stage past preparation because she has started running towards the well and is also stating that she is going to jump. Moreover, the explanation is untenable because it is presumed in law that a man is intending what he/she is consciously saying.

Reason: She stated that she will jump which fulfills the fault element that is intention. And secondly, She started running towards well which fulfills the conduct element. She was caught before she could have jumped which definitely proves her intention to commit crime of suicide.

The actual transaction that would have ended in the crime had commenced and would have succeeded if not for circumstances beyond the control of the person. The commission of the crime failed because she was caught. That was not in her control. Applying the principles, this was an attempt.

Question number 137

Answer should be C.

Reason: SINY had the knowledge at he was committing an offence which fulfills the fault element and he also proceeded towards committing the offence which fulfills the conduct element. Here, he in commission of offence unknowingly killed MINU which definitely amounts to culpable homicide not amounting to murder as he didn't have any intention to kill him.

Questions number 161 to 168

The data is confusing. This makes answer of 166 and 168 doubtful.

Questions numbers 169 to 173

169-173:The question is picked up from CAT 2003 but coped wrongly. 
The data given in the table is wrong. For the person “I”, the numbers of the blanks answers should be 17, 46, 90 instead of 17, 26, 90. This error must have disturbed many and the set should be cancelled. It is also affecting the answer of 169 directly.

Question number 182

In this question, in statement ‘B’ the word ‘wealth’ is misspelled and should be written as ‘health’, otherwise the question is unsolvable. If we consider the question with wealth treated as health in statement B, then the correct option should be “D” instead of “A”.

Question number 184

Wrong answer. B cannot be necessarily concluded from A and C. All Infotech employees may not be knowledge workers.

Question number 185

The statement “2” clearly explains that I is a male and he is the brother of B. The mother of I and B is M, who has a sister Q. So clearly, statement 2 says that “I is the nephew of Q. So option 3 should be the correct answer instead of Answer 4.

Question number 186

Two options 3 and 4 are the same

Question number 187

The answer should be A. The second data is not relevant.

Question number 191

The word “FASHION” is a seven-letter word, but the corresponding core has 6 alpha-numericals. Thus, the question is unsolvable. typo error in question – z64t7uw is required

Question number 197

Wrong: Ans C. 3 words are formed LAP, PAR and COPY

Gautam Puri, head of Career Launcher

Puri has compiled what he claims are 30 wrong or dubious answers in his blog, many of which match Singh’s above.

The ones raised by Puri but not included by Singh above, are:

Q30. All choices are incorrect.

Answer as per CLAT: Choice (C) foreign change bankruptcy and paucity of funds with the government.

There is a typographical error – the word change should be replaced with exchange to get the correct answer.

Q37. All choices are incorrect.

The passage does not have any reference to “Politicians”, it has only talked about the “Government” and to extrapolate Government to all Politicians will be incorrect.

The correct answer would have been: Indian government has been myopic in its vision of the country’s requirements.

If this is ignored and we choose to read Politicians as Policies or treat them equivalent to Government, even then there are two correct options – Choice (A) and Choice (C)

Q120. “Special offences” are not defined in the question and hence both Choice (B) and Choice (D) can be correct.

Q129. The answer choice by CLAT is incorrect.

Both the propositions are correct but R is not the correct explanation of A.

Correct answer:           Choice (B)

Answer as per CLAT: Choice (A)

Q129. The answer choice by CLAT is incorrect.

Both the propositions are correct but R is not the correct explanation of A.

Correct answer:           Choice (B)

Answer as per CLAT: Choice (A)

Q112. This is a question of reasoning and as per the directions Legal Knowledge should not be required for answering the question.

Q118. This is a question of reasoning and as per the directions Legal Knowledge should not be required for answering the question.

He suggests the following options:

I request all students to send a mail to CLAT authorities with the above and asking for corrective action. To make your task easier, a letter to CLAT Convener has been drafted along with the list of errors. Click here to download the letter and send it to . You should fill in your personal details in the letter along with possible option (given below) that you want the CLAT authorities to take. Considering that the 1st indicative list of the selected students is still not out, you are requested to send the letter as early as possible. Larger the number of candidates writing to CLAT authorities higher is the chances of corrective action hence do ask all your friends who have taken CLAT to also send this mail.

The possible options in such a scenario for CLAT authorities are:

Option I

  1. Eliminate the incorrect questions in Category 1.
  2. Rectify the answer key for question in Category 1.
  3. Ignore Category 2.
  4. Recalculate the scores and award ranks as per the corrected scores.

Option II

  1. Eliminate the incorrect questions both in Category 1 and Category 2
  2. Rectify the answer key for the remaining questions.
  3. Recalculate the scores and award ranks as per the corrected scores.

Option III:

  1. Scrap this CLAT paper because with such a larger number of errors you may not have been able take the test in the right frame of mind.
  2. There was also significant loss of time due to the erroneous questions and hence a re-test should be conducted.
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