The awaited answer key for the Karnataka Judiciary 2025 Preliminary Examination has finally been released by the examination authorities. This crucial update comes as a moment of both relief and anticipation for thousands of aspirants who appeared for the test across the state.

The release of the answer key marks an important stage in the judicial recruitment process, as it allows candidates to cross-check their responses, estimate their probable scores, and raise objections in case of discrepancies.

The Karnataka Judiciary Examination is one of the most prestigious and competitive examinations in the state, attracting thousands of law graduates every year who aspire to serve as Civil Judges.

The preliminary examination serves as the first screening stage, testing candidates on their legal knowledge, reasoning, and analytical ability. The release of the answer key, therefore, not only reflects transparency but also reinforces the credibility of the recruitment process.

Importance of the Answer Key

The answer key plays a vital role in ensuring fairness and transparency in any competitive examination, and the Karnataka Judiciary exam is no exception. It allows candidates to:

1. Verify Their Responses: Candidates can match their answers with the officially provided correct responses to assess their performance.
2. Calculate Tentative Scores: Using the answer key, aspirants can estimate their scores even before the official results are announced.
3. Raise Objections: If any discrepancy or error is found, candidates have the opportunity to challenge the provisional key, thereby contributing to a fair evaluation process.
4. Predict Cut-offs: By comparing expected scores with previous year’s trends, candidates can gauge their likelihood of qualifying for the mains examination.

The release of the answer key is also a reflection of the examination authority’s commitment to transparency and fairness in the judicial selection process.

How to Access the Karnataka Judiciary 2025 Prelims Answer Key

Candidates who appeared for the preliminary examination can now access the answer key through the official portal of the Karnataka Judiciary or the High Court of Karnataka. The process to download the key is simple and straightforward:

1. Visit the official Karnataka Judiciary or High Court website.
2. Navigate to the “Recruitment” or “Notifications” section.
3. Look for the link labeled “Karnataka Judiciary 2025 – Preliminary Examination Answer Key.”
4. Click on the link and download the answer key PDF.
5. Check the key corresponding to your question paper set (Set A, B, C, or D).

It is important for candidates to ensure they are referring to the correct set of the answer key to avoid any confusion while evaluating their performance.

Click Here to Download

Steps to Calculate Your Tentative Score

Once the answer key is downloaded, candidates can begin calculating their estimated marks. Here’s how you can do it systematically:

1. Match Each Answer: Go through your question paper and compare each response with the corresponding answer in the official key.
2. Award Marks for Correct Answers: For every correct answer, add one mark (or as specified in the official marking scheme).
3. Check for Negative Marking: Most judiciary prelims exams, including Karnataka’s, generally do not include negative marking. However, candidates must confirm this from the official notification.
4. Leave Blank Questions Unmarked: If you left any questions unanswered, no marks are awarded or deducted.
5. Add Up Your Total: Count all the correct answers to get your total tentative score.

This will give you a fairly accurate idea of where you stand in the competition, although the final result will depend on the final answer key released after considering all objections.

Provisional and Final Answer Keys

The Karnataka Judiciary exam authorities typically release the answer key in two stages:

1. Provisional Answer Key: This is the first version released shortly after the exam. Candidates are allowed to review it and raise objections if they believe certain answers are incorrect.
2. Final Answer Key: After reviewing all objections, the final corrected version is released. This version forms the basis for evaluating all answer sheets and determining the final scores.

Candidates are advised to carefully check the provisional answer key and submit their objections, if any, within the stipulated deadline. Once the final answer key is released, no further changes are allowed.

Raising Objections: Process and Guidelines

According to the official notification issued by the High Court of Karnataka, candidates who appeared for the Preliminary Examination for recruitment to the post of Civil Judges (Notification No. HCRB/CJR-1/2024) held on 11th October 2025 at Bengaluru, Dharwad, and Kalaburagi, may raise objections to the Provisional Key Answers released by the Court.

The Provisional Key Answers for all four versions of the question paper, A, B, C, and D, have been published along with the official notification. Candidates who wish to challenge any of the answers must strictly adhere to the prescribed procedure and deadline mentioned below.

Official Objection Procedure

1. Check the Provisional Key Answers: Candidates should first download and thoroughly review the provisional key answers corresponding to their respective question paper versions (A, B, C, or D).
2. Submit Objections Online Only: Objections must be submitted only through the official link provided on the Karnataka Judiciary website. The High Court has made it explicitly clear that objections submitted through any other mode, such as email, post, or in person, will not be considered under any circumstances.
3. Justification is Mandatory: Each objection must be accompanied by a valid justification. Candidates must clearly specify the question number, the reason for objection, and supporting justifications or authoritative references such as statutory provisions, case law, or standard legal texts. Objections without proper justification will be summarily rejected.
4. Deadline for Submission: The last date and time for submitting objections is 15th October 2025, 6:00 P.M. Any objections received after 6:00 P.M. on that date will not be entertained, regardless of the reason or circumstances.
5. No Alternative Channels: The High Court emphasized that only objections submitted via the official online link within the prescribed time frame will be reviewed. No physical submissions or emails will be accepted.

Click Here to Submit Objections

Grace Marks Information:

The provisional answer keys also note that grace marks will be awarded for specific question numbers in each version, where applicable.

• Version A: Questions 76 and 97
• Version B: Questions 2 and 57
• Version C: Questions 26 and 49
• Version D: Questions 48 and 87

Candidates should factor these into their evaluations when reviewing their performance.

Final Answer Key Publication:

After the objection window closes, all submissions will be examined by the Civil Judges Recruitment Committee. Based on the merit of objections and expert review, the Final Key Answers will be prepared and published.

This final key will form the basis for evaluation and result computation. No further objections will be accepted after its publication.

What Happens Next

Once the objection process concludes and the final key answers are released, the recruitment process will proceed to the next stages. The sequence of events is as follows:

1. Evaluation of Answer Sheets: The preliminary examination answer scripts will be evaluated using the finalized key answers approved by the Recruitment Committee.
2. Declaration of Preliminary Results: The High Court will publish the results of the preliminary examination based on the final key. The list will include the roll numbers of candidates who have successfully qualified for the Mains Examination.
3. Announcement of Mains Examination Schedule: After the prelims results are declared, the schedule and detailed syllabus for the Mains Examination will be officially announced. The mains stage typically follows within a few weeks of the prelim results, so candidates are advised to continue their preparation without delay.

Mains Examination (Descriptive Stage):

The Mains Exam is a written descriptive test assessing:

• Knowledge of substantive and procedural law,
• Legal writing skills,
• Judgment drafting ability, and
• Analytical and interpretive skills.

It is significantly more detailed and demanding than the preliminary stage.

Interview / Viva-Voce:

Candidates who clear the mains will be shortlisted for the Viva-Voce (Interview) round.
This stage evaluates the candidate’s legal acumen, communication skills, personality, and suitability for the role of a Civil Judge.

Final Selection and Appointment:

The final merit list will be prepared on the basis of performance in the Mains Examination and Viva-Voce, as per the recruitment rules.

Successful candidates will then be formally appointed as Civil Judges in the Karnataka State Judiciary, subject to verification of eligibility and credentials.

Transparency and Merit:

The High Court has reiterated its commitment to fairness, transparency, and merit-based selection throughout the process.

Candidates are encouraged to rely solely on official communications and to regularly check the Karnataka Judiciary website for updates, results, and notifications.

Tips for Candidates During This Phase

While awaiting results or the final key, candidates can use this time productively:

• Continue Studying for Mains: Since the gap between prelims and mains is often short, it’s advisable to begin preparation early.
• Review Previous Mains Papers: Analyze previous year papers to understand the pattern, question framing, and writing expectations.
• Focus on Judgment Writing: Judiciary mains exams emphasize judgment drafting and legal reasoning; consistent practice is key.
• Stay Updated on Notifications: Regularly check the official website for updates regarding objections, final key, and exam schedules.
• Maintain Documentation: Keep copies of your objection submissions and download official notices for reference.

For now, aspirants are encouraged to remain patient, stay informed through official announcements, and continue their preparation with determination.

The journey toward becoming a Civil Judge in Karnataka is challenging but deeply rewarding, and the release of the answer key is one of the first major steps on that path.

Follow The Legal QnA For More Updates…