UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Exam 2026: Answer Key Released

UPSC Releases Answer Key for Civil Services Preliminary Exam 2026

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has unveiled the answer key for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026. This marks a first, as the Commission has made the answer key available prior to the announcement of the final results, allowing candidates to evaluate their performance more effectively. The answer keys for both General Studies Paper I and Paper II can now be accessed on the official UPSC website. Furthermore, candidates have the option to raise objections concerning specific questions.

This initiative is being recognized as a major advancement in promoting transparency within the examination process and providing timely updates to students. The answer keys for both General Studies Paper-I and Paper-II are available in PDF format for download from the official website.

**Steps to Download the Answer Key:**

1. Visit the official UPSC website.

2. Go to the 'What's New' section on the homepage.

3. Click on the link for 'Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026'.

4. Open the PDF links for 'General Studies Paper-I' and 'General Studies Paper-II'.

5. The provisional answer key will be displayed on your screen.

6. Download the PDF and print it for your records.

**Examination Date**

The Civil Services Preliminary Examination took place on May 24, conducted across the nation in two sessions. A total of 2,072 examination centers were set up in 83 cities, with around 8.19 lakh candidates registering for the exam, and approximately 67% of them appearing.

**Objection Submission Process**

Candidates are also given the chance to contest the answer key. An online portal has been established for this purpose. If candidates have concerns regarding any question or answer, they can submit their objections along with supporting documents.

**Expert Review Process**

After the objection submission period concludes, all claims will be evaluated by subject matter experts. The final answer key will be formulated following this review.

**Benefits for Candidates**

The early release of the answer key allows candidates to estimate their potential scores, aiding them in assessing their readiness for the Mains examination.

**New Examination Centers Introduced**

This year, the UPSC has introduced three new examination centers located in Bhubaneswar, Kanpur, and Meerut, with around 23,000 candidates choosing these new locations.