UPSC Answer Key 2026 (OUT): Direct Link to Download Prelims Answer Key
Union Public Service Commission released the UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026 today, i.e., on May 27, on its official website - upsc.gov.in. The answer key can now be downloaded in PDF format from the UPSC official website.
UPSC Answer Key 2026: The Union Public Service Commission has released the UPSC CSE Prelims Answer Key 2026 on May 27, 2026, on its official website - upsc.gov.in. Candidates who appeared for the exam can now download their Prelims Answer key from the official website using their login credentials. Following the release of the provisional answer keys, candidates are allowed to raise objections until 6 pm on May 31 through the official UPSC Online Portal. The UPSC 2026 Exam was conducted on May 24, 2026.
The UPSC IAS answer key assists candidates in understanding the questions they attempted incorrectly and what the right answer is. The answer key also helps the applicant understand how UPSC frames questions and what is required by candidates to answer them correctly.
It is to be noted that UPSC released the answer key only for the preliminary examination and not for the mains examination. The answer key is released for both Prelims Paper I (General Studies) and Paper II (CSAT) and for all paper sets. The final answer key is released after the conclusion of the whole recruitment process, however, many unofficial answer keys are also released by several coaching institutes after the preliminary exam itself.
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UPSC IAS Exam Answer Key 2026
The IAS exam answer key contains the correct answers to the General Studies Paper I and Paper II of the prelims examinations. From this year, candidates will get the opportunity to raise objections against the IAS Answer Key 2026. According to the Commission, the new system has been introduced to improve transparency, maintain high examination standards, and help candidates assess their performance at an earlier stage. It will also give aspirants enough time to submit representations, if required.
UPSC IAS Prelims Answer Key 2026
UPSC published the official IAS prelims answer key 2026 on its website. The answer key is made available to candidates who wish to see where they went wrong with their responses and what the correct answer to each question should be. Candidates taking the exam for the first time can prepare by downloading UPSC previous year questions as well as the official answer key.
UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026 - How to Download?
Candidates who took the UPSC Prelims 2026 Exam will be able to download the answer key through the official website of the UPSC. The detailed instructions to download the answer key are as follows:
- Visit the official website of UPSC
- Go to the Examination tab on the home page of UPSC
- Click on the Answer Keys from the drop-down menu
- Enter the Name of the Examination for which you are looking for the answer key. In this case, enter the Civil Service Examination (Prelims)
- Click on the Answer Key Link
- The answer key will appear on your screen
- Download the answer key and match your answers.
UPSC IAS Prelims Marking Scheme 2026
The IAS Exam marking scheme is critical to comprehend in order to compute your scores using the answer key. The following is the prelims marking scheme:
- The Prelims Paper I is of 200 marks, where each question carries 2 marks
- In Prelims Paper II, there are 80 questions, where each question carries 2.5 marks
- Furthermore, for each incorrect answer, 0.33 marks will be deducted, i.e. 0.66 marks will be deducted in Paper I and 0.83 marks will be deducted in Paper II.
- If a candidate provides more than one response, all of them will be marked incorrect, even if one of them is correct.
- To appear for the main exam, candidates must achieve the cut-off marks in Paper I and a minimum of 33% in Paper II.
How to Calculate Marks with UPSC IAS Prelims Answer Key 2026
Candidates can calculate their marks using the marking scheme of the UPSC Prelims examinations. Candidates can check more about this in the table below:
|
GS Paper I |
Details |
GS Paper II (CSAT) |
Details |
|
No. of Questions |
100 |
No. of Questions |
100 |
|
Total Marks |
200 |
Total Marks |
200 |
|
Marks for Each Correct Answer |
2 |
Marks for Each Correct Answer |
0.33 |
|
Marks Deducted for Each Incorrect Answer |
0.66 |
Marks Deducted for Each Incorrect Answer |
0.83 |
|
Marks Calculation |
2 x Correct Answers - 0.66 x Incorrect Answers |
Marks Calculation |
2.5 x Correct Answers - 0.83 x Incorrect Answers |
UPSC IAS Answer Key 2026 PDF
UPSC Previous years Cutoff
UPSC Previous Year Question Papers
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is UPSC answer key released after the final result?
Yes, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) released the CSE answer key for Paper 1 and Paper 2 of the prelims examination on May 27, 2026. The decision was been taken to enhance transparency across various stages of exam.
How can I download unofficial UPSC Answer Key 2026?
Candidates can download the unofficial UPSC answer key from the official website of various coaching institutes that caters to Civil Services exam preparation.
Does UPSC release the answer key for mains examination?
No, UPSC does not release the answer key for the mains examination. The answer key is released only for the UPSC preliminary examination.
Can I raise objections against the UPSC prelims answer key?
As of now, students can raise objections against the provisional answer key, as a new step introduced by the commission. Earlier, the IAS answer key was released after the exam process was concluded, so candidates could not raise objections.
What is the expected release date of the UPSC prelims 2026 cutoff?
The UPSC prelims 2026 cutoff will be released once the whole exam process is completed. The cutoff is released along with the declaration of the UPSC final result.
How to clear the UPSC prelims and mains cutoff?
To clear the UPSC prelims and mains cutoff, candidates must make sure they complete their syllabus thoroughly. Candidates must follow UPSC exam preparation tips to clear the examination.
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