The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is preparing to release the provisional answer key for the 2026 Civil Services Preliminary Examination soon. Candidates who took the exam can download the key from the official UPSC website, upsc.gov.in.
Answer Key Release and Purpose
This provisional answer key will allow candidates to estimate their scores before the final results are announced. The key will cover both the General Studies Paper and the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) Paper 2. Updates regarding the objection process and the final answer key schedule are also anticipated.
Exam Details
The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination saw participation from hundreds of thousands of candidates across the nation. The exam was conducted in two shifts. The morning shift ran from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM. The afternoon shift took place from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM. Strict security measures were in place at all examination centers.
How to Download the Answer Key
Once released, candidates can follow these steps to access the UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026:
- Visit the official UPSC website: upsc.gov.in .
- Navigate to the 'Examinations' section on the homepage.
- Locate and click on the notification for the 'Answer Keys'.
- Select the 'UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2026 Answer Key' link.
- Download the answer key PDF.
- Match your responses with the official key to calculate your estimated score.
Next Steps
Candidates should use only the official answer key for scoring. It is advisable to keep the question paper and admit card for future reference. The UPSC Prelims results are expected in the coming weeks after the evaluation process concludes.
