UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026 Declared: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the answer key for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026. Candidates who appeared for the UPSC exam held on May 24, 2026, can now check and download the provisional answer key from the official website, upsc.gov.in, without delay. The first shift of the exam ran from 9:30 am to 11:30 am, while Paper 2 was conducted from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm. The Commission has removed one question from all sets of the Prelims exam.
Provisional Answer Key Available for Download
According to the new rules, the UPSC will make the provisional answer key available for download after the exam is completed. The answer key has been released online on the UPSC’s official website, upsc.gov.in.
UPSC Removes One Question
The provisional answer key released by the UPSC shows that the Commission has removed one question each from Sets A, B, C, and D.
Question No. 64 from Series A
Question No. 54 from Series B
Question No. 79 from Series C
Question No. 89 from Series D
Opportunity to File Objections
If a candidate is dissatisfied with an answer given during the question-answer matching process, they can file an objection until May 31st. If your claim is found to be correct, marks will be awarded for that answer.
How to Download UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026?
Must first visit the official website: upsc.gov.in
Next, click on the PDF link for the answer key in the ‘What’s New’ section.
The answer key will now open on your screen.
Now, you can download the answer key and cross-check your answers against the provided solutions.
Marking Scheme
Paper 1 of the UPSC Civil Services Prelims Exam consists of 100 questions. Each correct answer carries 2 marks. An incorrect answer will result in 1/3 of a mark (0.66). Paper 2 also has 80 questions. Each correct answer carries 2.5 marks. An incorrect answer will also result in 1/3 of a mark (0.83).
