The Union Public Service Commission has released the provisional answer key for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 for the first time in the exam’s history.
The answer keys for both General Studies Paper I and Paper II became available on 27 May, just three days after the examination was conducted on 24 May.
Nearly 5.49 lakh candidates who appeared for the examination can now verify their answers and estimate their scores.
The examination, held across 2,072 venues in 83 cities nationwide, recorded approximately 67 per cent attendance from the 8.19 lakh candidates who had applied.
Candidates can submit representations against the provisional answer key until 6 pm on 31 May through the dedicated Online Question Paper Representation Portal at upsconline.nic.in.
Objections must be accompanied by the correct answer as per the candidate’s understanding, a brief explanation, and supporting documents from three authentic sources.
All representations will be placed before a committee of subject experts who will examine each submission and assess supporting documents before finalising the answer key.
The final answer key will only be published after the declaration of the Civil Services Examination 2026 results, in accordance with the commission’s existing practice.
The examination was conducted for 933 vacancies in Civil Services and 80 posts in the Indian Forest Service. This year’s examination also introduced real-time face authentication of candidates at examination venues to prevent impersonation and strengthen examination integrity.
The Civil Services Mains Examination is scheduled to begin on 21 August.
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