The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) successfully conducted the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 on May 24th, with the General Studies Paper 1 and CSAT (Paper 2) held in separate shifts. In this guide, we provide the official UPSC CSAT 2026 question papers along with direct download links for all sets.
UPSC CSAT Question Paper 2026 Out
While the UPSC CSAT paper is qualifying in nature—requiring a minimum of 33% marks—it remains a crucial component of the Prelims. Aspirants preparing for future attempts should thoroughly analyze this year’s paper to understand emerging trends, topic-wise weightage, and the evolving difficulty level of the examination.
CSAT- Paper 2 (Civil Services Aptitude Test) Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Total Questions | 80 |
| Total Marks | 200 |
| Marks per correct answer | +2.5 |
| Negative Marking | -0.833(1/3rd of 2.5 marks) |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Nature | Qualifying (minimum 33% = 66.67 marks required) |
| Medium | English & Hindi |
Download UPSC CSAT 2026 Question Paper (PDF)
The UPSC CSAT 2026 question paper was issued in four series: Set A, Set B, Set C, and Set D. The exam evaluated candidates on comprehension, logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision-making, general mental ability, basic numeracy, and data interpretation. You can download your respective set from the table below:
| Sets | Question Paper PDF |
| UPSC CSAT 2026 Question Paper Set A | Download PDF |
| UPSC CSAT 2026 Question Paper Set B | |
| UPSC CSAT 2026 Question Paper Set C | |
| UPSC CSAT 2026 Question Paper Set D | Download PDF |
Also Check-
UPSC CSAT Answer Key 2026
Candidates can review the detailed solutions and answer keys provided below, curated by the expert faculty at StudyIQ.
| UPSC CSAT Paper 2 Answers |
|||
| Q1- B | Q21- C | Q41- C | Q61- A |
| Q2- B | Q22- C | Q42- B/D | Q62- D |
| Q3- B | Q23- B | Q43- B | Q63- C |
| Q4- D | Q24- D | Q44- B | Q64- D |
| Q5- B | Q25- C | Q45- A | Q65- A |
| Q6- B | Q26- D | Q46- C | Q66- D |
| Q7- A | Q27- C | Q47- B | Q67- A |
| Q8- B | Q28- D | Q48- A | Q68- B |
| Q9- C | Q29- B | Q49- A | Q69- D |
| Q10- B | Q30- B | Q50- A | Q70- D |
| Q11- D | Q31- D | Q51- A | Q71- C |
| Q12- A | Q32- B | Q52- B | Q72- C |
| Q13- D | Q33- D | Q53- C | Q73- D |
| Q14- C | Q34- C | Q54- A | Q74- A |
| Q15- B | Q35- D | Q55- D | Q75- B |
| Q16- A | Q36- D | Q56- B | Q76- A |
| Q17- A | Q37- D | Q57- C | Q77- A |
| Q18- B | Q38- B | Q58- A | Q78- D |
| Q19- B | Q39- C | Q59- B | Q79- B |
| Q20- C | Q40- D | Q60- D | Q80- C |
How to Download UPSC CSAT 2026 Question Paper PDF?
Follow these simple steps to download the official UPSC CSAT 2026 question paper PDF:
- Visit the official website of UPSC at upsc.gov.in
- Click on the “Examination” section on the homepage
- Look for “Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026”
- Click on the “Question Paper” link
- Select your desired Set (A/B/C/D)
- The PDF open in a new tab — click “Download” to save it.
FAQs
How many questions are there in UPSC CSAT 2026?
The CSAT exam consists of 80 objective-type questions, totaling 200 marks.
Is CSAT a qualifying paper?
Yes, the CSAT (GS Paper 2) is a mandatory qualifying paper. Candidates must secure at least 33% (66 marks) to be considered for evaluation in GS Paper 1.
What is the negative marking in UPSC CSAT 2026?
The exam follows a negative marking scheme, with a penalty of 1/3rd of the marks assigned to each question, equating to 0.833 marks deducted for every incorrect response.
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