In this article, we provide the comprehensive UPSC 2026 Prelims answer key and detailed solutions for both GS and CSAT papers. You can currently download the answer key and solutions for General Studies Paper 1, with the CSAT Paper 2 answer key to be updated by this evening.
The UPSC Civil Services Prelims Exam was successfully conducted on May 24, 2026, across two shifts for General Studies Paper 1 and CSAT Paper 2. Candidates who appeared for today’s examination can now evaluate their performance using the provisional UPSC Prelims answer key, meticulously prepared by the subject experts at StudyIQ Education.
The UPSC CSE Prelims comprises two papers. Paper 1 is worth 200 marks (2 marks per question), and Paper 2 (CSAT) is also worth 200 marks (2.5 marks per question). Please note that there is a negative marking penalty of 0.66 marks (1/3rd of the marks assigned) for every incorrect answer.
UPSC General Studies Paper 1 Answer Key 2026
The following section covers the detailed solutions for all 100 questions from the General Studies Paper 1 (held from 9:30 am to 11:30 am), specifically for SET A. Given that the GS paper was noted for its difficulty level, these solutions by the StudyIQ faculty offer a reliable benchmark. Download the answer key PDF to verify your responses.
| UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1 Answers (SET A) | |||
| Q1- D | Q26- C | Q51- C | Q76- C |
| Q2- A | Q27- A | Q52- A | Q77- B |
| Q3- C | Q28- D | Q53- C | Q78- A |
| Q4- B | Q29- C | Q54- D | Q79- C |
| Q5- B | Q30- B | Q55- B | Q80- C |
| Q6- A | Q31- A | Q56- B | Q81- C |
| Q7- D | Q32- B | Q57- A | Q82- C |
| Q8- A | Q33- B | Q58- C | Q83- C |
| Q9- C | Q34- B | Q59- D | Q84- A |
| Q10- C | Q35- B | Q60- A | Q85- A |
| Q11- D | Q36- B | Q61- D | Q86- C |
| Q12- C | Q37- B | Q62- C | Q87- A |
| Q13- C | Q38- A | Q63- A | Q88- C |
| Q14- B | Q39- B | Q64- D | Q89- C |
| Q15- B | Q40- C | Q65- C | Q90- D |
| Q16- B | Q41- C | Q66- A | Q91- A |
| Q17- A | Q42- B | Q67- B | Q92- C |
| Q18- D | Q43- C | Q68- C | Q93- B |
| Q19- D | Q44- B | Q69- C | Q94- B |
| Q20- B | Q45- B | Q70- A | Q95- A |
| Q21- B | Q46- C | Q71- B | Q96- C |
| Q22- B | Q47- B | Q72- D | Q97- C |
| Q23- D | Q48- B | Q73- D | Q98- D |
| Q24- D | Q49- C | Q74- A | Q99- A |
| Q25- B | Q50- B | Q75- C | Q100- A |
The answers provided below correspond to SET A, and you can download the original question paper PDF here:
UPSC CSAT Paper 2 Answer Key 2026
The CSAT paper features 80 questions. Following the conclusion of the exam, our faculty will provide an in-depth analysis and release the official UPSC CSAT Paper 2 Answer Key.
Important Note: Only marks obtained in GS Paper 1 are used to determine the merit list. Paper 2 (CSAT) is a qualifying paper; however, failing to secure at least 33% in CSAT will result in your GS Paper 1 not being evaluated.
FAQs
Can I get correct answers before official UPSC Answer Key is released?
Yes, this article provides the complete UPSC Prelims answer key for both GS and CSAT papers, as solved by our expert faculty team.
What is the negative marking for UPSC CSE Prelims Paper 1 and 2?
For both GS Paper 1 and CSAT Paper 2, a negative marking scheme applies: 1/3rd of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for every incorrect response.
Is CSAT marks counted in the Prelims merit list?
No, CSAT (GS Paper 2) is strictly qualifying in nature. Candidates must achieve a minimum score of 33% (66.67 marks out of 200) to qualify for the evaluation of their GS Paper 1, which solely determines the eligibility for the UPSC Mains exam.
What is a safe score in UPSC Prelims 2026 for the General category?
While historical trends suggest that a score of 90+ in GS Paper 1 is generally safe for the General category, the actual cutoff varies annually based on the difficulty of the paper, the total number of candidates, and the number of vacancies available.
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