Access the official UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026 for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination. Download the verified response sheets for both GS Paper 1 and CSAT directly from this article to evaluate your exam performance.
In a significant move, the Union Public Service Commission has released the UPSC Prelims Answer Key ahead of the final result declaration. The official answer key was published on 28th May 2026, just four days after the preliminary exam held on 24th May 2026. Candidates can download the official response documents via www.upsc.gov.in or through the direct download links provided below.
UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026 Out
The CSE preliminary examination, covering General Studies 1 and CSAT, took place on a single day. Aspirants can now estimate their qualifying marks by matching their marked responses against the official answer keys released by the UPSC for 2026. Please note that the marking criteria differ for each paper.
UPSC CSE Prelims Official Answer Key 2026 PDF
Candidates can retrieve the official provisional answer keys from the official UPSC portal at www.upsc.gov.in or by using the direct link provided in this guide. Separate PDF files have been issued for both GS and CSAT papers to facilitate easy verification.
| Official Answer Key PDFs |
| UPSC General Studies Paper 1 Answer Key 2026 PDF |
| UPSC CSAT Paper 2 Answer Key 2026 PDF |
How to download the official UPSC Answer Key 2026?
Since the answer keys for both papers are now available on the official website, follow the streamlined steps outlined below to download your copies and begin your self-assessment.
- Open the official UPSC website in your internet browser.
- On the homepage, click on “Provisional Answer Key: Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026” in What’s New section.
- Then, you are redirected to a new page, where you have to click on “General Studies Paper – I (98.24 KB) and General Studies Paper – II (84.5 KB)”.
- The answer key PDF with correct answers to all questions appears on the screen.
- Download and cross-check with what you have answered.
How to Calculate Your Score Using UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026?
Use the following standard marking formulas to accurately estimate your UPSC Prelims score:
For GS Paper 1: Estimated Score = (Correct Answers × 2) – (Incorrect Answers × 0.66)
For CSAT: Estimated Score = (Correct Answers × 2.5) – (Incorrect Answers × 0.833)
Score Calculation Example (GS Paper 1)
For instance, if you attempted 75 questions with 60 correct and 10 incorrect:
- Correct answers: 60
- Wrong answers: 10
- Unattempted: 5
Estimated Score = (60 × 2) – (10 × 0.66) = 120 – 6.6 = 113.4 marks
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