New Delhi: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the provisional answer key for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 on its official website. In a notable development, this is the first time the commission has issued the provisional answer key within just three days of conducting the examination.
The UPSC CSE 2026 is being conducted to fill more than 900 vacancies across various central government administrative and civil services posts.
Answer Key Available on Official UPSC Portal
Candidates can now access the provisional answer keys through the official UPSC website and the Online Question Paper Representation Portal (QPRep).
The answer keys are available for:
- General Studies (GS) Paper 1
- CSAT Paper
Candidates can also use the portal to raise objections against the provisional answers.
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Objection Window Open Till May 31, 2026
UPSC has allowed candidates to submit objections to the provisional answer key until 6 PM on May 31, 2026.
After the objection window closes, the commission will review all representations before releasing the final answer key.
How to Download UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 Answer Key
Candidates can follow these steps:
- Visit the official website: upsc.gov.in
- Log in using registration ID and password
- Open the “Online Question Paper Representation Portal (QPRep)”
- Select “Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026”
- Download the answer key PDF for GS Paper 1 or CSAT
Final Answer Key After Review of Objections
UPSC will examine all objections submitted by candidates before finalising the answer key. The final version will be released after due verification of responses and representations.
Candidates are advised to regularly check the official UPSC portal for updates related to results and further stages of the examination process.
The early release of the provisional answer key for UPSC CSE 2026 marks a significant procedural step, improving transparency and giving candidates faster access to evaluation details in one of India’s most competitive examinations.
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