New Delhi: The controversy surrounding the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 has widened, with candidates now challenging 27 questions from the General Studies and aptitude papers before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).
A group of 63 candidates has approached CAT, alleging that answers in the Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) provisional answer key are incorrect, that some questions do not have a valid answer among the given options, or that more than one option could be considered correct. CAT has issued notice to UPSC, and the two related matters are scheduled to be heard together on October 8, 2026.
The dispute had earlier involved eight questions. The latest petition has expanded the challenge to 27 questions, increasing the potential significance of the matter for candidates who appeared in this year’s examination.
From 8 Questions to 27
The first challenge was filed by a group of four candidates, including Sachin Tiwari, who questioned eight questions from General Studies Paper-I, Set A.
The disputed questions in that petition were Question Nos. 7, 11, 45, 60, 62, 82, 86 and 96. Candidates alleged factual inaccuracies, discrepancies between the provisional answer key and authoritative sources, and problems with the available options.
The second petition, filed by 63 candidates, covers 27 questions, including the eight already challenged in the earlier case. This has significantly widened the scope of the dispute.
The candidates’ objections do not mean that the questions have been officially declared incorrect. The allegations will have to be considered through the legal proceedings and UPSC’s response.
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What Candidates Are Questioning
According to reports on the petitions, the objections cover questions from different areas of the preliminary examination.
Candidates have raised concerns about questions where they believe the provisional answer key does not match government documents, statutory provisions or other authoritative material. They have also argued in some cases that the wording of a question creates ambiguity.
Among the examples highlighted are questions relating to Zero FIR, Grand Slam tennis rules and the Rigvedic period.
In the Zero FIR question, candidates have raised concerns over the wording of the statement and the distinction between a preliminary inquiry and investigation. The question relates to provisions under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.
The Grand Slam-related objection concerns the eligibility and ranking conditions referred to in the question. Candidates have argued that the provisional answer does not fully account for a ranking-related requirement mentioned in the tournaments’ rules, according to reporting on the case.
Questions connected with the Rigvedic period and agriculture, including references to irrigation and related practices, have also been questioned by candidates who say the answers or framing do not align with sources they consider authoritative.
Why the Dispute Matters to Aspirants
The issue is particularly significant because the UPSC preliminary examination acts as the qualifying stage for the Civil Services Main Examination.
Even a small change in marks can matter around the qualifying threshold. Candidates involved in the challenge have argued that an answer-key dispute can affect whether an aspirant qualifies for the next stage.
The concerns become more significant for candidates who may have missed the Mains threshold by only a few marks. For those appearing in their final eligible attempt, candidates have also highlighted the possibility of losing an entire examination cycle if a disputed question affects their result.
However, the actual impact will depend on what UPSC tells the tribunal and what, if any, changes are eventually made to the disputed questions or answers.
CAT Seeks UPSC’s Response
The candidates first raised their objections through the channels available for representations against the provisional answer key. The first group subsequently approached CAT after seeking clarification from UPSC.
CAT’s Principal Bench issued notice to UPSC on the initial eight-question challenge in August. The second petition has now brought 27 questions under judicial scrutiny.
According to current reports, the tribunal issued notice concerning the 27-question challenge on September 9. Both matters are scheduled to come up together on October 8.
The candidates have sought clarity on how their objections to the provisional answer key were considered and whether the disputed questions were accepted for correction. The proceedings will now provide an opportunity for UPSC to respond to the claims.
UPSC Prelims 2026: Key Dates
The UPSC officially lists the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 as having been conducted on May 24, 2026. The Commission uploaded the question papers on May 25.
The provisional answer key was reported as being uploaded three days after the examination, on May 27. Candidates were subsequently informed in June about their qualification status for the Main examination, which was held in August.
The UPSC’s official website also makes the 2026 Civil Services Preliminary Examination question papers available, including General Studies Paper-I and Paper-II.
What Happens Next?
The immediate development to watch is the October 8 hearing, when the two matters are scheduled to be heard together.
At this stage, the tribunal has sought UPSC’s response; there has been no final judicial finding that all 27 questions or the provisional answers are incorrect.
If the proceedings lead to any change in the treatment of disputed questions, the outcome could have implications for candidates’ marks and, depending on the nature of any eventual directions, the wider result process.
For UPSC aspirants, the case also highlights how closely examination questions and provisional answer keys can be scrutinised when candidates believe that wording, factual accuracy or answer options affect their scores.
The final position will depend on UPSC’s response and the directions issued by CAT in the upcoming proceedings.
