UPSC releases Provisional Answer Key for CSE Prelims 2026; Objection window open till this date
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, May 29, 2026: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the Provisional Answer Key for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026, marking the first time the Commission has issued a provisional key at this stage of the selection process.
Candidates who appeared in the examination can submit their representations, if any, until 6 PM on May 31, 2026, through the Online Question Paper Representation Portal (QPRep) available at upsconline.nic.in.
As per the procedure, candidates are required to submit objections along with the correct answer key as per their understanding, supported by a brief explanation and evidence from up to three authentic sources.
Provisional Answer Key:
GS-1 Paper: https://lnkd.in/eRec4jEA
GS-II Paper: https://lnkd.in/eATsY2Dj
QPRep Portal: https://lnkd.in/ef7J-C-B
All representations will be reviewed by subject experts, who will examine the submissions in detail before finalising their recommendations. The final answer key will be published only after the declaration of the final result, in line with UPSC’s established practice.
The Commission stated that question papers are prepared by subject matter experts from across the country and are based on credible sources such as standard textbooks, government websites, official press releases, journals, and reputed newspapers.
This year, nearly 5.49 lakh candidates appeared for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, conducted on May 24, 2026, for 933 vacancies in the Civil Services and 80 posts in the Indian Forest Service (IFoS). The exam was held in two sessions—General Studies Paper I in the morning and CSAT Paper II in the afternoon.
UPSC said the release of the provisional answer key reflects its commitment to transparency, fairness, and integrity in the examination process, while also allowing candidates to actively participate in the review mechanism.