UPSC Prelims Provisional Answer Key 2026 Released at upsc.gov.in - Download GS and CSAT PDF Here
UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026 has been released for GS Paper and CSAT by the Union Public Service Commission on its official website, upsc.gov.in on 27 May 2026. The candidates who have appeared in the UPSC Prelims exam held on 24 May can download the official answer key for GS Paper 1 and CSAT from this page.
Key Points
- UPSC released Prelims 2026 answer key on May 27, 2026.
- Answer key available for all GS & CSAT paper sets.
- Candidates can download the answer key from upsc.gov.in.
UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026 Out: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the UPSC Prelims answer key 2026 on its official website on 27 May 2026. The UPSC has released the official answer key for the first time in its history. The candidates who have participated in the Civil Services Preliminary Examination held on 24 May were eagerly awaiting this answer key. The answer key has been released for all the sets of GS and CSAT papers. The answer key helps the students in analysing their answers that they have marked in the OMR sheet with the answer key and gauge their chances of qualifying the prelims by checking the expected cut off marks.
UPSC Prelims Official Answer Key 2026 OUT
The Union Public Service Commission has officially published the answer key just 3 days after the prelims exam held on 24 May. The UPSC has never released the provisional answer key in the past.
UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026 PDF Download
Candidates who have appeared for the UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 can download the UPSC prelims answer key pdf from the direct link provided here. The answer key has been provided for all the sets of GS Paper 1 and CSAT.
| UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026 for GS Paper 1 | |
| UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026 for CSAT |
How to Download UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026?
To download the UPSC Prelims answer key 2026, the candidates can follow the steps provided here:
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Go to the official website of UPSC, upsc.gov.in.
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In the What’s New section on the homepage, click on the “Provisional Answer Key: Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026”.
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Download Paper-wise answer key for GS and CSAT.
How to Calculate UPSC Prelims 2026 Score
The UPSC Prelims consists of two papers- GS and CSAT. Both the papers consists of objective-type questions. Check how to calculate UPSC prelims 2026 score below:
- Calculating Score for GS Paper 1: GS paper includes 100 MCQs for 200 marks, meaning each question carries +2 marks. You must calculate your score by matching answers from the Prelims answer key released by UPSC. Add +2 marks for each correct response and subtract -0.66 marks for each incorrect response.
- Calculating Score for CSAT: CSAT paper includes 80 MCQs for 200 marks. The candidates require to obtain 33% marks in this paper as it is qualifying in nature. Add +2.5 marks for each correct response and subtract -0.83 marks for each incorrect response.
UPSC Prelims 2026 Expected Cut Off
The UPSC Prelims was conducted on 24 May 2026 for GS and CSAT papers in two shifts. The exam was different from the expected lines and considered to be "Difficult" by many experts. The candidates who have appeared for the exam can expect the general category cut off to remain between 85-90. Check the UPSC Prelims 2026 expected cut offhere.
| Category | Expected Cut Off (Out of 200) |
| General (UR) | 85-90 |
| EWS | 80-85 |
| OBC | 84-90 |
| SC | 80-84 |
| ST | 78-82 |
Upasna is an education journalist and subject matter expert with an extensive background in the competitive exam landscape. Currently contributing to the Exam Prep Section of Jagran Josh, Upasna specializes in creating well-researched, aspirant-centric content and simplifying complex topics for competitive examinations. Her academic expertise, coupled with her own firsthand experience preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, helps her provide strategic preparation insights and a comprehensive perspective to aspirants. She holds a Master's degree in Forensic Chemical Sciences. Apart from delivering valuable exam resources, Upasna is a passionate communications professional who also enjoys reading and writing.
