UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026 Out (Provisional), GS Paper Answers &a Solutions

The UPSC Prelims Exam for Civil Services has been scheduled for 24th May 2026 in two shifts across 83 exam centres in approximately 80 cities all over India. The candidates who appeared in today’s exam must be looking forward to the correct answers to all the questions asked. The candidates can refer to the provisional answer key, which is prepared by the faculty after analysing the questions asked in the exam.

These answers help the applicants to know their correct and incorrect responses, and they can calculate the marks that they are going to score in the exam before the result is announced. Along with answers, we have also provided the explanations for the answers. 

UPSC CSE Prelims Answer Key 2026 Out

The aspirants can calculate their approximate marks in the UPSC Preliminary Exam as per the marking scheme decided by the commission. UPSC CSE exam consists of 400 marks, scoring 2 marks each for the correct answer in Paper-1 and 2.5 marks in Paper-2. There will be a penalty of 0.66 marks or 1/3rd mark for each incorrect answer.

UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026 (Provisional)

The official UPSC Provisional Answer Key 2026 will be released on the official UPSC website (upsc.gov.in). These are the unofficial answer keys based on expert analysis after solving UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2026.

UPSC General Studies Paper 1 Answer Key 2026

The answers to all 100 questions of General Studies Paper 1 held from 9:30 am to1 11:30 am have been updated here for SET A.

The above answers are provided for SET A for which the question paper pdf is attached below- 

UPSC SET A Question Paper 2026 PDF

UPSC GS Questions with Answers & Explanation

Q1. Which one of the following Carnatic music ragas is similar to Raga Bilawal in Hindustani music?

(a) Nat Bhairavi
(b) Kamavardhini
(c) Hanumatodi
(d) Dheera Shankarabharanam

Answer: (d) Dheera Shankarabharanam

Q2. The artificially fixed rupee-sterling exchange rate prescribed by the Hilton-Young Commission (1926) was adopted by the British Government for which one of the following reasons ?

(a) Aiding the flow of remittances from India and maintaining India’s creditworthiness
(b) Providing support to Indian importers
(c) Encouraging export of cotton produce from India
(d) Preventing depreciation of the Rupee in terms of gold

Answer – (a) Aiding the flow of remittances from India and maintaining India’s creditworthiness

Explanation- The artificially fixed rupee-sterling exchange rate prescribed by the Hilton-Young Commission (1926) was adopted by the British Government for which one of the following reasons ?
(a) Aiding the flow of remittances from India and maintaining India’s creditworthiness
(b) Providing support to Indian importers
(c) Encouraging export of cotton produce from India
(d) Preventing depreciation of the Rupee in terms of gold

Q3. Consider the following statements :

I. Pali texts contain the first definite references to coins, e.g., kahapana, nikkha, kamsa, and kakanika.
II. The literary evidence from Pali texts is corroborated by archaeological evidence of punch-marked coins from many sites, most of them made of silver.The above statements have been associated with which of the following ?

Emergence of urban life
Transition to money economy
Select the answer using the code given below :
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer- (c) Both 1 and 2

Explaination- “Both statements are lifted almost verbatim from Upinder Singh’s A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India (the most widely cited UGC/NCERT-aligned reference). They describe the twin engines of what historians call the Second Urbanisation of the Indo-Gangetic plain (c. 6th century BCE):

Q4. Which of the following temples has/have a Nagara-style shikhara?

1. Malegitti Shivalaya, Badami
2. Huchimalligudi Temple, Aihole
3. Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh
4. Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal

Select the answer using the code given below :
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 3 only
(d) 3 and 4

Answer- (b) 2 and 3

Explaination- “The Nagara style is identified by a curvilinear (rekha-prasada / latina) shikhara rising above the garbhagriha, square sanctum plan, and absence of an elaborate compound wall or gopuram. Of the four temples listed, exactly two qualify:
• Huchimalligudi (Aihole) — early 7th century, Early Chalukyan. Has a square sanctum and a clear rekha-nagara (curvilinear) shikhara. Notable as the first Chalukyan temple to introduce the shukanasa (vestibule projection). Aihole is famously called the “”cradle of Indian temple architecture”” because the Chalukyas experimented with both Nagara and Dravida styles here.
• Dashavatara Temple (Deogarh, Lalitpur district, UP) — early 6th century, late Gupta. NCERT Class 11 (An Introduction to Indian Art) states it bluntly: “”the tall and curvilinear shikhara… makes it clear that this is an early example of a classic nagara style of temple.”” It is the earliest fully structural North Indian temple with a stone shikhara still standing, and is in the panchayatana plan (one main shrine + four corner subsidiary shrines).

Q5. Among the four main forms of existence of life recognized in Jainism, which one of the following is not included ?

(a) Deva (gods)
(b) Yaksha (demi-gods)
(c) Manushya (humans)
(d) Tiryancha (animals and plants)

Answer- (b) Yaksha (demi-gods)

Q6. The Hallisalasya painting in the Bagh Caves represents :

(a) A joyous folk dance
(b) Buddha in a meditative pose
(c) The depiction of Shiva and Parvati on Kailasha
(d) Samudramanthan (Churning of the Ocean)

Answer- (a) A joyous folk dance

Q7. Consider the following statements relating to the use of the place-value system in India:

1. The earliest epigraphic use of the place-value system in India is found in the Mankani plates from Gujarat (AD 595–596).
2. In the ninth century, place-values become general in inscriptions all over India.
3. The place-values have been found in Sanskrit inscriptions in South-east Asia as early as the seventh century.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer- (d) 1, 2 and 3

UPSC CSAT Paper 2 Answer Key 2026

CSAT Paper includes 80 questions, and once the exam is over, our faculty will discuss the UPSC CSAT Paper 2 Answer Key.

UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2026- Click to Download

Important- Only GS Paper 1 marks are counted for the merit list. Paper 2 (CSAT) is purely qualifying in nature. However, if you fail to score at least 33% in CSAT, your GS Paper 1 will not be evaluated at all.

How to Calculate Your Score Using UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026?

Use this simple formula to estimate your score, check the formula.

For GS Paper 1: Estimated Score = (Correct Answers × 2) – (Wrong Answers × 0.66)

For CSAT: Estimated Score = (Correct Answers × 2.5) – (Wrong Answers × 0.833)

Score Calculation Example (GS Paper 1)

Suppose you attempted 75 questions:

• Correct answers: 60
• Wrong answers: 10
• Unattempted: 5

Estimated Score = (60 × 2) – (10 × 0.66) = 120 – 6.6 = 113.4 marks

How to Download UPSC Answer Key 2026 [Official]?

Candidates can download the official Answer Key for UPSC prelims exam by following the steps-

1. Browse the official website of UPSC at www.upsc.gov.in.
2. On the homepage, click on “Examination and Answer Keys”.
3. Click on the answer key link against “Civil Service Preliminary Examination Answer Key 2026”
4. The UPSC Civil Service Preliminary Answer Key PDF is open. Download the official answer key and compare your responses to those detailed in the answer key.