UPSC Prelims Official Answer Key 2026 Out For GS & CSAT, Download PDF

For the first time, the Union Public Service Commission has released the UPSC Prelims Answer Key before the result declaration. The official answer key has been released on 28th May 2026 (within 4 days) for candidates who appeared in the prelims exam on 24th May 2026. Candidates can download the response sheet from www.upsc.gov.in or directly from the link shared in the article.

UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026 Out

The CSE preliminary exam was conducted for General Studies 1 and CSAT on a single day. Candidates can now calculate their approximate marks in both papers by cross-checking their marked responses with the correct official answers released through the UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026. The marking scheme for both papers is different.

UPSC CSE Prelims Official Answer Key 2026 PDF

Candidates can download the official provisional answer key from the Union Public Service Commission’s official portal www.upsc.gov.in or directly from the link below. The UPSC Answer Key has been released separately for both papers.

How to download the official UPSC Answer Key 2026?

As the answer keys for both papers have been uploaded to the official website www.upsc.gov.in, candidates can follow the steps discussed below to download them easily.

1. Open the official UPSC website in your internet browser.
2. On the homepage, click on “Provisional Answer Key: Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026” in What’s New section.
3. Then, you are redirected to a new page, where you have to click on “General Studies Paper – I (98.24 KB) and General Studies Paper – II (84.5 KB)”.
4. The answer key PDF with correct answers to all questions appears on the screen.
5. Download and cross-check with what you have answered.

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