UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is conducting the Civil Services Examination (CSE) Prelims 2026 on 24 May 2026 in two shifts across India. Candidates who appeared in the UPSC IAS Prelims Exam 2026 are now waiting for the UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026 for both General Studies (GS Paper 1) and CSAT Paper 2. In this article, candidates will soon get the unofficial answer key prepared by subject experts immediately after the completion of each exam shift, while the official UPSC answer key will be uploaded later after it is officially released by the commission.
The unofficial UPSC CSE Prelims Answer Key 2026 helps candidates estimate their expected marks before the official result declaration. Candidates can match their answers with the memory-based answer key and calculate their probable score for the examination. The direct PDF download links for GS Paper 1 and CSAT Paper 2 answer keys will be activated below after the exam concludes.
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UPSC IAS Prelims Answer Key 2026 Overview
| Organization | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Name | UPSC Civil Services Examination (Prelims) |
| Exam Date | 24 May 2026 |
| Papers | GS Paper 1 & CSAT Paper 2 |
| Exam Mode | Offline |
| GS Paper Timing | 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM |
| CSAT Timing | 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM |
| Type of Questions | Objective Type MCQs |
| Total Marks | 200 Marks Each |
| Official Answer Key | Released Later by UPSC |
| Unofficial Answer Key | Available After Exam Shift |
| Official Website | UPSC.gov.in |
UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026
The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 consists of two papers, including General Studies Paper 1 and CSAT Paper 2. The unofficial answer key prepared by coaching experts and exam analysts will be uploaded shortly after the exam shift ends. The official UPSC answer key will be released separately by UPSC on its official website after the completion of the recruitment process.
UPSC GS Paper 1 Answer Key 2026
The UPSC General Studies Paper 1 includes questions from History, Geography, Indian Polity, Economy, Environment, Science & Technology, and Current Affairs. After the completion of the morning shift examination, the unofficial GS Paper 1 answer key PDF will be uploaded here for candidates to check their answers and estimate their scores.
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UPSC CSAT Answer Key 2026
The CSAT Paper 2 examination contains questions related to comprehension, reasoning, decision making, quantitative aptitude, and data interpretation. Candidates can download the unofficial CSAT answer key PDF after the completion of the afternoon shift examination.
UPSC Official Answer Key 2026
The official answer key for UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 will not be released immediately after the exam. UPSC generally publishes the official answer key after the final result and recruitment process are completed. Candidates are advised to regularly visit the official UPSC website for the latest updates regarding the official answer key release.
How to Calculate UPSC Prelims Marks 2026?
Candidates can calculate their expected marks using the unofficial answer key. In GS Paper 1, candidates receive marks for each correct answer, while negative marking is also applicable for incorrect responses. CSAT Paper 2 is qualifying in nature, and candidates must secure the minimum qualifying marks to clear the paper.
Also Read: UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2026 PDF Download, GS & CSAT Paper PDF
Important Links
| Exam | Question Paper | Answer Key |
|---|---|---|
| GS (Paper-1) | Download (SET-A) Download (SET-B) Download (SET-C Download (SET-D) Download (Hindi-A) Download (Hindi-D) | Download (All Sets) |
| CSAT (Paper-2) | Download (SET-A) Download (SET-D) | Download (Soon) |

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