In a major decision, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has agreed to release the provisional answer key immediately after the Civil Services Preliminary Examination. This move comes after years of resistance and following the Supreme Court’s direction, marking a big step toward transparency in the examination system.
UPSC To Publish Provisional Answer Key After Prelims
UPSC informed the Supreme Court that from now on, it will publish the official provisional answer key soon after the preliminary exam is conducted. Candidates will also be allowed to raise objections on any discrepancies found in the exam paper or answers.
Earlier, UPSC used to release the final answer key almost a year later, only after the declaration of the final results. This delay left no room for candidates to raise concerns or seek corrections if they found errors in any question or answer.
Now, with this change, candidates can challenge the provisional answer key on time and help ensure that errors are corrected before the final evaluation process.
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Background of the Decision
This decision came after a series of petitions filed in the Supreme Court by several Civil Services aspirants from different parts of the country. The petitioners had demanded that the answer key should be released immediately after the exam and before the declaration of results.
The petitioners, including Vidushi Pandey from Uttarakhand, argued that the delay in releasing the answer key affected transparency and fairness in the recruitment process.
UPSC finally made this declaration through an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, agreeing to publish the provisional answer key for the first time in its history.
SC’s Role and Expert Opinion
The Supreme Court had appointed senior advocate Jaideep Gupta as amicus curiae (court advisor) to review the matter. He suggested that greater transparency was essential in the examination process and recommended that a provisional answer key should be released within a day after the examination.
He also proposed that candidates should be allowed to file objections to both the questions and answers within a week of the preliminary exam. The UPSC has now accepted this recommendation and informed the court of its decision.
What This Means for Aspirants
This reform is a big relief for lakhs of UPSC aspirants across India. With the provisional answer key released just after the exam, candidates will now be able to:
- Verify their responses quickly
- File objections if they find any errors in questions or answers
- Get more transparency and fairness in the evaluation process
The move will also help UPSC build more trust among candidates and reduce legal challenges in the future.
Also Read: UPSC Exam Calendar 2025-26
Conclusion
UPSC’s decision to release the provisional answer key right after the Prelims Exam is a historic step toward greater transparency, accountability, and fairness in India’s most prestigious examination. With this reform, aspirants can now check, verify, and challenge questions in real time, ensuring a fair and error-free selection process.
