UPSC Prelims 2026 provisional answer key is now available for GS Paper-I and GS Paper-II (CSAT). This page gives you the PDF downloads, the quick scoring notes, and inline tables converted from every page of the provisional answer-key PDFs so you do not have to open the files again and again while checking your OMR copy.
Quick Summary
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam | Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 |
| Answer key type | Provisional answer key |
| Release date | 27 May 2026 |
| Representation window | 27 May 2026 to 31 May 2026, 6:00 PM |
| GS Paper-I | 100 questions; 1 question dropped; 99 questions taken for scoring; maximum marks 200 |
| GS Paper-II / CSAT | 80 questions; no dropped question; 80 questions taken for scoring; maximum marks 200 |
| Important note | The key is provisional. UPSC can revise it after considering valid representations. |
Download the Official PDF Copies
Use these PDF copies for offline checking. The inline tables below are converted from these PDFs for faster scanning, but the PDF should remain your final reference while raising a representation.
How to Read the Key
- A, B, C, D are the option keys printed by UPSC for that question number and series.
- X means the question has been dropped and is not taken for scoring.
- Check the correct series first. Series A, B, C and D have different question orders.
- For GS Paper-I, one question is dropped. The PDF says 99 questions are taken for scoring.
- For CSAT, the PDF says all 80 questions are taken for scoring.
Score Calculation Notes
| Paper | What the provisional key says | Quick calculation help |
|---|---|---|
| GS Paper-I | 99 questions taken for scoring out of 200 marks | For rough checking, one valid question is about 200/99 marks. Apply negative marking as per UPSC rules and keep the result provisional. |
| GS Paper-II / CSAT | 80 questions taken for scoring out of 200 marks | Each question is 2.5 marks. CSAT is qualifying, and the usual qualifying benchmark is 33%, i.e. 66 marks. |
Do not treat a self-calculated score as final. The final evaluation will depend on UPSC’s final key, accepted representations, and official scoring process.
GS Paper-I Answer Key Tables
GS Paper-I has four series pages in the PDF. One question is dropped in each series mapping: Series A question 64, Series B question 54, Series C question 79, and Series D question 89.
GS Paper-I Series A
| Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | 21 | B | 41 | C | 61 | D | 81 | C |
| 2 | A | 22 | B | 42 | B | 62 | D | 82 | A |
| 3 | C | 23 | D | 43 | C | 63 | A | 83 | C |
| 4 | B | 24 | D | 44 | B | 64 | X | 84 | A |
| 5 | B | 25 | C | 45 | B | 65 | D | 85 | A |
| 6 | A | 26 | C | 46 | C | 66 | A | 86 | C |
| 7 | D | 27 | A | 47 | B | 67 | B | 87 | A |
| 8 | A | 28 | D | 48 | B | 68 | A | 88 | C |
| 9 | C | 29 | C | 49 | C | 69 | C | 89 | C |
| 10 | C | 30 | B | 50 | B | 70 | A | 90 | D |
| 11 | D | 31 | A | 51 | C | 71 | B | 91 | A |
| 12 | A | 32 | B | 52 | A | 72 | C | 92 | C |
| 13 | C | 33 | B | 53 | B | 73 | D | 93 | B |
| 14 | B | 34 | B | 54 | D | 74 | B | 94 | B |
| 15 | B | 35 | B | 55 | B | 75 | C | 95 | A |
| 16 | B | 36 | B | 56 | B | 76 | C | 96 | C |
| 17 | A | 37 | C | 57 | A | 77 | B | 97 | C |
| 18 | D | 38 | B | 58 | C | 78 | B | 98 | D |
| 19 | D | 39 | B | 59 | D | 79 | C | 99 | A |
| 20 | B | 40 | C | 60 | A | 80 | C | 100 | A |
GS Paper-I Series B
| Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | 21 | D | 41 | C | 61 | B | 81 | A |
| 2 | B | 22 | A | 42 | A | 62 | C | 82 | C |
| 3 | D | 23 | C | 43 | B | 63 | D | 83 | B |
| 4 | D | 24 | B | 44 | D | 64 | B | 84 | B |
| 5 | C | 25 | B | 45 | B | 65 | C | 85 | A |
| 6 | C | 26 | A | 46 | B | 66 | C | 86 | C |
| 7 | A | 27 | D | 47 | A | 67 | B | 87 | C |
| 8 | D | 28 | A | 48 | C | 68 | B | 88 | D |
| 9 | C | 29 | C | 49 | D | 69 | C | 89 | A |
| 10 | B | 30 | C | 50 | A | 70 | C | 90 | A |
| 11 | A | 31 | D | 51 | D | 71 | C | 91 | C |
| 12 | B | 32 | A | 52 | D | 72 | A | 92 | B |
| 13 | B | 33 | C | 53 | A | 73 | C | 93 | C |
| 14 | B | 34 | B | 54 | X | 74 | A | 94 | B |
| 15 | B | 35 | B | 55 | D | 75 | A | 95 | B |
| 16 | B | 36 | B | 56 | A | 76 | C | 96 | C |
| 17 | C | 37 | A | 57 | B | 77 | A | 97 | B |
| 18 | B | 38 | D | 58 | A | 78 | C | 98 | B |
| 19 | B | 39 | D | 59 | C | 79 | C | 99 | C |
| 20 | C | 40 | B | 60 | A | 80 | D | 100 | B |
GS Paper-I Series C
| Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | 21 | D | 41 | C | 61 | C | 81 | A |
| 2 | B | 22 | A | 42 | A | 62 | B | 82 | B |
| 3 | B | 23 | C | 43 | C | 63 | B | 83 | A |
| 4 | B | 24 | B | 44 | C | 64 | C | 84 | C |
| 5 | B | 25 | B | 45 | D | 65 | B | 85 | A |
| 6 | B | 26 | B | 46 | A | 66 | C | 86 | B |
| 7 | C | 27 | A | 47 | C | 67 | A | 87 | C |
| 8 | B | 28 | D | 48 | B | 68 | B | 88 | D |
| 9 | B | 29 | D | 49 | B | 69 | D | 89 | B |
| 10 | C | 30 | B | 50 | A | 70 | B | 90 | C |
| 11 | B | 31 | D | 51 | C | 71 | B | 91 | C |
| 12 | B | 32 | A | 52 | C | 72 | A | 92 | B |
| 13 | D | 33 | C | 53 | D | 73 | C | 93 | B |
| 14 | D | 34 | B | 54 | A | 74 | D | 94 | C |
| 15 | C | 35 | B | 55 | A | 75 | A | 95 | C |
| 16 | C | 36 | A | 56 | C | 76 | D | 96 | C |
| 17 | A | 37 | D | 57 | B | 77 | D | 97 | A |
| 18 | D | 38 | A | 58 | C | 78 | A | 98 | C |
| 19 | C | 39 | C | 59 | B | 79 | X | 99 | A |
| 20 | B | 40 | C | 60 | B | 80 | D | 100 | A |
GS Paper-I Series D
| Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | 21 | A | 41 | C | 61 | C | 81 | B |
| 2 | A | 22 | B | 42 | B | 62 | C | 82 | A |
| 3 | C | 23 | B | 43 | B | 63 | D | 83 | C |
| 4 | B | 24 | B | 44 | C | 64 | A | 84 | D |
| 5 | B | 25 | B | 45 | C | 65 | A | 85 | A |
| 6 | B | 26 | B | 46 | C | 66 | C | 86 | D |
| 7 | A | 27 | C | 47 | A | 67 | B | 87 | D |
| 8 | D | 28 | B | 48 | C | 68 | C | 88 | A |
| 9 | D | 29 | B | 49 | A | 69 | B | 89 | X |
| 10 | B | 30 | C | 50 | A | 70 | B | 90 | D |
| 11 | D | 31 | B | 51 | C | 71 | C | 91 | A |
| 12 | A | 32 | B | 52 | A | 72 | B | 92 | B |
| 13 | C | 33 | D | 53 | C | 73 | B | 93 | A |
| 14 | B | 34 | D | 54 | C | 74 | C | 94 | C |
| 15 | B | 35 | C | 55 | D | 75 | B | 95 | A |
| 16 | A | 36 | C | 56 | A | 76 | C | 96 | B |
| 17 | D | 37 | A | 57 | C | 77 | A | 97 | C |
| 18 | A | 38 | D | 58 | B | 78 | B | 98 | D |
| 19 | C | 39 | C | 59 | B | 79 | D | 99 | B |
| 20 | C | 40 | B | 60 | A | 80 | B | 100 | C |
CSAT Paper-II Answer Key Tables
The CSAT PDF has four series pages. No CSAT question is marked dropped in the provisional key.
GS Paper-II / CSAT Series A
| Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | 21 | B | 41 | C | 61 | C |
| 2 | D | 22 | B | 42 | C | 62 | B |
| 3 | C | 23 | B | 43 | B | 63 | A |
| 4 | D | 24 | A | 44 | D | 64 | B |
| 5 | A | 25 | B | 45 | C | 65 | A |
| 6 | A | 26 | B | 46 | C | 66 | B |
| 7 | A | 27 | D | 47 | C | 67 | B |
| 8 | B | 28 | B | 48 | D | 68 | A |
| 9 | D | 29 | C | 49 | B | 69 | A |
| 10 | D | 30 | B | 50 | D | 70 | A |
| 11 | D | 31 | D | 51 | A | 71 | D |
| 12 | B | 32 | A | 52 | C | 72 | B |
| 13 | D | 33 | D | 53 | D | 73 | C |
| 14 | A | 34 | C | 54 | C | 74 | C |
| 15 | B | 35 | B | 55 | D | 75 | D |
| 16 | D | 36 | A | 56 | D | 76 | C |
| 17 | A | 37 | A | 57 | D | 77 | D |
| 18 | D | 38 | B | 58 | B | 78 | A |
| 19 | B | 39 | B | 59 | C | 79 | B |
| 20 | C | 40 | C | 60 | D | 80 | D |
GS Paper-II / CSAT Series B
| Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | 21 | A | 41 | D | 61 | D |
| 2 | B | 22 | C | 42 | A | 62 | B |
| 3 | C | 23 | D | 43 | D | 63 | D |
| 4 | C | 24 | C | 44 | C | 64 | A |
| 5 | D | 25 | D | 45 | B | 65 | B |
| 6 | C | 26 | D | 46 | A | 66 | D |
| 7 | D | 27 | D | 47 | A | 67 | A |
| 8 | A | 28 | B | 48 | B | 68 | D |
| 9 | B | 29 | C | 49 | B | 69 | B |
| 10 | D | 30 | D | 50 | C | 70 | C |
| 11 | C | 31 | C | 51 | B | 71 | A |
| 12 | B | 32 | C | 52 | B | 72 | D |
| 13 | A | 33 | B | 53 | B | 73 | C |
| 14 | B | 34 | D | 54 | A | 74 | D |
| 15 | A | 35 | C | 55 | B | 75 | A |
| 16 | B | 36 | C | 56 | B | 76 | A |
| 17 | B | 37 | C | 57 | D | 77 | A |
| 18 | A | 38 | D | 58 | B | 78 | B |
| 19 | A | 39 | B | 59 | C | 79 | D |
| 20 | A | 40 | D | 60 | B | 80 | D |
GS Paper-II / CSAT Series C
| Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | 21 | D | 41 | D | 61 | A |
| 2 | A | 22 | B | 42 | B | 62 | C |
| 3 | D | 23 | D | 43 | C | 63 | D |
| 4 | C | 24 | A | 44 | C | 64 | C |
| 5 | B | 25 | B | 45 | D | 65 | D |
| 6 | A | 26 | D | 46 | C | 66 | D |
| 7 | A | 27 | A | 47 | D | 67 | D |
| 8 | B | 28 | D | 48 | A | 68 | B |
| 9 | B | 29 | B | 49 | B | 69 | C |
| 10 | C | 30 | C | 50 | D | 70 | D |
| 11 | B | 31 | A | 51 | C | 71 | C |
| 12 | B | 32 | D | 52 | B | 72 | C |
| 13 | B | 33 | C | 53 | A | 73 | B |
| 14 | A | 34 | D | 54 | B | 74 | D |
| 15 | B | 35 | A | 55 | A | 75 | C |
| 16 | B | 36 | A | 56 | B | 76 | C |
| 17 | D | 37 | A | 57 | B | 77 | C |
| 18 | B | 38 | B | 58 | A | 78 | D |
| 19 | C | 39 | D | 59 | A | 79 | B |
| 20 | B | 40 | D | 60 | A | 80 | D |
GS Paper-II / CSAT Series D
| Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key | Q. No. | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | 21 | C | 41 | C | 61 | A |
| 2 | B | 22 | C | 42 | B | 62 | D |
| 3 | B | 23 | B | 43 | A | 63 | C |
| 4 | A | 24 | D | 44 | B | 64 | D |
| 5 | B | 25 | C | 45 | A | 65 | A |
| 6 | B | 26 | C | 46 | B | 66 | A |
| 7 | D | 27 | C | 47 | B | 67 | A |
| 8 | B | 28 | D | 48 | A | 68 | B |
| 9 | C | 29 | B | 49 | A | 69 | D |
| 10 | B | 30 | D | 50 | A | 70 | D |
| 11 | D | 31 | A | 51 | D | 71 | D |
| 12 | A | 32 | C | 52 | B | 72 | B |
| 13 | D | 33 | D | 53 | C | 73 | D |
| 14 | C | 34 | C | 54 | C | 74 | A |
| 15 | B | 35 | D | 55 | D | 75 | B |
| 16 | A | 36 | D | 56 | C | 76 | D |
| 17 | A | 37 | D | 57 | D | 77 | A |
| 18 | B | 38 | B | 58 | A | 78 | D |
| 19 | B | 39 | C | 59 | B | 79 | B |
| 20 | C | 40 | D | 60 | D | 80 | C |
Representation Window and Official Sources
UPSC has opened the representation window from 27 May 2026 to 31 May 2026, 6:00 PM. Representations must be submitted through the official online representation portal, not by email or offline request.
- Use only documentary proof from authentic sources such as standard books, official reports, government publications, or reliable primary references.
- Mention the paper, series, question number, your claimed answer, and the source clearly.
- Submit before the deadline. Once the window closes, late representations are usually not accepted.
- Keep a screenshot or acknowledgement of the submitted representation for your records.
What You Should Do Now
- First, match your paper series carefully. Most checking errors happen because students use the wrong series table.
- Mark dropped questions separately. In GS Paper-I, do not count the dropped question as right or wrong in your rough calculation.
- If your score is near the expected cutoff zone, keep preparing for Mains instead of waiting passively.
- If you need explanations for GS Paper-I questions, use our detailed solutions article linked below.
Related Anantam IAS reads: UPSC Prelims 2026 GS Paper-I detailed answer key and solutions and UPSC Prelims 2026 face authentication and answer key reform.
FAQs
Is this the final UPSC Prelims 2026 answer key?
No. This is the provisional answer key. UPSC may change the answer key after reviewing valid representations.
Which GS Paper-I question is dropped?
In the provisional key, the dropped question is Series A question 64, Series B question 54, Series C question 79, and Series D question 89.
Is any CSAT question dropped?
No. The CSAT PDF says 80 questions are taken for scoring.
What is the last date to submit objections?
The representation window closes on 31 May 2026 at 6:00 PM, according to the PIB release.
Can I rely only on these inline tables?
Use the inline tables for quick scanning, but verify from the PDF before submitting any representation.
What does X mean in the answer key?
X means the question has been dropped and is not taken for scoring.
Editorial note: These tables were converted from image-only PDF scans for quick reading. We have checked the extraction against the PDF pages, but candidates should still cross-check the original PDFs before making any formal representation.
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