The UPSC has released the answer key for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026. For the first time, the Commission has released the examination's answer key even before the final results have been declared. This will make it easier for candidates to assess their performance. Candidates can now view the answer keys for General Studies Paper I and Paper II on the official website. Additionally, the Commission has provided candidates with the facility to raise objections regarding the questions.

This new system is being hailed as a significant step toward enhancing transparency in the examination process and providing students with timely information. The Commission has made the answer keys for General Studies Paper-I and Paper-II available in PDF format. Candidates can download them by visiting the official website.

**How to Download:**
First, visit the official UPSC website.
Navigate to the 'What's New' section located on the homepage.
Click on the link titled 'Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026'.
Subsequently, open the PDF links for 'General Studies Paper-I' and 'General Studies Paper-II'.
The provisional answer key will appear on the screen.
Download the PDF and keep a printout safe for future reference.

**Examination Held on May 24**
The Civil Services Preliminary Examination was conducted nationwide on May 24. The examination was held in two sessions, and 2,072 examination centers were established across 83 cities for this purpose. This time, approximately 8.19 lakh candidates registered for the exam, out of whom about 67 percent actually appeared for it.

**Candidates Can Raise Objections**
The Commission has also provided candidates with an opportunity to raise objections regarding the answer key. A dedicated online portal has been launched for this purpose. If candidates have any doubts regarding a specific question or answer, they may submit their arguments and necessary supporting documents.

**Review by Experts**
Once the deadline for raising objections has passed, all suggestions and claims will be reviewed by subject matter experts. The final answer key will be prepared only after this review process is complete. 

Candidates to Benefit
With the release of the answer key before the final results, candidates will be able to estimate their probable scores. This will help them gauge their level of preparedness for the Mains examination.

Three New Exam Centers Added
This year, the UPSC has also added three new examination centers in Bhubaneswar, Kanpur, and Meerut. According to the Commission, approximately 23,000 candidates opted for these new centers.

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