The Union Public Service Commission has officially published the answer key for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026. Aspirants who appeared for the screening test can now access and download the answer key PDF directly from the official web portals at upsconline.nic.in and upsc.gov.in. The nationwide preliminary test was conducted on 24 May, with the difficulty standard evaluated as moderate by test takers.
Candidate Participation and Attendance Overview
The preliminary test held on 24 May 2026 was organized across 2,072 designated venues distributed across 83 cities nationwide. Approximately 5.49 lakh candidates appeared to write the test across these centers. According to finalized data shared by the commission, an aggregate of 8,19,732 aspirants had registered for the examination cycle, translating to an actual examination turnout of roughly 67 percent.
Step-by-Step Procedure to Download the Solutions
Candidates seeking to review the official preliminary solutions and estimate their scores can follow these practical steps
- Navigate to the official portal at upsconline.nic.in or upsc.gov.in.
- Locate and click on the dedicated PDF link for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 answer key on the landing page.
- The answer key document will open on the screen, ready for review and local storage.
- Save the PDF file onto your system and print a physical paper copy for structured calculation.
Formal Protocol for Registering Discrepancies and Objections
Aspirants identifying errors or disputed options in the provisional answers can raise formal objections through an established online mechanism
- Access either upsconline.nic.in or upsc.gov.in via an updated web browser.
- Select the dedicated objection window link provided for challenging the preliminary 2026 answer key.
- Input valid authentication credentials to sign into the objection interface.
- Identify and select the specific test questions you intend to dispute.
- Upload your suggested correct answers alongside valid supporting documents in PDF format.
- Complete the mandatory payment of the specified objection window processing fee.
- Click the submit button to register the challenge formally with the testing authority.
- Retain a printed copy and digital backup of the confirmation document for upcoming reference.
Timeline for Objections Review and Scorecard Declaration
Following the thorough scrutiny of all candidate submissions by subject specialists, the commission will formulate the final answer key and compile the qualification list. Both the finalized preliminary answers and the qualifying status are anticipated to be published during the second week of June.
By way of chronological comparison, the 2025 iteration of the examination was conducted on 25 May, with results officially announced on 11 June. Once the 2026 final outcomes and revised keys are processed, candidates will be able to verify their individual marks and download their detailed scorecards in PDF format across upsconline.nic.in and upsc.gov.in.
