UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 Answer Key — GS Paper 1 & CSAT Paper 2

UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 Answer Key — Overview

UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 was conducted on June 1, 2026. The exam consists of two papers:

• GS Paper 1: General Studies — 100 MCQs, 200 marks, 2 hours
• CSAT Paper 2: Civil Services Aptitude Test — 80 MCQs, 200 marks, 2 hours (qualifying, 33% minimum)

UPSC does not release an official answer key before the final result. However, leading coaching institutes release unofficial answer keys within hours of the exam, which candidates use to estimate their scores.

Official answer key: UPSC releases the final answer key only after the Prelims result is declared, typically 6–8 weeks after the exam.

Unofficial Answer Keys — By Coaching Institutes

Answer keys from major UPSC coaching institutes are typically available within 12–24 hours of the exam:

Check respective institute websites for actual answer keys after the exam.

How to Use the Answer Key to Estimate Your Score

UPSC CSE Prelims uses negative marking:

• +2 marks for each correct answer
• −0.66 marks for each wrong answer (−1/3 of 2 marks)
• 0 for unattempted questions

Formula:

Score = (Correct × 2) − (Wrong × 0.667)

Example: 75 correct, 10 wrong, 15 unattempted → (75 × 2) − (10 × 0.667) = 150 − 6.67 = 143.33

Expected UPSC Prelims 2026 Cut-off

The cut-off for Prelims (GS Paper 1) to qualify for Mains varies each year based on exam difficulty and vacancies:

These are estimates based on 2022–2025 trends. Actual cut-off will be declared with the Prelims result.

Key Dates — UPSC CSE 2026 Calendar

UPSC Prelims 2026 — What Happens Next

If You Clear Prelims

• UPSC publishes the Prelims result on upsc.gov.in — a list of roll numbers (no marks disclosed)
• Qualified candidates must fill the Detailed Application Form (DAF) for Mains
• Mains consists of 9 papers: 2 qualifying + 7 merit-based (Essay, GS I–IV, Optional I–II)

If You Don't Clear Prelims

• Marks are disclosed only after the final CSE result (not after Prelims)
• Candidates can re-attempt in subsequent years (max 6 attempts for General; 9 for OBC; unlimited for SC/ST till age limit)

FAQs

Q1. When will UPSC Prelims 2026 result be declared? A1. UPSC typically declares the Prelims result 6–8 weeks after the exam. For the June 1, 2026 exam, the result is expected around August–September 2026. Check upsc.gov.in.

Q2. Does UPSC release an official answer key? A2. UPSC releases the official answer key only after the final (Mains + Interview) result. For Prelims score estimation, candidates rely on unofficial keys from coaching institutes.

Q3. Is CSAT Paper 2 marks counted in the merit list? A3. No. CSAT is only qualifying — you need 33% (66 out of 200 marks) to pass. Only GS Paper 1 marks count for the Prelims merit list.

Q4. How many candidates qualify UPSC Prelims each year? A4. Approximately 12–15 times the total number of vacancies are called for Mains. For ~1,000 vacancies, roughly 12,000–15,000 candidates clear Prelims.

Q5. Can I see my Prelims marks? A5. No. UPSC does not disclose Prelims marks separately. Marks for all stages are released together after the final result.

Q6. What is the age limit for UPSC CSE 2026? A6. General: 21–32 years. OBC: up to 35 years. SC/ST: up to 37 years. PwD: additional 10 years. Exact limits are in the official notification.