UPSC to release provisional answer key for Civil Services Prelims Exam soon after test

• In a first, the Union Public Service Commission will release the provisional answer key for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026 soon after the test.

• The Civil Services (Preliminary) Exam is scheduled to be held on May 24.

• This new reform has been introduced to address the long-standing demand from candidates for publication of provisional answer keys.

• This step is also part of the UPSC’s commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability, and strengthening candidates’ confidence in the examination system.

• The policy aims to make the examination process more participative while upholding its sanctity, integrity, and merit-based framework.

• After the release of the provisional answer key, candidates of the civil services examination can submit their representations, if any, till May 31, 2026, 6 pm, through a dedicated online portal — Online Question Paper Representation Portal (QPRep) available at https://upsconline.nic.in/login.

• Candidates will be able to submit their representations by indicating the correct key as per their understanding, along with a brief description and supporting documents from three authentic sources.

• This will not only enable candidates to make an early and informed assessment of their performance in the examination but also provide them adequate time and opportunity to submit their representations.

• All representations received from candidates will be placed before the team(s) of subject expert(s) for a comprehensive and meticulous review.

• These experts possess domain knowledge and subject expertise. They will carefully examine each representation, assess the supporting documents, and record their considered views regarding the correctness of the answer key for the concerned questions.

• The answer key will thereafter be finalised only after due consideration of all representations received.