UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026 (Unofficial): Download GS & CSAT Set-Wise PDF for Paper 1 and Paper 2

UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026: The Union Public Service Commission is conducting the UPSC Prelims exam today, on 24 May 2025 for GS and CSAT paper in two shifts. After the exam gets over, the first thing that the candidates want to search for is the answer key. The answer key helps them in analysing their performance and the calculation of the marks. These marks based on previous year trends will help them analyse whether they can qualify for the next stage of the selection process or not. The unofficial answer key will be released by various leading coaching institutes which we will also provide here for the reference of the candidates.

UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026: Highlights

The UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026 will help the candidates in assessing their performance and calculate their estimated marks before the release of the result. Check the highlights of the UPSC answer key in the table below:

UPSC Prelims Unofficial Answer Key 2026

From this year onwards, the UPSC is going to release the official UPSC Prelims answer key before the prelims result. Till then, the candidates can have a look at the unofficial answer key that has been provided by many coaching institutes every year to help the students. This year as well, the coaching institutes will release the answer key for the prelims exam. Here's the SET A answer key:

Check UPSC Prelims Exam Analysis 2026

Institutes Providing UPSC Answer Key 2026

Leading IAS coaching centres will release their tentative answer keys, including:

• Drishti IAS

• Vision IAS

• Vajiram and Ravi IAS

• Forum IAS

• Insights IAS

• GS Score

• Clear IAS

UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 Marking Scheme

The UPSC prelims includes objective-type questions for both GS and CSAT papers. The GS paper consists of 100 MCQs, while CSAT paper includes 80 MCQs. The marksing scheme is different for both the papers as the number of questions varies and CSAT paper is only qualifying in nature, which means that the candidates are required to score 33% marks to qualify the CSAT. Check the marking scheme for GS paper here:

• Each question carries +2 marks totalling to 200 marks for GS paper.
• There is a provision for 1/3rd negative marking.
• CSAT includes +2.5 marks for each question.

UPSC New Reform for Answer Key Release 2026

For the very time, the UPSC has announced tha it will release the provisional answer key for UPSC Prelims exam conducted on 24 May 2026. The release of the provisional key is a biggest step as it will help the candidates in analysing their scores without being in doubt. Candidates will also be able to raise objections against this answer key.

UPSC Prelims Expected Cut Off 2026

The Prelims has been conducted successfully on 24 May 2026. The candidates must know that the cut off marks are released along with the UPSC Final result. Meanwhile, the candidates can check the expected cut off marks. It is expected that the cut off for the General category will be between 85-90.

Check the UPSC Prelims Expected Cut Off 2026 Here

Importance of UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026

The UPSC Prelims answer key is very crucial for the candidates appearing for this year Prelims exam. The importance of the answer key is outlined here:

• The UPSC Prelims answer key helps in analysing the scores.
• Once you came to rough score, it becomes easier to analyse the chances of qualifying the prelims based on previous year cut off marks.
• The Prelims answer key will also help you analyse the weak areas or silly mistakes to better work on in the future.