Exam schedule — 24 May 2026
Paper: Paper II — CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test)
Timing: 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM (entry closes at 2:00 PM)
Status: Awaited — the key will be updated here after the paper is analysed.
Paper pattern & marking scheme
80 objective (MCQ) questions · 200 marks · 2 hours.
Correct answer: +2.5 marks.
Wrong answer: −0.83 mark (one-third negative marking).
Un-attempted: 0 marks.
Qualifying paper: you must score at least 33% (66 marks); it does not count towards the merit rank.
Provisional answer grid (to be updated)
The set-wise answers will be filled in here once our team analyses the paper. Populate every row (Q.1–Q.80) for each set before publishing.
Q. No. | Set A | Set B | Set C | Set D |
1 | — | — | — | — |
2 | — | — | — | — |
3 | — | — | — | — |
… | … | … | … | … |
80 | — | — | — | — |
How to use this answer key
Identify your question paper set (A / B / C / D) printed on the cover of your booklet — option order differs across sets.
Match each response against the set-wise key below once it is published.
Apply the marking scheme to estimate your score, then compare against the expected cut-off band.
Raising objections
If you believe an official answer is incorrect, UPSC opens a time-bound objection / representation window after releasing the provisional key. Submit objections only through the official portal within the stated deadline, with a credible authoritative source for each challenge.
Official source
Always treat the commission's notification as final. Read the official exam-day guidelines and the answer-key notification here: UPSC — Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026.
Disclaimer: Until the official UPSC key is published, all answers shown are provisional expert solutions and may be revised. Use them only as an indicative guide.