UPSC to Release Provisional Answer Key for Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026
New Delhi, May 18 (TNT): Union Public Service Commission will, for the first time, release the provisional answer key for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026 shortly after the examination, in a move aimed at enhancing transparency and maintaining the highest standards in the conduct of examinations.
Describing the move as “a new beginning,” UPSC Chairman Dr. Ajay Kumar said on Monday that the initiative reflects the Commission’s continuous efforts to bring greater transparency, responsiveness and timely communication with candidates.
“For the first time, the Union Public Service Commission will release the Provisional Answer Key for the Civil Services Examination.
This initiative reflects the Commission’s ongoing endeavour to bring greater transparency, responsiveness, and timely communication with candidates,” he said.
He further stated that the policy aims to make the examination process more participative while preserving its sanctity, integrity and merit-based framework.
Following the release of the provisional answer key, candidates will be able to submit representations, if any, through the dedicated “Online Question Paper Representation Portal (QPRep)” available at UPSC Online Portal : https://upsconline.nic.in till 6 PM on May 31, 2026.
Candidates may submit objections by indicating the correct answer key as per their understanding, along with a brief explanation and supporting documents from three authentic sources.
The Commission said the move would enable candidates to make an early and informed assessment of their performance while also giving them sufficient opportunity to raise objections.
All representations received from candidates will be reviewed comprehensively by teams of subject experts possessing domain knowledge and expertise.
The experts will examine each representation, verify the supporting documents and record their considered views on the correctness of the answer keys for the concerned questions.
The Commission said the final answer key would be prepared only after due consideration of all representations received.
The reform has been introduced in response to a long-standing demand from Civil Services aspirants for publication of provisional answer keys.
The UPSC said the initiative is part of its commitment towards transparency, accountability and strengthening candidates’ confidence in the examination system.
TNT KS
