The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the Answer Key for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) and Indian Forest Service (IFS) Preliminary Examination 2026. The examination (Notice No. 05/2026-CSE) was successfully conducted on 24 May 2026 across various centers in India for approximately 933 vacancies. Candidates who appeared for the objective-type Preliminary examination can now download the official answer key to calculate their estimated scores. Candidates are advised to read the complete notification and check the answer key from the direct link provided below.
UPSC IAS / IFS Recruitment 2026 Details
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Begin | 04/02/2026 |
| Last Date for Apply | 24/02/2026 till 06:00 PM |
| Form Correction Window | 28 February – 03 March 2026 |
| Pre Exam Date | 24/05/2026 |
| Admit Card Release | 15 May 2026 |
| Answer Key Available | 28/05/2026 |
| Main Examination Date | Will Be Updated Here Soon |
| Final Result Date | Will Be Updated Here Soon |
Disclaimer: Candidates are advised to confirm from the UPSC official website.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹ 100/- |
| SC / ST / PH | ₹ 0/- |
| All Category Female | ₹ 0/- |
Note: Candidates admitted to the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2026 will be required to pay a further fee of Rs. 200/-.
UPSC IAS / IFS Recruitment 2026: Age Limit as on 01/08/2026
- Minimum Age: 21 Years. (Born not later than 1st August, 2005)
- Maximum Age: 32 Years. (Born not earlier than 2nd August, 1994)
- Age Relaxation Extra as per UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 Rules. SC/ST candidates get a 5-year relaxation, OBC candidates get 3 years, and PwBD candidates get 10 years.
UPSC IAS / IFS Vacancy Details 2026 : Total 933 Posts (Approximate)
(Note: The number of vacancies is approximate and subject to change. It includes 33 vacancies reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disability Category).
Post Name and Eligibility Criteria
| Post Name | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| Indian Administrative Service (IAS) & Other Civil Services | * A candidate must hold a Graduate degree of any of the Universities incorporated by an Act of the central or State Legislature in India or other educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as a University under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 or possess an equivalent qualification. * Candidates appearing in the final year are also eligible (Proof of passing is required during the Main Exam form filling). |
| Indian Forest Service (IFS) | * Bachelor’s Degree in at least one of the subjects namely Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics and Zoology or a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Forestry or in Engineering. |
Mode of Selection Process
The Civil Services Examination comprises two successive stages:
- Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination: Objective type (multiple choice questions) for the selection of candidates for the Main Examination.
- Civil Services (Main) Examination: Written and Interview/Personality Test for the selection of candidates for the various Services and posts.
UPSC IAS / IFS Exam Pattern & Syllabus 2026 (Preliminary)
As per the official notification, the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination is a screening test consisting of two compulsory objective-type papers (multiple-choice questions).
| Paper / Subject | Max. Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies Paper-I | 200 Marks | 2 Hours |
| General Studies Paper-II (CSAT) | 200 Marks | 2 Hours |
Note: There is a negative marking of one-third (0.33) marks for every wrong answer. General Studies Paper-II is qualifying in nature with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.
Syllabus for General Studies Paper-I:
- Current events of national and international importance.
- History of India and Indian National Movement.
- Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
- Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
- Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
- General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change that do not require subject specialization.
- General Science.
Syllabus for General Studies Paper-II:
- Comprehension;
- Interpersonal skills including communication skills;
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability;
- Decision making and problem solving;
- General mental ability;
- Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. – Class X level).
UPSC IAS / IFS Exam Pattern & Syllabus 2026 (Main Examination)
The Written Examination will consist of 9 papers of conventional essay type, out of which two papers are qualifying in nature. Marks obtained for all the compulsory papers (Paper-I to Paper-VII) and Marks obtained in Interview/Personality Test will be counted for ranking.
Qualifying Papers (Not counted for ranking):
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-A | One of the Indian Languages (Eighth Schedule) | 300 Marks |
| Paper-B | English | 300 Marks |
Papers to be counted for merit:
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | Essay | 250 Marks |
| Paper-II | General Studies-I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society) | 250 Marks |
| Paper-III | General Studies-II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations) | 250 Marks |
| Paper-IV | General Studies-III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management) | 250 Marks |
| Paper-V | General Studies-IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) | 250 Marks |
| Paper-VI | Optional Subject – Paper 1 | 250 Marks |
| Paper-VII | Optional Subject – Paper 2 | 250 Marks |
| Sub Total (Written test) | 1750 Marks | |
| Personality Test | 275 Marks | |
| Grand Total | 2025 Marks |
Note: Evaluation of Essay, General Studies, and Optional Subject papers will only be done if the candidate attains at least 25% marks in both qualifying language papers.
How to Check UPSC IAS / IFS Pre Answer Key 2026
Interested candidates who appeared for the UPSC IAS / IFS Preliminary Examination on 24 May 2026 can check their answer keys. Follow these steps:
- Use the Direct Link: Go to the ‘Important Links’ section below and click on the direct link to download the Answer Key.
- Download PDF: The answer key is usually released in a PDF format containing the correct answers for all sets (A, B, C, D) for both General Studies Paper-I and General Studies Paper-II (CSAT).
- Check Responses: Match your marked responses with the official answers provided in the PDF for your specific question paper series.
- Online Question Paper Representation Portal (QPRep): Candidates can submit representations regarding questions/answer keys within 5 days from the third day of the examination date (up to 6:00 PM of the 7th day) via the UPSC portal.
- Calculate Score: Remember there is a negative marking of one-third (0.33) marks for every wrong answer. General Studies Paper-II is qualifying in nature (minimum 33% required).
Join Our Updates Channel
| Platform | Direct Link |
|---|---|
| Join Our WhatsApp Channel | Click Here |
| Join Our Telegram Channel | Click Here |
Important Links
| Important Links | Direct Links |
|---|---|
| Download Answer Key | Paper-I | Paper-II |
| Download Notification | Click Here |
| Official Website | UPSC Official Site Link |
Important Questions about UPSC IAS / IFS Pre Answer Key (FAQ)
1. How can I download the UPSC IAS Prelims Answer Key 2026? You can download the official answer key from the UPSC website (upsc.gov.in) under the ‘Examination’ -> ‘Answer Keys’ section once it is officially published, or use the direct link provided in this article.
2. Is there negative marking in the UPSC Prelims exam? Yes, there is a penalty (negative marking) for wrong answers. One-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as a penalty.
3. How is the cutoff calculated for UPSC Prelims? The cutoff for qualifying for the Main Examination is based solely on the marks obtained in General Studies Paper-I, provided the candidate secures a minimum of 33% marks in General Studies Paper-II (which is qualifying in nature).
4. What is the syllabus for UPSC Prelims General Studies Paper-I? It covers current events, History of India, Indian and World Geography, Indian Polity and Governance, Economic and Social Development, Environmental Ecology, and General Science.
5. Can I raise objections to the UPSC Prelims Answer Key? Yes, UPSC provides an ‘Online Question Paper Representation Portal (QPRep)’. Appeared candidates can submit representations within a specific 5-day window (from the 3rd day to the 7th day after the exam) as detailed in the official notice.
6. What is the next stage after the UPSC Prelims Result? Candidates who qualify the Preliminary Examination will be required to fill out a Detailed Application Form (DAF) online to appear for the Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written test).
