The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) answer keys play a crucial role in the examination process, providing transparency and accountability to the evaluation system. After conducting various exams, including the prestigious Civil Services Examination, UPSC releases answer keys to allow candidates to cross-verify their responses with the officially accepted answers. These answer keys serve as a valuable resource for candidates to assess their performance and gauge the accuracy of their answers. Moreover, the release of answer keys contributes to the overall transparency of the examination system, fostering trust and confidence among aspirants. It enables candidates to understand the evaluation criteria and promotes a fair and open assessment process. While UPSC answer keys are not open to challenges, as the Commission’s decision is considered final, they serve as a comprehensive tool for candidates to reflect on their performance and identify areas for improvement. Overall, UPSC answer keys play a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of the examination process and ensuring a level playing field for all aspirants.
UPSC Answer Keys – Latest Updates
The Commission is yet to release the UPSC Prelims answer key for 2024, with the exam scheduled for May 26th, 2024.
The UPSC Prelims 2024 Answer Key will soon be available following the declaration of results on May 23, 2023. In the meantime, candidates can refer to the unofficial UPSC 2022 answer key on our website,
For CSE Prelims 2021, UPSC unveiled the official answer key on May 30, 2022, which can be found in the linked article. The exam took place on October 10, 2021.
The UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2020 for GS-I and GS-II (CSAT) papers was released by the Union Public Service Commission on November 10, 2021. Visit the linked article to download the official answer keys.
The UPSC civil service examination comprises three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. IAS Prelims consists of two papers – General Studies and CSAT, both in objective type format. The General Studies paper features 100 Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs), while CSAT has 80 MCQs. Aspirants are encouraged to practice with past year question papers, and this article provides answer keys for UPSC Prelims GS and CSAT from 2016 to 2023.
How to Download UPSC IAS 2024 Answer Key?
Candidates can follow the detailed steps below to download the IAS Answer Key 2024.
Visit the official website – www.upsc.gov.in.
Click on the Exam tab and choose the Answer Key option from the drop-down menu.
Click on the UPSC IAS answer key 2024 on the web page.
UPSC IAS 2024 PDF file will open.
Download the PDF file for future reference.
Why should you solve previous UPSC question papers?
- Aspiring IAS candidates are encouraged to tackle the previous year’s UPSC question papers for the upcoming 2024 exam. This practice is beneficial for several reasons:
- Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses effectively.
- Enhances your time management skills when solving questions.
- Provides valuable exam practice in preparation for the actual test.
- Identify areas of improvement early in your preparation, allowing for timely adjustments.
- Familiarizes you with the pattern and style of UPSC question papers.
- Highlights recurring topics and question patterns in the IAS exam, enabling focused study on these specific areas.
What is the need for releasing the UPSC Prelims Answer Keys?
The administering authority releases the CSAT answer key for the benefit of applicants and candidates. Those who took the exam and did not qualify can utilize the key to identify correct answers, pinpoint areas needing additional practice, and thereby, improve their overall scores.
Similarly, individuals preparing for the forthcoming civil services examination through the solution of past year’s question papers can use the official answer key to assess and gauge their performance.
UPSC IAS Answer Key 2024 for Prelims – Unofficial
On this page, candidates can access the IAS Answer Key 2024 for prelims provided by different coaching institutes. Those preparing for the IAS prelims can review their anticipated scores and verify the accurate responses to the questions posed in the exam.
UPSC IAS 2024 Answer Key Release Dates
| Events | Dates |
| Date of IAS Preliminary Exam 2024 | May 26, 2024 |
| Release of IAS Answer Key 2024 (unofficial) | To Be Announced |
| Date of IAS Mains Exam 2024 | September 20, 2024 |
| Release of IAS 2024 answer key for mains (unofficial) | To Be Announced |
| UPSC Civil Services answer key 2024 (official) | To Be Announced |
What will Be the release date of the UPSC IAS 2024 Answer Key?
By analyzing the historical patterns of IAS answer key release dates from previous years, we can anticipate that the UPSC will likely unveil the IAS Answer Key 2024 after the publication of the final result for UPSC IAS 2024. Nevertheless, the official release date for the UPSC IAS answer key 2024 has not been disclosed at this time. Refer to the table below to observe the trends in the release dates of IAS answer keys from previous years.
UPSC IAS Answer Key Release Dates – Previous Year’s Trends
| Year | Exam Date | Answer Key Release Date |
| 2022 | June 5, 2022 | July 04, 2023 |
| 2021 | October 10, 2021 | May 30, 2022 |
| 2020 | October 4, 2020 | November 9, 2021 |
| 2019 | June 2, 2019 | August 10, 2020 |
| 2018 | June 3, 2018 | April 16, 2019 |
UPSC IAS Answer Key 2024 – Advantages
Candidates can review the IAS 2024 answer key to gauge the accuracy of their responses and estimate their scores. Several coaching institutes will provide unofficial IAS answer keys shortly after the exam. Using the IAS 2024 answer key, candidates can also project the expected cutoff marks.
How to Calculate Score With UPSC IAS Answer Key 2024 (Prelims)?
Candidates can approximate their UPSC CSE scores by comparing their exam answers with those in the IAS Answer Key 2024. They can calculate their scores by considering the correct and incorrect responses.
To perform this calculation, candidates should acquaint themselves with the marking scheme of the IAS 2024 exam. Refer to the table below for information on the marking scheme.
UPSC IAS 2024 Marking Scheme
Candidates can calculate their probable IAS scores by using the UPSC CSE marking scheme. The UPSC CSE marking scheme should be used along with the IAS Answer Key 2024 to arrive at a tentative score.
| Particulars | Marking Scheme |
| Correct response | For every correct answer in GS Paper 1, candidates will be awarded 2 marks |
| For a correct answer in Paper 2, candidates will be allotted 2.5 marks | |
| Negative marking | Negative marking is applicable for both papers, and 1/3 of marks will be deducted for every wrong answer |
| Marks reduced in Paper I | 0.33 marks |
| Marks reduced in Paper II | 0.33 marks |
| Total marks (prelims) | 400 marks |
| Paper I – 200 marks | Paper II – 200 marks |
| Paper 1 score | (Correct responses out of 100) X 2 marks and 0.33 marks for each incorrect answer |
| Paper 2 score | (Correct responses out of 80) X 2.5 marks and 0.33 marks for each incorrect answer |
| Aggregate score | (Correct answers in Paper 1 x 2) + (Correct responses in Paper 2 x 2.5) – (No. of incorrect response x marks reduced for each wrong answer) |
UPSC IAS Question Papers
The IAS question paper for the prelims exam 2024 will be accessible on upsc.gov.in. Similar to the IAS Answer Key, UPSC publishes the UPSC CSE question papers after the exam concludes. Historically, the IAS question paper has been made available a few days post the examination. As a PDF file, candidates can download the question papers to assess the exam’s difficulty level and the types of questions posed.
UPSC IAS Cut Off – Previous years’
| Categories | Cut off |
| General | 92-96 |
| EWS | 90-94 |
| OBC | 91-95 |
| SC | 82-89 |
| ST | 75-81 |
| PwBD-1 | 52-62 |
| PwBD-2 | 42-62 |
| PwBD-3 | 57-67 |
| PwBD-5 | 57-67 |
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)
1. When is the official release date for the UPSC IAS answer key?
The official UPSC IAS answer key will be published upon the completion of the recruitment process.
2. What does the UPSC IAS answer key entail?
The UPSC IAS answer key encompasses all the correct responses to the questions posed in the exam. It will be officially released in PDF format solely on the official website after the exam concludes.
3. What advantages does the UPSC IAS answer key offer?
The UPSC IAS answer key assists students in predicting their probable scores using the provided marking scheme.
4. How can candidates download the UPSC CSE answer key?
Candidates can download the IAS answer key in the form of a PDF file.
5. Is there an option to challenge the UPSC IAS answer key?
No, UPSC does not provide any opportunity for candidates to challenge the UPSC IAS answer key.
In case you still have your doubts, contact us on 9811333901.
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