UPSC Prelims 2026 Answer Key — GS Paper 1
Evaluate your answers against 8+ coaching institute answer keys. Free instant score calculator, cutoff prediction, and question-wise community discussion — all in one place.
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Compare answer keys from 8+ top coaching institutes side by side. Quickly spot disputed questions where institutes disagree.
| Q# | UnlockIAS | Vision IAS | Insights IAS | Forum IAS | Vajiram | Shankar IAS | Drishti IAS | StudyIQ | Status |
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Showing 5 of 100 questions. Full comparison available after exam.
UPSC Prelims 2026 — Expected Cutoff
Category-wise expected cutoff based on paper difficulty analysis, historical trends, and community performance data.
| Category | Expected 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 90-100 | 98 | 98 | 82 |
| OBC | 82-92 | 90 | 89 | 75 |
| SC | 75-85 | 82 | 79 | 67 |
| ST | 70-80 | 77 | 74 | 61 |
| EWS | 78-88 | 86 | 85 | 69 |
Historical Cutoff Trend (General Category)
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Subject-Wise Analysis
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Top Disputed Questions
Questions where coaching institutes disagree on the correct answer. Community poll results help you gauge the most likely answer.
Disputed questions will be identified once multiple institute answer keys are uploaded.
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GS Paper 1 — Complete Answer Key Discussion
Question-by-question walkthrough of the official answer key with detailed explanations.
Notify MePrelims 2026 — Cutoff Prediction & Analysis
Data-driven cutoff prediction based on paper difficulty, trends, and community scores.
Notify MePost-Prelims Strategy — What To Do Next
Start your Mains preparation on the right note. Optional selection, answer writing, and more.
Notify MeCommon Questions About UPSC Prelims 2026 Answer Key
Q.How to calculate UPSC Prelims score?
Each correct answer in UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1 carries +2 marks and each incorrect answer carries -0.66 marks (1/3rd negative marking). Your total score = (Number of correct answers x 2) - (Number of incorrect answers x 0.66). Questions left unanswered carry no penalty. Use our free score calculator to get your estimated score instantly.
Q.What is the expected cutoff for UPSC Prelims 2026?
The expected UPSC Prelims 2026 cutoff for General category is estimated between 90-100 marks based on paper difficulty analysis. OBC cutoff is expected around 82-92, SC around 75-85, ST around 70-80, and EWS around 78-88 marks. These are estimates — the official cutoff will be released by UPSC after the Mains exam.
Q.Which coaching institute's answer key is most accurate?
No single institute is 100% accurate for all questions. Historically, the consensus answer (where most institutes agree) has been the most reliable predictor. Our comparison tool shows you where institutes agree and disagree, so you can identify disputed questions. Wait for the official UPSC answer key for final confirmation.
Q.When will UPSC release the official answer key?
UPSC typically releases the official answer key along with the Prelims result, usually 25-30 days after the exam. For UPSC Prelims 2026, the official key is expected by July 2026. Until then, use coaching institute answer keys for preliminary score estimation.
Q.How does negative marking work in UPSC Prelims?
UPSC Prelims follows a 1/3rd negative marking scheme. For every wrong answer, 1/3rd of the marks assigned to that question are deducted. Since each question carries 2 marks, the penalty per wrong answer is 0.66 marks. Unanswered questions carry zero penalty. This means you should only attempt questions where you can eliminate at least one option.
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