Union Public Service Commission is conducting the UPSC Civil Services Prelims Exam 2026 on May 24, 2026. After the exam is over, candidates can check the UPSC Prelims 2026 CSAT Answer Key PDF to verify their responses and calculate their expected score in Paper 2.
| Question Paper PDF | Answer Key PDF | Detailed Solution |
|---|---|---|
| UPSC Prelims 2026 CSAT Question Paper and Answer Key PDF (SET A) |
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| UPSC Prelims 2026 CSAT Question Paper and Answer Key PDF (SET B) |
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| UPSC Prelims 2026 CSAT Question Paper and Answer Key PDF (SET C) |
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| UPSC Prelims 2026 CSAT Question Paper and Answer Key PDF (SET D) |
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CSAT paper, also known as General Studies Paper 2, is qualifying in nature. Candidates must score the minimum qualifying marks in CSAT, while the marks obtained in General Studies Paper 1 are considered for shortlisting candidates for the Mains examination.
Also Check: UPSC Prelims 2026 GS Answer Key PDF, Check Detailed Solution
The CSAT paper carries 200 marks and generally includes 80 objective-type questions. Each question carries 2.5 marks. For every incorrect answer, one-third of the marks assigned to the question is deducted. This means around 0.83 marks are deducted for each wrong answer.
There is no penalty for questions left unanswered. Candidates need to score at least 33% marks, which is 66 marks out of 200, to qualify the CSAT paper.
Most candidates who appeared for the UPSC CSAT 2026 paper found it difficult and lengthy. The Reading Comprehension section was the most time-consuming, as it included several long passages that required careful reading and quick interpretation. However, candidates with a strong command of basic concepts, formulas, and regular practice found the Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude sections comparatively manageable.
Ques: How can candidates use the UPSC Prelims 2026 CSAT Answer Key?
Ans: Candidates can use the answer key to match their responses with the correct answers and calculate their expected marks in Paper 2.
Ques: What is the qualifying mark for UPSC Prelims CSAT 2026?
Ans: The CSAT paper is qualifying in nature. Candidates need to score at least 33% marks, which is 66 out of 200 marks, to qualify.
Ques: Is there negative marking in the UPSC Prelims 2026 CSAT paper?
Ans: Yes, negative marking is applicable. For every incorrect answer, one-third of the marks assigned to that question is deducted.
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