UPSC to publish provisional answer key after prelims

DIMAPUR — The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has informed the Supreme Court that it will publish provisional answer keys for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination after the exam is conducted, according to a report by LiveLaw.

Currently, the UPSC releases answer keys only after the entire Civil Services Examination cycle is completed, following the declaration of final results. The new policy will allow aspirants to access answer keys immediately after prelims.

Earlier, Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta, assisted by Advocate Pranjal Kishore, the amicus curiae appointed by the court, had suggested publishing a provisional answer key the day after the prelims.

The UPSC initially opposed this, filing an affidavit on May 15 stating that such a move would be “counter-productive” and could delay finalisation of the exam.

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However, in a latest affidavit filed on September 20, the commission revised its stand, calling the move a “conscious and well-considered decision” to improve transparency.

Following the release of provisional keys, candidates will be allowed to submit representations or objections, each backed by at least three authoritative sources. These, along with the provisional keys, will be reviewed by a panel of subject experts to finalise the answer keys, which will then form the basis for the declaration of final results.

The UPSC said that the decision will be implemented expeditiously and will address grievances raised by petitioners. “The decision taken by the UPSC is considered an effective and adequate redressal of the grievances raised and will enhance transparency in UPSC functioning,” the affidavit stated.

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The writ petition, filed in 2024, challenged UPSC’s practice of publishing marks, cut-offs, and answer keys only after the entire Civil Services Examination cycle ends.

Petitioners argued that candidates who fail to qualify for mains remain unaware of their preliminary performance, the minimum cut-off, and the basis of their rejection, leaving them “completely clueless” and unable to seek timely redress.

The petitioners cited instances such as the 2021 prelims, where delayed answer keys revealed discrepancies. Candidates with correct answers were reportedly rejected while others with incorrect answers advanced, by which time it was too late to contest.

The petition also alleged that delays in exams like the 2022 prelims prevent genuine grievances from surfacing before appointments, undermining transparency and fairness.

The matter is expected to be listed before a bench comprising Justices PS Narasimha and AS Chandurkar on October 6.