UPSC CSE prelims 2025 answer key released
The Union Public Service Commission has released the UPSC CSE prelims 2025 answer key on its official websites, the commission confirmed. You can download General Studies Paper‑I and Paper‑II keys from upsc.gov.in and upsconline.gov.in now.
How to download UPSC CSE prelims 2025 answer key
Visit upsc.gov.in or upsconline.gov.in , open the ‘Examination’ menu and select ‘Answer Keys’. Click the link for General Studies Paper‑I or Paper‑II to view and save the PDF. Keep a printout or saved copy for your records.
UPSC CSE prelims 2025 answer key: marking scheme and what it means for you
The prelims marking scheme for CSE 2025 is published alongside the keys. Paper‑I awards +2 marks for each correct answer and deducts -0.66 for a wrong response. Paper‑II gives +2.5 for each correct answer and -0.83 for each wrong answer. No marks are added or deducted for unanswered questions.
Using the key and the marking scheme you can estimate your raw score by adding the positives and subtracting penalties for wrong answers. The Commission has not released subject‑wise cutoffs with the key.
Exam timeline and final outcome
The preliminary exam was held on May 25, 2025 . Candidates who cleared prelims sat the mains between August 22 and August 31, 2025 . Personality tests were conducted from January to April 2026 . The Commission declared the final results on March 6, 2026 .
Candidate numbers and final recommendations
According to UPSC data, 9.37 lakh candidates registered for CSE 2025 and 5.76 lakh appeared in the preliminary exam. A total of 14,161 candidates qualified for the main exam, and 2,736 were shortlisted for the personality test.
After all stages, the Commission recommended 958 candidates for appointment across services. The recommended list includes 659 men and 299 women . Recommended services cover IAS, IFS, IPS and various Central Group A and B services.
Immediate next steps for candidates
Download the answer key from the official site and compare your responses with the released keys. Use the published marking scheme to estimate your prelims score. For official records and further queries, consult the UPSC website where the keys are hosted.