UPSC CSE 2026 LIVE: Civil services prelims exam tomorrow in two shifts for 8.19 lakh; provisional answer key

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will conduct the UPSC civil services prelims exam 2026 tomorrow in two shifts. Students appearing for the UPSC CSE prelims 2026 exam must carry their admit card and ID proof for verification purposes, and a black ballpoint pen to fill the OMR answer sheet and attendance list.

As per the commission’s guidelines, students must reach the UPSC CSE prelims 2026 exam centre atleast 30 minutes before the exam begins. More than 8.19 lakh candidates are set to appear for the prelims exam.

UPSC CSE 2026 prelims exam will be held in two sessions: General Studies Paper 1 will be conducted from 9:30 am to 11:30 am, while CSAT Paper 2 will be held from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm.

Candidates appearing for the exam can download the CSE prelims admit card 2026 on the official website, upsc.gov.in.

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UPSC CSE Prelims 2026: Exam-day guidelines

Candidates appearing for the UPSC CSE prelims 2026 are not allowed to enter the examination premises with valuable or costly items, mobile phones, smart/digital watches, other IT gadgets, books, bags, etc. Candidates are also advised not to bring banned items, as venue supervisors will not make any arrangements for keeping these items at the venue.

Candidates can use the normal or simple wrist inside the examination rooms/halls. However, the use of watches fitted with any special accessory that might be used as a communication device or smart watches is strictly prohibited.

UPSC civil services exams are conducted once a year in three stages, including preliminary, mains, and interview for recruitment to services including Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS).

UPSC CSE Prelims Answer Key 2026

Notably, the commission has introduced the new reform to issue UPSC CSE provisional answer keys shortly after the conduct of the exam to improve transparency among students and uphold exam standards.

Once the CSE prelims provisional answer key 2026 is issued, candidates can submit their challenges on the official website, upsconline.nic.in/login, via Online Question Paper Representation Portal (QPRep) by May 31 till 6 pm.