UPSC Prelims 2019 Answer Key: GS Paper I & CSAT (Official)
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the official Answer Key for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2019, covering both General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II (CSAT). The answer key was made available on the official UPSC website on 11 August 2020, after the complete examination process for the 2019 cycle, including the final result, had been concluded. Candidates who appeared for the UPSC Prelims 2019 exam can use this official key to verify their responses and calculate their probable score.
About the Exam
The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2019 was conducted on Sunday, 2 June 2019. It is the first stage of the three-stage Civil Services Examination (Prelims, Mains, and Interview) used to recruit officers for the IAS, IPS, IFS, and other allied central services. The Prelims exam consists of two objective-type papers with negative marking, which is why UPSC releases a written answer key rather than declaring individual results at this stage.
Detail Information
Exam Name Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2019
Conducting Body Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Exam Date 2 June 2019
Answer Key Release Date 11 August 2020
Answer Key Type Official (Final)
Papers Covered General Studies Paper I, General Studies Paper II (CSAT)
Sets/Series Available Series A, B, C, D
Official Website upsc.gov.in
Paper-wise Structure Covered in the Answer Key
The answer key has been issued separately for both papers of the Prelims exam:
General Studies Paper I: Objective-type paper with 100 questions, released in four sets (Series A, B, C, D).
General Studies Paper II (CSAT): Objective-type qualifying paper with 80 questions, also released across all four sets.
Each set contains the same questions arranged in a different order, so candidates must match answers to the specific set/series printed on their own question paper booklet, not just the paper name.
Answer Key Release Timeline
Unlike many state-level exams where a provisional key is released soon after the test for candidates to raise objections, UPSC follows a different practice. UPSC does not release a separate provisional answer key with an open objection window for Prelims. Instead, the commission publishes the final answer key only after the entire Civil Services Examination cycle, including Mains, Interview, and the final result, is complete. For the 2019 cycle, the final result was announced on 4 August 2020, and the official answer key followed shortly after on 11 August 2020.
Objection or Challenge Process
Not specified in the available notification. UPSC does not typically run a public objection/challenge window for Civil Services Prelims answer keys the way some other Sarkari exams do. Candidates should refer to the official UPSC notification or website for any specific representation process, if applicable.
Negative Marking Pattern
Both papers of the UPSC Prelims carry negative marking for incorrect answers:
General Studies Paper I: 1/3rd (0.66 marks) deducted for every wrong answer.
General Studies Paper II (CSAT): 1/3rd (0.83 marks) deducted for every wrong answer, out of the total marks allotted to that question.
No marks are deducted for questions left unattempted.
How to Check the UPSC Prelims 2019 Answer Key
Visit the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in.
Go to the Examinations section and select Answer Keys from the menu.
Look for Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2019 in the answer key archive.
Open the PDF for General Studies Paper I or General Studies Paper II (CSAT) as required.
Identify your Series/Set (A, B, C, or D) from your original question paper booklet and match your responses accordingly.
Important Note for Candidates
YuvaJobs.com is not the official examination authority for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. This article is intended to help candidates understand the status and process related to the UPSC Prelims 2019 Answer Key. For the actual, question-wise correct answers, candidates must refer only to the official PDF released by UPSC on its website, as third-party sources may contain errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Has UPSC released the official answer key for Prelims 2019?
Yes, UPSC released the official answer key for both GS Paper I and GS Paper II (CSAT) of the 2019 Prelims exam on 11 August 2020.
Q2. Is this a provisional or final answer key?
It is the final official answer key, released after completion of the entire 2019 Civil Services Examination cycle and declaration of the final result.
Q3. How many sets/series were released in the answer key?
The answer key was released for all four sets: Series A, Series B, Series C, and Series D.
Q4. Where can I download the UPSC Prelims 2019 answer key?
It can be downloaded from the official UPSC website, upsc.gov.in, under the Examinations and Answer Keys section.
Q5. Is there a response sheet available for UPSC Prelims 2019?
Not specified in the available notification. Candidates should check the official UPSC website for information on response sheets.
Q6. Can candidates raise objections against the UPSC Prelims answer key?
Not specified in the available notification, as UPSC generally releases only a final key without a public objection window for Prelims.
Q7. What is the negative marking scheme in UPSC Prelims?
For GS Paper I, 0.66 marks are deducted per wrong answer; for GS Paper II (CSAT), 0.83 marks are deducted per wrong answer.
