On Wednesday, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) made a notable change by releasing the provisional answer key for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026, which took place on Sunday. Historically, the UPSC has only released answer keys after final results, typically a year later. This new approach allows candidates to contest the answers provided in the key, with one question being dropped from the original 100. Candidates are invited to submit their representations by 6 PM on May 31, 2026, indicating their understanding of the correct answers and providing supporting documents from three credible sources. The UPSC stated that all representations will be reviewed by subject experts. However, the final answer key will still be released only after the final results are declared, adhering to the Commission's established practices. This year, approximately 5.49 lakh candidates appeared for the examination, competing for 933 Civil Services positions and 90 Indian Forest Service posts, highlighting the competitive nature of the selection process.