The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) released the Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination 2026 answer key on 4 November 2026 for the exam held on 8 February 2026 under Notification No. 01/2026-GEOL. Official answer-key PDFs are available for all four papers: General Studies Paper I, Geophysics Paper II, Geology/Hydrogeology Paper II and Chemistry Paper II, covering question-paper Series A, B, C and D. The final CGS Examination result was already declared on 16 October 2026, so no objection window has been announced with this key. Candidates can download the PDFs from upsc.gov.in.
Important Note
1. This is a post-result answer key publication. The final UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist result was declared on 16 October 2026 and cut-off marks and recommended candidates’ marks were published on 21 and 30 October 2026 respectively. The answer key uploaded on 4 November 2026 does not open a new objection or challenge window.
2. General Studies Paper I carries 100 marks for 120 questions. Geophysics Paper II carries 300 marks for 120 questions. These are different weightings despite the same number of questions. Apply the examination’s official marking rules when reviewing your responses.
3. Both the General Studies and Geophysics answer keys confirm zero dropped questions. All 120 questions in each paper were taken for scoring.
UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Answer Key 2026: Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Examination | Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination 2026 |
| Notification No. | 01/2026-GEOL |
| Preliminary Exam Date | 8 February 2026 |
| Answer Key Release Date | 4 November 2026 |
| Papers Covered | General Studies Paper I, Geophysics Paper II, Geology/Hydrogeology Paper II, Chemistry Paper II |
| Available Series | A, B, C and D |
| Questions per Paper | 120 |
| Dropped Questions (GS and Geophysics) | 0 |
| Preliminary Result Date | 2 March 2026 |
| Main Exam Dates | 20 and 21 June 2026 |
| Final Result Date | 16 October 2026 |
| Objection Window | Not announced |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
Examination Timeline
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification | 3 September 2025 |
| Application Last Date | 23 September 2025 |
| Preliminary Examination | 8 February 2026 |
| Preliminary Result | 2 March 2026 |
| Main Examination | 20 and 21 June 2026 |
| Main Written Result | 20 July 2026 |
| Final Result | 16 October 2026 |
| Cut-Off Marks Published | 21 October 2026 |
| Marks of Recommended Candidates | 30 October 2026 |
| Preliminary Answer Key Released | 4 November 2026 |
Paper-Wise Answer Key Details
General Studies Paper I
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Paper | Paper I |
| Subject | General Studies |
| Total Questions | 120 |
| Maximum Marks | 100 |
| Dropped Questions | 0 |
| Questions Taken for Scoring | 120 |
| Available Series | A, B, C, D |
Geophysics Paper II
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Paper | Paper II |
| Subject | Geophysics |
| Total Questions | 120 |
| Maximum Marks | 300 |
| Dropped Questions | 0 |
| Questions Taken for Scoring | 120 |
| Available Series | A, B, C, D |
Geology/Hydrogeology Paper II and Chemistry Paper II
Both are available as separate PDFs on upsc.gov.in. Download the PDF for the subject you appeared in.
How to Download UPSC CGS Answer Key 2026
- Visit the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in.
- Go to the Examinations section.
- Find the Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination 2026 page.
- Locate the answer-key entry dated 4 November 2026.
- Select the paper: General Studies Paper I, Geophysics Paper II, Geology/Hydrogeology Paper II or Chemistry Paper II.
- Open the PDF.
- Find the page for your question-paper series (A, B, C or D).
- Compare the official answers against your attempted answers.
- Download and save the PDF.
How to Check Answers Using the Key
- Note your question-paper series from your admit card or question booklet.
- Download the PDF for your subject.
- Open the page for your series.
- For each question (1 to 120), note the UPSC-accepted answer option.
- Compare with the answer you marked during the examination.
- Apply the official marking and negative-marking scheme to estimate your score. Do not rely on informal calculations as final marks.
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| General Studies Paper I Answer Key PDF | Click Here |
| Geophysics Paper II Answer Key PDF | Click Here |
| Geology/Hydrogeology Paper II Answer Key PDF | Click Here |
| Chemistry Paper II Answer Key PDF | Click Here |
| UPSC CGS Preliminary Exam 2026 Official Page | Click Here |
| UPSC CGS Main Exam 2026 Final Result Page | Click Here |
| UPSC Official Website | Click Here |
FAQs
Is the UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Answer Key 2026 released?
Yes. UPSC released the CGS Preliminary Examination 2026 answer keys on 4 November 2026 for all four papers.
Which papers are covered in the UPSC CGS Answer Key 2026?
General Studies Paper I, Geophysics Paper II, Geology/Hydrogeology Paper II and Chemistry Paper II, all for the Combined Geo-Scientist Preliminary Examination held on 8 February 2026.
Is there an objection window for the UPSC CGS Answer Key 2026?
No objection window has been announced. The answer key was published after the final CGS Examination result was already declared on 16 October 2026.
How many questions were in each paper?
120 questions per paper. General Studies Paper I carries 100 marks and Geophysics Paper II carries 300 marks, despite both having 120 questions.
Were any questions dropped from the CGS Prelims 2026?
Both the General Studies and Geophysics answer keys explicitly state zero dropped questions. All 120 questions were taken for scoring.
When was the UPSC CGS Final Result 2026 declared?
The final Combined Geo-Scientist Examination result was declared on 16 October 2026. Cut-off marks were published on 21 October 2026.
Disclaimer
This article is based on the UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination 2026 answer keys uploaded on 4 November 2026 at upsc.gov.in under Notification No. 01/2026-GEOL. The dropped-question and marks-per-paper information is taken from the General Studies and Geophysics answer-key PDFs. Candidates should refer to the official examination notification for the complete marking scheme and negative-marking rules. JobShouter is not associated with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). This article is for informational purposes only.
