Exclusive: 8 UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 questions challenged, CAT issues notice to UPSC

The CAT has asked UPSC to respond to a plea challenging eight questions in the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026. The dispute focuses on alleged answer key errors, missing valid options and their effect on candidates' qualifying chances.UPSC Prelims 2026: CAT notice after candidates flag 8 questions in answer keyThe Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Principal Bench, New Delhi, has issued notice to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on a plea challenging eight questions in the Civil Services Preliminary Examination (CSE Prelims) 2026. The petitioners have alleged that the questions contained factual errors, had no sustainable correct options or went beyond the prescribed syllabus.The case was filed by Sachin Tiwari and others against UPSC and the Union of India. The applicants appeared for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 and challenged Questions 7, 11, 45, 60, 62, 82, 86 and 96 of General Studies Paper-I, Set A. The petitioners were represented by advocate Shantanu Jugtawat, an alumnus of NLIU Bhopal. He has been practising before the Supreme Court for the past 16 years and has appeared in several cases, including the Sabarimala and Hathras cases.The matter was taken up by the CAT on Monday, August 17. The tribunal has sought UPSC's response to the allegations and the reliefs sought by the petitioners, including a direction to disclose how their objections to the disputed questions were dealt with and whether they were accepted for correction or rejected, along with the reasons for the decisions. The next hearing is scheduled for October 8, 2026.8 UPSC CSE PRELIMS QUESTIONS CHALLENGEDUPSC published the provisional answer key for General Studies Paper I on May 27, 2026, and invited objections from candidates. The petitioners said they compared the answer key with primary government records, statutory provisions, official documents and other authoritative sources before raising objections. According to the petition, the candidates identified serious defects in eight questions. They alleged that the questions involved factual inaccuracies, incorrect answers in the provisional key, absence of a correct option or content that went beyond the notified syllabus.The petition gives question-wise details of the objections. The candidates have challenged the answer keys for Questions 7, 45, 60, 82, 86 and 96 on the ground that the answers marked by UPSC were contrary to authoritative source material. For Questions 11 and 62, they have argued that none of the four options provided was legally or factually sustainable.OBJECTIONS RAISED TO UPSC AGAINST THOSE 8 QUESTIONS The applicants said they submitted objections through UPSC's Question Paper Representation Portal during the prescribed window. They also sent a detailed representation to the Commission by email on June 2. The representation set out the alleged discrepancies question-wise and included supporting documents, official records and other material.The petitioners have claimed that they received no response from UPSC. They said they were therefore unaware whether their objections had been considered. They approached the tribunal after UPSC declared the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 result.The response sought from UPSC would address the petitioners' allegations and their request for correction or deletion of the disputed questions. The petitioners have also asked the Commission to disclose whether their objections were considered and, if rejected, the reasons for doing so.PETITIONERS SEEK CHANGES TO ANSWER KEYThe applicants have sought directions from UPSC to consider their objections and correct the provisional answer key. They have also sought deletion of the disputed questions from evaluation, with appropriate consequential relief for candidates.As an interim measure, the petitioners had asked the tribunal to direct UPSC to disclose how their objections were dealt with, including whether the disputed questions were accepted for correction or rejected and the reasons for such decisions.IMPACT ON UPSC CSE PRELIMS CUT-OFF, MAINSThe applicants have estimated that the disputed questions, along with the impact of negative marking, could affect more than 16 marks. They have argued that this represents a significant proportion of the anticipated qualifying cutoff and could directly affect candidates' chances of qualifying for the Civil Services Main Examination.The petition argues that the challenge is limited to specific questions and does not seek a wholesale reopening of the examination. The applicants have relied on Supreme Court judgments concerning judicial review of demonstrably incorrect answer keys. They have argued that objectively verifiable errors can warrant judicial intervention.The matter will next come up before the CAT on October 8, 2026. UPSC's response to the petition will be considered as the proceedings continue.- EndsPublished By: Mridusmita DekaPublished On: Aug 18, 2026 09:13 IST