UPSC CMS Answer Key 2026: Provisional Key Representations

For CMS 2026, the representation window on the provisional answer keys is over: the CMS 2026 notice allowed five days, from the 3rd day of the examination date (2 August 2026) to 6:00 P.M. of the 7th day. The written result followed on 1 September 2026, and the Personality Tests run from 12 October to 17 December 2026. The 2026 notices give no date for final answer keys.

How did CMS 2026 representations work?

• What could be challenged: the questions asked in the papers and the Provisional Answer Keys of the objective papers.
• Where: upsconline.nic.in, under the header 'Examinations > Representations on Question Paper & Provisional Answer Keys'.
• Window: five days. UPSC's QPRep notice gives the example of an exam held on 1 March, with representations from 4 March to 8 March (till 6:00 p.m.).
• Not accepted: representations by email, post, hand or any other mode, or anything after the five days; UPSC does not correspond about them.

The rule changed from CMS 2025, whose notice gave seven days from the day after the exam, through upsconline.gov.in/miscellaneous/QPRep/, for representations on the questions asked only.

How to work out your CMS score from the key

The written examination has two papers of 250 marks each, two hours each, and both are of MBBS standard:

• Paper-I: 120 questions, 96 from General Medicine and 24 from Paediatrics.
• Paper-II: 120 questions, 40 each from Surgery, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, and Preventive & Social Medicine.

Every question has four alternatives. For each wrong answer, one third (0.33) of the marks assigned to that question is deducted; more than one answer counts as wrong even if one is correct, and a blank question carries no penalty. For each paper, add the marks of your correct answers and subtract one third of the marks of each wrong answer.

The Commission may fix qualifying marks in any or both papers. In CMS 2025, the written-stage standards were subject to a minimum of 25% marks in each paper for non-PwBD candidates and 10% for PwBD candidates. The final result is based on the written examination (Part-I, 500 marks) followed by the Personality Test (Part-II, 100 marks).

What happens after the representations?

• The written result of 1 September 2026 listed by roll number the candidates qualified for the Personality Test; 2,842 are on the interview schedule.
• Mark-sheets are uploaded after the final result, i.e. after the Personality Test, and stay online for 30 days. They open with roll number and date of birth.
• Printed mark-sheets are issued on request with a self-addressed stamped envelope, made within 30 days of the marks going online.
• In the CMS 2025 cycle, the final result was uploaded on 22 December 2025, the cut-off marks on 26 December 2025 and the marks of recommended candidates on 30 December 2025.

CMS answer key: past cycles