UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2024: Download Paper 1 & 2 Official Answer Key PDF

UPSC Prelims 2024 Answer Key has been released on the official website @upsc.gov.in on 21st May, 2025. The UPSC Prelims 2024 was conducted on June 16, 2024, marking the first stage of the Civil Services Examination. The official answer key providing the correct answers for both GS Paper I and the CSAT for SET A, B, C and D has been released after the final result 2024 is declared. A total of 03 questions were dropped from GS Paper 1, while no questions have been dropped from the CSAT in the final UPSC Answer Key 2024. All UPSC Civil Services aspirants must download the official UPSC Prelims 2024 Answer Key PDF to tally their answers and analyze the previous exam question paper. 

Practicing UPSC Previous Year Question Papers by keeping the official answer keys side by side is a useful practice for candidates to self-evaluate their performance by identifying areas of strength and improvement. By reviewing the previous year's answer keys, candidates can realistically predict their chances of qualifying for the UPSC Mains. In this blog, download the official UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2024 for both GS Paper 1 and the CSAT for effective preparation. 

UPSC CSE Prelims Answer Key 2024

UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2024 is now available to download! This is the official UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2024 which provides the correct answers to the General Studies Paper I (GS Paper 1) and the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT), which is General Studies Paper II. Candidates preparing for the upcoming IAS Prelims Exam can download the official Prelims 2024 Answer Key for GS 1 and CSAT in the following sections.

Also find out UPSC Prelims Subject Wise Weightage for GS 1 and CSAT

UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1 Answer Key 2024 PDF Download

GS Paper 1 is the first stage of the UPSC Prelims. It comprises a total of 100 questions for 200 marks. The official UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1 Answer Key PDF set-wise is provided below

Also download year-wise UPSC Answer Key for last-minute revision using previous question papers – 

• UPSC Prelims 2025 Answer Key
• UPSC Prelims 2023 Answer Key
• UPSC Prelims 2022 Answer Key
• UPSC Prelims 2021 Answer Key

CSAT 2024 Answer Key PDF

The CSAT is the 2nd stage of UPSC Prelims, which is conducted for a total of 80 questions for 200 marks each. It is a qualifying paper, meaning that your CSAT score will not be counted in the final UPSC Marks. Download the set wise UPSC CSAT 2024 Answer Key from the table below –

Go through the detailed UPSC Prelims Syllabus for GS Paper 1 & CSAT!

UPSC CSE Prelims 2024 Answer Key With Solutions

UPSC Prelims 2024 Answer Key has been released mentioning the correct answers for the questions asked in the Prelims GS Paper 1 and the CSAT. Candidates can check the official Answer Key with detailed solutions in the table below –

Also download – UPSC Prelims 2025 Question Paper

How to Download UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2024?

The UPSC CSE Prelims Answer Key 2024 is available for download on the official website @upsc.gov.in. Candidates can download the set wise official Answer Key PDF for IAS Prelims 2024 by following the steps given below –

Step 1 – Visit the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in.

Step 2 – Navigate to the 'Examination' tab and select 'Answer Keys' from the dropdown menu.

Step 3 – Locate the link for the 'Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2024' answer key.

Step 4 – Click on the link to open the PDF document.

Step 5 – Download and save the PDF for reference.

Alternatively, the official UPSC Prelims 2024 Answer Key PDF is also available for download on this page. 

Estimate your Prelims Marks with UPSC Marks Calculator & UPSC Negative Marking Calculator.

Last 5 Years’ UPSC Answer Key: GS Paper 1 & CSAT

The official UPSC Answer Key 2024 is out for both GS Paper 1 & CSAT. For UPSC aspirants, it is crucial to go through the previous year answer keys to understand the exam pattern, self-evaluate performance and refine their preparation. These answer keys, released by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) post-final results, provide official solutions for both General Studies (GS) Paper I and the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) Paper II.

This is invaluable for identifying recurring question patterns, understanding the emphasis on specific topics, and enhancing answer-writing skills. Download the official UPSC CSE Answer Keys from 2024 – 2021 for both GS Paper 1 and CSAT from the table below – 

How to Use UPSC Prelims 2024 Answer Key for Preparation?

Candidates can utilize the UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2024 to estimate their marks. This is especially useful for candidates who are solving UPSC Prelims 2024 Question Paper as part of their IAS Preparation. Such candidates can keep the UPSC Prelims 2024 Answer Key handy to self-evaluate their scores by following the official marking scheme. Follow the steps given below to calculate marks using the official answer key PDF – 

• Download Official Answer Key PDF – Obtain the official or unofficial answer key for your specific set (A, B, C, or D). Download it using the links provided above.
• Match Your Responses – Compare your answers with the correct ones provided in the answer key.
• Count Correct Answers – For each correct answer, assign the marks specified in the marking scheme. For example, for GS Paper 1, allot yourself +2 marks for every correct answer, while for the CSAT, allot yourself +2.5 marks for each correct answer. 
• Count Incorrect Answers – For each incorrect answer, apply the negative marking as per the scheme. For GS 1, deduct –0.66 marks per incorrect response, while deduct –0.83 marks per incorrect answer in the CSAT paper. 
• Calculate Unanswered Questions – For unanswered questions, allocate zero marks.
• Compute Total Score – Sum up the marks for all questions to get your estimated score. 

Also read – 

• UPSC Prelims 2023 Question Paper
• UPSC 2022 Question Paper
• UPSC 2021 Question Paper
• UPSC 2020 Question Paper
• UPSC 2019 Question Paper

UPSC Prelims Answer Key Marking Scheme

To estimate your Prelims marks using the official Answer Key, it is essential to go through the UPSC Marking Scheme for GS Paper 1 and CSAT Papers. Check the official marking pattern for UPSC Prelims in the table below – 

Note: The CSAT is a qualifying paper; only the GS Paper I score is considered for the final result.

We hope you found this UPSC Prelims 2024 Answer Key useful in your exam preparation! Download the Testbook App now to get last-minute preparation tips and best-in-class study materials, test series and expert coaching for IAS Preparation!