UPSC CMS Answer Key 2026 Out: Download Paper 1 & 2 PDF
The UPSC CMS Answer Key 2026 was released for candidates who appeared in the Combined Medical Services Examination held on August 2, 2026. The provisional answer keys were reported as released on August 5, 2026 for both Paper 1 and Paper 2, covering question-paper Series A, B, C and D.Candidates can use the answer key to compare their answers and get an idea of their likely written-exam score. However, it is important to use the correct marking scheme because UPSC CMS has negative marking.
According to reports published after the answer key release, no question was dropped from either Paper 1 or Paper 2 in the provisional key.
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UPSC CMS Answer Key 2026: Quick Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Examination | Combined Medical Services Examination 2026 |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission |
| Exam Date | August 2, 2026 |
| Provisional Answer Key | Released |
| Reported Release Date | August 5, 2026 |
| Paper 1 | General Medicine and Paediatrics |
| Paper 2 | Surgery, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Preventive & Social Medicine |
| Question Paper Series | A, B, C and D |
| Written Exam Marks | 500 |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
The UPSC CMS written examination contains two papers carrying 250 marks each, making the written stage worth 500 marks in total.
UPSC CMS Answer Key 2026 PDF for Paper 1 and Paper 2
The answer key is prepared separately for both CMS papers.
Paper 1 – General Medicine and Paediatrics
Paper 1 contains 120 questions. Of these, 96 questions are from General Medicine and 24 are from Paediatrics. The paper carries 250 marks.
Paper 2 – Surgery, Gynaecology & Obstetrics and Preventive & Social Medicine
Paper 2 also contains 120 questions. There are 40 questions each from Surgery, Gynaecology & Obstetrics and Preventive & Social Medicine. It carries 250 marks.
Candidates should make sure they are checking the answers against the same question-paper series they received in the examination.
Quick Tip: Do not compare only question numbers with another series. The order may differ between Series A, B, C and D. Match your booklet series first.
How to Check UPSC CMS Answer Key 2026
Candidates looking for the official answer key can check the UPSC examination portal.
- Visit the official UPSC website.
- Open the Examinations section.
- Look for Combined Medical Services Examination, 2026 or the Answer Keys section.
- Open the provisional answer key notice, if currently available.
- Select Paper 1 or Paper 2.
- Match the answers with your correct question-paper series.
- Save the PDF for score calculation and future reference.
Candidates should always rely on the official UPSC portal rather than old third-party download buttons that may stop working after some time.
UPSC CMS 2026 Marking Scheme
Understanding negative marking is important before calculating your expected marks.
UPSC applies one-third negative marking for each incorrect answer.
If more than one option is selected, the answer is treated as incorrect. There is no penalty for a question left unanswered.
Since each paper carries 250 marks for 120 questions, one question is worth approximately 2.083 marks.
An incorrect answer therefore results in a deduction of approximately 0.694 marks.
You can estimate your score with this simple formula:
Estimated Score = Marks for Correct Answers − Negative Marks for Wrong Answers
Example
Suppose a candidate gets:
- 90 questions correct
- 20 questions wrong
- 10 questions unanswered
Marks for correct answers:
90 × 2.083 = 187.47
Negative marks:
20 × 0.694 = 13.88
Estimated score:
187.47 − 13.88 = 173.59 marks
This is only an estimated score. The final marks will depend on UPSC’s evaluation and final answer decisions.
Tip: Calculate Paper 1 and Paper 2 separately first. Then add both scores to get an approximate total out of 500.
Was Any Question Dropped in UPSC CMS 2026?
Reports based on the provisional answer key state that no questions were dropped in either CMS Paper 1 or Paper 2.
All questions were therefore taken into account for scoring at the provisional-answer-key stage.
This is an important detail because a dropped question can affect how candidates estimate their final marks.
SOME USEFUL IMPORTANT LINKS
| Download Answer Key | Click Here ↗ |
| Download Admit Card | Click Here ↗ |
| Check Exam Date Notice | Click Here ↗ |
| Apply Online Link | Click Here ↗ |
| Check Official Notification | Click Here ↗ |
| UPSC Official Website | Click Here ↗ |
UPSC CMS Answer Key 2026 Objection Window
UPSC provides candidates with a limited period to raise objections or submit representations regarding questions and provisional answer keys.
For CMS 2026, candidates were given a five-day window to submit representations.
The representation period started from the third day after the examination and continued until 6 PM on the seventh day.
Since the examination was conducted on August 2, 2026, the objection period has now passed.
Candidates were required to submit representations through the official UPSC online portal. Objections submitted through email, post, hand delivery or other modes were not accepted.
Tip: Candidates who submitted an objection should keep any acknowledgement or supporting record until the recruitment process is completed.
UPSC CMS Question Papers 2026
Candidates who want to check the answer key properly should keep the official question papers with them.
UPSC uploaded the CMS 2026 question papers shortly after the examination.
The two question papers are:
Paper 1: General Medicine and Paediatrics
Paper 2: Surgery, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Preventive & Social Medicine
Using the official question paper together with the correct answer-key series is safer than relying only on memory or unofficial answer discussions.
What Happens After the UPSC CMS Answer Key?
Candidates who qualify in the written examination move to the Personality Test or Interview stage.
The written examination carries 500 marks, while the Personality Test carries another 100 marks.
Candidates who qualify in the written examination are called for the Personality Test.
The interview does not only test medical knowledge. UPSC may also assess qualities such as:
- General knowledge
- Judgement
- Alertness
- Integrity
- Initiative
- Leadership
- Academic knowledge
Candidates who believe their expected answer-key score is competitive can start preparing for the interview instead of waiting until the final result is announced.
UPSC CMS Result 2026
The UPSC CMS Result 2026 will determine which candidates move from the computer-based examination to the Personality Test.
Candidates should regularly check the official UPSC website for the written examination result and further recruitment updates.
It is better to rely on official notices rather than predicted result dates published on unofficial websites.
Frequently Asked Question’s
Final Words
The UPSC CMS Answer Key 2026 helps candidates understand how they performed in Paper 1 and Paper 2 before the recruitment process moves further.
While calculating your expected marks, make sure you use the correct question-paper series and apply the one-third negative marking for incorrect answers.
Candidates with a good expected score should also start preparing for the Personality Test instead of waiting until the last moment.
For any new update related to the final answer key, result, interview or recruitment process, candidates should always check the official UPSC website first.
