JPSC Civil Services Pre Answer Key 2026 – Out
The Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) has officially released the Provisional Answer Key for the Combined Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026, conducted on 17 March 2026 at examination centres across the state. Candidates who appeared for the prestigious Class-I gazetted recruitment can now download the answer keys for both Paper-I (General Studies) and Paper-II (General Studies-II) from the official portal jpsc.gov.in.
According to the Commission’s official notice, the answer key has been uploaded for all four series — A, B, C and D. Aspirants who wish to challenge any question or option may do so by paying the prescribed objection fee of ₹100 per question on or before 28 April 2026 (05:00 PM). The Commission has clarified that objections received after the cut-off date — or those submitted without supporting evidence and the requisite fee — shall not be entertained under any circumstances.
📌 Examination Overview
The 11th–13th Combined Civil Services Examination is being conducted by JPSC to recruit officers for various Class-I and Class-II posts under the Government of Jharkhand, including Deputy Collector, DSP, Block Development Officer, Jharkhand Education Service and allied cadres. The Preliminary stage serves as a screening test, and only those qualifying as per the category-wise cut-off will advance to the Mains examination.
| Particular | Detail |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) |
| Examination Name | 11th–13th Combined Civil Services Pre Exam 2026 |
| Exam Date | 17 March 2026 |
| Answer Key Release | 22 April 2026 |
| Objection Window | 22–28 April 2026 |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (OMR-based) |
| Total Vacancies | 342 Posts |
| Official Website | jpsc.gov.in |
📅 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 14 December 2025 |
| Online Application Begin | 20 December 2025 |
| Last Date to Apply | 19 January 2026 |
| Admit Card Released | 02 March 2026 |
| Preliminary Exam Date | 17 March 2026 |
| Provisional Answer Key | 22 April 2026 |
| Last Date for Objection | 28 April 2026 (05:00 PM) |
| Final Answer Key | To be Notified |
| Result Declaration | May 2026 (Tentative) |
👥 Vacancy Distribution
The Commission has announced a total of 342 vacancies across multiple cadres of the Jharkhand State Civil Services. The post-wise breakup is as under:
| Post Name | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Deputy Collector | 40 |
| Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) | 33 |
| Block Development Officer / CO | 57 |
| District Welfare Officer | 15 |
| Jharkhand Education Service Class-II | 87 |
| State Tax Officer | 22 |
| Labour Superintendent | 18 |
| Other Allied Posts | 70 |
| Total | 342 |
📝 Exam Pattern – Preliminary
The JPSC Pre Examination consists of two objective-type papers, both of which are compulsory. Paper-I is qualifying in nature (minimum 30%), while Paper-II marks are used for preparing the merit list for the Mains stage.
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | General Studies-I | 200 | 2 Hours |
| Paper-II | General Studies-II | 200 | 2 Hours |
| Total | 400 | 4 Hours | |
📥 How to Download JPSC Pre Answer Key 2026
Candidates can follow the step-by-step procedure given below to access and download the provisional answer key from the official portal:
- Visit the official JPSC website at jpsc.gov.in.
- On the homepage, click on the link titled “Provisional Answer Key – Combined Civil Services Pre Exam 2026”.
- A new page will open displaying separate PDFs for Paper-I and Paper-II.
- Select your respective Booklet Series (A / B / C / D).
- The answer key PDF will open in your browser.
- Download and save the file for future reference.
- Cross-verify your responses with the question paper to estimate your score.
⚖️ Objection / Representation Procedure
🚨 Challenge Window: 22 – 28 April 2026 (05:00 PM)
If any candidate finds the answer key incorrect or disputable, they may submit a written representation through the official online portal. Each objection must be supported by valid reasoning, authentic published source material, and the prescribed fee.
Fee: ₹100 per QuestionSteps to Raise Objection:
- Login to the candidate dashboard on jpsc.gov.in using registration number and date of birth.
- Click on the “Submit Objection / Representation” link.
- Select the question number, booklet series, and proposed correct option.
- Upload supporting documentary evidence (PDF / JPEG, max 2MB).
- Pay the objection fee of ₹100 per question through online gateway (Debit Card / Credit Card / Net Banking / UPI).
- Submit the form and download the acknowledgement slip for records.
🧮 How to Calculate Your Probable Score
Candidates can estimate their tentative score using the following formula based on the marking scheme prescribed by the Commission:
Each correct response carries 2 marks; each incorrect response attracts a deduction of 1/3rd of the allotted marks (i.e., 0.66 marks).
📊 Expected Cut-Off (Paper-II)
Based on the difficulty level of the exam, candidate response analysis, and trends from previous JPSC cycles, the expected qualifying cut-off for the Preliminary Examination 2026 is projected as follows:
| Category | Expected Cut-Off (out of 200) |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | 118 – 126 |
| EWS | 112 – 120 |
| BC-I | 108 – 116 |
| BC-II | 110 – 118 |
| SC | 96 – 104 |
| ST | 92 – 100 |
| PwBD | 88 – 96 |
Disclaimer: The above cut-off projections are indicative only, derived from analytical assessment of the paper. The actual cut-off shall be determined by the Commission based on vacancies, normalisation and number of qualified candidates.
🔗 Important Links
Direct Download Links
| Paper-I Answer Key (All Series) | Download |
| Paper-II Answer Key (All Series) | Download |
| Question Paper (Paper-I & II) | Download |
| Submit Online Objection | Apply |
| Official Notice | View |
| Official Website | jpsc.gov.in |
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When was the JPSC Civil Services Pre Answer Key 2026 released?
The Jharkhand Public Service Commission released the provisional answer key on 22 April 2026 on its official portal jpsc.gov.in.
What is the last date to raise objections against the answer key?
Candidates can submit objections till 28 April 2026 by 05:00 PM. Representations received after this deadline shall not be entertained.
What is the objection fee per question?
The Commission has prescribed a non-refundable fee of ₹100 per question, payable online through Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking or UPI.
How many vacancies have been notified for JPSC 2026?
A total of 342 vacancies have been notified across various Class-I and Class-II cadres including Deputy Collector, DSP, BDO and Jharkhand Education Service.
Is there negative marking in the JPSC Preliminary Examination?
Yes. 1/3rd mark (0.66) will be deducted for each incorrect answer. Unattempted questions will not invite any penalty.
When will the final answer key and result be declared?
After evaluating all objections through the expert committee, the Commission shall release the final answer key followed by the result, expected by May 2026.
How can I download the JPSC Pre Answer Key 2026?
Visit jpsc.gov.in → click on “Provisional Answer Key – Combined Civil Services Pre Exam 2026” → select your booklet series (A/B/C/D) → download the PDF for both Paper-I and Paper-II.
What is the qualifying criteria for Paper-I?
Paper-I (General Studies-I) is qualifying in nature with a minimum requirement of 30% marks. Only Paper-II marks are used for preparing the Pre merit list.