JPSC CCS Prelims Answer Key 2026 has been released by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission on 23 June 2026. The corrected final answer key covers both Paper I and Paper II of the preliminary examination held on 10 May 2026. After reviewing candidate objections submitted between 02-05 June 2026, JPSC dropped 2 questions from Paper I and 4 questions from Paper II, with all candidates receiving full marks for these questions. This article is based on the official press release (Gyapank Sankhya 2082, dated 23 June 2026) issued by JPSC from its Ranchi office.
Candidates who appeared in the exam can now download the answer key PDF and cross-check their responses to calculate their probable score before preparing for the Mains examination scheduled for 25-27 July 2026.
Answer Key – Key Details
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) |
| Exam Name | Jharkhand Combined Civil Services (Backlog) Preliminary Exam 2023 |
| Advertisement Number | 06/2026 |
| Exam Date | 10/05/2026 |
| Answer Key Type | Corrected Final Answer Key |
| Answer Key Release Date | 23/06/2026 |
| Objection Window | 02/06/2026 to 05/06/2026 (Closed) |
| Questions Dropped – Paper I | 2 |
| Questions Dropped – Paper II | 4 |
| Mains Exam Dates | 25/07/2026, 26/07/2026, 27/07/2026 |
| Official Website | https://www.jpsc.gov.in |
How to Download the JPSC CCS Prelims Answer Key 2026
Follow these steps to download the corrected answer key PDF from the official JPSC portal:
- Open the official JPSC website at jpsc.gov.in in your web browser.
- Navigate to the “Latest News” or “Notifications” section displayed on the homepage.
- Search for the notification titled “Corrected Answer Key – Jharkhand Combined Civil Services (Backlog) PT Exam 2023, Advt. No. 06/2026.”
- Click the download link to open the corrected answer key PDF.
- Cross-check your answers against your recorded responses using the series (A, B, C, or D) marked on your admit card.
- For questions dropped by JPSC (2 from Paper I, 4 from Paper II), all candidates automatically receive full marks.
Calculate Your Probable Score
The JPSC Combined Civil Services preliminary examination carries a total of 200 marks. Both Paper I and Paper II are equally weighted, with 100 marks each. The marking scheme operates as follows:
- Correct answer: +1 mark
- Wrong answer: -0.25 marks (negative marking)
- Unattempted question: 0 marks
Example calculation: If you attempted 80 questions with 60 correct and 20 wrong across both papers combined:
Score = (60 × +1) – (20 × 0.25) = 60 – 5 = 55 marks
Since JPSC dropped 6 questions total (2 from Paper I, 4 from Paper II), all candidates received a +6 bonus mark. In the above example, your adjusted score would be 55 + 6 = 61 marks.
Compare your calculated score against previous cutoffs to estimate whether you will qualify for the Mains examination.
Understanding the Dropped Questions
JPSC reviewed all objections submitted by candidates during the 02-05 June 2026 objection window. After subject expert evaluation, the commission decided to drop 2 questions from Paper I (General Studies – First Paper) and 4 questions from Paper II (General Studies – Second Paper). All candidates, regardless of their answer choice for these questions, receive full marks, effectively adding 6 marks to every candidate’s preliminary score.
Dropped questions do not require individual objection review; they are credited automatically during final score computation.
What Happens Next
- Final answer key published on 23 June 2026 – objection window now closed.
- Cutoff marks for Mains qualification to be declared by JPSC (date to be notified).
- Mains (Written) Examination scheduled for 25, 26, and 27 July 2026.
- Candidates must download their admit card from jpsc.gov.in before the Mains exam date.
- Document verification and interview rounds to follow after the Mains result declaration.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Preliminary Exam Conducted | 10/05/2026 |
| Objection Submission Window | 02/06/2026 to 05/06/2026 |
| Corrected Answer Key Released | 23/06/2026 |
| Mains Exam Date | 25/07/2026 to 27/07/2026 |
| Official Website | jpsc.gov.in |
Important Links
| Particulars | Link |
|---|---|
| Download Corrected Answer Key PDF | Download PDF |
| Visit Official Website | Visit Website |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Has the JPSC CCS Prelims Answer Key 2026 been finalized?
Ans. Yes. JPSC released the corrected final answer key on 23 June 2026 after reviewing all objections submitted during 02-05 June 2026. This is the final answer key; no further objections are accepted.
Q2. How many questions were dropped from the JPSC CCS Prelims 2026?
Ans. A total of 6 questions were dropped: 2 from Paper I and 4 from Paper II. All candidates receive full marks for these questions, adding 6 marks to their final score.
Q3. What is the marking scheme for the JPSC CCS Preliminary Exam?
Ans. Each correct answer earns +1 mark. Each incorrect answer results in -0.25 marks (negative marking). Unattempted questions carry 0 marks. The total marks for the preliminary exam is 200 (100 per paper).
Q4. When is the JPSC CCS Mains Exam 2026 scheduled?
Ans. The Mains (Written) Examination is tentatively scheduled for 25, 26, and 27 July 2026. Candidates should monitor the official JPSC website for the official admit card and detailed exam schedule.
Q5. Can I raise objections against the corrected answer key?
Ans. No. The objection window closed on 05 June 2026. The corrected answer key released on 23 June 2026 is final. JPSC does not accept objections after this date.
Q6. How do I check my recorded responses against the answer key?
Ans. Download the corrected answer key PDF from jpsc.gov.in. Match each of your answers (recorded on your admit card by series A, B, C, or D) against the official key. For dropped questions, you automatically receive full marks.
Q7. What happens if I passed the Mains cutoff?
Ans. Candidates who meet the official Mains cutoff marks will be shortlisted for the Mains (Written) Examination. After Mains result declaration, qualified candidates will proceed to document verification and interview stages in the final selection process.
Q8. Where can I find the official press release for this answer key?
Ans. The official press release (Gyapank Sankhya 2082, dated 23 June 2026) is available on the JPSC website at jpsc.gov.in. It confirms the release of the corrected answer key and announces the tentative Mains exam dates.
Your Next Steps
Download the corrected answer key before preparing for the Mains examination on 25-27 July 2026, and cross-check all your responses to calculate your probable score. Focus your Mains preparation on subjects and topics where your preliminary performance was weakest. Keep visiting jpsc.gov.in for official Mains admit card release and schedule updates.
