UPSC Gets SC Nod To Publish Provisional Answer Keys After Prelims

The policy decision marks a departure from the UPSC’s earlier practice of publishing them only after the completion of the year-long recruitment cycle of three levels of examinations – preliminary (multiple choice objective), Main (descriptive written), and the personality test.

Reportedly, a Bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Atul S Chandurkar, while hearing a batch of petitions challenging the “opaque” policy, recorded its appreciation for the UPSC and for the constructive role played by senior advocate Jaideep Gupta and advocate Pranjal Kishore, whose suggestions helped shape the reform.

Welcome Move

“The proposal put forth by Mr. Gupta is excellent. This is participatory adversarialism at work,” the Bench observed, while endorsing his recommendation that the UPSC publish provisional answer keys within a day of the preliminary examination to enhance transparency and public confidence in the evaluation process.

The Bench also clarified that any residual grievances raised by candidates could be addressed before the jurisdictional High Courts, which it directed to decide such matters expeditiously.

The petitions contended that there was “neither rhyme nor reason” in the UPSC’s earlier policy of publishing marks, cut-off scores, and answer keys only after the entire examination process had concluded. The court was told that early disclosure would allow aspirants to challenge erroneous questions and would not “frustrate” their cause of action.

Responding to the petitions, the UPSC, in an affidavit filed on May 13, had initially opposed the suggestion to release provisional answer keys soon after the preliminary examination, stating that such a move could lead to “uncertainty and delay in the finalisation of the exam”.

Provisional Answer Keys

However, in a subsequent affidavit filed on September 20, the examining body informed the court that, during the pendency of the proceedings, it had arrived at a “conscious and well-considered decision” to publish provisional answer keys immediately after the preliminary examination.

The affidavit said the decision was taken “after comprehensive deliberation and in view of the pious role assigned to the UPSC as a constitutional body.”

It, however, clarified that candidates appearing in the examination would be permitted to submit representations or objections to the provisional keys, each supported by at least three authoritative sources. “Objections which are not so supported shall be rejected at the threshold. However, the Commission will decide whether the sources produced are authoritative,” it added.

Detailed Consideration

Now the new policy stipulates that the provisional answer keys and the objections received by the UPSC, will be placed before a team of subject experts for detailed consideration before finalisation.

The finalised answer key will form the basis for declaring the preliminary examination results, while the final answer key will continue to be published after the declaration of the final results.