UPSC ISS Exam 2026: Provisional Answer Key for Statistics Papers I & II Released – Check and Raise Objections

UPSC ISS Provisional Answer Key 2026 Released

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the provisional answer keys for the Indian Statistical Service (ISS) Examination 2026 on 24 June 2026. Candidates who appeared for the examination can now download the answer keys for Statistics Paper I and Statistics Paper II from the official UPSC website. The provisional answer key allows candidates to assess their performance and, if necessary, raise objections against any answers they believe are incorrect before the final answer key is published.

About UPSC and the ISS Examination

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is India's premier central recruitment agency responsible for conducting various competitive examinations for Group A and Group B posts under the Government of India. The Indian Statistical Service (ISS) Examination is conducted annually to recruit officers for the Indian Statistical Service, a highly respected organized Group A Central Service. The examination tests candidates on subjects including Statistics, General English, and General Studies, with the Statistics papers being the most technical and weightage-heavy components. The provisional answer key released covers the objective/multiple-choice components of the Statistics papers.

UPSC ISS Answer Key 2026: Key Details and Paper Structure

The ISS Examination 2026 Statistics papers for which the provisional answer key has been released are:

• Statistics Paper I – Covers topics such as Probability, Statistical Methods, Numerical Analysis, and related areas.
• Statistics Paper II – Covers topics including Linear Models, Statistical Inference, Sampling Theory, and Econometrics.

Below is a quick reference table summarizing all key details related to the UPSC ISS Answer Key 2026 release:

How to Raise Objections Against UPSC ISS Provisional Answer Key

Candidates who disagree with any answer in the provisional answer key can submit a formal representation to UPSC within the stipulated objection window. The process for raising objections is as follows:

• Download the provisional answer key PDF for the relevant paper.
• Identify the question number(s) where you believe the answer is incorrect.
• Prepare a written representation with supporting references from standard textbooks or study material.
• Submit the representation to UPSC through the official channel specified in the answer key notification (typically by post or online submission to the UPSC office).
• UPSC will review all representations received before publishing the Final Answer Key.

After the objection period ends, UPSC's subject matter experts review all representations. Valid objections where an answer is found to be incorrect based on credible references result in changes to the final answer key. The Final Answer Key is then published on the official website. The final marks are computed based on the final (not provisional) answer key, which forms the basis for merit list preparation and eventual selection.

Step-by-Step Guide to Download UPSC ISS Provisional Answer Key

Follow these steps to download the UPSC ISS Provisional Answer Key 2026:

1. Visit the official UPSC website: upsc.gov.in
2. Click on "Examinations" from the top navigation menu.
3. Select "Written Examination" from the dropdown.
4. Scroll down and locate "Indian Statistical Service Examination 2026."
5. Click on the "Answer Key" link or use the direct PDF links provided below.
6. The PDF will open in your browser; download it using Ctrl+S or the download icon.
7. Match your answers with the provisional key and note any discrepancies.

Direct download links for the answer key PDFs:

• Statistics Paper I – Provisional Answer Key PDF: Download Here
• Statistics Paper II – Provisional Answer Key PDF: Download Here

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