CAT Notice to UPSC Over 8 Disputed Questions in Prelims 2026

UPSC Prelims 2026 has come under legal scrutiny after the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) issued a notice to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) over eight disputed questions in the General Studies Paper-I. Four candidates who did not qualify the Prelims have challenged the questions, claiming that factual errors, allegedly incorrect answers in the provisional answer key and questions without a sustainable correct option could have affected their scores by more than 16 marks.

The development comes just before the UPSC Mains 2026, scheduled from August 21 to August 30, 2026. CAT has asked UPSC to respond, with the next hearing scheduled for October 8, 2026.

What Is the UPSC Prelims 2026 CAT Case?

The CAT notice to UPSC relates to a petition filed by candidates challenging eight questions from UPSC Prelims 2026 General Studies Paper-I.

According to the petition, the candidates compared the UPSC Provisional Answer Key with government records, statutory provisions, official documents and other authoritative material. They alleged that some answers marked by the Commission did not match authoritative sources, while some questions allegedly did not have a legally or factually sustainable answer among the options provided.

The candidates had initially raised their objections through the prescribed UPSC Question Paper Representation Portal. They also sent a detailed representation to the Commission by email on June 2, along with supporting documents. They claim that they did not receive a response explaining whether their objections had been accepted or rejected.

Which 8 UPSC Prelims 2026 Questions Are Disputed?

The petition challenges Questions 7, 11, 45, 60, 62, 82, 86 and 96 of General Studies Paper-I, Set A.

According to the reported details:

• Questions 7, 45, 60, 82, 86 and 96 have been challenged on the ground that the answers marked in the provisional key allegedly contradict authoritative source material.
• Questions 11 and 62 have been challenged because the petitioners claim that none of the four options provided is legally or factually sustainable.
• The petition also alleges factual inaccuracies in some of the questions.
• The candidates argue that these issues could materially affect the Prelims score and qualifying chances.

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Why Are More Than 16 Marks Important?

The biggest concern for candidates is the possible impact of the disputed questions on the UPSC Prelims Cutoff.

The petitioners have estimated that the combined impact of the disputed questions, including the effect of negative marking, could exceed 16 marks. In a highly competitive examination, even a small difference in marks can determine whether a candidate qualifies for the next stage

UPSC Provisional Answer Key 2026 Why Is It Significant?

The UPSC Provisional Answer Key 2026 has particular importance in this case because the Commission made the provisional keys public before the Mains examination this year.

This was the first time UPSC published the provisional answer keys before the Mains examination, following a Supreme Court direction. The provisional key was released on May 27, 2026, allowing candidates to submit objections.

About Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT)

The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) is a specialised judicial body established under the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 to deal with service-related disputes involving employees of the Central Government and certain other covered authorities. It provides a dedicated forum for resolving matters related to recruitment, appointments, promotions, service conditions, disciplinary actions and other employment-related issues.

• Established: 1985 under the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985
• Purpose: To provide speedy and specialised resolution of service matters
• Jurisdiction: Primarily covers Central Government employees and recruitment-related service disputes
• Key matters: Recruitment, appointment, promotion, seniority, disciplinary action, dismissal and service conditions
• Benches: CAT functions through its Principal Bench in New Delhi and various other benches across India.
• UPSC-related matters: Candidates can approach CAT in eligible service and recruitment disputes involving UPSC examinations and Central Government services, subject to its jurisdiction.
• Judicial review: CAT's orders can be challenged before the concerned High Court, subject to applicable law and judicial procedure.
• Objective: To reduce the burden on regular courts and provide specialised adjudication of administrative and service matters.