Answer Key Objection: Fees and How to Challenge (SSC, RRB, UPSC)

Answer key objection fees at a glance

All figures are as reported in news. Always read the fee in the specific answer key notice, because it can change between exams and years.

SSC answer key challenge: fee and process

According to news reports from 2026, SSC now charges Rs 50 per question challenged. This was reported for the MTS key (March 2026), the GD Constable key (June 2026) and the Selection Post Phase 14 key, whose window ran from 9 to 12 October 2026 until 4 pm (October 2026). In 2024 the fee was Rs 100 per question, as reported in December 2024, so older guides showing Rs 100 may be out of date.

Conflict to note: for the SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1 key, a fee of Rs 100 per question is reported by job sites; not confirmed by the commission, check the official notice. As reported, the CGL 2026 Tier 1 exam runs from 30 September to 30 October 2026 and its key is expected after 30 October, so the notice will settle the fee.

For SSC GD 2026, according to news reports (June 2026), objections were open until 20 June 2026, and the result came on 12 October 2026. See our SSC GD page and SSC Stenographer page for exam-wise status.

RRB answer key objection and refund rule

According to news reports (September 2025), RRB charges Rs 50 per question plus bank charges. If your objection is found valid, the fee is refunded to the account you paid from, minus bank charges. Rejected objections get no refund. The key and response sheet open on rrb.digialm.com through the link in the RRB notice.

Recent examples, as reported:

• Group D CEN 08/2024: key out by 17 February 2026, objections until 23 February 2026.
• Group D CEN 09/2025: key and response sheet released on 7 September 2026. Sources conflict on the last date (15 September vs 17 September 2026), so it closed in mid-September. The result had not been declared as of 15 October 2026.

RRB uses normalised marks when the exam runs in many shifts, so your raw score from the key may differ from the score used for shortlisting. More on our RRB Group D page.

UPSC answer key: the 2026 change and QPRep

For years UPSC released answer keys only after the final result of the whole exam. That has changed. According to news reports (October 2025), UPSC told the Supreme Court in September 2025 that it would publish a provisional key soon after the Civil Services prelims. Objections must be backed by three authoritative sources, experts review them, and the final key is published after the final result.

According to news reports (May 2026), this was put in place for the CSE 2026 prelims (held 24 May 2026) through the Online Question Paper Representation Portal (QPRep). Representations were accepted until 31 May 2026, and no fee was mentioned. For other UPSC exams, a CDS II 2026 answer key was reported on 16 September 2026.

For admit cards and the 2027 calendar, see our UPSC admit card page.

How to raise an answer key objection: step by step

1. Read the answer key notice on the official site. Note the start and end time of the window and the fee.
2. Log in with the details given in the notice (usually registration number or roll number plus password or date of birth).
3. Open your response sheet and the provisional key side by side.
4. Mark every question where you believe the official answer is wrong. Ignore questions where only your own answer was wrong.
5. For each challenge, select the question ID and the answer you think is correct.
6. Add your reason and proof: a standard textbook, a government publication or another authoritative source. UPSC asks for three.
7. Pay the fee online (if any) and submit before the deadline.
8. Download or screenshot the confirmation and payment receipt.

Do the work early. Windows are short, often only a few days, and sites slow down near the deadline. For login help, see our admit card download guide, since the same credentials are usually used.

How to calculate your score from the answer key

Use this formula: Score = (correct answers x marks per question) minus (wrong answers x negative mark). Unattempted questions score zero.

Example, IBPS PO prelims pattern (as reported: 100 questions, 100 marks, 0.25 negative marking): if you have 72 correct and 16 wrong answers, your score is 72 minus (16 x 0.25) = 72 minus 4 = 68.

Example, RRB Group D pattern (as reported: 100 questions with one third negative marking): with 66 correct and 18 wrong, and one mark per question, the score is 66 minus (18 x 1/3) = 66 minus 6 = 60. As reported, the minimum qualifying marks are 40% for UR/EWS and 30% for OBC-NCL/SC/ST.

Remember three things: the final key can change a few answers; dropped questions may be handled in a special way; and multi-shift exams use normalisation. For bank exam dates and keys, see our bank exam admit card page.

Avoid answer key scams

• Pay objection fees only on the official portal named in the notice, never to a person or a UPI ID sent on WhatsApp.
• "Paid answer key with guaranteed result" offers are scams. Keys are free to view on official sites.
• Unofficial keys from coaching channels are guesses until the official key comes.

Read more warning signs in our fake job alert guide.