Quick update (as of 22 October 2026)
- Exam dates: 25 October, 30 October and 1 November 2026, two shifts each day.
- Answer key: not released yet. The provisional key is expected after the last shift on 1 November 2026.
- Past pattern: in PET 2025 the provisional key came two days after the exam ended, with a one-week objection window.
- Marking: +1 for a correct answer, −0.25 for a wrong answer, 0 for unattempted.
UPSSSC PET answer key 2026: key dates
The Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC) is holding the Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET) 2026 under Advertisement No. 16-Exam/2026 in six shifts across three days. The Commission releases one provisional answer key covering every shift and question booklet series, invites objections, and then publishes the final key along with the result.
| Event | Date / status |
|---|---|
| PET 2026 exam | 25 October, 30 October and 1 November 2026 |
| Provisional answer key | To be notified (after 1 November 2026) |
| Objection window | To be notified with the provisional key |
| Final answer key | To be notified |
| Result / scorecard | To be notified |
When did the answer key come in previous PET cycles?
In the last two cycles, UPSSSC issued the provisional key within about two weeks of the exam and declared the result roughly three months after the exam. These dates indicate the usual pace; they are not an official schedule for 2026.
| Cycle | Exam | Provisional key | Objections | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PET 2025 | 6–7 September 2025 | 9 September 2025 | 11–17 September 2025 | December 2025 |
| PET 2023 | 28–29 October 2023 | November 2023 | Till mid-November 2023 | 29 January 2024 |
How to download the UPSSSC PET 2026 answer key
- Go to the official website, upsssc.gov.in.
- Open the notice titled with Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET)-2026 answer key under the latest notices or results section.
- Choose your exam date, shift and question booklet series (printed on your question booklet and marked on the OMR sheet).
- Download the PDF and match it with the answers you marked.
The answer key is series-wise. Matching the wrong series is the most common reason candidates miscalculate their score.
How to calculate your PET 2026 score
PET 2026 has 100 objective questions of one mark each, with one-quarter mark deducted for every wrong answer. Score = (number of correct answers × 1) − (number of wrong answers × 0.25).
| Correct | Wrong | Unattempted | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | 15 | 5 | 80 − 3.75 = 76.25 |
| 70 | 20 | 10 | 70 − 5 = 65 |
| 60 | 28 | 12 | 60 − 7 = 53 |
How to raise an objection
- Objections are accepted online only, within the window given in the answer key notice.
- Enter the question number and booklet series exactly as printed, and attach evidence (standard textbook, official document or report).
- A fee is charged per objection; in PET 2025 it was ₹100. Check the 2026 notice for the current amount.
- Objections sent after the deadline or by post/e-mail are not considered.
Shift-wise PET 2026 paper analysis
This section is updated after each shift with the difficulty level, section-wise observations and topics asked, based on the question paper and candidate feedback.
| Exam date | Shift | Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| 25 October 2026 (Sunday) | Shift 1 (10 AM–12 noon) | To be added after the shift |
| 25 October 2026 (Sunday) | Shift 2 (3 PM–5 PM) | To be added after the shift |
| 30 October 2026 (Friday) | Shift 1 (10 AM–12 noon) | To be added after the shift |
| 30 October 2026 (Friday) | Shift 2 (3 PM–5 PM) | To be added after the shift |
| 1 November 2026 (Sunday) | Shift 1 (10 AM–12 noon) | To be added after the shift |
| 1 November 2026 (Sunday) | Shift 2 (3 PM–5 PM) | To be added after the shift |
The paper follows the 15-section pattern of recent PET exams, including 40 data-based questions (graph and table interpretation and the Hindi unseen passage). The section-wise distribution is in the UPSSSC PET 2026 complete guide.
Is there a cut-off for UPSSSC PET?
PET is an eligibility test, not a selection exam, so there is no pass mark for PET itself. The PET score is valid for three years from the result. UPSSSC uses it to shortlist candidates for each Mains recruitment (such as Junior Assistant, Lekhpal or Gram Panchayat Adhikari), and the shortlisting cut-off is set separately for each recruitment according to the posts and the number of applicants.
PET 2026 result: what to expect
UPSSSC has not announced a result date. In PET 2025 the result came about three months after the exam, and in PET 2023 about three months as well. On that pattern, the PET 2026 result may be expected in early 2027, after the final answer key. This is an estimate; the Commission’s notice will confirm the date.
हिंदी में मुख्य बातें
- यूपीएसएसएससी पीईटी 2026 की परीक्षा 25 अक्टूबर, 30 अक्टूबर और 1 नवंबर 2026 को दो पालियों में हो रही है।
- आंसर की अभी जारी नहीं हुई है; यह अंतिम पाली (1 नवंबर) के बाद upsssc.gov.in पर आएगी।
- अंक गणना: सही उत्तर +1, गलत उत्तर −0.25, छोड़े गए प्रश्न 0।
- पीईटी में पास/फेल कट-ऑफ नहीं होता; स्कोर तीन वर्ष तक मान्य रहता है।
Practising for the next UPSSSC Mains? Build timed, subject-wise tests in the GSMitra MCQ Test Builder. Exam dates and admit card details are on the PET 2026 admit card page.
Frequently asked questions
When will the UPSSSC PET 2026 answer key be released?
UPSSSC has not announced a date. The provisional answer key is released after all shifts are over; the last PET 2026 shift is on 1 November 2026. In PET 2025 the provisional key came two days after the last shift.
How do I calculate my UPSSSC PET 2026 score?
Add 1 mark for every correct answer and subtract 0.25 marks for every wrong answer. Unattempted questions carry no marks. For example, 70 correct and 20 wrong answers give 70 − 5 = 65 marks.
Is there a passing cut-off in UPSSSC PET?
PET is an eligibility test, so the Commission does not declare a pass or fail cut-off for PET itself. The PET score is used later to shortlist candidates for each UPSSSC Mains recruitment, and that shortlisting cut-off depends on the post and the number of vacancies.
How can I raise an objection against the PET answer key?
Objections are submitted online on upsssc.gov.in during the window announced with the provisional key, with the question number, booklet series and supporting evidence. A fee applies per objection; in PET 2025 it was ₹100. Check the 2026 notice for the current fee and dates.
When will the UPSSSC PET 2026 result come?
No date has been announced. In the last two cycles the result came about three months after the exam (PET 2025: exam September 2025, result December 2025).
How long is the PET 2026 score valid?
The PET score is valid for three years from the date the result is declared.
Sources: UPSSSC Advertisement No. 16-Exam/2026 and notices no. 1423 (25 September 2026) and no. 241 (17 October 2026), upsssc.gov.in. Past-cycle dates as reported at the time. The Commission’s notices are the final authority.
Prepared by the GSMitra Editorial Team. Last updated 22 October 2026.