In a major step toward transparency, the Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed a series of petitions challenging the Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) earlier “opaque” policy of withholding Civil Services Preliminary Examination answer keys. The ruling follows the Commission’s recent affidavit agreeing to release provisional answer keys immediately after the prelims, marking a key shift in how one of India’s most competitive exams is managed.
A bench of Justices P. S. Narasimha and A. S. Chandurkar delivered the order, noting that UPSC’s decision to adopt a more transparent approach addresses the core issue raised by candidates across several petitions. The court recorded its appreciation for Amicus Curiae Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta and Advocate-on-Record Pranjal Kishore for submitting a detailed note recommending that UPSC publish answer keys soon after the preliminary examination. Their proposal was instrumental in prompting the Commission to modify its policy in the case of Himanshu Kumar & Ors. v. Union of India.
In its affidavit in that case, UPSC outlined a new framework: provisional keys will now be released right after the prelims to allow candidates to raise objections, and the final answer keys will be published once the overall results are declared.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing several petitioners from the Civil Services Examinations (CSE) 2024 and 2025 cycles along with Advocates Rajiv Kumar Dubey, Rajesh G. Inamdar, and Shashwat Anand, urged the court to consider retrospective remedies such as re-evaluation and objection windows for those affected under the old policy.
While allowing all connected petitions, the Supreme Court left the door open for individual grievances. It directed petitioners to approach their respective jurisdictional High Courts for further redress, instructing that such cases be decided expeditiously.
The order consolidates earlier proceedings, including a petition filed on August 11 by 28 aspirants from the CSE 2025 cycle, represented by Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat, which was later clubbed with the Himanshu Kumar matter on August 12. The main petition concerning CSE 2024 was last heard on July 29 before being adjourned.
Today’s ruling effectively endorses the UPSC’s policy shift for future exams, ensuring that candidates will now have access to provisional answer keys soon after the prelims. The move is expected to make the evaluation process more accountable and reduce speculation over marking and results.
UPSC Chairman Dr. Ajay Kumar, who has earlier reiterated the Commission’s commitment to following court directives, is likely to oversee the implementation of the new protocol. Aspirants and legal experts have hailed the verdict as a “victory for transparency,” even as questions remain over immediate relief for candidates from the 2024 and 2025 prelims. With the CSE 2025 Mains results still pending, the High Courts’ timely decisions could shape how this reform affects ongoing recruitment cycles.
Disclaimer: This content has been produced and published by Local Law Media Network for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. The views and opinions expressed are independent and do not reflect the position of any legal practice or organization associated with the individuals mentioned.
