UPSC Mains candidates get 5-day window to challenge question papers

The Union Public Service Commission has issued an important notice for candidates to note after their mains are concluded. The Commission has confirmed the schedule for its Question Paper Representation Portal (QPReP), the official channel through which aspirants can flag concerns or objections related to the Mains question papers.

According to a notice dated, the portal will not open until the examination has concluded, giving candidates a five-day window — from August 31 to September 4, 2026 — to submit their representations online.

The UPSC has been unambiguous about the process: no representation regarding the question papers will be entertained through any channel other than the QPReP portal, and none will be accepted after the specified deadline. This rules out email, postal submissions, or any informal route. Candidates must use the portal, accessible at upsconline.nic.in/login, within the designated five-day period.

For now, however, the Commission’s focus — and that of candidates — remains on the examination itself. The Mains 2026 exam is being conducted in two phases: the first spanning August 21 to 23, and the second from August 29 to 30. The QPReP window only becomes relevant once both phases are complete.

Once the examination concludes, candidates who believe a particular question or paper warrants scrutiny will need to act within the QPReP window. August 31 marks the opening of that five-day period, and the Commission has made clear it will be the sole opportunity to formally raise such concerns before the process closes on September 4.

The Commission released the Preliminary Examination 2026 results on June 15. The exam for the same was conducted on May 24. In the CSE Prelims, a total of 13,343 candidates qualified for the Main examination against 1,016 notified vacancies.