What SSC releases after an exam
| Item | What it is | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Provisional (tentative) answer key | SSC's initial correct answers for each question | Notice on ssc.gov.in; your questions through login |
| Response sheet | The questions you got and the option you marked for each | Candidate login |
| Objection (challenge) facility | A way to dispute an answer, with a fee per question | Candidate login, only during the window |
| Final answer key | Answers after objections are reviewed | Often released with marks, through login |
Provisional vs final answer key
| Provisional (tentative) key | Final key | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Shortly after the exam | After objections are reviewed, often with the result or marks |
| Can you challenge it? | Yes, within the window and for a fee | No |
| Use it for | Estimating your score and spotting errors | Understanding your actual marks |
| Changes possible? | Yes: answers can change or questions be dropped | This is the version used for evaluation |
How to check your SSC answer key
Official SSC candidate login. Log in with your Registration Number and password on ssc.gov.in.
Open SSC login (official SSC website, opens in a new tab)- Find the answer key notice for your exam on ssc.gov.in. It states the window, the objection fee and instructions.
- Log in with your Registration Number and password.
- Open the answer key / response sheet link for your exam.
- Save your response sheet as a PDF or screenshots straight away — it is usually available only for a limited time.
- Calculate your likely score using the marking scheme in your exam notice, including any negative marking.
Raising an objection
If you believe SSC's key is wrong for a question you attempted:
- Collect evidence — a standard textbook reference or official source for the correct answer.
- Submit the challenge in the login before the deadline, selecting the question and explaining your answer.
- Pay the fee for each question challenged. The amount is set in each exam's notice and is not the same for every exam (see the table below).
- Keep the payment and submission confirmation.
Objection fee in 2026 notices
Check the fee in your own exam's notice. In the 2026 notices we checked, it was not the same for every exam:
| Exam notice | Fee per question | Refundable? | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constable (GD) 2026 | ₹50 | Not stated in the extract we read | GD 2026 notice (opens in a new tab), §12.1.7 |
| Selection Post Phase XIV, 2026 | ₹50 | Not stated in the extract we read | Phase XIV notice (opens in a new tab), §15.7 |
| CHSL 2026 | ₹50 | No | CHSL 2026 notice (opens in a new tab), §13.3 |
| CGL 2026 | ₹100 | No | CGL 2026 notice (opens in a new tab), §13.3 |
Your exam's notice takes priority. SSC sets the fee, window and rules exam by exam, and the specific answer key notice can update them. If anything on this page differs from your notice, follow the notice.
SSC's notices state that representations are accepted online only and not after the window closes. Challenge only where you have a clear case, because the fee is charged per question.
How SSC decides objections
SSC published guidelines for its Challenge/Objection Management System (opens in a new tab) on 10 April 2026. They apply to objective-type exams from the 2026 series onwards and to forthcoming departmental exams. In summary:
- Subject experts review objections, and the Commission finalises the key on their recommendation.
- Wrong, ambiguous or answerless questions are discarded, and the marks for that question are added for everyone.
- Where more than one option is correct, candidates who chose any correct option get the marks; a wrong option still attracts negative marking; unattempted gets zero.
- Translation errors are assessed separately for each language version.
- Only substantive objections count. Minor or hyper-technical points are ignored, and the number of objections on a question doesn't matter, only their merit.
- Experts pick the best answer. Claims of “two correct answers” rarely succeed where one option is clearly best.
So a strong objection names the question, states the correct answer, and cites a standard textbook or official source. A long argument doesn't make it stronger.
Final answer key and marks
After reviewing objections, SSC prepares the final key. For many recent exams, the final key and candidates' response sheets have been made available alongside marks after the result. For example, the GD 2026 result write-up (opens in a new tab) (12 October 2026) says final keys, response sheets and marks will be posted for candidates to view after logging in. See how results and scorecards work.
Exam-specific notes
- GD Constable answer key — high candidate volume means very busy servers on release day.
- CGL — each tier has its own key and response sheet.
- Delhi Police exams conducted by SSC follow the same login-based process; check the notice for that exam.
- For every exam, the fee and window are in that exam's notice and its answer key notice. See 2026 fees.
Searching for “SSC answer key 2025” or “2026”? The process above is how SSC has handled recent cycles. For a particular exam's dates, rely on the notice on ssc.gov.in.