Answer Key Objection — Meaning, Definition & Examples (Sarkari Exam 2026)
Category: Exam Process
Short definition: The formal process by which candidates can challenge questions or answers in the provisional answer key released by recruitment boards, by paying a per-question fee and submitting documentary proof.
What is Answer Key Objection? (Detailed Explanation)
After every objective Sarkari exam, the conducting board releases a Provisional Answer Key (PAK) along with the candidate's response sheet. The PAK is open for objections for 3–7 days. During this window, any candidate can challenge any question by claiming the official answer is wrong, the question is ambiguous, or the question is out of syllabus. A fee of ₹50–₹200 per question is charged (refunded if the objection is upheld).
Each objection must be supported by documentary evidence — citation from a standard textbook (NCERT, Lucent, recognised reference), official source, or government publication. Vague objections without proof are summarily rejected. The board's subject expert committee reviews all objections in batches, accepts/rejects each, and then releases the Final Answer Key (FAK) along with the result.
If a question is dropped (declared invalid), full marks are awarded to all candidates who attempted it. If the official answer is corrected, all candidates who marked the new correct option get the marks. If the question is re-affirmed, no change. Boards also follow 'mass cancellation' — if a question has multiple defensible answers, marks may be given for all such options.
Live examples from Sarkari Exam notifications
- SSC CGL 2023 Tier-1 — 8 questions dropped after objections
- UPSC CSE Prelims 2024 — answer key revised for 4 questions
- IBPS PO 2024 Prelims — ₹100 per objection refunded for accepted ones
Frequently Asked Questions about Answer Key Objection
Q1. Can I file objections after the deadline?
No. The objection portal closes automatically. RTI applications and court petitions filed later are usually dismissed unless there is procedural irregularity.
Q2. Will my objection fee be refunded?
Yes — but only for objections that are accepted. SSC, UPSC, IBPS refund within 30–90 days of FAK release directly to the bank account used for application fee payment.
Q3. Does the result get delayed because of objections?
Marginally. Most boards take 7–15 extra days after the objection window closes to publish the result with the final key applied.
Related Sarkari terms you should know
- Normalisation of Marks — Statistical method used by recruitment boards to make scores comparable across multiple shifts of th…
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