The UPSC preliminary examination adheres to strict negative marking policies. For every incorrect answer, candidates lose one-third of the marks allocated to that question, penalizing guesses. This policy emphasizes the importance of accuracy over mere participation, encouraging candidates to ensure a higher degree of certainty before attempting answers. Furthermore, unanswered questions are not penalized, leading candidates to adopt strategic approaches to answering based on confidence levels. Understanding this policy reinforces the need for careful consideration and thorough preparation, as each mark is crucial in this highly competitive examination.