IIT Bombay has officially released the CEED 2026 draft answer key for Part A as of January 20, 2026. Candidates are currently reviewing their response sheets and have until January 22 to submit objections via the candidate portal. This report details the challenge process, marking scheme, and the timeline leading up to the final result declaration in March.

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has opened the window for candidates to review the draft answer key for the Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED). Following the examination held on January 18, 2026, the provisional solutions for Part A are now available for public scrutiny. This phase allows aspirants to compare the official keys with their individual response sheets to estimate their potential scores before the final merit list is prepared.

• Review Period: The window for reviewing the draft keys and submitting comments is active from today until 5:00 PM on January 22, 2026.
• Accessing the Key: Candidates must visit the official portal at ceed.iitb.ac.in and log in with their registered email ID and password to download the PDF.
• Scope of Review: It is important to note that the provisional key is only released for Part A; Part B is a subjective drawing and design section that is evaluated manually.
• Marking Verification: Aspirants are using this period to check for discrepancies in Numerical Answer Type (NAT), Multiple Select (MSQ), and Multiple Choice (MCQ) questions.

Procedures for Submitting Objections to the CEED Draft Key

The objection process is a critical component of the evaluation cycle, ensuring that any technical errors in the answer key are rectified. Candidates who find a genuine discrepancy are encouraged to file a formal challenge through the designated portal within the specified 48-hour window. IIT Bombay has clarified that any feedback sent via email or offline post will not be considered valid for the review process.

• Documentation: To file an objection, a candidate must provide a clear justification along with supporting references, such as textbook evidence or mathematical derivations.
• Master Question Paper: All challenges must refer to the question numbers as listed in the Master Question Paper uploaded on the official website, as individual sets may have different sequences.
• Expert Committee: Following the closure of the window, an expert panel will review all submissions to determine if any changes to the draft key are required.
• Finality: Once the reviews are complete, a final version of the answer key will be released on January 28, which will be used for the definitive score calculation.

CEED 2026 Answer Key and Result Timeline

Conclusion

The 2026 CEED evaluation cycle is moving through its most transparent phase, giving candidates a direct voice in the accuracy of the Part A scoring. By allowing for a formal objection window, the conducting body maintains the high standard of fairness expected from an IIT-led entrance. As the portal remains busy with student reviews, the focus will soon shift toward the Part B evaluation for those who meet the initial qualifying cutoffs. The successful resolution of the current provisional phase will ultimately pave the way for the result declaration in early March, defining the next generation of Master of Design (M.Des) students across India’s premier institutes.