The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has officially uploaded the provisional-key for the Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (B.Des-Entrance) 2026. As of today, January 20, 2026, the portal is live for candidates to download their individual Part-A response sheets alongside the master question paper. This release comes exactly two days after the national-level entrance test was conducted across 27 cities. Candidates are encouraged to perform a thorough performance-check by comparing their recorded answers with the official solutions to estimate their sectional scores.

Objection Window and Challenge Protocol

Following the release of the provisional-key, the organizing institute has activated a time-bound grievance-link for applicants to report errors.

• Deadline for Comments: Candidates have until January 22, 2026 (5:00 PM) to submit their feedback or objections regarding any question or answer in Part-A.
• Submission Process: All challenges must be filed through the candidate portal by logging in with a registered email ID and password.
• Supporting Evidence: The grievance-link requires aspirants to upload valid documentary proof or academic references to justify their claims against the draft keys.
• Evaluation Scope: It is important to note that the provisional-key only covers Part-A (NAT, MSQ, and MCQ sections); Part-B, being a subjective drawing test, does not have a public answer key.

Scoring Metrics and Result Preparation

The data gathered from the current performance-check phase will serve as the foundation for the final results and the subsequent design-merit list.

• Final Key Release: After reviewing all student comments, IIT Bombay will publish the final version of the answer key on January 28, 2026.
• Marking Scheme: Part-A consists of 240 marks, with negative marking applicable for specific question types as detailed in the information brochure.
• Result Declaration: The official results, based on the final provisional-key revisions, are scheduled to be announced on March 6, 2026.
• Scorecard Validity: Candidates who qualify will be included in the design-merit list, with scorecards remaining valid for one year for admission to the 2026-2027 academic session.

Accessing the Candidate Portal

Aspirants can utilize the following table to navigate the essential download and review steps during the current performance-check window.

• Normalization Note: The design-merit ranking will involve a normalization process for Part-A scores to ensure fairness across different difficulty perceptions.
• Part-B Evaluation: Only those candidates who meet the cut-off marks in Part-A will have their Part-B (Drawing) answer books evaluated.
• Contact Support: For technical issues while accessing the provisional-key, students are advised to contact the UCEED office via the official helpdesk email immediately.

Conclusion

The release of the UCEED 2026 draft keys marks a pivotal moment for thousands of design hopefuls conducting their initial performance-check. By utilizing the grievance-link before the January 22 deadline, candidates can ensure that any potential errors in the provisional-key are corrected before the final evaluation. As the design-merit list begins to take shape, students should focus on accurately calculating their probable marks to plan their next steps for the B.Des admission cycle. The transparency of this process remains a hallmark of the IIT-led entrance examinations, providing students with a clear view of their standing in the 2026 competition.