As of January 27, 2026, the challenge period for the UCEED 2026 draft answer key has concluded. IIT Bombay is now reviewing student feedback to prepare the final answer key, which is scheduled for release on January 28, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Candidates who appeared for the design entrance exam on January 18 can expect the Part-A cut-off marks to be announced by February 5.The final results and scorecards for the B.Des admission cycle will be available on the official portal starting March 6, 2026.

The Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED) 2026 has reached a pivotal stage in its post-exam processing. Following the conduct of the entrance test on January 18, 2026, the objection window for the Part-A draft answer key has officially closed. IIT Bombay, the organizing institute, provided a three-day period for candidates to review the provisional solutions and submit their feedback through the official candidate portal. This objection process is vital for ensuring the accuracy of the evaluation, as the final scores for Part-A will be calculated based on the revised answer key derived from these submissions.

Transition to the Final Answer Key

The academic committee at IIT Bombay is currently scrutinizing every comment received during the grievance period. Unlike the initial draft, the upcoming final answer key is a non-negotiable document that will serve as the master reference for all grading.

• Release Date: The final version will be published on January 28, 2026, at precisely 5:00 PM.
• Scope of Review: Only comments submitted via the portal with valid supporting evidence—such as mathematical proofs or standard textbook references—are being considered.
• No Further Grievances: Once the final key is released, no further comment or challenge will be entertained by the authorities.
• Part-B Evaluation: It is important to note that no answer key is provided for Part-B (Drawing), as it is evaluated manually by a panel of experts.

Scoring Scheme and Part-A Cut-off

Candidates can use the final key to estimate their scores across the three sections of Part-A. The official marking scheme for 2026 remains rigorous to maintain the high standards of the IIT design departments.

• NAT Section: No negative marking; 4 marks for a correct answer.
• MSQ Section: Partial marking applies; -1 for an incorrect selection.
• MCQ Section: 3 marks for correct; -0.71 for every wrong comment in the form of a selected option.
• Qualifying Threshold: The Part-A cut-off, which determines whose Part-B paper will be evaluated, is expected to be released on February 5, 2026.

Important Dates for UCEED 2026 Result

The UCEED 2026 timeline is strictly followed to ensure that the B.Des admission process for IIT Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Roorkee, and IIITDM Jabalpur begins on schedule.

Conclusion

The closing of the objection window marks the end of candidate participation in the evaluation phase of UCEED 2026. As the institute prepares the final key, any valid comment from the student community will be integrated to ensure a fair ranking system. The release of the final key tomorrow will provide the last bit of clarity for aspirants before the long wait for the March 6 results. For many, the accuracy of this key will be the deciding factor in whether they clear the Part-A cut-off and move one step closer to securing a seat in an IIT design program.