IIT Bombay has officially outlined the result timelines for UCEED and CEED 2026.Following the release of final answer keys on January 28, candidates can expect the Part A cut-off marks to be announced on February 5The comprehensive merit lists, determining eligibility for B.Des and M.Des programs, are scheduled for release on March 4 for CEED and March 6 for UCEED.Aspirants are advised to keep their login credentials ready to access scorecards starting March 10, 2026.

As of January 29, 2026, the initial dust has settled following the national design entrance exams held earlier this month. Thousands of design-aspirants are now transitioning from the active examination phase to a period of anticipation as IIT Bombay prepares the final scorecards. With the final answer keys for both exams having been published just yesterday, January 28, the focus has shifted toward the specific announcement-dates that will dictate the future of undergraduate and postgraduate design admissions in India. The UCEED 2026 official portal and the CEED 2026 website remain the primary sources for these crucial updates.

Key Dates for UCEED 2026 Candidates

For those seeking admission into the Bachelor of Design (B.Des) programs at the IITs, the announcement-dates follow a strict sequence designed to ensure transparency.

• Part A Cut-off: The first major milestone for design-aspirants will be February 5, 2026, when the qualifying marks for the objective section are revealed.
• Final Result Declaration: The comprehensive UCEED results, featuring the All India Rank (AIR), will be live on March 6, 2026.
• Scorecard Download: Successful candidates can download their official documents from the UCEED result portal starting March 10, which will remain valid for the entire 2026 admission cycle.

CEED 2026 Postgraduate Timelines

The Master of Design (M.Des) and PhD aspirants follow a slightly accelerated schedule compared to their undergraduate counterparts.

• Result Day: The CEED 2026 results are slated for declaration on March 4, 2026, two days prior to the UCEED announcement.
• Shortlisting for Part B: Only those who clear the Part A cut-off (to be announced February 5) will have their Part B (subjective) marks displayed, which is a critical point of anxiety for many design-aspirants.
• Merit List Validity: The CEED 2026 scorecard will be available for download from March 10 and remains valid for one year for use at participating institutes like IISc Bangalore and IIT Kanpur.

Understanding the Evaluation Phase

The period between the final answer key and the result announcement-dates is when the most intensive evaluation of the drawing and design-thinking sections occurs.

• Manual Grading: Unlike Part A, which is machine-graded, the subjective sections of both exams are evaluated by multiple examiners to ensure a fair and holistic 2026 merit rank.
• Tie-Breaking Rules: In cases where total scores are equal, the university uses a specific hierarchy—prioritizing Part B marks—to determine the final standing of aspirants on the merit list.
• Portal Monitoring: Students are encouraged to check their registered emails and the official candidate portals frequently for any notifications regarding discrepancy rectifications.

Conclusion

The journey for 2026 design aspirants is reaching its most decisive phase as the countdown to the March results begins. With the final answer keys already providing a baseline for Part A performance, the next few weeks will determine which candidates advance to the prestigious design studios of the IITs and other participating institutes. The synchronized announcement-dates for both UCEED and CEED ensure that the transition to the centralized counseling process in April remains streamlined and orderly. As the evaluation of Part B continues behind the scenes, students should utilize this time to research their preferred specializations and prepare for the upcoming seat allotment rounds.