The NTA has published the NIFT 2026 Provisional Answer Key today, February 17, 2026, for both NIFT UG and PG programmes. Aspirants can now verify their recorded responses through the Response Sheet and calculate their estimated scores. The provisional answer key is available on the official NTA NIFT portal. To download it, candidates must log in using their Application ID and Password.

What to Do After NIFT 2026 Provisional Answer Key: Submit Objections (If Required)

Candidates who find discrepancies in the provisional answer key can raise objections by following the steps below:

• Visit the official NTA NIFT website.

• Log in using your Application Number, Password, and Security Pin, then click on the Login button.

• Click on the “View/Challenge Answer Key” option.

• The Option(s) listed next to the Question ID under the column ‘Correct Option(s)’ represent the answer considered correct by NTA.

• If you wish to challenge the displayed answer, select one or more options provided in the next five columns by ticking the checkbox.

• If you have supporting documents, click on ‘Choose File’ and upload them (all documents must be combined into a single PDF file).

• After selecting the desired Option(s) ID for challenge, scroll down and click on ‘Submit and Review Claims’ to proceed. Ensure that all required options are selected before moving ahead.

• A summary page will display all the Question IDs and Option(s) you have challenged. You may edit your selection by clicking on ‘Modify Claim’ if needed.

• Once all selections are finalized, click on ‘Save Claim and Pay Fee’.

• After selecting ‘Save Claim and Pay Fee’, choose the payment option. No changes will be permitted once the payment is completed.

Next Step After NIFT Provisional Answer Key

NTA NIFT 2026 Result Expectations

Once the objection window for the NIFT Provisional Answer Key closes, the NTA will examine all the challenges submitted by candidates. Based on valid objections, necessary corrections will be incorporated into the NIFT Final Answer Key if the challenge is found justified.

Following the release of the Final Answer Key, NTA will declare the NIFT Stage 1 Result, which will include marks obtained in both the NIFT GAT and CAT examinations. The NIFT 2026 Stage 1 result is anticipated to be announced in the third week of April 2026.

The National Institute of Design (NID) will issue the candidate’s answer sheets only after the announcement of the FINAL results. Additionally, answer sheets will be provided strictly upon request and only once the admission process has concluded.

The answer sheet will not be made available during the admission process.

To request the answer sheet for the 2026 admission cycle, candidates must pay INR 1000 per exam through online mode. They must also submit a copy of the NID DAT 2026 admit card duly signed by the invigilator and stamped with the exam centre seal along with the request.

The answer sheet will be dispatched to the candidate within 15–20 days after receipt of payment.

However, the National Institute of Design does not release answer keys for the DAT Prelims examination.