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NIFT Provisional Answer Key 2026 (OUT NOW): Direct Download @https://exams.nta.nic.in/niftee/ & How to Calculate Scores

Author : Vineeta Agrawal

February 18, 2026

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Quick Answer: The NIFT 2026 provisional answer key for the Prelims Exam for B.Des, B.FTech, M.Des, M.FTech, and MFM exam has been officially released on 17th February 2026 on the official NIFT portal - https://exams.nta.nic.in/niftee/ . Candidates can download the NIFT 2026 answer key online to check their responses and raise objections from 17 February to 19 February 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) before the final answer key is published.

NIFT 2026 Answer Key - Key Highlights

  • Provisional NIFT 2026 answer key released on 17 February 2026. 
  • Applicable for NIFTEE 2026 GAT (Prelims) examination.
  • Objection window open from 17 February to 19 February 2026 (until 11:50 PM). 
  • Candidates must submit challenges within the prescribed deadline through the official portal. Non-refundable processing fee - Rs.200/- per question challenged.
  • Final answer key will be released after reviewing valid objections (after 19th February).
  • NIFT 2026 results will be prepared based on the final answer key and are expected to release by March-April 2026 tentatively.
  • Next step is Situation Test or Personal Interview based on the program (B.Des, M.Des or B.Ftech, M.FTech, MFM)
  • Final results will be declared thereafter. The weightage of all stages (Prelims, Situation Test, Interview) also varies by program applied for.

As per the official update published on nift.ac.in, candidates can access the provisional and final NIFT answer key through the official exam portal. This article contains important dates, how to download, how to check & estimate your scores along with LIVE updates regarding the NIFT answer key 2026.

When will NIFT Answer Key 2026 Release? - Important Dates & Update

As mentioned above, the National Institute of Fashion Technology will publish the final answer key only for the NIFT GAT. Check out the table below for all the important events related to the NIFT 2025 answer key.

Events NIFT 2026 Exam Dates
NIFT 2026 Exam Date (UG & PG) 8th February 2026
Provisional NIFT Answer Key 2026 and Recorded Response Sheet Release 17 February 2026
Objection Window to Challenge the NIFT Provisional Answer Key 17 February to 19 February 2026 (up to 11:50 PM).
NIFT Result Date 2026 March-April 2026 (tentative)
Situation Test / Personal Interview Date April-May 2026 (tentative)
Declaration of Final Result of NIFT 2026 (Online) May 2026 (tentative)

NIFT 2026 Notification On Release of Provisional Answer Key & Candidate Response Sheet

Stay updated: NIFT Exam Updates 2026

Steps to Download NIFT Answer Key 2026 PDF

The National Institute of Fashion Technology has released the NIFT Result 2026 and the final answer key. Follow the instructions below to download the NIFT 2026 answer key:

Step

Action

Details

Step 1

Visit Official Portal

Go to the official NIFT admission website (nift.ac.in / designated NIFTEE portal).

Step 2

Locate Answer Key Link

Click on the link titled “NIFT 2026 Provisional Answer Key – GAT”.

Step 3

Login

Enter your Application Number and Password/Date of Birth (if login is required).

Step 4

Access Answer Key & Response Sheet

Open the provisional NIFT 2026 answer key PDF and response sheet displayed on the dashboard.

Step 5

Download PDF

Download and save the answer key for score calculation and reference.

Step 6

Check Objection Option

If needed, click on the “Challenge Answer Key” link within the portal before the deadline.

Know more: NIFT Placements

NIFT 2026 Final Answer Key Direct Download (Coming Soon)

How to Raise Objections against NIFT Entrance Exam 2025 Answer Key?

After downloading the NIFT 2025 answer key PDF, check the solutions. If you find any discrepancies in the answer key, you can challenge it by following the below steps:

How to Challenge NIFT 2026 Provisional Answer Key – Step-by-Step Process:

Step

Action

What You Need to Do

Step 1

Visit Official Portal

Go to the official NIFT admission portal where the NIFT 2026 answer key is hosted.

Step 2

Login

Enter your Application Number and Password/Date of Birth to access your dashboard.

Step 3

Click on “Challenge Answer Key”

Select the option available under the NIFT 2026 provisional answer key section.

Step 4

Select Question(s)

Choose the specific question(s) you want to challenge.

Step 5

Upload Supporting Documents

Provide valid justification or documentary proof supporting your challenge.

Step 6

Pay Objection Fee

Pay ₹200 per question through the online payment gateway.

Step 7

Submit & Confirm

Review details carefully and submit before the deadline (19 February 2026, 11:50 PM).

Step 8

Save Confirmation

Download or screenshot the confirmation page for reference.

Key Points in Raising Objections in NIFT Answer Key

  • There is a deadline for raising objections, after which the authorities do not accept any objections. 
  • If any subject expert finds an error in the NIFT answer key, the authorities will revise it. In such a case, the amount will be refunded. 
  • Also, the amount will not be refunded if the objection is incorrect. Note that no offline mode of objection is accepted.
  • You can challenge the answer key only on NIFT's official website.

After considering all the objections, the authorities will release the final NIFT 2026 Answer Key PDF. 

Know more: Top NIFT Colleges List 2026

Best NID, NIFT & UCEED exam preparation books

Best NID, NIFT & UCEED exam preparation books

What is NIFT 2026 Answer Key? – Overview

Every year, NTA NIFT release it's answer key for GAT question papers from Stage-1 of the exam. Firstly a draft answer key and candidates' response sheets are made available. Candidates who attempted the paper, can check their probable scores and if needed can challenge the provisional answer key by submitting a processing fee. No answer keys are released for NIFT CAT papers (for B.Des & M.Des), as it is subjective in nature.

Feature

Details

Answer Key Name

NIFT 2026 Answer Key

Conducting Authority

National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)

Official Portal

https://exams.nta.nic.in/niftee/

Provisional Answer Key

Expected to be released shortly after the exam

Final Answer Key

Released after reviewing objections

Objection / Challenge Window

Open for limited days after provisional key release

Mode of Release

Online (PDF format)

Login Credentials Required

Application number and password (if applicable)

Applies To

NIFT GAT (B.Des, M.Des, B.FTech, M.FTech, MFM)

Check: NIFT Drawing Questions 2026

Download NIFT 2026 Question Paper (B.Des GAT + CAT) & Answer Key

Students who gave NIFT 2026 B.Des entrance examination can download the official question paper and answer key documents from the links below.

NIFT 2026 B.Des (GAT + CAT) – Official Downloads

Document

Download Link

Status

NIFT 2026 GAT Question Paper (B.Des)

Coming Soon

NIFT 2026 CAT Question Paper (B.Des)

Coming Soon

NIFT 2026 Provisional Answer Key (GAT)

Released - 17 Feb 2026

NIFT 2026 Final Answer Key (GAT)

Coming Soon

Important Notes

  • The provisional NIFT 2026 answer key is applicable for the GAT (Stage-1) examination.
  • The CAT (Creative Ability Test) does not have an objective answer key, as it is evaluated subjectively.
  • The final NIFT 2026 answer key will be released after reviewing objections submitted between 17–19 February 2026 (up to 11:50 PM).
  • Stage-1 result will be prepared based on the final answer key.

Check: NIFT Syllabus 2026 PDF Download

Step-by-Step NIFT 2026 Answer Key & Result Process

NIFT Entrance Exam (Only GAT or GAT + CAT as per UG/PG program – Stage 1)

Provisional NIFT 2026 Answer Key Release - Only GAT answer key is shared (17 February 2026)

Challenge Submission Window (17–19 February 2026, up to 11:50 PM)

Review of Objections by NIFT Authorities

Final NIFT 2026 Answer Key Release

Stage 1 Result Announcement (Based on Final Answer Key)

Conduct of Stage 2 (Situation Test for B.Des / Interview for M.Des, M.FTech, MFM)

Final NIFT 2026 Result Announcement

Difference Between Provisional and Final NIFT 2026 Answer Key

Feature

Provisional Answer Key

Final Answer Key

Release Timing

Released shortly after the NIFT 2026 exam

Released after reviewing objections

Purpose

Allows candidates to verify responses and raise challenges

Used to prepare the final NIFT result

Objection Allowed?

Yes, candidates can challenge within the objection window

No, final key cannot be challenged

Modification Possible?

Yes, corrections may be made after valid objections

No further changes are made

Basis for Result

Not used directly for final score calculation

Officially used to calculate NIFT 2026 results

Authority

Published by NIFT as provisional reference

Published by NIFT as the final official key

Check: NIFT CAT vs GAT 2026

NIFT UG Exam 2025 Results

Top NIFT Results by CreativEdge

Important Key Points of NIFT Answer Key 2026

The primary takeaways from the Answer Key are:

  • You can revisit the entire question paper and estimate your scores to verify your qualifications for the next stage.
  • You can recheck the questions and answers mentioned to raise objections if the question is incorrect or if the answer given by authorities has some errors.
  • You can take home the General Ability Test (GAT) question paper; only the answer key will be released. 
  • On finding discrepancies, you can raise objections. If your objection is valid, you will be refunded for that question.
  • RTGS will credit the refunded fee to the bank account that the candidate has filled out on the NIFT exam portal.
  • If an objection is found to be incorrect by NIFT subject experts, the fee will not be refunded.

Learn more: How to Prepare for the NIFT Situation Test

How to Calculate Scores Using NIFT Answer Key 2026?

To calculate the scores, you must know the marking scheme for NIFT. Let us first understand the marking scheme for B.Des and M.Des courses:

GAT Marking Scheme for B.Des

Per the NIFT Exam Pattern, 1 mark is awarded for each correct answer, and 0.25 marks are deducted for wrong answers.

Subject Number of Questions Marks
English Comprehension 25 25
Quantitative Ability 20 20
General Knowledge and Current Affairs 15 15
Communication Ability 25 25
Analytical Ability 15 15
Total 100 100

GAT Marking Scheme for M.Des

For M.Des, 1 mark is awarded for the correct answer, while 0.25 marks are deducted for the wrong answer.

Subject Number of Questions Marks
Analytical Ability 25 25
Communication Ability 30 30
Quantitative Ability 20 20
General Knowledge and Current Affairs 15 15
English Comprehension 30 30
Total 120 120

For Example: 

Out of 100 questions in GAT B.Des, you have attempted 94, and the remaining 6 are unanswered. By verifying your answers from the NIFT Answer key, you have answered 78 correctly, while 16 are incorrect. Now, let us understand how to calculate the score.

Marks for Correct Answers: 78*1= 78
Marks for Incorrect Answers: 16*-0.25= -4
Marks for Un-attempted Questions: 6*0 = 0

NIFT Score= (Marks for Correct Answers) - (Marks for Incorrect Answers) = 78-4 = 74

After downloading the NIFT 2026 provisional answer key, candidates can estimate their probable Stage-1 (GAT) score by matching their responses with the official solutions and applying the official NIFT marking scheme.

Step-by-Step Score Estimation Process

Step

What You Should Do

Step 1

Download the NIFT 2026 question paper and provisional answer key

Step 2

Compare your marked answers with the official answers

Step 3

Count the number of correct responses

Step 4

Apply the official marking scheme (as per GAT pattern)

Step 5

Calculate your total raw score

Read more: NIFT Counselling 2026

NIFT GAT Marking Logic (For Score Calculation)

Component

Evaluation Type

What To Remember

Correct Answer

Marks awarded as per question weightage

Add marks for every correct response

Incorrect Answer

Negative marking applies (if specified in exam pattern)

Deduct marks if applicable

Unattempted

No marks

No deduction

Note: Candidates must refer to the official NIFT GAT marking scheme for their specific course (B.Des, M.Des, B.FTech, M.FTech, MFM) as question weightage varies.

How to Estimate If You Will Qualify

After calculating your raw score:

  • Compare it with previous year NIFT cut-off trends.
  • If your score is comfortably above expected cut-off range, chances of Stage-2 shortlisting improve.
  • Borderline scores depend on normalization and category cut-offs.

NIFT Previous Year Question Papers with Answer Key PDF FREE Download

NIFT PYQ Download Link NIFT PYQ - Number of Questions NIFT Question Papers Difficulty Level
NIFT Question Paper 2025 with Answer Key (B.Des) 100 Moderate (students found paper lengthy)
NIFT Question Paper with Answers PDF 2024 100 Moderate to Easy (Students found GK tough)
NIFT Question Paper with Solutions PDF 2023 100 Moderate (candidates found quant section difficult)
NIFT Question Paper 2021 with Answers (B.Des) 100 Moderate to Easy
NIFT Question Paper B.Des 2020 with Answers 100 Moderate Overall - Maths tough, English tricky & GK easy
NIFT Question Paper 2016 with Answers (B.Des CAT) 3 questions with 2 to 5 sub-parts Questions aimed to test creativity & design ability

For fully solved GAT papers (2015-2025) and solved CAT papers (with QR-based video solutions of each question), get yourself the best-selling NIFT Previous Year Papers Book by CreativEdge.

NIFT Previous Year Question Papers UG - Toppers’ Observation

  • CAT questions focus on storytelling, product-based drawing, situation-based creativity, and theme interpretation
  • GAT questions test basic maths, logical reasoning, data interpretation, vocabulary, grammar, and GK
  • Moderate difficulty level, but time pressure plays a major role

Check: Most Important NIFT GK Questions

Conclusion

The NIFT answer key is important because it allows students to accurately evaluate their entrance exam performance. 

To stay ahead, download the official NIFT 2026 question paper and answer key, calculate your estimated score accurately, and track further updates on the official portal. Proper use of the NIFT 2026 provisional and final answer key can help you strategically plan the next stage of your admission journey.

Preparing for NIFT 2027? We can help you with exact strategic roadmap, study material and crucial feedback required to ace this exam.

Join CreativEdge, India’s leading NIFT online coaching and get expert guidance on all NIFT subjects. Top Coaching in India for NID, NIFT, UCEED, NATA & JEE.BArch

Top Coaching in India for NID, NIFT, UCEED, NATA & JEE.BArch

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the NIFT answer sheet 2024 be released?

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Where can I download NIFT Entrance Exam Answer Key 2024?

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How much fee to be paid for raising objection towards NIFT 2024 Answer Key PDF?

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About the Author

Faculty
Vineeta Agrawal

Communications Executive

Vineeta Agrawal is a seasoned content writer with 3 years of experience and a flair for turning ideas into impactful stories across industries. She blends creativity with strategy to craft content that clicks and converts. Off the clock, she’s a fiction film buff always chasing her next cinematic escape.... more

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