UCEED 2026 - Complete Guide
The Undergraduate Common Entrance Exam for Design (UCEED) is India's most prestigious design entrance exam, conducted annually by IIT Bombay. It is the gateway to B.Des programmes at 7 IITs and the only design exam where your score determines admission to IIT-branded programmes.
UCEED at a Glance
| Conducting Body | IIT Bombay |
| Exam Level | National |
| Mode | Part A - Computer Based Test (CBT); Part B - Pen & Paper |
| Total Marks | 300 (Part A: 200 + Part B: 100) |
| Duration | Part A: 2 hours | Part B: 1 hour |
| Frequency | Once a year (typically January) |
| Official Website | uceed.iitb.ac.in |
| Application Fee | ₹4,000 (Open/OBC/EWS) · ₹2,000 (Female/SC/ST/PwD) |
| Total Seats (2025) | ~245 B.Des seats across 7 IITs |
| Max Attempts | 2 attempts in 2 consecutive years |
Eligibility Criteria
- Education: Passed or appearing in Class XII (or equivalent) from any stream - Science, Commerce, Arts, Vocational.
- Age (General/OBC/EWS): Born on or after 1 October 2001 (for UCEED 2026).
- Age (SC/ST/PwD): Born on or after 1 October 1996 (for UCEED 2026).
- Attempts: Maximum 2 attempts in 2 consecutive years. Appearing in UCEED 2025 counts as one attempt.
Source: uceed.iitb.ac.in (T1 Official)
Exam Pattern 2026
Part A - CBT
- Duration: 2 hours
- Total Marks: 200
- Total Questions: 57
- • NAT (Numerical Answer Type): 14 questions
- • MSQ (Multiple Select): 15 questions
- • MCQ (Multiple Choice): 28 questions
- Negative Marking: Yes (MCQ only: −⅓)
- Mode: Computer Based (online)
Part B - Drawing
- Duration: 1 hour
- Total Marks: 100
- Total Questions: 2
- Mode: Pen & paper at exam centre
- Evaluated: Only if you qualify Part A
- Skills Tested: Drawing, creativity, visual thinking
UCEED Syllabus - Part A Sections
Part A has 7 sections. All are tested in a single 2-hour paper. No section-wise time limit.
Visualization & Spatial Reasoning
3D manipulation, spatial orientation, unfolding shapes, mirror images, rotation of objects.
Observation & Design Sensitivity
Identifying patterns, visual incongruities, product design observations, attention to detail.
Environmental & Social Awareness
Sustainability, social issues, cultural heritage, environmental knowledge, India-specific contexts.
Analytical & Logical Reasoning
Puzzles, sequences, data interpretation, critical reasoning, number series.
Language & Creativity
Reading comprehension, word relationships, creative writing interpretation, verbal reasoning.
Design Thinking & Problem Solving
Product innovation, user-centred design scenarios, identifying design opportunities.
Practical Knowledge & General Awareness
Physics principles, materials science, everyday technology, science & technology current affairs.
Important Dates
UCEED 2026 - Confirmed Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| UCEED Exam Date | January 18, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Part A Cutoff Announced | February 5, 2026 |
| Result Declared | March 6, 2026 |
| Scorecard Available | March 10 – July 31, 2026 |
| B.Des Counselling Portal Open | March 14 – April 10, 2026 |
UCEED Cutoff - Institute-wise
Approximate closing ranks (General category) from UCEED 2026 counselling. Final allotment depends on IIT-specific counselling process.
| Institute | B.Des Seats | Approx. Closing Rank (Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | ~20 | ~16 |
| IIT Delhi | ~20 | ~40 |
| IIT Guwahati | 56 | ~80 |
| IIT Hyderabad | 20 | ~100 |
| IIT Jodhpur | 30 | ~120 |
| IIT Roorkee | 20 | ~140 |
| IIT Kanpur | 30+ | ~160 |
* Ranks are approximate based on UCEED 2026 data and may vary year to year. Always verify with official counselling data.
Other Institutions Accepting UCEED Scores
UCEED scores are accepted beyond the flagship IITs. These institutions also use UCEED for B.Des admission. Check each institute's official counselling notice for their specific cutoffs.
| Institute | Type | Programme | Seats (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIT Hyderabad | IIT | B.Des (Design) | 20 |
| IIT Jodhpur | IIT | B.Des (Industrial Design) | 20 |
| IIT Roorkee | IIT | B.Des (Design) | 25 |
| IIT Kanpur | IIT | B.Des (Design) | 20 |
| IIITDM Jabalpur | IIIT | B.Des (Smart Manufacturing) | 30 |
* Seat counts are indicative. Confirm from each institute's official admission notice before applying.
Part A Cutoff Statistics 2026
70.86
Mean Score
25.77
Std. Deviation
Feb 5, 2026
Cutoff Announced
Mar 6, 2026
Result Date
UCEED Past Papers
Practising past papers is the single most effective UCEED preparation strategy. Papers are available from uceed.iitb.ac.in (official source).
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