The CBSE Answer Key 2026 has been officially released on the CBSE recruitment portal on 11th February 2026. Candidates who appeared for the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Direct Recruitment Quota Examination 2026 (DRQ2026) for 124 Group A, B, and C posts can now download the scanned image of their OMR answer sheets and the provisional answer keys as per the public notice issued today.
The CBSE DRQ Tier-I examination was conducted on 31st January 2026 and 1st February 2026 under Advertisement No. CBSE/Rectt.Cell/14(88)/2025 for posts including Assistant Secretary, Assistant Professor & Assistant Director, Accounts Officer, Superintendent, Junior Translation Officer, Junior Accountant, and Junior Assistant. By downloading the OMR response sheet and matching it with the provisional answer key, candidates can calculate their probable scores before the final results are declared. Read this article for the direct download link, objection procedure, fee details, and steps to calculate marks.
Also Read: NPCIL Executive Trainee Vacancy 2026
CBSE Answer Key 2026 Out
The CBSE Answer Key 2026 is now available on the dedicated portal at cbseit.in/cbse/2026/drqkey/. A total of 124 vacancies across Group A, Group B, and Group C posts were advertised under this recruitment drive. The Tier-I examination was held in multiple sessions across two days—31st January 2026 in Session-I and Session-II, and 1st February 2026 in Session-I.
Candidates can log in using their Roll Number and Date of Birth to view their individual scanned OMR answer sheets along with the provisional answer keys. The public notice dated 11 February 2026 confirms that the Board has made these documents available for candidate reference and challenge. In case candidates are not satisfied with any of the answers, they may challenge the answer(s) through the same link from 12th February 2026 to 14th February 2026 up to 11:59 PM.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Exam Name | Direct Recruitment Quota Examination 2026 (DRQ2026) |
| Advertisement No. | CBSE/Rectt.Cell/14(88)/2025 |
| Posts | Group A, B, C (Assistant Secretary, Assistant Professor, Superintendent, Junior Accountant, Junior Assistant, etc.) |
| Total Vacancies | 124 |
| Exam Dates | 31st January & 1st February 2026 |
| Answer Key Release Date | 11th February 2026 |
| Objection Window | 12th to 14th February 2026 (up to 11:59 PM) |
| Objection Fee | ₹1,000 per question |
| Official Website | www.cbse.gov.in |
CBSE DRQ Answer Key 2026 Direct Download Link
Candidates who appeared for the Tier-I examination can download the scanned image of their OMR answer sheet and the provisional answer keys through the link provided below. The Board has specified that the link will remain active only for a limited period. Candidates are advised to download their sheets immediately.
Direct Link to Download CBSE DRQ OMR Sheet & Answer Key 2026
How to Download the CBSE Answer Key PDF?
The Central Board of Secondary Education has uploaded the scanned OMR answer sheets and provisional answer keys on the dedicated portal. Candidates must follow the steps below to access their response sheets:
- Visit the Official Portal:
Open the dedicated link:cbseit.in/cbse/2026/drqkey/. - Enter Login Credentials:
Enter your Roll Number and Date of Birth as registered during the application process. - View Scanned OMR Sheet:
Upon successful login, the scanned image of your attempted OMR answer sheet will be displayed on the screen. You can verify all the answers you have marked. - View Provisional Answer Keys:
The provisional answer keys for the respective post and session will also be made available through the same login interface. - Download and Save:
Download the PDF of both the OMR answer sheet and the provisional answer key. Take a printout for future reference and score calculation.
The Board has explicitly mentioned that no further opportunity would be given to the candidates to download their OMR answer sheets of Tier-I examination of CBSE’s DRQ2026 examination. Candidates must act within the available timeframe.
Details in the CBSE Answer Key
The scanned OMR answer sheet and the provisional answer key uploaded by CBSE contain the following details specific to each candidate:
- Candidate’s Full Name
- Roll Number
- Post Code and Post Name
- Exam Date and Session (Session-I or Session-II)
- Question Paper Set
- Answers Marked by the Candidate
- Provisional Correct Answers provided by CBSE
- Question Numbers with Response Status
Candidates should carefully verify all the details mentioned in the OMR sheet and ensure that there are no discrepancies in the scanned image.
Objection Window for CBSE Answer Key 2026
If candidates find any answer in the provisional answer key to be incorrect or unsatisfactory, they can challenge the same online. The objection window has been clearly specified in the public notice dated 11 February 2026.
Objection Schedule:
- Start Date: 12th February 2026 (Thursday)
- Last Date: 14th February 2026 (Saturday)
- Deadline: 11:59 PM
Important Guidelines for Objections:
- Mode of Submission:
Challenges will be accepted only online through the same login link:cbseit.in/cbse/2026/drqkey/. Challenges submitted through any other mode such as email, letter, or physical representation will not be entertained. - Objection Fee:
A non-refundable processing fee of ₹1,000 per question must be paid at the time of submitting the challenge. Only challenges submitted with the prescribed fee within the stipulated period will be considered. - Review Process:
All challenges received will be examined by subject experts. The decision of the subject experts shall be final and binding. No further communication in this regard will be entertained. - Fee Refund:
In case any challenge is accepted by the subject experts, the prescribed fee for the respective question(s) will be refunded to the concerned candidate after the declaration of the result. - No Individual Communication:
Candidates will not be informed individually about the status of their challenges. The final answer key will reflect the accepted challenges. - Finality of Answer Key:
The result will be declared based on the final answer keys prepared by the subject experts. No grievance with regard to answer key(s) after declaration of result will be entertained.
Also Read: Railway RRB Normalization Process 2026
How to Raise Objections Against the CBSE DRQ Answer Key 2026?
Candidates who wish to challenge any answer in the provisional key must follow the step-by-step procedure outlined below:
- Log in to the Portal:
Visitcbseit.in/cbse/2026/drqkey/and enter your Roll Number and Date of Birth. - Navigate to Objection Section:
After logging in, look for the option labeled “Challenge Answer Key” or similar and click on it. - Select Question to Challenge:
Choose the specific Question ID or Question Number that you wish to challenge from the list. - Provide Justification:
Enter a valid and detailed reason or argument supporting your challenge. Candidates may also upload supporting documents if available to substantiate their claim. - Pay the Objection Fee:
Pay the prescribed fee of ₹1,000 per question through the available online payment gateway (debit card/credit card/UPI/net banking). - Submit the Challenge:
After successful payment, click on Submit. Ensure that the challenge is recorded. - Save Confirmation:
Download and save the confirmation receipt or acknowledgment page for future reference.
Candidates are advised to raise objections mindfully and only for questions where they have strong evidence, as the fee is non-refundable except in cases where the challenge is accepted by the expert committee.
How to Calculate Marks for CBSE DRQ Tier-I Exam?
Candidates can calculate their estimated raw scores using the provisional answer key and their scanned OMR response sheet. Follow the simple steps below:
Step 1: Compare each answer marked on your OMR sheet with the correct answer provided in the provisional answer key.
Step 2: Count the total number of correct answers.
Step 3: Count the total number of incorrect answers. Do not include unanswered questions in this count.
Step 4: Apply the following formula:
Estimated Score = (Total Correct Answers × 3) – (Total Incorrect Answers × 1)
FAQs
Q1. When was the CBSE DRQ Answer Key 2026 released?
Ans. The CBSE DRQ Answer Key 2026 was released on 11th February 2026 via public notice on the official portal.
Q2. How can I download my CBSE DRQ OMR sheet?
Ans. Candidates can download the scanned OMR answer sheet by logging in at cbseit.in/cbse/2026/drqkey/ using their Roll Number and Date of Birth.
Q3. What is the last date to challenge the CBSE DRQ Answer Key?
Ans. The last date to raise objections is 14th February 2026, up to 11:59 PM.
Q4. What is the fee for challenging a question?
Ans. The fee is ₹1,000 per question, payable online. The fee is non-refundable unless the challenge is accepted.
Q5. Will the fee be refunded if my challenge is accepted?
Ans. Yes, if any challenge is accepted by the subject experts, the prescribed fee for the respective question(s) will be refunded to the candidate after the declaration of the result.
Q6. Can I challenge the answer key through email or post?
Ans. No. Challenges submitted through email, letter, or any other mode will not be entertained. Only online challenges submitted with fee will be considered.
Q7. What is the marking scheme for CBSE DRQ Tier-I exam?
Ans. Each correct answer carries +3 marks and each incorrect answer carries -1 mark. There is no negative marking for unanswered question
