Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released the CBSE Final Answer Key 2026 for the Direct Recruitment Quota Examination (DRQ2026) Tier-1. The final answer key is available for candidates who appeared in the Tier-1 examination conducted for various Group A, B and C posts.
This answer key was released on March 7, 2026 and is available on the official CBSE recruitment website. The answer key has been prepared after considering the objections raised by candidates against the provisional answer key.
Candidates can download the CBSE DRQ2026 Tier-1 Final Answer Key PDF and match their answers with the official answers. The final key covers the different question paper sets and examination sessions.
Important: The final answer key is for the CBSE Direct Recruitment Quota Examination 2026 (DRQ2026) Tier-1, not the CBSE school board examinations.
CBSE Final Answer Key 2026 Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Central Board of Secondary Education |
| Examination | Direct Recruitment Quota Examination 2026 |
| Exam Name | DRQ2026 Tier-1 |
| Posts | Group A, B and C |
| Tier-1 Exam Date | January 31 & February 1, 2026 |
| Final Answer Key Release Date | March 7, 2026 |
| Answer Key Status | Released |
| Answer Key Mode | |
| Official Website | cbse.gov.in |
| Final Answer Key | Available |
CBSE DRQ Final Answer Key 2026 Released
CBSE conducted the DRQ2026 Tier-1 examination on January 31 and February 1, 2026 in multiple sessions. After the examination, the Board provided candidates with access to their scanned OMR answer sheets and provisional answer keys.
Candidates were given an opportunity to challenge answers during the prescribed objection window. CBSE stated that the challenges would be examined by subject experts and that the final answer keys would be prepared based on the review.
The final answer key has now been published by CBSE.
CBSE Final Answer Key 2026 PDF
The official final answer key is available as a 12-page PDF. It contains the correct answers for the different sets and sessions of the DRQ2026 Tier-1 examination.
The PDF includes answer keys for:
- Set A, Session I
- Set B, Session I
- Set C, Session I
- Set D, Session I
- Set A, Session II
- Set B, Session II
- Set C, Session II
- Set D, Session II
The final answer key covers examinations conducted on both January 31 and February 1, 2026.
CBSE DRQ2026 Tier-1 Exam Dates
The Tier-1 examination was conducted over two days.
| Date | Examination |
|---|---|
| January 31, 2026 | Tier-1 Examination, Session I & II |
| February 1, 2026 | Tier-1 Examination, Session I |
The official final answer key identifies the examination date and session for each set.
How to Download CBSE Final Answer Key 2026
Candidates can download the final answer key directly from the CBSE website by following these steps:
- Visit the official CBSE website at www.cbse.gov.in/cbsenew/recruitment.html
- Go to the Recruitment section.
- Find the Direct Recruitment Quota Examination 2026 section.
- Look for “Final Answer Key (DRQ2026 Tier-1)”.
- Click on the answer key link.
- The final answer key PDF will open.
- Download the PDF and save it for future reference.
- Check the answer key according to your examination date, session and question paper set.
CBSE Final Answer Key 2026: How to Match Answers?
The final answer key contains the question number and corresponding answer option.
For example, the PDF displays entries in the format:
| Question No. | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2 |
| 2 | 2 |
| 3 | 3 |
| 4 | 3 |
| 5 | 3 |
Candidates should first identify the correct set and session applicable to their examination and then compare the answers with their attempted OMR sheet.
CBSE DRQ2026 Answer Key Challenge Process
Before the final answer key was released, CBSE provided candidates with the provisional answer keys and scanned images of their attempted OMR answer sheets.
According to the official public notice, candidates could challenge an answer from February 12 to February 14, 2026, up to 11:59 PM. The processing fee was ₹1,000 per question.
CBSE stated that only challenges submitted online through the prescribed portal with the required fee would be considered.
The Board also clarified that:
- Challenges sent by email or letter would not be accepted.
- Subject experts would examine the challenges.
- The decision of the subject experts would be final.
- Candidates would not be informed individually about the status of their challenges.
- If a challenge was accepted, the prescribed fee for that question would be refunded after declaration of the result.
- The result would be prepared using the final answer keys.
CBSE DRQ Final Answer Key and Result
The final answer key is important because CBSE stated that the DRQ2026 Tier-1 result would be prepared based on the final answer keys.
CBSE subsequently published the Tier-1 result notice on March 2, 2026. The recruitment page also lists subsequent Tier-2 notices and updates for the recruitment.
Candidates should therefore use the final answer key rather than the earlier provisional key when checking their answers.
CBSE DRQ2026 Tier-1 Marking
Candidates who want to estimate their score should use the final answer key along with the applicable marking scheme for their examination.
The final answer key itself mainly provides the correct option against each question. It is therefore useful for checking attempted answers and understanding performance. Applicants should refer to the official examination instructions for the applicable marking rules rather than relying on an unofficial calculation method.
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| CBSE DRQ2026 Final Answer Key PDF | Download Here |
| CBSE Recruitment Page | Visit Here |
| CBSE Official Website | www.cbse.gov.in |
| DRQ2026 OMR/Answer Key Portal | cbseit.in/cbse/2026/drqkey/ |
General Queries (FAQs)
When was the CBSE Final Answer Key 2026 released?
The CBSE DRQ2026 Tier-1 Final Answer Key was released on March 7, 2026.
Which examination does the CBSE Answer Key 2026 belong to?
It is the final answer key for the Direct Recruitment Quota Examination 2026 (DRQ2026) Tier-1 conducted for various Group A, B and C posts.
Where can I download the CBSE DRQ Final Answer Key?
Candidates can download the final answer key from the official CBSE Recruitment page or directly from the official PDF link provided above.
When was the CBSE DRQ Tier-1 exam conducted?
The Tier-1 examination was conducted on January 31 and February 1, 2026.
How many pages are in the CBSE DRQ Answer Key PDF?
The official final answer key PDF contains 12 pages covering different sets and examination sessions.
Can I challenge the CBSE final answer key?
CBSE’s challenge facility was provided against the provisional answer key during the specified objection period. The final answer key was prepared after examination of the challenges by subject experts. CBSE stated that no grievance regarding the answer key would be entertained after declaration of the result.
Is the CBSE Final Answer Key the same as the provisional answer key?
No. The provisional answer key was released first and candidates were given an opportunity to challenge answers. The final answer key was prepared after the challenge process and is the key used for the result.
Disclaimer: We at JobAlertFree.in provide examination, result, and recruitment details for informational purposes. Applicants should verify the final answer key, result and other important details from the official CBSE website before taking any action.
Source: Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).