Design: NIFT Exam

Introduction To NIFT 2026

The NIFT 2026 exam is more than just a test - it's the start of your journey into fashion. If you are a student who hopes to build a career in the fashion design and lifestyle stream, you must consider NIFT for it. NIFT holds this test every year for students who want to become fashion designers, stylists, or brand creators. If you are seeking to study from the best and want to open doors to great career opportunities, getting into NIFT can be that step.

If you think that preparing for this exam is important is because the latest research data says that the number of students registered for the NIFT entrance exam in 2025 was 33,877. Whereas the number of seats available for that was 5289. This data gives us the idea of how competitive the whole process is.

Now, if you are thinking of opting for this career, planning about this entrance exam should be your priority. This can be the one turning point that will make your chances of becoming a fashion designer in reality. 2026 is around the corner, thus it is the best time to prepare for this exam.

Point to Note: NIFT for the year 2026 admission has combined its intake across various campuses, which is about 4837 regular seats in various design and technology programmes.

Why Choose NIFT In 2026?

NIFT is the finest college in India for students who wish to pursue fashion design, management, and technology as a career. Established in 1986 under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. The main aim of the university is to train young students to make a career in the fashion industry. With good results and future opportunities after studying at NIFT, it has become the most genuine and trusted name in fashion education. It has been helping a lot of students turn their creativity into successful careers.

NIFT today has 19 campuses in India, which include major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad. Giving students from all over India to fulfil their creative dreams in reality.

NIFT offers courses such as B.Des (Bachelor of Design), B.FTech (Bachelor of Fashion Technology), M.Des, M.FTech, and M.F.M (Master of Fashion Management) under the entrance exams it offers.

Once graduated from NIFT, students get recognized and respected in the fashion industry and get the opportunity to work with top fashion brands. With this, they can also opt to open their own labels; along with this, they get the chance to represent India on an international level. The NIFT registration begins in the last week of November. This blog will help you complete your application.

What Is The NIFT 2026 Eligibility Criteria?

Knowing about the eligibility rules and regulations is important before you apply to NIFT. The application process requires your age limit, educational documents, and the documents asked during the application process. You need to read the criteria before applying for undergraduate and postgraduate as they might be slightly different.

For Undergraduate Programs (B.Des & B.FTech)

• Class 12 from a recognized board.
• Maximum age limit: 24 years as of August 1, 2026.
• Age Relaxation in case of SC/ST/PwD candidates - Up to 5 years
• Class 12 exams appearing in 2026 may also apply.
   

For Postgraduate Programs (M.Des, M.FTech & M.F.M)

• A bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
• No age limit - postgraduate.

NIFT Registration Documents Requirement

• Class 10 & 12 mark sheets
• Aadhaar card, passport, or PAN card
• Passport-size photo and signature
• Category or disability certificate (if applicable)

You can visit the official website and complete the entire process step by step.

The Step-by-Step Application Guide For NIFT 2026

Below are the steps you need to apply for the NIFT test

1. To apply online, visit the official website (https://www.nift.ac.in/) and click on the “APPLY ONLINE” link.
2. Now you need to sign up, enter your name, email ID, and phone number. This will create your login ID.
3. Add your personal, academic, and communication details and fill in the form.
4. Your scanned photo, signature, and documents need to be uploaded then.
5. No,w using a debit/credit card, pay the application fee.
6. The last step includes submitting the form and downloading the confirmation page for future reference.
    

Application Fee

• ₹3000 for General/OBC category
• ₹1500 for SC/ST/PwD category
   

Important Dates

• Application date: Last week of November 2025
• Regular Fee: To be submitted by the First week of January
• Late Fee: To be submitted by the second week of January
• Correction Window: Second Week of January
• Admit Card Issue in the second week of January 2026
• NIFT exam date is expected to be mid-February 2026

Tips To Avoid Mistakes

• To avoid mistakes, check all details carefully before submitting. A double check would save you from any mistakes.
• Make sure the number and email ID you are submitting are valid, as they will be the mode of communication regarding your application.
• Don't forget to save a copy of your application form and fee receipt.

Understanding 2026 NIFT Exam Pattern And Syllabus

The format of the NIFT Entrance Test 2026 varies in terms of stages concerning different courses. Each stage assesses the candidate's creativity, logical thinking, and design principles. The exam will be offline and in pen-and-paper mode. Below is the NIFT Syllabus in detail

1. Creative Ability Test (CAT)

• For: B.Des and M.Des applicants
• Objective: Tests creativity, imagination, sketching skills, and design sense.
• Time: 3 hours
• Weightage: 50% of total score

NIFT Syllabus Includes: Drawing, design concepts, color application, composition, and creative thinking.

2. General Ability Test (GAT)

• For: All programs (B.Des, B.FTech, M.Des, M.FTech, M.F.M)
• Intent: This tests general knowledge and ability.
• Topics to be Covered: Quantitative Aptitude, English Comprehension, Communication Ability, Analytical Reasoning, General Awareness, Current Affairs.
• Duration: 2 hours
• Weightage:

• 30% for B.Des.
• 40% for M.Des
• 100% for B.FTech, M.FTech & M.F.M

3. Situation Test/ Studio Test & Interview

• For short-listed candidates (after CAT & GAT)

Objective: This tests your thinking, planning, and construction of 3-D models from the materials given. Weightage: 20% Overall, the NIFT exam assesses your creative talent and logical ability, and it gives equal importance to imagination and accuracy.

How Can You Prepare For NIFT 2026?

Now comes the point where we need to understand that NIFT preparation is not like the usual exam prep. It is a mixture of creativity, practice, and smart planning that students need to do. Firstly, understanding what the exam tests- it tests your artistic capability, general knowledge, and time management skills. This shows that you need to take an all-around approach to it.

• The first step would be selecting the right study material. The famous books for the NIFT entrance exam would be Arihant - NIFT entrance exam Guide, NIFT/NID/IIFT entrance exam guide by Ramesh Publishing House, and NIFT entrance exam guide by Dharmendra Mittal.
• Secondly, you will have to select appropriate study material. Some recommended books are NIFT Entrance Exam Guide by Arihant, NIFT/NID/IIFT Entrance Exam Guide by Ramesh Publishing House, and NIFT Entrance Exam Guide by Dharmendra Mittal. You can also use YouTube tutorials, online notes, and mock test platforms for extra practice.
• If needed, you can opt for coaching centers, or you can choose self-study. Classes will help you get trained by experts who will give you thorough guidance, they will clear your doubts, and provide you with a sorted study plan. And if you opt to study by yourself, you can be flexible with your study plan and save money too. This plan is best for people who are disciplined and can adhere to their plan.
• Additionally, managing your time during study is also very important. You can start by making a daily study plan, starting from 2-3 hours for creative drawing and design ideas. Then, the next 1 hour you can keep for general knowledge and reasoning, and the next hour for mock tests and papers.
• It will be best if you practice for the CAT daily, like sketching color combinations and visualizations. You will be required to work on a model, using innovative thinking and a neat presentation.

Also, solve previous year's NIFT papers and take mock tests to understand the pattern and improve speed.

Summing up

NIFT 2026 is the first and very important step to your creative and successful journey in fashion. Believe in yourself and your hard work. From learning basics to showcasing your creative ideas, everything counts. With big dreams and consistency, you can achieve your goal. So, keep creating, keep practicing, and let NIFT 2026 be the start of your success story in the world of fashion and design.