09 Dec, 2025: NTA has officially opened applications for NIFTEE 2026, confirming the exam date as February 8, 2026, with admissions covering UG, PG, NLEA, Artisans, and PhD programmes for the 2026–27 academic session. Check Here.
NIFT 2026: Exam Date, Eligibility, Pattern, Syllabus, Registration, Cut-offs & Counselling
Content Writer | Updated On - Dec 9, 2025
What's New In NIFT 2026?
The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) conducts a national-level entrance exam annually for admission into B.Des, B.F.Tech, M.Des, M.F.Tech, and MFM programs offered across its 18 campuses in India. The exam evaluates candidates on creativity, general ability, and design aptitude. The selection involves a written test, situation test or studio test, and a personal interview round.
NIFT 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Dates (Tentative) |
|---|---|
| NIFT 2026 online application form opens | Third week of November 2025 |
| Last date to apply (without late fees) | First week of January 2026 |
| Application form correction window | Second week of January 2026 |
| Admit card release | Third week of January 2026 |
| NIFT 2026 Exam (GAT/CAT) | Second week of February 2026 |
| Answer Key & Question Paper | February 2026 |
| File objections against GAT answer key | February 2026 |
| Written test result declaration | Third week of April 2026 |
| Situation Test Choice Filling (B.Des) | Last week of April 2026 |
| PI Document Upload | April – May 2026 |
| Admit card for Situation Test | First week of June 2026 |
| Situation Test (B.Des) | Second week of June 2026 |
| Personal Interviews | Last week of May to first week of June 2026 |
| Final Results (All Courses) | Second week of June 2026 |
| Counselling & Seat Allotment | Last week of June 2026 |
Table of Contents
- NIFT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
1.1 FAQs
- NIFT 2026 Registration Procedure
2.1 FAQs
- NIFT 2026 Exam Pattern
3.1 FAQs
- NIFT 2026 Syllabus
4.1 GAT Sections:
4.2 CAT Focus Areas:
- NIFT 2026 Admit Card
5.1 FAQs
- NIFT 2026 Exam Centres
- NIFT 2026 Answer Key
7.1 FAQs
- NIFT 2026 Result
8.1 FAQs
- NIFT 2026 Cut Off
9.1 FAQs
- NIFT 2026 Counselling
NIFT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
NIFT 2026 Eligibility Criteria differ according to the course applied for:
- B.Des/B.F.Tech: Passed 10+2 from a recognized board. Max age: 24 years (5-year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD).
- M.Des/MFM: Should have a bachelor's degree in any stream from a recognized university.
- M.F.Tech: Should have B.F.Tech from NIFT or B.E./B.Tech degree.
FAQs
Q. What is the maximum age limit for NIFT UG programs?
24 years (as on 1st August, 2026); relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST/PwD.
Q. Are final year students eligible to apply for NIFT PG courses?
Yes, if they obtain their degree prior to the closure of the admission process.
NIFT 2026 Registration Procedure
The NIFT 2026 registration will be online at exams.nta.ac.in/NIFT. The candidates need to create a login, complete the application, upload documents, and make payment.
| Category | Registration Fee |
|---|---|
| General/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | ₹2,000 |
| SC/ST/PwD | ₹1,000 |
FAQs
Q. Can I submit the NIFT application form past the deadline?
Yes, with an additional fee during the extended period.
Q. How do I get errors in the submitted form corrected?
NIFT provides an application correction window in the second week of January 2026.
NIFT 2026 Exam Pattern
The NIFT 2026 exam pattern comprises GAT (General Ability Test), CAT (Creative Ability Test), Situation Test, and PI based on the course.
| Component | Applicable To | Duration | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAT | B.Des, M.Des, B.F.Tech, MFM, M.F.Tech | 2–3 hours | Online |
| CAT | B.Des, M.Des | 3 hours | Offline (Drawing-based) |
| Situation Test | B.Des | 2 hours | Physical Test |
| Personal Interview | M.Des, MFM, M.F.Tech | 15–30 min | In-person |
FAQs
Q. Is CAT mandatory for B.F.Tech candidates?
No, B.F.Tech candidates need only GAT.
Q. Is there negative marking in NIFT 2026?
No, there is no negative marking.
NIFT 2026 Syllabus
The NIFT 2026 syllabus differs by test:
GAT Sections:
- Quantitative Ability
- Communication Ability
- English Comprehension
- Analytical Ability
- General Knowledge and Current Affairs
CAT Focus Areas:
- Design ability
- Visual imagination
- Innovation & observation
- Drawing and sketching
- Situation Test: On-spot model making + writing
FAQs
Q. Is the syllabus the same for UG and PG?
GAT sections are alike, but CAT and PI levels vary in terms of complexity.
Q. Are NCERT books enough for the Quant section?
Yes, for casual preparation.
NIFT 2026 Admit Card
The NIFT Admit Card 2026 will be released in the third week of January 2026. The same can be downloaded from the official website using the application number and password.
FAQs
Q. Can I produce the admit card on my phone?
No, only a printed one is accepted at the exam centre.
Q. What to do if there's a mistake in the admit card?
Immediately call the NTA helpline for rectification.
NIFT 2026 Exam Centres
NIFT 2026 will be conducted in more than 30+ cities, viz., Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Patna, Hyderabad, and Bhopal.
NIFT 2026 Answer Key
The NIFT 2026 answer key will be published in February 2026 along with the response sheet. The candidates can raise objections online during the objection period.
FAQs
Q. Will there be a final answer key after objections?
Yes, the final answer key will be made available once all valid objections are assessed.
NIFT 2026 Result
NIFT 2026 results will be announced in April 2026, and the final result in June 2026, subsequent to Situation Test/PI rounds.
FAQs
Q. Will the result contain rank and percentile?
The scorecard contains overall marks and rank.
NIFT 2026 Cut Off
The NIFT 2026 cut-off will be published along with the seat allotment result. Cut-offs differ course-wise, category-wise, and campus-wise.
| Program | Expected Rank Cut-off |
|---|---|
| B.Des | 51 – 10,000 |
| B.F.Tech | 11 – 929 |
| MFM | 24 – 1310 |
| M.Des | 24 – 525 |
FAQs
Q. Is the NIFT cutoff constant every year?
No, it varies depending on difficulty level, number of applicants, and seat availability.
NIFT 2026 Counselling
Online counselling is done for every UG and PG course. Shortlisted students have to upload documents, freeze options, and deposit the seat acceptance fee to secure admission.
- Rounds of Counselling:
- Round 1: July 2026
- Round 2: Mid-July 2026
- Round 3: End of July 2026
- Spot Round: Early August 2026
Top NIFT Campuses
NIFT has 18 campuses. The most sought-after include:
- NIFT Delhi
- NIFT Mumbai
- NIFT Bengaluru
- NIFT Hyderabad
- NIFT Chennai
Best Books for NIFT 2026 Preparation
- NIFT Exam Guide – R.P. Datason
- Ultimate Success Series for NIFT – Surendra
- Arihant Self Study Guide
- Previous Years' Papers – Ramesh Publishing House
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.
