NIFT 2026 is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the National Institute of Fashion Technology at nift.ac.in. Notably, the NIFT Entrance Examination is a national-level test for admission to B.Des, B.FTech, M.Des, M.FTech and M.F.M programmes across 18 NIFT campuses in India. Furthermore, the exam comprises a Creative Ability Test (CAT) and a General Ability Test (GAT), followed by a Situation Test for B.Des and a Group Discussion and Personal Interview round for the postgraduate programmes. Moreover, this page covers exam dates, application form, eligibility, pattern, syllabus, admit card, answer key and result for the cycle.
Latest: NIFT 2026 entrance exam was held in February 2026. Additionally, the Stage 1 result, Situation Test and GD/PI rounds have concluded. Meanwhile, the final result and counselling process are underway at nift.ac.in.
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NIFT 2026
NIFT 2026 is the gateway to undergraduate and postgraduate fashion programmes at the National Institute of Fashion Technology. Notably, NIFT is the country’s premier institution for fashion education, established by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. Therefore, every year thousands of aspirants compete for admission to its B.Des programmes in Fashion Design, Leather Design, Accessory Design, Textile Design, Knitwear Design and Fashion Communication, along with the B.FTech in Apparel Production. Additionally, postgraduate options include M.Des, M.FTech and M.F.M (Master of Fashion Management). Subsequently, qualifying candidates are allotted seats based on combined Stage 1 and Stage 2 performance.
NIFT 2026 Important Dates
The schedule for the cycle has been released at nift.ac.in. Furthermore, the major events are tabulated below for quick reference. Meanwhile, candidates should bookmark the official portal for further updates.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Form Release | October 2025 |
| Last Date to Apply | January 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | January-February 2026 |
| NIFT 2026 Entrance Exam | February 2026 |
| Provisional Answer Key | February 2026 |
| Stage 1 Result | March 2026 |
| Situation Test (B.Des) | April-May 2026 |
| GD and PI (PG Programmes) | April-May 2026 |
| Final Result | May-June 2026 |
| Counselling and Admission | June 2026 onwards |
Official Portal: NIFT 2026 admissions are managed at nift.ac.in. Therefore, candidates should log in for the latest updates on the result and counselling rounds.
Application Form
NTA released the application form online for all NIFT programmes. Furthermore, candidates needed to register, fill personal and academic details, upload documents and pay the fee. Additionally, the application process has now concluded for the 2026 cycle. Meanwhile, key details are listed below for reference.
- Mode: Online via nift.ac.in
- Application Fee: Rs. 3000 (General / OBC); Rs. 1500 (SC / ST / PwD)
- Documents Required: Photograph, signature, Class 10 and 12 mark sheets, category certificate (if applicable), ID proof
- Exam Centres: Multiple cities across India
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must meet specific eligibility before applying for each programme. Therefore, the criteria differ for UG and PG courses. Additionally, failure to satisfy any condition leads to disqualification at any stage.
- B.Des: Class 12 passed (or appearing) from a recognised board in any stream; age limit 24 years as on 1 October of the application year (relaxation for SC/ST/PwD).
- B.FTech: Class 12 passed (or appearing) with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics; age limit 24 years.
- M.Des: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline or NIFT/NID diploma; no age limit.
- M.FTech: B.FTech / BE / B.Tech in relevant disciplines.
- M.F.M: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline or NIFT/NID diploma.
- Nationality: Indian citizens, NRIs, OCIs and foreign nationals (under separate category).
NIFT 2026 Exam Pattern
The NIFT entrance exam combines two papers in Stage 1 followed by a programme-specific Stage 2. Notably, the CAT is subjective and tests creativity, while the GAT is objective and tests aptitude. Furthermore, only shortlisted candidates appear for Stage 2.
| Paper | Format | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Creative Ability Test (CAT) | Subjective, hand-drawn creative tasks (100 marks) | 3 hours |
| General Ability Test (GAT) – UG | MCQ (Quantitative, English, Analytical, GK, Communication) | 2 hours |
| General Ability Test (GAT) – PG | MCQ + case study, slightly longer paper | 2.5 hours |
| Situation Test (B.Des Stage 2) | Hands-on model-making with given materials | 2 hours |
| GD and PI (PG Stage 2) | Group Discussion + Personal Interview | As scheduled |
Syllabus Highlights
The syllabus covers a mix of aptitude, creativity and current awareness. Furthermore, candidates should prepare each component separately. Subsequently, regular practice with previous year papers strengthens preparation.
- CAT: Visualisation, illustration, design awareness, observation, creative thinking.
- GAT – Quantitative Ability: Arithmetic, percentages, ratios, time and work, basic algebra.
- GAT – English Comprehension: Reading passages, grammar, vocabulary, sentence correction.
- GAT – Analytical Ability: Logical reasoning, pattern recognition, series, puzzles.
- GAT – Communication Ability: Synonyms, antonyms, idioms, phrases, spelling.
- GAT – General Knowledge and Current Affairs: National and international events, fashion industry news.
Admit Card
The admit card was released at nift.ac.in in late January 2026. Furthermore, candidates downloaded it by logging in with their application number and password. Additionally, the hall ticket carries roll number, exam centre, reporting time and exam day instructions. Subsequently, separate admit cards are issued for the Situation Test and GD/PI rounds.
Answer Key
NIFT (through NTA) releases the provisional answer key after the GAT exam at nift.ac.in. Therefore, candidates can match responses, calculate probable scores and raise objections within the stipulated window. Subsequently, the final answer key is released after evaluating valid objections. Notably, the CAT paper is subjective and does not have an answer key.
Result Declaration
The NIFT Stage 1 result was declared in March 2026 at nift.ac.in. Furthermore, shortlisted candidates appeared for Stage 2 (Situation Test for B.Des, GD/PI for PG). Additionally, the final result is published combining Stage 1 and Stage 2 scores. Subsequently, qualifying candidates participate in counselling for seat allotment across the 18 NIFT campuses.
Participating Campuses
NIFT operates 18 campuses across India. Furthermore, each campus offers a different combination of B.Des, B.FTech and PG specialisations. Subsequently, candidates can opt for preferred campuses during counselling based on merit.
- NIFT Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata
- NIFT Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Gandhinagar, Bhubaneswar
- NIFT Bhopal, Jodhpur, Kannur, Kangra
- NIFT Patna, Raebareli, Shillong, Srinagar
- NIFT Daman, Panchkula
Counselling Process
NIFT counselling is conducted online by the institute through nift.ac.in. Therefore, qualifying candidates must register, fill campus and programme preferences, and pay the counselling fee within the stipulated window. Additionally, seat allotment happens in multiple rounds based on merit, preference and seat availability. Meanwhile, document verification is conducted at the allotted campus on reporting.
Quick Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | NIFT Entrance Examination 2026 |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of NIFT |
| Exam Level | National (UG and PG Fashion) |
| Exam Date | February 2026 |
| Mode | CAT (offline) + GAT (online CBT) |
| Stage 1 Papers | CAT and GAT |
| Stage 2 (B.Des) | Situation Test |
| Stage 2 (PG) | Group Discussion + Personal Interview |
| Programmes | B.Des, B.FTech, M.Des, M.FTech, M.F.M |
| Total Campuses | 18 across India |
| Application Fee | Rs. 3000 / Rs. 1500 |
| Official Website | nift.ac.in |
Frequently Asked Questions on NIFT 2026
NIFT 2026 is the entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency on behalf of the National Institute of Fashion Technology for admission to B.Des, B.FTech, M.Des, M.FTech and M.F.M programmes across 18 NIFT campuses.
NIFT 2026 is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
NIFT 2026 Stage 1 consists of two papers: the Creative Ability Test (CAT, subjective) and the General Ability Test (GAT, MCQ). B.Des shortlisted candidates appear for the Situation Test, while PG candidates appear for Group Discussion and Personal Interview.
The official website is nift.ac.in where the application form, admit card, answer key and result are released.
A total of 18 NIFT campuses participate in NIFT 2026, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Gandhinagar, Bhubaneswar, Bhopal, Jodhpur, Kannur, Kangra, Patna, Raebareli, Shillong, Srinagar, Daman and Panchkula.
Candidates must have passed (or be appearing in) Class 12 from a recognised board in any stream. The age limit is 24 years as on 1 October of the application year, with relaxation for SC, ST and PwD candidates.
NIFT 2026 offers B.Des in six specialisations, B.FTech in Apparel Production, M.Des, M.FTech and M.F.M (Master of Fashion Management) across 18 campuses in India.
NIFT 2026 opens the door to India’s top fashion institutes for both undergraduate and postgraduate aspirants. Therefore, candidates should track nift.ac.in for the final result, prepare documents for counselling, and choose campus and programme preferences carefully for the best fit.
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after passing the exam, is it our choice to select the college or we get that according to the marks we obtain ?
I would like to know when will be the result for NRI students( 2023 ) will be out ?