NIFT 2026 Round 1 cutoff will be published alongside the first allotment list, showing the closing rank for each campus, program, and category at which seats were filled in the opening round of counselling.
The National Institute of Fashion Technology releases seat allotment results in multiple rounds, and the Round 1 cutoff is the highest merit rank (numerically) that secured a seat in each campus-program-category combination during that round. Based on NIFT 2025 trends, General category students targeting Fashion Design at NIFT Delhi need a rank below approximately 320–350, while competition is noticeably lower at newer campuses. The Round 1 allotment result is expected around June 28, 2026 at the official admissions portal.
- NIFT 2026 Round 1 allotment and cutoff is expected to release on June 28, 2026 at nift.admissions.nic.in.
- NIFT Delhi and NIFT Mumbai consistently record the lowest closing ranks due to the highest demand per seat.
- Seat reservation: 27% OBC-NCL, 15% SC, 7.5% ST, 10% EWS applied horizontally across all campuses and programs.
- Students without a Round 1 allotment automatically remain eligible for Round 2 and subsequent rounds based on original preferences.
- ST category closing ranks are often numerically lower than General ranks at the same campus due to fewer applicants per reserved seat.
| Direct Link — NIFT 2026 Round 1 Allotment and Cutoff (Releasing June 28, 2026) nift.admissions.nic.in |
What is NIFT Round 1 Cutoff?
The NIFT Round 1 cutoff is the closing rank — the numerically highest rank in the merit list — at which a seat was allotted during the first round of counselling, for a specific campus-program-category combination. It is not announced before the allotment; it is revealed as a result of matching merit ranks to available seats after all Round 1 preferences are processed.
A student whose rank is numerically above the closing rank for their preferred campus and program does not receive an allotment in Round 1. They are not eliminated: their preferences remain active, and they automatically participate in Round 2. Closing ranks in later rounds are generally higher (more relaxed) because seats vacated by non-reporting students or declined allotments re-enter the pool. Understanding Round 1 cutoffs helps students gauge whether they are likely to get their first-choice campus immediately or need to wait for subsequent rounds.
NIFT 2026 Expected Round 1 Cutoff: Category-Wise
The table below presents expected NIFT 2026 Round 1 closing ranks for the B.Des program, projected from 2025 allotment patterns. All figures are indicative ranges based on previous year trends and are not confirmed 2026 data.
| Campus | Program | General (UR) | OBC-NCL | SC | ST | EWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIFT Delhi | Fashion Design | ~280–350 | ~510–640 | ~750–920 | ~160–255 | ~400–510 |
| NIFT Delhi | Textile Design | ~420–560 | ~690–870 | ~950–150 | ~275–390 | ~570–710 |
| NIFT Delhi | Fashion Communication | ~500–650 | ~810–1,000 | ~1,090–1,320 | ~335–460 | ~660–820 |
| NIFT Mumbai | Fashion Design | ~355–450 | ~620–780 | ~870–1,060 | ~200–305 | ~480–610 |
| NIFT Mumbai | Accessory Design | ~650–810 | ~1,020–1,240 | ~1,370–1,640 | ~455–610 | ~840–1,020 |
| NIFT Bengaluru | Fashion Design | ~600–760 | ~980–1,200 | ~1,320–1,590 | ~425–580 | ~800–980 |
| NIFT Chennai | Fashion Design | ~760–950 | ~1,150–1,400 | ~1,570–1,880 | ~545–720 | ~970–1,180 |
| NIFT Kolkata | Fashion Design | ~870–1,080 | ~1,290–1,550 | ~1,730–2,060 | ~615–810 | ~1,090–1,310 |
| NIFT Hyderabad | Fashion Design | ~990–1,200 | ~1,440–1,720 | ~1,890–2,240 | ~700–910 | ~1,240–1,480 |
All figures above are expected ranges based on NIFT 2025 trends and are not confirmed 2026 allotment data.
NIFT Campus-Wise Closing Ranks: 2025 Reference
The approximate NIFT 2025 Round 1 closing ranks for B.Des Fashion Design (General category) across campuses are shown below. These serve as the primary reference benchmark when estimating 2026 cutoffs.
| Campus | General (UR) | OBC-NCL | SC | ST | EWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIFT Delhi | ~318 | ~576 | ~812 | ~192 | ~446 |
| NIFT Mumbai | ~402 | ~698 | ~936 | ~234 | ~531 |
| NIFT Bengaluru | ~689 | ~1,078 | ~1,412 | ~476 | ~858 |
| NIFT Chennai | ~847 | ~1,264 | ~1,672 | ~591 | ~1,044 |
| NIFT Kolkata | ~973 | ~1,418 | ~1,834 | ~668 | ~1,186 |
| NIFT Hyderabad | ~1,089 | ~1,556 | ~1,987 | ~748 | ~1,323 |
| NIFT Gandhinagar | ~1,234 | ~1,712 | ~2,134 | ~823 | ~1,478 |
| NIFT Jodhpur | ~1,456 | ~1,934 | ~2,389 | ~967 | ~1,678 |
NIFT Cutoff Trend: 2024 vs 2025
A year-on-year comparison helps identify whether competition at a campus is intensifying or holding steady. The table below compares approximate General category closing ranks for 2024 and 2025 across key campus-program pairs.
| Campus — Program | General Closing Rank 2024 | General Closing Rank 2025 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIFT Delhi — Fashion Design | ~334 | ~318 | Slightly tighter |
| NIFT Mumbai — Fashion Design | ~421 | ~402 | Slightly tighter |
| NIFT Bengaluru — Fashion Design | ~712 | ~689 | Stable |
| NIFT Chennai — Fashion Design | ~878 | ~847 | Stable |
| NIFT Delhi — Textile Design | ~498 | ~476 | Stable |
| NIFT Delhi — B.FTech | ~1,234 | ~1,178 | Slightly tighter |
Key observation: Premier campuses like NIFT Delhi and Mumbai show a consistent 4–6% tightening in closing ranks over two years as more students pursue design education. Smaller and newer campuses remain comparatively stable, offering more flexibility for students with mid-range ranks.
Factors Affecting NIFT Round 1 Cutoff
Several variables determine where the closing rank settles for each campus and program in a given year.
- Total applicants: A rise in students appearing for the NIFT entrance exam reduces the closing rank threshold for the same number of seats, increasing competition.
- Seat matrix per campus: Programs with limited intake at high-demand campuses produce consistently lower closing ranks regardless of year-to-year score changes.
- Merit score distribution: When a large group of students score in a narrow band, closing ranks within that band shift sharply.
- Normalization methodology: NIFT normalizes CAT and GAT scores independently across sessions; any revision to the formula between cycles can alter rank thresholds even if raw scores are similar.
- Category-wise participation: Low ST applicant counts relative to reserved seats often result in unfilled seats in Round 1, carrying them to Round 2 and slightly affecting the overall allotment pattern.
- Preference submission breadth: Students who submit preferences for more campuses increase inter-campus seat movement, indirectly influencing which ranks are satisfied in Round 1 versus later rounds.
NIFT 2026 Round 1 Cutoff FAQs
Ques. When will the NIFT 2026 Round 1 cutoff be released?
Ans. The NIFT 2026 Round 1 allotment result and closing ranks are expected to be published on June 28, 2026 at the official admissions portal nift.admissions.nic.in.
Ques. What does NIFT Round 1 closing rank mean?
Ans. The closing rank is the highest merit rank (numerically) at which a seat was allotted in a specific campus, program, and category during Round 1. Students whose rank is above this number did not receive an allotment in that round and are automatically considered in subsequent rounds.
Ques. How is the NIFT merit rank calculated?
Ans. For B.Des, NIFT derives merit rank from normalized scores across three stages: the Creative Ability Test (CAT), the General Ability Test (GAT), and the Situation Test. For B.FTech, only the GAT score determines the rank. The final normalized combined score places each student on the common merit list.
Ques. Which NIFT campus has the lowest closing rank?
Ans. Based on 2025 trends, NIFT Delhi records the lowest Round 1 closing rank for B.Des Fashion Design in the General category (approximately 318), followed by NIFT Mumbai (approximately 402). Both campuses draw the highest number of top-ranked students due to location and industry proximity.
Ques. If I do not get a seat in Round 1, can I still get admission to NIFT?
Ans. Yes. Students not allotted in Round 1 automatically participate in Round 2 and further rounds without any additional action. Closing ranks typically ease in subsequent rounds as vacated seats re-enter the pool. You do not need to re-apply or re-submit preferences — your original choice list remains active throughout the counselling process.
Ques. Why are ST category closing ranks sometimes lower than General ranks at NIFT?
Ans. The ST category receives 7.5% reserved seats. When the number of ST applicants with valid ranks is lower relative to the reserved seats available, the competition within that category is less intense, resulting in higher closing ranks numerically. This does not apply uniformly across all campuses — some campuses with concentrated ST applicant pools may see tighter ST closing ranks.
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