NIFT Kolkata 2026 cutoff is expected to release on June 22, 2026, with programme-wise closing All India Ranks (AIR) for all five B.Des specialisations and the B.FTech Apparel Production programme based on NIFT centralised counselling results.
NIFT Kolkata offers 38 seats each in Fashion Design, Textile Design, Leather Design, Accessory Design, and Knitwear Design under B.Des, and 38 seats in Apparel Production under B.FTech. Based on 2024 and 2025 NIFT counselling data, Fashion Design remains the most competitive programme at the Kolkata campus with a General category closing AIR of around 909 in 2025. The expected closing ranks for 2026 across all programmes and categories are listed below.
- NIFT Kolkata 2026 cutoff will be published at nift.admissions.nic.in on or after June 22, 2026.
- Fashion Design at NIFT Kolkata had a General category closing AIR of 909 in 2025 (spot round); the 2026 expected closing rank is around 960.
- B.Des admission is based on CAT + Situation Test combined score; B.FTech uses GAT score only.
- Each B.Des and B.FTech programme at NIFT Kolkata has 38 approved seats per intake year.
- OBC-NCL, SC, and ST category students have significantly higher closing rank ceilings, improving admission chances across all programmes.
| Direct Link — NIFT 2026 Admissions and Cutoff Portal (Expected June 22, 2026) — nift.admissions.nic.in |
NIFT Kolkata 2026 Cutoff Overview
The cutoff at NIFT Kolkata is the last AIR at which a seat was allotted in a given programme and category during NIFT counselling rounds. Fashion Design consistently attracts the highest demand at the Kolkata campus, partly because of the city’s strong design and textile heritage. Leather Design and Knitwear Design also see above-average interest at Kolkata compared to most other NIFT centres. The table below summarises key admission parameters for NIFT Kolkata 2026.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) |
| Programmes at NIFT Kolkata | B.Des (Fashion Design, Textile Design, Leather Design, Accessory Design, Knitwear Design), B.FTech (Apparel Production) |
| Seats per Programme | 38 (each B.Des specialisation and B.FTech) |
| Cutoff Basis — B.Des | CAT (Creative Ability Test) + Situation Test combined score |
| Cutoff Basis — B.FTech | GAT (General Ability Test) score only |
| 2025 Fashion Design Closing AIR (General) | 909 (spot round) |
| Expected Cutoff Release Date | June 22, 2026 |
| Official Portal | nift.admissions.nic.in |
NIFT Kolkata B.Des Programme-Wise Expected Closing Ranks 2026
Fashion Design has the lowest closing rank number (highest competition) among all B.Des programmes at NIFT Kolkata. In 2025, the General category closing AIR for Fashion Design was 909 in the spot round, up from 835 in Round 5 of 2024. For 2026, a modest rise in applicants is expected, pushing the projected closing rank to around 960 for the General category. All figures in the table below are expected closing ranks based on 2024 and 2025 NIFT Kolkata counselling trends.
| B.Des Programme | Seats | Expected Closing AIR — General | Expected Closing AIR — OBC-NCL | Expected Closing AIR — EWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fashion Design | 38 | 960 | 2,050 | 3,150 |
| Textile Design | 38 | 1,550 | 2,900 | 3,900 |
| Leather Design | 38 | 1,850 | 3,300 | 4,300 |
| Knitwear Design | 38 | 2,050 | 3,700 | 4,700 |
| Accessory Design | 38 | 2,300 | 4,100 | 5,100 |
All figures are expected closing ranks based on 2024–2025 trends. Actual 2026 cutoffs will be confirmed after official counselling rounds.
NIFT Kolkata B.FTech Apparel Production Expected Closing Ranks 2026
B.FTech Apparel Production admission at NIFT Kolkata requires only the GAT score — there is no CAT or Situation Test component. The programme focuses on production technology, quality management, and supply chain operations. In 2025, the OBC-NCL closing AIR for B.FTech at NIFT Kolkata was 1,166, suggesting the General category closing rank for 2026 is expected around 950–1,000.
| Programme | Seats | Expected Closing AIR — General | Expected Closing AIR — OBC-NCL | Expected Closing AIR — SC | Expected Closing AIR — ST | Expected Closing AIR — EWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apparel Production (B.FTech) | 38 | 980 | 1,280 | 2,600 | 4,100 | 1,850 |
All figures are expected closing ranks based on 2024–2025 NIFT counselling trends. Actual 2026 cutoffs are subject to change.
Category-Wise Closing Ranks at NIFT Kolkata
NIFT follows government reservation norms — 27% OBC-NCL, 15% SC, 7.5% ST, and 10% EWS. Category-wise closing AIR at NIFT Kolkata (expected for 2026, based on 2023–2025 trends) are significantly higher for SC and ST categories, meaning students from these categories with higher rank numbers still qualify for admission. In 2023, the Fashion Design SC closing AIR was 3,061 and ST was 4,024 at NIFT Kolkata.
| Programme | General | OBC-NCL | EWS | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fashion Design | 960 | 2,050 | 3,150 | 3,300 | 4,400 |
| Textile Design | 1,550 | 2,900 | 3,900 | 4,600 | 6,600 |
| Leather Design | 1,850 | 3,300 | 4,300 | 5,100 | 7,200 |
| Knitwear Design | 2,050 | 3,700 | 4,700 | 5,600 | 8,100 |
| Accessory Design | 2,300 | 4,100 | 5,100 | 6,100 | 8,700 |
| Apparel Production (B.FTech) | 980 | 1,280 | 1,850 | 2,600 | 4,100 |
All figures are expected based on 2023–2025 trends. Official 2026 category-wise cutoffs will be published at nift.admissions.nic.in after counselling.
Factors Affecting NIFT Kolkata 2026 Cutoff
The closing rank at NIFT Kolkata shifts each year based on several variables. Understanding these helps you set a realistic admission target:
- Total number of NIFT 2026 applicants: A larger applicant pool compresses closing ranks, making each programme more competitive.
- Seat matrix: Each programme at NIFT Kolkata has 38 seats. Any revision to the seat matrix directly moves the closing rank.
- CAT paper difficulty (B.Des): A tougher Creative Ability Test shifts the score distribution, which can push General category closing ranks up or down.
- Situation Test performance (B.Des): Since the Situation Test score adds to the CAT score for B.Des merit, strong performance in this stage can offset a weaker CAT rank and affect overall closing ranks.
- Student preferences during counselling: NIFT Kolkata’s Leather Design and Knitwear Design attract concentrated demand from students in eastern India, which can tighten cutoffs for these programmes relative to other campuses.
- Number of counselling rounds: Closing ranks typically rise (higher AIR numbers become eligible) after each subsequent counselling round as unoccupied seats are filled.
NIFT Kolkata Cutoff 2026 FAQs
Ques. What is the expected closing rank for Fashion Design at NIFT Kolkata 2026?
Ans. Based on 2025 data where the General category closing AIR was 909, the expected closing rank for Fashion Design at NIFT Kolkata 2026 is around 960 for the General category. OBC-NCL students can expect a closing AIR of approximately 2,050.
Ques. When will the NIFT Kolkata 2026 cutoff be officially released?
Ans. The NIFT Kolkata 2026 cutoff is expected to be available on June 22, 2026, on the official NIFT admissions portal at nift.admissions.nic.in, following the completion of counselling rounds.
Ques. Is the admission process for B.FTech different from B.Des at NIFT Kolkata?
Ans. Yes. B.Des admission uses a combined CAT (Creative Ability Test) and Situation Test score, while B.FTech Apparel Production is based only on the GAT (General Ability Test) score. There is no Situation Test for B.FTech students.
Ques. How many seats does NIFT Kolkata have per programme?
Ans. NIFT Kolkata has 38 approved seats for each B.Des specialisation — Fashion Design, Textile Design, Leather Design, Accessory Design, and Knitwear Design — and 38 seats for B.FTech Apparel Production.
Ques. Which B.Des programme at NIFT Kolkata has the most competitive cutoff?
Ans. Fashion Design consistently has the lowest closing AIR (most competitive) at NIFT Kolkata. The 2025 General category closing rank was 909, compared to 835 in 2024. Accessory Design and Knitwear Design have comparatively higher (less competitive) closing ranks.
Ques. Can SC and ST students get admission at NIFT Kolkata with a rank above 3,000?
Ans. Yes. Based on 2023–2025 trends, SC students with ranks up to approximately 3,300–6,100 (depending on the programme) and ST students with ranks up to 4,400–8,700 may qualify at NIFT Kolkata. The exact category-wise cutoff will be confirmed after the official 2026 merit list is published.
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