The NIFT 2026 Admit card has been released by NTA for Stage 1 Exam on 4th Feb 2026, on the official website, nift.ac.in/admission. You should carry your admit card along with your photo ID Proof and 2 passport-size photos on the exam day.

The NIFT 2026 Exam will be held in 2 different formats, GAT Exam in CBT Mode and the CAT Exam in PBT Mode. The Stage 2 Situation test will be conducted in the 2nd week of June 2026, for the shortlisted candidates.

The NIFT 2026 Exam will be held on 8th February in 2 shifts:

  • B.Des/M.Des GAT from 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
  • CAT from 3:00 PM–6:00 PM
  • while B.FTech/MFM/M.FTech GAT will be held from 10:00 AM–1:00 PM.

As per the previous year's trends, around 20,000–25,000+ applicants compete for 5,000 seats in 19+ campuses.

Check:

nift 2026

NIFTEE 2026 Exam Dates

The NIFTEE 2026 Exam for admission in NIFT is being conducted in Feb 2026, in different stages, Stage 1 written test (GAT + CAT) followed by Stage 2 selection rounds for shortlisted candidates.

You should know about all the important dates related to the admit card, exam, result & others, to be fully aware of the admission process.

Event Date (2026)
Admit Card Release (Stage 1) February 4, 2026
NIFTEE 2026 Stage 1 Exam February 8, 2026
Provisional Answer Key February 2026 (expected within a week after exam)
Final Answer Key March 2026 (tentative)
Stage 1 Result Last week of April 2026 (tentative)
Situation Test / Studio Test / PI May–June 2026 (tentative)
Final Result Declaration June 2026 (expected)
Counselling & Seat Allotment June–July 2026 (tentative)

NIFT 2026 Exam Day Guidelines

If you are appearing for NIFTEE 2026, you should follow the proper exam-day instructions issued by NTA and NIFT for entry into the exam centre.

You should reach early, avoid prohibited items, and follow the CBT (GAT) and PBT (CAT) instructions carefully.

Below are the important Guidelines for NIFTEE 2026:

Category Guidelines
Reporting Time Reach the exam centre at least 60–90 minutes early. Entry closes 30 minutes before the exam start time.
Mandatory Documents Printed Admit Card, valid photo ID (Aadhaar/PAN/Passport/School ID), and two passport-size photographs (same as uploaded).
Exam Mode GAT will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode; CAT will be in Paper-Based Test (PBT) mode.
Allowed Items Admit card, ID proof, photos, and basic stationery for CAT (if allowed as per instructions on the admit card).
Prohibited Items Mobile phones, smart watches, calculators, study material, bags, water bottles, or any electronic gadgets. No storage facility at centres.
Biometric Verification Candidates may undergo biometric attendance and frisking before entry. Cooperate with staff.
Marking Scheme (GAT) +1 mark for each correct answer and −0.25 negative marking for each incorrect response.
Late Entry Policy No entry after gate closing time under any circumstances.
Rough Work Use the rough sheets provided at the centre for CBT sections. Return them after the exam.
COVID/General Conduct Follow general instructions, maintain discipline, and avoid unfair means during the exam.

NIFT Admit Card 2026

The NIFTEE Admit Card is a mandatory document for entry into the exam centre. It includes exam city, shift timing, reporting time, and important instructions for both CBT (GAT) and PBT (CAT) components.

Particulars Details
Release Date February 4, 2026
Official Website exams.nta.nic.in/NIFT
Mode of Download Online only (login with application number & DOB/password)
Details Mentioned Candidate name, roll number, exam centre, city, reporting time, shift timing, instructions
Documents to Carry Printed admit card, valid photo ID, and two passport-size photos
Correction Window Contact the NTA helpdesk immediately in case of errors on the admit card
Mandatory for Entry Yes, entry to the exam centre is not allowed without the admit card
Preserve After Exam Keep it safe for result checking, Stage 2 test, and the counselling process

Check: NIFT 2026 City Intimation Slip (Released)

How to download the NIFT Admit Card?

To download the NIFT Admit Card, you should log in to the official website by using your Application Number & Password.

Then download the Admit Card PDF, and get it printed before the exam day.

NIFT Admit Card

Source: examinationservices.nic.in/AdmitCardService/

NIFT Highlights

NIFT 2026 Highlights

The aspirants can check important highlights on the NIFT 2026 Entrance examination which is given below:

Particulars Details
Exam Name National Institute of Fashion Technology Entrance Examination
Name of the Conducting Authority National Institute of Fashion Technology
Exam Level National
Mode of Application Online
Medium of Exam English and Hindi
Mode of Exam Online Proctored Examination
Exam Frequency Annually
Exam Duration
  • 2 hours for GAT (General Ability Test)
  • 3 hours for CAT (Creativity Ability Test)
Number of Questions
  • 100 questions for GAT (General Ability Test)
  • Drawing questions for CAT (Creativity Ability Test)
Question Type MCQ Question in the GAT
Application Fees INR 3000/- for Unreserved/ Other Backward Class INR 1500 for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe
Total Seats Offered 5215 (Expected)
Applications Per Year Approximately 40,000
Number of Exam Centre 102 cities.
Official Website https://www.nift.ac.in
NIFT Eligibility Criteria

NIFT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

NIFT Eligibility Criteria offers courses in undergraduate and postgraduate courses to students. For admission to undergraduate courses, the applicant's age must be less than 24 years and for postgraduate admission, there is no age limit.

Courses Specialization Duration Eligibility Criteria
Bachelor in Design Fashion Design Four Years
  • The applicant must have passed 10+2 from CBSE/ State Board or any recognized Board.
Or General Certificate Education (GCE) Examination
Leather Design
Fashion Communication
Accessory Design
Knitwear Design
Bachelor in Fashion Technology ---------- Four Years
  • The applicant must have passed 10+2 from CBSE/ State Board or any recognized Board.
Or General Certificate Education (GCE) Examination.
Master of Fashion Technology ---------- Two Years
  • The applicant must have passed B.F.TECH from National Institute of Fashion 
OR Technology (NIFT) or B.E / B.TECH from any Institute / University.
Master in Design ---------- Two Years
  • The applicant must have passed graduation from any Institute / University
Master in Fashion Design ---------- Two Years
  • The applicant must have passed graduation from any Institute / University

People Also Ask

Ques. How can I register for NIFT 2026?

Ans. Candidates willing for the NIFT Registration 2026 have to visit the official website. NIFT Registration 2026 is expected to begin in November 2025 till January 2026.

Ques. How many seats are there in NIFT 2026?

Ans. It is expected that NIFT 2026 will have 5125 seats altogether.

Ques. What is the syllabus for NIFT 2026?

Ans. NIFT Syllabus 2026, includes Quantitative Ability, Communication Ability, English Comprehension, Analytical Ability and Logical Ability, General Knowledge and Current Affairs, and Case Study.

Ques. Is NIFT very difficult?

Ans. The level of NIFT is easy to moderate. Though NIFT 2026 paper in CAT paper was easier compared to GAT. So candidates Preparing for NIFT 2026 must think about it and prepare accordingly.

 

NIFT 2026 Category Wise Reservation

The National Institute of Fashion Technology has reserved seats for different categories which are mentioned below.

Category Seat Reservation
General – Economically Weaker Section 10%
Scheduled Caste (SC) 15%
Scheduled Tribe (ST) 7.5%
Other Backward Caste (OBC) Non-Creamy Layer 27%
Differently Able Person/ Person with Disability (PHP) 5% (Horizontal Reservation for Differently Able Person (having 40% or more disability)
NIFT Registration Form

NIFT 2026 Registration Form

NIFT Registration process for NIFT 2026 Entrance Examination is completely online.

How to fill out NIFT Registration Form 2026?

The candidates must follow the instructions carefully before applying for NIFT 2026. The procedure to apply for the application form of NIFT is given below:

Step 1: The aspirants need to visit the official website National Institute of Fashion Technology i.e. https://www.nift.ac.in.

Step 2: The next step is to look for the Prospectus under “Admission” on the home page of NIFT.

Step 3: The NIFT application portal registration page will open up on the new screen. If you are a new user in the NIFT 2026 entrance examination, click on the "new application portal" and complete the registration process for the NIFT 2026 examination.

Step 4: The next step is to keep the login id and password for registration of NIFT and keep it saved for further login.

Step 5: The candidate needs to fill in the remaining information such as Education Qualification, Category, etc to complete the form fill-up of the NIFT entrance examination.

Step 6: After that, the candidate is required to identify themselves by uploading their scanned photograph, signature, and other required documents within the given size and pixel to upload in the NIFT Registration which are mentioned above.

Step 7: The next step is for payment and completing the registration process of NIFT 2026. The applicants have to pay the application fees to complete their application process for NIFT 2023. The NIFT 2023 application fee is different for all the categories.

Category Application Fees
Unreserved/ Other Backward Class (OBC) INR 3000 /-
Scheduled Caste(SC), Scheduled Tribe(ST) INR 1500 /-
Person With Disability (PWD) INR 1500 /-

Step 8: After completing the payment, you can download the application form for future reference.

NIFT 2026: Test City Booking

The NIFT 2026 exam centers are spread across 32 cities. The list of cities which are available during the NIFT 2023 is mentioned in the tabular form below:

Exam Center NIFT 202 4
Ahmedabad Bengaluru Bhopal
Bhubaneswar Chandigarh Chennai
Cochin Coimbatore Dehradun
Delhi Guwahati Hyderabad
Jaipur Jammu Jodhpur
Kangra Kannur (Kerala) Kolkata
Lucknow Madurai Mumbai
Nagpur Patna Pune
Raipur Ranchi Surat
Udaipur Vadodara Vishakhapatnam
Shillong Srinagar (J&K)

NIFT 2026 Exam Pattern

  • NIFT Entrance Examination 2026 will be conducted in three stages beginning with General Ability Test (GAT) and followed by Creativity Ability Test (CAT).
  • NIFT Entrance test is a written test that is conducted for all five courses through General Ability Test (GAT).
  • The candidates who qualify for the GAT have to appear for the Creativity Ability Test (CAT). The aspirants who clear both the tests will have to give the Situation Test and after that, a Personal Interview will be conducted.
  • General Ability Test will be only applicable through the courses of Bachelor in Fashion Technology, Master in Fashion Technology, and Master of Fashion Management. Moreover, there is no negative marking in the NIFT entrance examination.
Exam Mode Online Proctored Examination
Number of Papers Two
Number of Sections Five
Name of the section General Knowledge and Current Affairs, Quantitative Ability, Communication Ability, English Comprehension, and Analytical and Logical Ability.
Question Paper Type Multiple Choice Question
Exam Duration for GAT written test 2 hours (for Bachelor in Designing & Master in Designing) & 3 hours (Bachelor in Fashion Technology, Master in Fashion Technology, and Master of Fashion Management)
Exam Language English
NIFT Syllabus

Also Read

NIFT 2026 Syllabus

NIFT Syllabus will comprise General Knowledge and Current Affairs, Quantitative Ability, Communication Ability, English Comprehension, and Analytical and Logical Ability. The syllabus for both the General Ability Test (GAT) and Creativity Ability Test (CAT) is different.

NIFT Course-Wise NIFT Syllabus
NIFT Syllabus for Bachelor of Design
CAT Design theory, colour terminology, Element and Principle of Design, Optical Illusion, Form and Function, Drawing Fundamentals
GAT Quantitative Ability, Communication Ability, English Comprehension, Analytical Ability and Logical Ability, General Knowledge and Current Affairs
Situational Test The model will be evaluated on space visualization, innovative and creative use of given material, the composition of elements, colour scheme, construction skill, the finesse of the model and overall presentation etc
Bachelor of Fashion Technology
GAT Communication Ability & English Comprehension, Case Study, Quantitative Ability, Analytical and logical Ability, General Knowledge And Current Affairs
NIFT Master of Design
CAT Design ability of the applicant, Discernment ability, Creativity in the development of thought, Power of observation
GAT Communication Ability & English Comprehension, Case Study, Quantitative Ability, Analytical and logical Ability, General Knowledge And Current Affairs
GD/PI 10 to 20 minutes discussions followed by a case study and interview
Master of Fashion Technology
GAT Communication Ability & English Comprehension, Case Study, Quantitative Ability, Analytical and logical Ability, General Knowledge And Current Affairs
GD/PI 10 to 20 minutes discussions followed by a case study and interview
Master of Fashion Management
GAT Communication Ability & English Comprehension, Case Study, Quantitative Ability, Analytical and logical Ability, General Knowledge And Current Affairs
PI 10 to 20 minutes discussion and interview.

People Also Ask

Ques. Does NIFT require drawing?

Ans. Sketching in NFIT plays an important role. To get admission in NIFT candidates must know about Drawing Skills. But only drawing skills will not work. Candidates must be good at General Ability Test as well.

Ques. How many Maths questions are there in NIFT?

Ans. As it is a design course candidates will not receive many questions related to maths. But they can expect 8-10 questions from Mathematics. Candidates will get mathematics questions from class 10+2 standard.

Ques. Which is the best subject for NIFT in class 11?

Ans. For NIFT, there are not many restrictions for the subjects of choice in classes 11 and 12. So the candidates have the freedom to choose the Science, Commerce or Arts stream.

Ques. Are there any written exams in NIFT?

Ans. NIFT is a national-level entrance exam and conducted by the National Institute of Fashion Technology. NIFT Exam is divided into two written exams- CAT and GAT. GAT is mandatory for all courses including B.Design and M.Design. But CAT is only applicable for B.design and M.design programs

NIFT Situation Test & Personal Interview
NIFT Preparation Tips

NIFT Preparation Tips

  • Every candidate must prepare for the NIFT Examination i.e. GAT (General Ability Test) & CAT (Creativity Ability Test) at least six months to cover the entire syllabus of NIFT with ease.
  • Every year the conducting authority National Institute of Technology updated the syllabus and pattern of the examination and the aspirants must keep updated regularly to the updated syllabus to ensure systematic and good preparation.
  • GAT comprises questions from General Knowledge and Current Affairs, Quantitative Ability, Communication Ability, English Comprehension, and Analytical and Logical Ability and the NIFT Creative Ability Test is a drawing test that evaluates the skills and observation perspective of the candidates and is of three hours duration.
  • The students should prepare for the GAT and CAT examinations before six months so that enough time is available in the end to give the mock test and previous year's question paper of NIFT.

Also Read

NIFT 2026 Best Books for Preparation

The aspirants who are preparing for the NIFT 2026 entrance examination to ace the paper should be aware of the following books for each section to ace the paper. The recommended books for NIFT 2026 are mentioned in the table below.

Name of the Book Author
Popular Master Guide NIFT and IIFT R. Gupta
Exam Guide NIFT Dr. R. P. Datason
Entrance Examination Guide of NIFT D. Mittal
Entrance Examinations for NIFT Arihant Publications
NIFT Previous Years Solved Paper Ramesh publishing house
NIFT Previous Year Question Papers

NIFT Previous Year Question Papers

The candidates of the NIFT Entrance Examination 2026 need to practice previous year's papers and sample papers to know the type of questions asked the weight of each section and the difficulty level of the examination. Practicing question paper of the previous year of the NIFT will enable an aspirant the effective use of time management.

NIFTEE 2025 Question Paper PDF

The memory-based question paper for NIFTEE 2026 are uploaded here after every shift. It will give an idea about the paper format, number of questions, important topics and more. NIFT 2025 Question Paper

Courses

Question Papers Download Link

B.Des

Download Here

B.F.T

Download Here

M.Des

Download Here 

M.F.M

Download Here

M.F.T

Download Here

NIFT 2026 Result

The NIFT result showcases subject-wise scores achieved by candidates in CAT and GAT. Those who pass GAT and CAT for the B. Design program will proceed to the Situation Test and GD/PI. The Final Result and Merit List will be compiled considering all scores. Here's how candidates can check their results:

  • Visit the official NIFT website, nift.ac.in.
  • Navigate to "NIFT 2026 Results."
  • Enter your NIFT Roll number, Date of Birth, and Application number.
  • Click on Proceed/log in.
  • Verify the displayed result details.
  • Print the result for future reference.

NIFT 2026 Scorecard

The NIFT Scorecard includes essential information such as the candidate's name, Roll Number, Application Number, Date of Birth, photograph, subject-wise scores from CAT and GAT, the Situation Test score, total marks obtained, and rank if qualified. This Scorecard, along with the NIFT Admit Card 2026, will be necessary during counseling.

NIFTEE 2025 Result Statistics

Here is the number of candidates who registered and appeared for NIFT 2025 Stage 1 exam:

Shift

Exam

Registered

Appeared

Shift 1

General Ability Test (GAT)

17,974

16,475

Shift 2

Creative Ability Test (CAT)

15,903

14,586

Total

33,877

31,061

Here is the NIFT 2025 Stage 1 program-wise statistics:

Programme

Registered

Appeared

BDES (Shift 1)

11,944

11,071

BDES Lateral (Shift 1)

44

37

BFTECH (Shift 1)

1,015

888

BFTECH and BDES (Shift 1)

2,492

2,264

BFTECH Lateral (Shift 1)

9

9

MDES (Shift 1)

1,078

977

MFM (Shift 1)

950

845

MFM and MDES (Shift 1)

389

338

MFTECH (Shift 1)

53

46

CAT BDES (Shift 2)

11,944

11,044

CAT BFTECH and BDES (Shift 2)

2,492

2,245

CAT MDES (Shift 2)

1,078

962

CAT MFM and MDES (Shift 2)

389

335

Total

33,877

31,061

Check gender-wise and category-wise statistics:

Group

Details

Registered

Appeared

Gender

Female

28,080

25,783

Male

5,797

5,278

Category

OBC-NCL (Central List)

8,679

8,172

OPEN

19,656

17,929

OPEN-EWS

1,400

1,328

SC

3,009

2,659

ST

1,133

973

PwD

227

210

Here is the NIFT 2025 Stage 2 PG Statistics:

Programme

Registered

Appeared

Master of Design (M.DES.)

1,083

805

Master of Fashion Management (M.F.M.)

844

684

Master of Fashion Technology (M.F.Tech.)

46

30

Grand Total

1,973

1,519

Here is the NIFT 2025 Stage 2 UG Statistics:

Programme

Registered

Appeared

B.Des (Artisans)

19

15

B.Des Lateral Entry

30

22

B.F. Tech Lateral Entry

09

04

Bachelor of Design (B.Des Lateral Entry)

07

07

Bachelor of Design (B.Des)

10,804

8,811

Grand Total

10,869

8,859

NIFT Situation Test & Personal Interview 2026

Candidates who pass both tests move on to the Situation Test. During the Situation Test, interviewers evaluate candidates on their interpersonal skills, communication skills, knowledge of the specific topic, problem-solving approach, creative ideas, and clarity of thought. In the NIFT interview itself, the focus is on the candidate's overall personality, knowledge of the subject, and design skills.

NIFT Cut off

NIFT 2026 Cut off

Every year approximately 40,000 students appear for the NIFT Examination for a total of 4517 seats. The National Institute of Technology board will release the cut-off marks after the conduction of the examination. Below given are the cut-off marks of the 2026 NIFT examination.

Course Rank Range Shortlisted Candidates
B.Des 51-317 80
B.Des 319-619 90
B.Des 620-825 90
B.Des 828-1098 90
B.Des 1104-1328 80
B.Des 1331-1605 90
B.Des 1612-1874 90
B.Des 1882-2127 90
B.Des 2128-2440 80
B.Des 2443-2741 90
B.Des 2747-3132 90
B.Des 3133-3628 90
B.Des 3629-4100 80
B.Des 4110-4714 90
B.Des 4715-5543 90
B.Des 5448-6739 90
B.Des 6744-8150 100
B.Des 8161-9875 100
B.Des 9883-11605 100
B.Des 11658-14378 86
M.F.Tech 88-100 3
M.Des 24-525 91
B.F.Tech- Apparel Production 11-275 40
B.F.Tech- Apparel Production 276-929 89
MFM 24-352 80
MFM 353-814 90
MFM 816-1310 81

Factors Determining of NIFT Cut off

NIFT Cut Off is calculated based on several factors. The following points mention the key factors upon which NIFT Cutoff is decided:

  • The total number of applicants appearing for the NIFT examination.
  • The total number of seats of the NIFT.
  • The difficulty level of the paper and the highest marks were obtained.
  • Previous year cutoffs of the NIFT.

Also Read

  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • NIFT 2026 Frequently Asked Questions

Ques: What is the minimum qualification required for NIFT Entrance Examination 2026?

Ans: The candidates must be graduates from a recognized university for admission in the postgraduate courses and the candidates who have passed 10+2 can apply for the undergraduate courses in the National Institute of Fashion Technology.

Ques: Is there any age criterion for NIFT Entrance Examination 2026?

Ans: Yes, there is an age criterion for NIFT Entrance Examination 2026. For admission in undergraduate courses, the applicant's age must be less than 24 years and for postgraduate admission, there is no age limit.

Ques: What are the facilities provided on campus in terms of services to the students of the National Institute of Fashion Technology?

Ans: The students are provided with a library, hostel facility, canteen, sports zone, medical doctor, Internet access, and transportation facility in the National Institute of Fashion Technology campus.

Ques: What are the sections under the General Ability Test for NIFT 2026?

Ans: There is a total of five sections i.e. General Knowledge and Current Affairs, Quantitative Ability, Communication Ability, English Comprehension, and Analytical and Logical Ability under the General Ability Test for NIFT 2025.

Ques: Does the National Institute of Fashion Technology offer placement to the students?

Ans: Yes, the National Institute of Fashion Technology offers placement to the students which are common to all the NIFTs across India.

Ques: What is the application fee for the NIFT Entrance Examination 2026?

Ans: The application fees are different for all categories for the NIFT Entrance Examination 2026. The General and OBC candidates have to pay INR 3000 /- and the Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe/ Person with Disability have to pay INR 1500 /-.

Ques: What is the reservation of the categories in the NIFT Entrance Examination 2026?

Ans: The reservation for all the categories is different in the NIFT Entrance Examination which is mentioned below:

Category Seat Reservation
General – Economically Weaker Section 10%
Scheduled Caste (SC) 15%
Scheduled Tribe (ST) 7.5%
Other Backward Caste (OBC) Non-Creamy Layer 27%
Differently Able Person/ Person with Disability (PHP) 5% (Horizontal Reservation for Differently Able Person (having 40% or more disability)