UPES B.Des Admissions 2026
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NID DAT Admit Card Date:11 Dec' 25 - 21 Dec' 25
Hello students! Every year, the National Institute of Design administers the NID DAT (Design Aptitude Test), a national entrance exam for aspiring designers seeking admission to its graduate and undergraduate programs. General Knowledge and current affairs questions are crucial to practice for students preparing for the NID DAT Prelims as they are seen to be scoring according to the NID past year questions paper analysis. Read this article for better preparation for the current affairs questions for the NID 2026 exam.
Below are some of the important topics for the current affairs and general knowledge section for NID 2026 for students to prepare to ace in the NID DAT exam. Students can also take reference of the type of questions asked for each topic from the sample questions given below.
As per the NID DAT 2026 Exam Pattern, General Knowledge and current affairs are critical for NID exam preparation. According to the NID 2026 DAT Exam Syllabus, topics that are generally asked in these sections include:
This topic includes current affairs, news related to art and culture, geography, science and technology, and design-related facts. Questions asked from this topic can be direct fact-based and students are advised to read a lot to prepare for NID DAT.
Exercises:
Read The Newspapers like Hindu, Indian Express, or The Hindu Young World daily for current affairs.
Follow on events in art, design, architecture, and technology. Follow design community channels on social media to get information on Design events and upcomings.
Read and revise following topics regularly: Indian States & Capitals, National Parks & Heritage Sites, Awards (Filmfare, National Awards, Oscars, IF Design Awards), Important Dates & Days and Famous Personalities in Art & Design.
Sample questions:
Ques: Why does a prism split white light into different colors?
Ans: A prism splits white light into different colors because of dispersion, where different wavelengths of light bend by different amounts when passing through the prism.
Ques: Which type of clay is Terracotta?
Ans: Terracotta is a type of earthenware clay that is porous and typically reddish-brown in color.
Ques: In which year was the National Education Policy recently updated?
Ans: 2020
Ques: Is Ikebana Japanese?
Ans: Yes, Ikebana is Japanese and refers to the art of flower arrangement.
To understand the commercial aspect of design learn about the following: Brands & Logos and Major Design and influential designers (Indian and international) who have contributed to the design field. Also read about Product Design and Innovation from around the world.
Exercises:
Solve quizzes and NID DAT sample papers to prepare. Create and maintain a visual diary for different brand logos and influential designers.
You may also check:
Sample questions:
Ques: Who is the Indian designer known for creating the Havelis series and pioneering Indian product design education at NID?
a) Ratan Tata
b) Charles Correa
c) M.P. Ranjan
d) Rohit Bal
Ans: c) M.P. Ranjan
Ques: Tesla is globally recognized for innovations in:
a) Aerospace engineering
b) Electric mobility
c) Medical devices
d) Textile technology
Ans: b) Electric mobility
Ques: The Swiss Army Knife is an example of:
a) Sustainable design
b) Multi-functional product design
c) Futuristic design
d) Child-centric design
Ans: b) Multi-functional product design
Aspiring students should have a basic knowledge of history and important historical movements and personalities as sometimes questions are asked on important historical events. It is advised that students read more and more about different historical events.
Different design symbols include different important symbols used for sign boards to convey a specific message. These symbols include boards for traffic signals, navigation boards, symbols to convey specific messages like wildlife present or high wave symbols.
Sample questions:
Ques: Who designed the famous "Red and Blue Chair"?
a) Alvar Aalto
b) Gerrit Rietveld
c) Mies van der Rohe
d) Raymond Loewy
Ans: b) Gerrit Rietveld
Ques: Which movement originated partly as a reaction against the Industrial Revolution?
a) Arts and Crafts Movement
b) Bauhaus Movement
c) Futurism
d) Minimalism
Ans: a) Arts and Crafts Movement
Ques: The international “recycling symbol” consists of:
a) Three arrows forming a triangle
b) A circular warning sign
c) A green square
d) Two arrows forming a loop
Ans: a) Three arrows forming a triangle
Related Articles:
Topics that are asked under this category have been seen in NID past year question papers making it an important and scoring topic for NID 2026.
This section includes Indian & Classical Art Forms, World Art, Culture and Design, Historical art events and important design Personalities and cultural Diversity of India.
Exercises:
Make flashcards for designers, awards, and movements to keep things interesting in your NID Preparation.
Related Articles:
Students are advised to refer to the articles given below for better understanding of the general knowledge section and type of questions asked for NID 2026:
Sample questions:
Ques: Which of the following dance forms originates from Andhra Pradesh and is known for its expressive eye movements?
a) Kathakali
b) Kuchipudi
c) Manipuri
d) Sattriya
Ans: b) Kuchipudi
Ques: Pattachitra paintings are traditionally practiced in which Indian state?
a) Rajasthan
b) Odisha
c) Gujarat
d) Maharashtra
Ans: b) Odisha
The few recommended study resources and books are listed below.
Art, Craft, Culture, Design and Environment
Indian Art and Culture By Nitin Singhania
Arihant General Knowledge with Manorama year book
Indian Art And Culture by Arihant Publications
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Current Affairs Magazines can be used to keep yourself updated with news and current affairs articles.
Specialized Journals: Journals focusing on economics, politics, science, or international affairs can be read for a more focused knowledge base.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Write down in bullet points the key information for the day, including names, dates, and locations, and once a week, review all of the gathered significant events to prepare for NID 2026.
Students can start their preparation for the Current Affairs section by starting to read daily news articles and preparation books.
A lot of questions are asked based on art history, famous paintings, art movements, sports, politics, design symbols, logos, textiles and other important topics for the current affairs section in NID DAT.
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
Yes, if you are in Class 12, you are eligible to sit for the NID DAT 2026 (BDes) exam. The National Institute of Design allows students who are in their final year of Class 12 or have already passed to apply.
To know more access below mentioned link:
https://design.careers360.com/articles/nid-admission-2026
Hope it helps.
You can get the NIT DAT SYLLABUS, updated version from careers 360 in detail from careers 360 article. Follow the link given from The link of the syllabus article is given below from careers 360
https://design.careers360.com/articles/nid-dat-syllabus-2026
Yes you are eligible to appear for NID DAT for the M.Des programme. Since you are in final make sure you will have completed your BA by the required deadline. Also go through the specific specializations you want to apply for, some may require certain specific backgrounds to be eligible to apply for them. You can find more details here design.careers360.com/articles/nid-dat-eligibility-criteria
Hello,
To prepare for M.des exams like CEED or NID DAT, here are some points which you can follow:
Understand the pattern – focus on creativity, design aptitude, and problem-solving.
Practice sketching daily and improve visualization.
Study basics of color, form, and design concepts.
Solve previous papers and build a strong portfolio.
Stay consistent and observe everyday designs for new ideas.
THANKU.
Hi daksh
As 563 rank in nid dat exam cannot guarantee admission in designing college but it could be a good chance to explore some campus as if you are not from general category as category role plays an important role . But now you can do one thing focus on your strengthening your protofile or preparing for the studio test (bdes) or interview (mdes).
Thanks.
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