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    How Many Students Appeared for NIFT?

    How Many Students Appeared for NIFT?

    Sumeet SudarshanUpdated on 17 Feb 2026, 02:56 PM IST

    The National Testing Agency will release the statistics about how many students appeared for NIFT 2026 after the exam on its official website - exams.nta.nic.in. The NIFT 2026 will be published at the time of publication of the final result. The NIFT 2026 entrance exam statistics will include details about the number of candidates registered and who appeared in NIFT 2026 for shifts 1 and 2. NIFT 2026 was conducted on February 8, 2026. As per the previous year's statistics, A total of 17,974 unique candidates had registered for stage 1 of the NIFT entrance exam. A total of 33,877 students registered, and 31,061 wrote the NIFT entrance exam across GAT and CAT, marking an overall attendance of 91.69%. Read the complete article to know more about the number of students who appear for the NIFT entrance exam every year.

    This Story also Contains

    1. How Many Students Appeared for NIFT 2026?
    2. Total Number of Students Appear in NIFT PG - Stage 2
    3. Total Number of Students Appear in NIFT UG - Stage 2
    4. How Many Students Appear in NIFT Every Year?
    5. How many students appeared & selected in NIFT 2021?
    6. How many students appear in NIFT 2020?
    7. How many students appeared in the NIFT entrance exam 2019?
    8. Total students applied for NIFT 2018
    How Many Students Appeared for NIFT?
    how-many-students-appeared-for-nift

    How Many Students Appeared for NIFT 2026?

    The details about the number of candidates who appeared for NIFT 2026 will be updated in this section, once NTA releases the official data. Meanwhile, candidates can check the statistics about how many students appeared for NIFT in the previous eyars.

    How Many Students Appeared for NIFT 2025? (Previous Year)

    Along with the details on “how many students appear for NIFT 2025,” the NTA released information on the number of candidates selected for NIFT.

    The shift-wise statistics for NIFT 2025 Stage 1 are as follows:

    Shift

    Examination

    Registered

    Appeared

    Shift 1

    General Ability Test (GAT)

    17,974

    16,475

    Shift 2

    Creative Ability Test (CAT)

    15,903

    14,586

    Grand Total

    33,877

    31,061

    Note: The total number of test entries includes both GAT and CAT components for applicable programmes.

    The program-wise statistics for Stage 1 are as follows:

    NIFT 2025 Programme-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)

    09

    09

    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)

    2492

    2245

    CAT MDes (Shift 2)

    1078

    962

    CAT MFM and MDes (Shift 2)

    389

    335


    Category-wise Students appeared for NIFT 2025

    Category

    Registered

    Appeared

    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

    The gender-wise and Category-wise distribution in both shifts was:

    Gender

    Registered

    Appeared

    Female

    28,080

    25,783

    Male

    5,797

    5,278

    PwD Statistics

    PwD

    Registered

    Appeared

    Yes

    227

    210

    Total Number of Students Appear in NIFT PG - Stage 2

    Programmes

    Registered

    Appeared

    Master of Design (M.DES.)

    1083

    805

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

    844

    684

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

    46

    30

    Grand Total

    1973

    1519

    Total Number of Students Appear in NIFT UG - Stage 2

    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)

    10804

    8811

    Grand Total

    10869

    8859

    How Many Students Appear in NIFT Every Year?

    Candidates can check details on the number of students registered for the NIFT entrance exam every year in the table mentioned below:

    Total number of students registered for NIFT every year

    NIFT Year

    Number of students registered for NIFT

    2022Over 18244

    2021

    Over 20,242

    2020

    Over 26,604

    2019

    Over 29,195

    2018

    Over 31,862

    2017

    Over 29,000

    2016

    Around 26,160

    2015

    Around 27,537

    2014

    Around 26,391

    2013

    Around 19,346

    How many students appeared & selected in NIFT 2021?

    The number of students who applied for the NIFT entrance exam declined in the year 2021. As per the official data, the total number of students registered for the NIFT entrance exam 2021 was over 20242.

    Particular

    Details

    Number of students registered for NIFT 2021

    Over 20242

    Number of students selected for NIFT 2021

    3777

    The details of seats offered and filled in the year 2021 are as follows:

    Category

    Offered

    Filled

    Regular

    3901

    3427

    State Domicile

    334

    161

    NRI

    458

    189

    Total

    4693

    3777

    How many students appear in NIFT 2020?

    In 2020, the total number of students who registered for admission into NIFT was 26,604. The authorities notified that in the Admission year 2020, a total of 4517 seats were offered in the 10 programmes (UG/PG), across 17 Campuses.

    Number of students admitted to NIFT

    Particular

    Details

    Number of students registered for NIFT 2020

    Over 26,604

    Number of students selected for NIFT 2020

    3810

    How many students are selected for NIFT? - Seats offered and filled in the year 2020

    Category

    Offered

    Filled

    Regular

    3442

    3160

    State Domicile

    313

    152

    Economically Weaker Section (EWS)

    318

    307

    NRI

    444

    191

    Total

    4517

    3810

    How many students appeared in the NIFT entrance exam 2019?

    Over 29195 students registered for the NIFT exam in the year 2019. As per the NIFT 2019 official statistics, “For the year 2019, a total of 4297 seats were offered in ten programmes, across sixteen Campuses. Over 29195 candidates applied for admission to NIFT. Out of these, admission was given to 3692 Regular, State Domicile, EWS and NRI candidates based on merit.”.

    Number of students registered for NIFT

    Particular

    Details

    Number of students registered for NIFT 2019

    Over 29,195

    Number of students selected for NIFT 2019

    3692

    NIFT Statistics: Seats offered and filled in the year 2019

    Category

    Offered

    Filled

    Regular

    3231

    3069

    State Domicile

    278

    175

    Economically Weaker Section (EWS)

    359

    255

    NRI

    429

    193

    Total

    4297

    3692

    Total students applied for NIFT 2018

    For the year 2018, a total of 3565 seats were offered in ten programmes, across Sixteen Campuses. Over 31862 candidates applied for admission to NIFT. Out of these, admission was given to 3305 Regular, state-domicile and NRI candidates based on merit. The status of seats offered, filled, and vacant in 2018 is as under.

    Number of students selected in NIFT

    Category

    Offered

    Filled

    Regular

    2988

    2910

    State Domicile

    234

    169

    NRI

    343

    226

    Total

    3565

    3305

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: How many students appear for the NIFT entrance exam every year?
    A:

    Around 16000+ candidates are expected to have registered for and appeared for NIFT 2026.

    Q: What courses do NIFT offer?
    A:

    NIFT offers undergraduate and postgraduate design courses. 

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    Questions related to NIFT Entrance Exam

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to NIFT Entrance Exam ?

    HELLO,

    I am providing you the link below through which you will be able to download the NIFT Question papers with solutions PDF

    Here is the link :-

    https://design.careers360.com/articles/nift-question-paper

    In the above link , you will get the direct links to download the year vise question papers with solutions ,

    Hello,

    Yes, a diploma holder in Computer Engineering can apply for the NIFT entrance exam , but only through the lateral entry route.

    NIFT allows candidates with a 3-year or 4-year engineering diploma from a recognized board to apply for B.F.Tech (Fashion Technology) through lateral entry. The diploma must be

    Hello aspirant,

    The National Testing Agency (NTA) has determined the official date for NIFT 2026 applicant registrations, which is expected to open in November 2025. Online applications will be accepted through January 2026.

    For complete information, you can visit our site through following link:

    https://design.careers360.com/exams/nift-entrance-exam

    Thank you