How Many Students Appeared for NIFT?

How Many Students Appeared for NIFT?

Sumeet SudarshanUpdated on 28 Jan 2026, 11:44 AM IST

The National Testing Agency will release the statistics about how many students appeared for NIFT 2026 after the exam on its official website - nift.ac.in. 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 is scheduled to be 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 appear for the NIFT GAT stage 1 as per past trends.

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

Hello Neharika

These are the topics which are most important in the Current affairs section in respect to NIFT Entrance Exam:

1. National and International Awards and Honors
2. Government Schemes and Initiatives
3. Sports
4. Appointments and Newsmakers
5. Science and Technology
6. Indian and World Economy
7. International

Hello,

According to the sources, the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) entrance exam for 2026 will be held in February 2026. Also, the registration period may open from November 2025.

I hope it will clear your query!!