NID DAT 2026 Prelims Question Paper with Solution - Check Here

NID DAT 2026 Prelims Question Paper with Solution - Check Here

Ritika JonwalUpdated on 24 Dec 2025, 10:38 AM IST

Students who took the NID DAT 2026 exam can go through this article to get the NID DAT 2026 Prelims Question paper with answers to understand the paper's difficulty, types of questions asked in the exam and the exam format. Candidates who are planning to take the NID DAT exam in the future can also review the NID DAT 2026 Prelims question paper PDF to understand the sections and language for the NID 2026 exam.

This Story also Contains

  1. NID 2026 Prelims Question Paper free pdf
  2. NID 2026 Prelims Memory-Based Questions Answers
  3. NID 2026 Prelims Question Paper
  4. NID 2026 Prelims Exam Analysis
NID DAT 2026 Prelims Question Paper with Solution - Check Here
NID DAT 2026 Prelims Question Paper with Solution

NID 2026 Prelims Question Paper free pdf

Students can also check free pdf to get NID 2026 question paper with solutions:

NID DAT 2026 B.Des Prelims Memory-Based Questions (Part A and B) - Download Free PDFDownload Here

NID 2026 Prelims Memory-Based Questions Answers

As NID does not release its official question papers, students can find here some memory-based questions with solutions that were asked in NID DAT 2026 Prelims Exam which was held on December 21st, 2025.The NID DAT 2026 Prelims memory based questions are as follows:

  1. Draw a sequential drawing of handling an old citizen when he falls during morning walk.
  2. Sketch a basic items to carry while travelling with your Grandmother.
  3. Draw the product you love and write about it in 200 words.
  4. Sketch the shikanji, thandai illustration.
  5. Design a 5 signboards for narrow streets
UPES B.Des Admissions 2026

Ranked #45 amongst Universities in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in Academic Reputation in India by QS World University Rankings

Pearl Academy B.Des Admissions 2026

Last Date to Apply: 13th Jan | No. 1 Design & Fashion Institute by ASSOCHAM, India Today, Outlook and The Week rankings

Related Articles:

NID DAT 2026 Full Study Material
Students preparing for NID 2026 can access this study material for both prelims and mains. Download now to strengthen your preparation and boost your chances of success.
Download EBook

NID 2026 Prelims Question Paper

NID 2026 did not have any Part-A section and questions were only based on creative ability. Part- B of NID DAT Prelims 2026 exam consists of drawing and design thinking-based questions. Here, students can find expert analysis by Careers360 of Part-B of NID DAT Prelims 2026 according to the memory based questions. Students can understand the pattern and lengthiness of the questions asked and what was expected from them.

NID DAT 2026 question paper was:

  • 6 drawing question with 3 subparts in most questions.
  • 14 drawing /sketching tasks in 3 hours.
  • Moderately difficult.
  • Questions were based majorly on problem identification.
  • Solutions were lengthy with writing and sketching parts causing difficulty in time management for a lot of students.
IIAD Admissions 2026

Last Date to Apply – 23rd January | Exam Dates – 31st Jan (online), 1st Feb (Online & Offline) | Leading Design College | Highest CTC: ₹12 LPA | Average CTC: ₹7.5 LPA | Scholarships for Deserving Students

Manav Rachna-MRIIRS B.Design Admissions 2026

Courses offered in- Fashion Design, Product Design, Communication Design, Interior & Spatial Design & Animation & VFX Design

NID 2026 Question Paper includes question:

Ques: Visual Interpretation & Story Understanding (15 Marks)

Read the following story carefully and respond to the question below:

Story: An Indian Spiritual Folktale

Long ago in India, a wealthy monk renounced his riches and wandered from village to village in search of heaven. Though learned and disciplined, he had not found true peace. One day, he met a simple-looking boy on a village road. When the boy asked where he was going, the monk replied that he was going to heaven. Half in jest, the monk told the boy,

“Stand on this spot without moving, eating, or speaking. If you do this for twelve years, you will reach heaven.”

Believing the boy would soon give up, the monk left.The boy obeyed without question. Seasons passed, people mocked him, and his body weakened, but his faith remained firm. After twelve years, the monk returned and found the boy still standing—calm and radiant. Suddenly, the boy began ascending toward heaven. Realizing the power of pure faith, the monk held the boy’s hand and was lifted along, understanding that true salvation comes from complete belief and surrender, not knowledge alone.

Task:

  1. Illustrate three key frames from the story based on your understanding
  2. Write a 20-word explanation for each illustrated frame

Ans:

1st Frame:

20-word explanation:

A learned monk casually challenges a simple village boy to stand still for twelve years to reach heaven.

2nd Frame:

20-word explanation:

Time passes as seasons change, people mock him, yet the boy remains unmoving, weakened physically but strong in faith.

3rd Frame:

20-word explanation:

The faithful boy ascends to heaven, lifting the monk along, revealing that true salvation comes from belief, surrender, and devotion.

Approach:

  • Use stick figures + symbols, not details
  • Maintain clear storytelling sequence
  • Show emotion through posture, not faces
  • Use arrows, lines, and icons for movement and time
  • Keep composition clean and readable

Ques : A small plastic bottle is give, students had to make 3 different uses according to the place:

  • Hospital bedside
  • Home at the time of get together
  • In a restaurant

Ans:

1766383126677

Approach:

  • Understand the bottle’s material and basic properties
  • Look at each place separately (hospital, home, restaurant)
  • Identify one clear need in that place
  • Think of minimal modification (cut, flip, squeeze, hang)
  • Keep the idea simple and practical
  • Make quick, clean sketches
  • Add clear labels for place and use
  • Ensure all three uses are different

Ques : Solar panel with lithium use paragraph was given with information like bad for the environment etc. Similarly 3 situations were given from which students have to pick and create:

  • 3 Instagram posts

  • With write up and

  • Sketches

Ans:

1766383511965

Approach:

Define the objective

  • Decide what the post should do:
  • Inform
  • Warn
  • Create awareness
  • Encourage action

Plan 3 Instagram posts as a series

  • Post 1: Problem
  • Post 2: Impact / Consequences
  • Post 3: Solution / Call to action

Write short, clear captions

  • Simple language, punchy lines.
  • Avoid long explanations.

Create simple sketches

  • One clear visual idea per post.
  • Use symbols, icons, or minimal scenes.
  • Focus on message clarity, not artistic detail.

Ques : A hand was shown and then a sketch of a bird was added to create a peace symbol. Similarly 4 more things were given to students to create different and innovative symbols. Given things are:

  1. Rope

  2. Plant

  3. Hammer

Ques : School children were travelling in the bus using a seat belt to protect themselves from the break. Students were asked to discover other objects in the bus that may be used by students to protect while travelling in the bus from breaks.

Answers to above questions with sketches and approach will be updated soon.

NID 2026 Prelims Exam Analysis

As per the NID DAT 2026 Exam Pattern, NID DAT prelims will be a paper-and-pencil/pen test with a total of 100 marks as per the NID DAT Exam Pattern.

Students can see the overall NID 2026 exam analysis and difficulty level of the NID Exam 2026 Question Paper section-wise by checking out the table below:

Sections

Good Attempts

Difficulty Level

Part - A

No questions came from General Ability Test

NA

Part - B

Since the drawing section received all 100 marks, this is subjective.

Moderate

Overall


Moderately Difficult

NID 2026 Overall Analysis:

  • Expected cut-off is to go below then last years.
  • NID 2026 Question paper focuses on a more futuristic approach and integration of new technologies like AI and skill sets making question paper based on understanding these abilities for design.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How many questions were asked in the NID 2026 Prelims exam from each section?
A:

There were total 6 question based on creative ability.

Q: What was the overall difficulty level of the NID 2026 Prelims Exam?
A:

NID 2026 did not have any Part-A section and questions were only based on creative ability with moderate level difficulty.

Q: Was the NID 2026 Prelims Part-B paper lengthy?
A:

NID 2026 exams had Solutions that were lengthy with writing and sketching parts causing difficulty in time management for a lot of students.

Articles
|
Upcoming Design Exams
Ongoing Dates
GLS DAT Application Date

17 Aug'25 - 22 Jan'26 (Online)

Ongoing Dates
UPESDAT Application Date

12 Sep'25 - 20 Jan'26 (Online)

Ongoing Dates
BITSDAT Application Date

16 Oct'25 - 1 Feb'26 (Online)

Certifications By Top Providers
Certificate Program in Machine Learning and AI with Python
Via Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Post Graduate Diploma Program in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
Via Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi
Computer Fundamentals
Via Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore
Certificate Program in Design Thinking
Via Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Artificial Intelligence Knowledge Representation and Reasoning
Via Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Data Analysis Using Excel
Via Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Udemy
 1087 courses
Coursera
 505 courses
Edx
 330 courses
Vskills
 157 courses
Swayam
 136 courses
Explore Top Universities Across Globe

Questions related to NID DAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to NID DAT ?

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

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

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

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