NID DAT 2026 Prelims Question Paper with Solution - Check Here

NID 2026 Prelims Question Paper free PDF

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

NID 2026 Prelims Memory-Based Questions Answers

As NID does not release its official question papers, students can find some memory-based questions with solutions here that were asked in the 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 a morning walk.
2. Sketch 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 and thandai illustration.
5. Design 5 signboards for narrow streets

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• NID 2026 paper solution

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 length of the questions asked and what was expected of them.

NID DAT 2026 question paper was:

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

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 given; students had to make 3 different uses according to the place:

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

Ans:

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: A paragraph on solar panels with lithium use 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:

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. The 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 brakes. Students were asked to discover other objects in the bus that may be used by students to protect themselves while travelling in the bus from brakes.

Answers to the 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:

NID 2026 Overall Analysis:

NID 2026 Question paper focuses on a more futuristic approach and the integration of new technologies like AI and skill sets, making the question paper based on understanding these abilities for design.