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NID Eligibility Criteria 2026 for UG & PG: Age Limit, Qualifications, Marks
Ongoing Event
NID DAT Application Date:11 Sep' 25 - 01 Dec' 25
The National Institute of Design will release the NID 2026 eligibility criteria through its official brochure, which will be released tentatively in September 2025. The NID DAT eligibility criteria for MDes and BDes programmes will be released at its official website- admissions.nid.edu. The eligibility for the NID entrance exam 2026 includes the minimum educational qualification, minimum passing marks, and age limit, if any. The NID 2026 age limit as on the prescribed date for UG and PG aspirants will be notified through the NID official brochure. Scroll down to read for more details on NID DAT eligibility 2026, age limit, minimum marks, and other relevant information.
This Story also Contains
- NID Entrance Exam Eligibility 2026 - Highlights
- NID Eligibility Criteria 2026 for BDes
- NID 2026 Eligibility Criteria for MDes Admissions
- NID Eligibility Criteria 2026 for Overseas Category
- NID 2026 Admission
For the aspirants to fill and submit the application forms for the NID entrance exam, it is a must to meet the prescribed NID DAT 2026 eligibility criteria. The institute will conduct NID DAT 2026 to offer admissions into BDes and MDes programme at NID campuses across India.
NID Entrance Exam Eligibility 2026 - Highlights
- As per the NID age limit for UG, aspirants of the General and General EWS categories should be born after July 1, 2005.
- NID DAT age limit 2026 varies category-wise.
- Eligibility for the NID entrance exam will be made available at the NID admission portal - admissions.nid.edu.
- NID DAT exam eligibility states that students who have passed 10+2 from any stream will be eligible for NID DAT.
NID Eligibility Criteria 2026 for BDes
It is a mandatory aspect for the aspirants to satisfy the NID 2026 eligibility criteria before filling out the NID application form. Failure to meet the NID DAT eligibility 2026 criteria may result in disqualification from the NID admission process. Before submitting the NID application form for the academic year 2026-27, candidates should verify that they fulfil the NID 2026 age limit for UG and NID age limit for PG courses.
To be eligible for the NID DAT entrance exam 2026, candidates must meet both the academic qualifications and NID age limit for undergraduate programmes. Candidates can find more details about the NID eligibility criteria 2026 for both - UG & PG and also the age limit for NID 2026 from the table which is as follows.
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 EBookNID Exam Eligibility 2026: Age Limit for NID Entrance Exam BDes
NID has certain age limits to be eligible for NID DAT exam at undergraduate level. Candidates willing to seek NID design admission should meet the NID age limit for UG as laid down by the concerned authorities. NID exam eligibility age limit is as follows:
| Category | Age Limit for NID Entrance Exam BDes |
| General Category and General EWS Category | Candidates born on or after July 1, 2005 |
| Indian Nationals in Reserved Category (Other Backward Class-Non Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL), Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) | Candidates born on or after July 1, 2002 |
| Indian Nationals in PwD Reserved Category | Candidates born on or after July 1, 2000 |
| Foreign Nationals in Overseas (Supernumerary) | Candidates born on or after July 1, 2005 |
Also Check:
NID Eligibility Criteria 2026: Minimum qualification for NID
Similar to the NID entrance exam age limit, the candidates are also required to meet the minimum NID qualification requirement that will be released in the brochure. Meanwhile, candidates can check the qualifications required for NID DAT 2026 eligibility as below.
Candidates who have passed or will appear for higher secondary (10+2) qualifying examinations in the academic year 2025-26 in any stream (Science, Arts, Commerce, Humanities etc.) from any recognized board of education such as CBSE, IB, ICSE or equivalent are eligible to apply for NID entrance exam.
NID BDes Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Qualifying Exam
Candidates can check the NID DAT eligibility - educational qualification as given below:
S.No | Equivalent Exam |
1 | Candidates need to pass 10+2 final examinations from a recognised state or central board by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). |
2 | Candidates who hold an intermediate or a two-year pre-university exam from a board or university recognised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) is equivalent to the above-mentioned qualifying exam. |
3 | A two-year course of National Defence Academy final examinations of joint services wing. |
4 | A minimum of five subjects in SSC examinations from the National Institute of Open Schooling. |
5 | Candidates who completed the 10+2 system under AIU from any public school, board, or University in India or any foreign country or equivalent are eligible. |
6 | Candidates who cleared the H.S.C. vocational examinations are eligible to apply for the NID entrance exam. |
7 | Candidates qualified for the General Certificate Education (GCE) examination at the Advanced (A) level taken in London, Cambridge, or Sri Lanka or equivalent are eligible. |
8 | Candidates who completed the full-time diploma course of 3 years duration approved by AICTE and offered by the Board of Technical Education of any state in India or union territories are also eligible. |
9 | Students who have completed their 12th class final examinations from foreign countries or boards not mentioned above need to obtain a certificate from AIU. This certificate confirms that their examination is equivalent to 10+2 examination conducted in India. During the document verification process, candidates must submit this certificate. |
Read More:
NID 2026 Eligibility Criteria for MDes Admissions
Interested candidates need to fulfill the eligibility for NID entrance exam 2026 to get MDes admissions in NID campuses. For NID MDes admission, candidates have to satisfy any one of the following educational criteria mentioned below:
Candidates holding the bachelor's degree of 4 years in any specialisation from a recognized university or college. It is essential for candidates to have completed or be scheduled to complete their degree examination by June 2026.
OR
Candidates possessing a 3 year bachelor's degree in any stream from a recognized university or college. Candidates should have completed their degree by August 2025. Candidates who are in the final year are also eligible to apply.
OR
Holding a four-year full-time Diploma in Design, Fine Arts, Applied Arts, or Architecture after completing Class 12, from a certified university or college. Diploma examinations must be completed or be in progress to be completed by June 2026.
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NID DAT | |
NID 2026 Admissions: Age Limit for MDes
Candidates are advised to review the maximum age requirements necessary for eligibility to appear for the NID entrance examination 2026. NID MDes eligibility criteria will be notified in the brochure. Candidates can refer to the NID age limit for PG 2026 restrictions for MDes programme.
NID Age Limit Eligibility for PG
Category | NID Age Limit for PG |
Indian Nationals in General Category | Aspirants must have a date of birth on or after July 1, 1994, to fulfill the NID age limit for PG courses. |
Indian Nationals in Reserved Category (OBC-NCL, SC & ST) | Only those candidates born on or after July 1, 1991, will be considered for admission. |
Indian Nationals in PwD Reserved Category | Candidates with a birth date on or after July 1, 1989 only can fulfil the PG age limit of NID 2026. |
Foreign Nationals in Overseas (Supernumerary) Category | Applicants holding non-Indian citizenship must be born on or after July 1, 1994, and can apply exclusively under the overseas category. |
Note: Foreign citizens are permitted to apply for NID DAT entrance exam only through the overseas category, subject to meet all NID MDes eligibility criteria. To qualify for NID M.Des programme, applicants must possess a bachelor's degree or diploma in any discipline with fulfilling the NID age limit for PG specified by the authorities.
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NID Eligibility Criteria 2026 for Overseas Category
The following table outlines the eligibility criteria 2025 for overseas category for BDes and MDes programme. To qualify for the admission, candidates must meet the specified requirements as determined by the institute.
NID Eligibility Criteria Overseas Category 2026
NID DAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 B.Des - Overseas Category | NID DAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 M.Des - Overseas Category |
Candidates who have passed or will appear for higher secondary (10+2) qualifying examinations in any stream (Science, Arts, Commerce, Humanities etc.) from a recognised board of education or equivalent in the academic year 2025–26. | Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree of minimum 4-year duration in any specialisation from any university and/or institute recognised by the law in India. |
Candidates born on or after 1 July 2005 | Candidates born on or after 1 July 1994 |
NID 2026 Admission
NID DAT exam is a national level entrance examination conducted by NID to offer B.Des and M.Des admissions. NID admission process comprises two stages: prelims and mains. Aspiring candidates must meet the NID admission criteria to secure a seat in the desired course. Candidates should carefully review the NID exam eligibility criteria for DAT 2026. To excel in the NID entrance exam, candidates are advised to thoroughly study the NID 2026 entrance exam syllabus and prepare accordingly.
You may also check:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: When will the eligibility criteria of NID DAT 2026 be released?
A:
The eligibility criteria for NID DAT 2026 will be released at the time of release of NID DAT notification
Q: What is the NID DAT age limit for NID DAT 2026 as per the concerned authority ?
A:
As per the NID eligibility criteria, applicants belonging to general and general EWS categories must be born on or before July 1, 2005 for B.Des and July 1, 1994 for M.Des. Age relaxation of 3 years will be available for OBC- Non-Creamy Layer/ST/SC categories.
Q: What is the age limit of overseas students as per prescribed by the examination authority?
A:
The age limit for NID entrance exam for foreign nationals overseas is that the students should be born on or before July 1, 2005 for BDes and July 1, 1994 for MDes.
Q: What is the qualifying exam to be completed by the candidates to apply for NID DAT 2026?
A:
To apply for the NID DAT entrance exam 2026, Candidates should clear the class 12th in any discipline from a recognised board such as ICSE, IB, CBSE or its equivalent are eligible. Candidates who cleared the equivalent exam mentioned above will meet the NID DAT eligibility 2026 to appear for the NID admission test.
Q: What are the NID DAT eligibility criteria 2026 for UG admissions?
A:
Candidates seeking NID UG admission need to satisfy the NID DAT 2026 eligibility criteria mentioned below:
- Students must clear 10+2 or appear for their higher secondary examinations from any discipline such as commerce, science or humanities from a recognised board or equivalent.
- Students should be aged 20 years on or before July 1, 2025. Students belonging to OBC/SC/ST categories will get age relaxation of 3 years.
- Students must possess a valid passport for proof of nationality.
Q: In how many stages NID DAT 2026 will be conducted?
A:
NID DAT exam 2026 will be held in two stages- The prelims and the Mains exam. However, candidates who qualify in the NID DAT prelims exam only will be eligible to appear in the NID DAT mains exam.
Q: How much percentage is required in 12th for NID?
A:
Aspirants who have completed class 12th with any stream will be eligible to apply for the NID 2026 exam.
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Questions related to NID DAT
On Question asked by student community
Have a question related to NID DAT ?
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.
No, IPU (Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University) does not accept NID DAT Prelims score for admission to the B.Des (Bachelor of Design) program.
Instead, IPU conducts its own entrance test or may consider CUET (UG) scores for B.Des admissions, depending on the latest admission guidelines. Always refer to the university's official prospectus for the year you're applying to for the final admission criteria.
NIT DAT (https://www.shiksha.com/design/articles/nid-admissions-2025-colleges-accepting-nid-entrance-exam-scores-for-bdes-mdes-courses-blogId-13097)
Hello,
Yes, it's possible to prepare for the NID DAT 2025 exam on your own, even with limited time, by following these steps:
- Understand the Syllabus : Focus on key areas like design principles, creativity, visualization, and observation skills.
- Solve Previous Papers : Practice with past NID DAT papers to understand question types and patterns.
- Time Management : Dedicate daily hours to sketching, problem-solving, and revision.
- Strengthen Drawing Skills : Practice daily to improve speed and accuracy.
- Use Online Resources : Utilize free tutorials, sample papers, and design blogs.
- Mock Tests : Take regular mock exams to assess progress and manage time efficiently.
Hope it helps !
Hello,
There are numerous websites which give free study material and classes to prepare for entrance exams NID DAT, UCEED, or NIFT. Here are a few popular ones:
YouTube: YouTube has many educators as well as institutes, which have been uploading free video lectures on important topics, on aptitude for design, and how to give these exams. Useful content can be found in the channels "Design Coach" and "NID Preparation".
You can download free courses offered on websites like Coursera, edX, and Khan Academy on the topics of design principles, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
Official Websites: Both NID and UCEED and also NIFT would usually release sample papers and previous question papers for self-preparation.
Study Groups: One can join online forums or social media groups which are dedicated to NID, UCEED, and NIFT preparation for peer-to-peer learning assistance.
The resource utilization would bring in good preparation for the exams and, therefore, increase in confidence.
Hello,
Preparing for the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) entrance exam involves focusing on several key areas. Here’s a structured approach to get you started:
1. Understand the Exam Structure
Familiarize yourself with the NIFT entrance exam format:
- General Ability Test (GAT): Tests general knowledge, current affairs, and quantitative ability.
- Creative Ability Test (CAT): Assesses your creative and visual ability through sketching and design-based questions.
- Situation Test (for B.Des): Evaluates your ability to create a design from given materials.
- Group Discussion and Personal Interview (for M.Des/MFM): Tests your communication skills, understanding of the fashion industry, and design knowledge.
2. Gather Study Materials
- For GAT: Use general knowledge books, current affairs magazines, and quantitative aptitude guides.
- For CAT: Practice sketching and drawing regularly. Books on design and creativity can be useful.
- For Situation Test: Practice creating models from various materials and understanding design principles.
- For GD/PI: Prepare by staying updated on fashion trends, industry news, and developing a strong portfolio.
3. Create a Study Plan
- Daily Study: Allocate time for each section based on your strengths and weaknesses.
- Weekly Goals: Set goals for completing practice papers and revising key concepts.
- Mock Tests: Regularly take mock tests to simulate the exam environment and improve time management.
4. Enroll in Coaching Classes (if needed)
Consider joining a coaching institute that specializes in NIFT preparation. They can provide structured guidance, practice tests, and expert feedback.
5. Work on Your Portfolio
If you’re applying for design courses, develop a strong portfolio showcasing your creative work. Include sketches, designs, and any relevant projects.
6. Refer to Previous Years’ Papers
Solving past years' question papers helps you understand the exam pattern and types of questions. It also aids in identifying important topics.
7. Stay Updated
- Follow fashion industry news to stay informed about trends and innovations.
- Read relevant books and articles about design and fashion.
8. Practice Creativity
Engage in activities that boost your creativity, such as drawing, painting, or crafting. Keep experimenting with new ideas and techniques.
By focusing on these areas, you'll build a solid foundation for the NIFT entrance exam. Good luck with your preparation!
You can also refer to the following articles to better understand the NIFT examination and its preperation strategy :-
1. https://design.careers360.com/articles/how-prepare-for-nift-entrance-exam
2. https://design.careers360.com/exams/nift-entrance-exam
Hope it helps !
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