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NID Exam Centres 2026 (Released): Check NID DAT Exam Centres List in India

NID Exam Centres 2026 (Released): Check NID DAT Exam Centres List in India

Ongoing Event

NID DAT Application Date:11 Sep' 25 - 01 Dec' 25

#NID DAT
Achyuth NambiarUpdated on 16 Sep 2025, 12:13 PM IST

The list of NID exam centres 2026 for prelims have been released on the admission handbooks on September 11, 2025. Candidates can check the NID DAT 2026 exam centre in online at admissions.nid.edu. As per the NID test centre, the NID DAT prelims exam 2026 will be conducted in 17 national cities. Compare to the last yer, the number of test cities have come down to 17 from 22 test cities. While filling the NID application form, candidates must choose the preferred NID DAT exam centre. The NID exam center will be allotted to the students by the authorities based on the option selected. The NID DAT 2026 will be held on December 21, 2025.

This Story also Contains

  1. NID DAT Exam Centres 2026 for Prelims
  2. NID DAT 2026 Exam Centres for Mains
  3. How to Select the NID 2026 Mains Exam Centre?
  4. Will the Exam Centres be the Same for DAT Prelims and DAT Mains?
  5. NID DAT 2026 Exam Centre Reporting, Gate Closing Time
  6. Things Prohibited carry to NID DAT exam centres 2026
NID Exam Centres 2026 (Released): Check NID DAT Exam Centres List in India
NID DAT Exam Centre

Candidates who are selecting their NID DAT test cities can no longer opt for a centre in the following cities - Guwahati, Kurukshetra, Raipur, Ranchi, Thiruvananthapuram and Vijayawada. The NID DAT administration have also added a city to the list of NID DAT test centres. The new test centre for NID DAT 2026 is Jorhat.

NID DAT 2026 exam centres include the list of cities where the prelims NID exam will be held. When selecting NID entrance exam centres, candidates must choose cities that are easily accessible to them. Students can only pick one NID 2026 exam centre from the provided list. This article provides the complete list of NID exam centres in India along with details on how to select NID test centre 2026.

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NID DAT Exam Centres 2026 for Prelims

The authorities have released the list of NID entrance exam centres 2026 along with the brochure. Aspirants need to check all NID exam centres in India for 2026 and have to submit their preferred test cities while filling the registration form. According to the official brochure, the NID entrance exam centres for the prelims will be in 17 cities across India. NID DAT 2026 exam centres will be different for Prelims and Mains exams.

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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.
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List of NID DAT Exam Centres

The students can find the NID exam centres in India that are near to their location and must select the option in the NID DAT application form which will be available on the NID official website. Provided below are the cities of NID DAT test centres 2026.

NID DAT Prelims Exam Centre

Ahmedabad

Bengaluru

Bhopal

Bhubaneshwar

Chandigarh

Chennai

Dehradun

Jorhat

Hyderabad

Jaipur

Kochi

Kolkata

Patna

Lucknow

Mumbai

Nagpur

New Delhi

-


NOTE: The NID exam centre will be assigned to the students by the authorities based on the preference selected. Candidates are advised not to carry any of the restricted things to the NID entrance exam centres.

NID DAT 2026 Exam Centres for Mains

Candidates who will clear the NID DAT prelims exam can appear in the mains exam. The NID authorities will release the list of NID exam centres in India for DAT 2026 mains on the official website - admissions.nid.edu. The NID exam centres 2026 for mains will be allotted based on the first-come, first-served. Students who don't select the exam centre preference will be allotted automatically, this allocation is based on the availability of seats.

The NID DAT 2026 mains exam will be held at NID campuses. Each of these campuses provides a unique environment for students to demonstrate their design skills and creativity. Candidates can check the list of the NID campus for NID DAT MDes Mains from the below list.

  • NID Ahmedabad
  • NID Bengaluru
  • NID Andhra Pradesh
  • NID Haryana
  • NID Madhya Pradesh
  • NID Jorhat
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How to Select the NID 2026 Mains Exam Centre?

Candidates are required to use their login credential such as application number and password for selecting the NID Mains centre 2026. Candidates are responsible for selecting the NID DAT mains centre selection. The NID DAT test centres 2026 will be allotted to candidates on a first come first serve basis. After submitting the preference for the NID entrance exam centres, changes are not permitted.

If the candidate fails to submit the preferences, the system automatically allots the exam centres based on the availability of seats at respective NID exam centres 2026. NID Ahmedabad Admission cell will hold the discretion to assign any test centre. The specific timings of NID studio test and the exam centre address will be communicated via the admit card.

NID DAT Studio test Exam centres and Seat Capacity 2026 for BDes Mains

Test Centres cities

Seat Capacity

Ahmedabad

533

Bengaluru

300

Andhra Pradesh

300

Haryana

450

Madhya Pradesh

200

Jorhat

120

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Will the Exam Centres be the Same for DAT Prelims and DAT Mains?

The NID DAT Prelims and Mains exams will have separate exam centres. NID Prelims will be conducted in 17 cities nationwide, while the DAT Mains exam will be conducted at various NID campuses, such as Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Gandhinagar.

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NID DAT 2026 Exam Centre Reporting, Gate Closing Time

Candidates who are appearing for the NID DAT 2026 need to follow the examination day rules and regulations laid by the authorities. The aspirants have to report for the NID DAT entrance exam at the test centre atleast before an hour so as to complete the entry process. The reporting time of the candidate at the NID entrance exam centres will be provided in the NID DAT admit card of the student. The reporting timings should be strictly followed by the candidates to avoid any kind of inconvenience.

The NID exam centres will have the schedule of reporting and gate opening and closing times. The NID exam centres in India will have the schedule for the students reporting time, gate opening time and closing time and also the candidates are not permitted to leave the exam hall before the completion of exam. Hence, the candidates are advised to follow the NID entrance exam centres reporting schedules strictly.

Important Features of NID DAT Exam Centres 2026

The NID DAT 2026 registration form has been opened since September 11, 2025 and will continue to accept registrations till December 1, 2025. Candidates must choose their test centre while filling the NID forms 2026. Here are some crucial features for NID exam centres in India which are given below:

  • While filling the NID DAT application form, candidates need to carefully select the exam centre as per convenience, as changes after allocation will not be permitted by the NID authorities.
  • The exam authorities have the right to remove or include the NID exam centres in India.
  • It's crucial for aspirants to understand that the allocation of exam centres is not guaranteed to align with their preferred choices. NID DAT exam centres will be assigned by the authorities on a first-come-first-serve basis.
  • Candidates must ensure they report the allocated exam centre of NID 2026 as specified on the admit card at least one hour before the commencement of the examination.

Also Read:

Things Prohibited carry to NID DAT exam centres 2026

Candidates appearing for NID DAT 2026 exam must bring their admit cards and valid identity proof for entry into the exam centre. However, candidates should note the items which are prohibited to enter the NID entrance exam centres. Here are some of the list of things that are restricted by the authorities to enter the NID DAT 2026 exam centre 2026.

  • Calculator
  • Papers
  • Notes
  • Bag
  • Handbag
  • Water bottle
  • Marker

You may also check:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: When can I choose the exam centre for the NID DAT mains exam?
A:

Aspirants can select the NID DAT exam centres at the time of filling the NID Application form 2026. 

Q: Where will the NID DAT mains exam be conducted?
A:

NID DAT Mains exam 2026 for BDes will be held at NID Ahmedabad, NID Bengaluru, NID Andhra Pradesh, NID Haryana, NID Madhya Pradesh and NID Jorhat.

Q: Do I have the opportunity to choose the reference exam centres of NID DAT?
A:

Candidates can select the exam centres of NID DAT while filing the NID application form. Candidates will be able to express their preference, the final allotment of exam centres will be at the discretion of the examination authorities. 

Q: What will be the mode of the NID DAT 2026 exam?
A:

The NID DAT entrance exam 2026 will be held in two stages: prelims and mains for B.Des and M.Des programmes. DAT prelims will be conducted in pen and paper test mode, where DAT mains consists of studio test and personal interview which will be conducted in offline mode. 

Q: Where are the NID mains exam centres located and how can I choose one?
A:

NID mains exams will be conducted at NID campuses in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Gandhinagar. Candidates need to visit the NID admission portal and use the login credentials and select the preferred exam centres for NID mains exam. 

Q: How can I choose my NID DAT Exam City 2026 for the prelims exam?
A:

While filling the application form, students must select the NID DAT exam centres 2026 for prelims by using their login credentials.

Q: How can I change my NID DAT Exam Centre 2026 after submitting the application form?
A:

Candidates cannot change their preference of exam centre of NID 2026 after submission of NID application form. 

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Have a question related to NID DAT ?
NID DAT syllabus, study material

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

Read Complete Answer
A
Aadesh Sharma
19 Nov'25
I am currently pursuing BA Tamil ( 3 years degree) in final year. eligible to write NID DAT to study M.des.

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 to apply for them. You can find more details here design.careers360.com/articles/nid-dat-eligibility-criteria

Read Complete Answer
S
Silvya Mario
11 Nov'25
How to I Prepare for M.des entrance exams like CEED or NID DAT?

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 strong portfolio.

Stay consistent and observe everyday designs for new ideas.

THANKU.

Read Complete Answer
S
Sankalp Agrawal
27 Oct'25
My son secured 563 Rank in NID DAT EXAM in 2025 but he could not have got Required Marks for NID College.Can he get addmission in good designing Colleges.Plz suggest colleges name

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.

Read Complete Answer
S
Sarishti bhagi
10 Apr'25
Do ipu accept nid DAT prelims score for bdes program

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)

Read Complete Answer
R
Rubina Naseer
4 Apr'25
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