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    NID DAT Mains 2026 (B.Des & M.Des), Exam Date, Eligibility, Pattern, Syllabus

    NID DAT Mains 2026 (B.Des & M.Des), Exam Date, Eligibility, Pattern, Syllabus

    Team Careers360Updated on 04 Feb 2026, 12:48 PM IST

    The National Institute of Design offers admission into all its design programmes based on the performance in two stages of NID DAT, which are Prelims and Mains. The NID DAT Mains 2026 will be conducted only for the candidates who cleared the NID DAT entrance exam, i.e., Prelims. As per the revised NID selection process, the NID DAT mains 2026 will have full weightage in the final selection of the candidates. The candidate's performance in the NID prelims will not be carried forward to the NID mains 2026 stage.

    This Story also Contains

    1. NID DAT Mains 2026 - Highlights
    2. NID DAT Mains Exam Date 2026
    3. NID DAT Mains Eligibility 2026
    4. NID DAT Mains Syllabus 2026
    5. NID DAT Mains Exam Pattern 2026
    6. NID DAT Mains Admit Card 2026
    7. NID DAT Mains Schedule 2026: Studio Test & PI
    8. NID DAT Mains Result 2026
    9. NID Selection Process (Revised Weightage)
    NID DAT Mains 2026 (B.Des & M.Des), Exam Date, Eligibility, Pattern, Syllabus
    NID DAT Mains 2026

    NID DAT Mains 2026 will be held separately for B.Des and M.Des. NID DAT 2026 is conducted to assess the knowledge, skills and observation power of the aspiring candidates. Continue to read more about the NID DAT Mains 2026 for the design admission process.

    NID DAT Mains 2026 - Highlights

    Particulars

    NID DAT Mains Details

    NID DAT full form

    National Institute of Design - Design Aptitude Test

    NID DAT Mains conducting body

    National Institute of Design

    Exam mode of NID DAT Mains

    Offline mode at NID Campuses

    Exam pattern of NID DAT Mains

    Studio test and Personal interview

    NID DAT Mains will be applicable for

    BDes and MDes programmes

    NID DAT Mains Exam Date 2026

    NID DAT exam dates 2026 for BDes mains and MDes mains will be released online. NID DAT Mains schedules for BDes and MDes programmes are provided below in separate tables for the convenience of the applicants.

    NID DAT Exam Date - BDes Mains 2026

    ParticularsNID DAT BDes Mains Dates (tentative)

    NID DAT Mains admit card release date for BDes

    April 2026

    NID DAT 2026 Mains exam date

    April to May 2026

    NID DAT Mains results for BDes

    May 2026

    Campus preference submission window dates

    May 2026

    Rechecking request for NID DAT Mains

    May 2026

    Seat allotment, payment of token fee and documents uploading

    May 2026

    NID BDes provisional offer letter

    June 2026

    NID BDes remaining semester fee payment dates

    June 2026

    NID DAT Exam Date - MDes Mains 2026

    ParticularsNID DAT MDes Mains Dates (tentative)

    NID DAT Mains admit card release date for MDes

    February 2026

    NID DAT 2026 Mains exam date

    March to April 2026

    NID DAT Mains results for MDes

    May 2026

    Rechecking request for NID DAT Mains

    May 2026

    Seat allotment, payment of token fee and documents uploading

    May 5, 2026

    NID MDes provisional offer letter

    May 26, 2026

    NID MDes remaining semester fee payment dates

    May 26-June 1, 2026

    NID DAT Mains Eligibility 2026

    Candidates need to make a note that there is specific NID DAT eligibility 2026 for Mains. Aspiring candidates who have cleared the NID DAT entrance exam Prelims are only eligible to appear for NID DAT 2026 Mains exam based on their merit and score obtained.

    NID DAT Mains Syllabus 2026

    The NID DAT syllabus 2026 for Mains is provided for BDes and MDes courses based on the previous year as the NID syllabus officially will not be released. However candidates can go through the NID DAT Mains syllabus for BDes where the candidates need to prepare on model making, material manipulation, doodling, creative thinking, audio-visual exercises, guidance on portfolio making etc. The NID DAT Mains syllabus for MDes will be of model making, creative thinking, doodling, material manipulation, audio-visual exercises, etc.

    NID DAT Mains Exam Pattern 2026

    Provided below is the NID DAT 2026 exam pattern for Mains exam for BDes and MDes programmes.

    Programmes

    NID DAT Mains exam pattern 2026

    For BDes

    • DAT Mains consists of tests in multiple formats such as in studio set-up.
    • The question paper will be in English only.
    • Test mode can be either online or offline based on the Institute decision.
    • The weightage of NID DAT BDes Mains is 100%. (60% for the studio sensitivity test and 40% for the in-person sensitivity test.)

    For MDes

    • DAT Mains for MDes is divided into two sections. One is a Studio test and the other is Interview.
    • Studio test consists of tests in different formats.
    • The test will be conducted in English only.
    • Interviews will be conducted separately for each discipline, immediately after the studio test is over. The exam centre will be the same for the studio test and interview.
    • The weightage of NID DAT MDes Mains is 100% (studio test - 40% and interview - 60%).

    NID DAT Mains Admit Card 2026

    The National Institute of Design will release the NID DAT Mains admit card 2026 online at admissions.nid.edu. The NID DAT admit card 2026 for Mains will be released for BDes and MDes programmes separately based on the schedule. Candidates should use their allotted login credentials to view and download the NID DAT 2026 admit card Mains.

    The NID DAT Mains admit card 2026 is an important document that needs to be carried to the exam centre on the day of examination. The NID DAT admit card release dates for Mains exam are as follows.

    ParticularsNID DAT Mains Dates 2026

    NID DAT Mains admit card release date - BDes

    April 2026

    NID DAT Mains admit card release date - MDes

    February 2026

    Top Design Entrance Exams

    NID DAT Mains Schedule 2026: Studio Test & PI

    Aspirants appearing for the NID DAT MDes Mains schedule can check the tentative dates provided below. However, based on the schedule, the authorities will release the NID DAT MDes Mains schedule for each discipline in online mode at admissions.nid.edu.

    DisciplineRegistration TimeStudio Test DatesInterview Dates

    Strategic design management

    March 2026

    March 2026

    March 2026

    Textile design

    March 2026

    March 2026

    March 2026

    Lifestyle accessory design

    March 2026

    March 2026

    March 2026

    Toy and game design

    March 2026

    March 2026

    March 2026

    Animation film design

    March 2026

    March 2026

    March 2026

    Apparel design

    March 2026

    March 2026

    March 2026

    Furniture and interior design

    March 2026

    March 2026

    March 2026

    Photography design

    March 2026

    March 2026

    March 2026

    Transportation and automobile design

    March 2026

    March 2026

    March 2026

    Film and video communication

    March 2026

    March 2026

    March 2026

    Ceramic design

    March 2026

    March 2026

    March 2026

    Product design

    March 2026

    March 2026

    March 2026

    New media design

    March 2026

    March 2026

    March 2026

    Graphic design

    March 2026

    March 2026

    March 2026

    Interaction design

    March 2026

    March 2026

    March 2026

    Information design

    March 2026

    March 2026

    March 2026

    Universal design

    March 2026

    March 2026

    March 2026

    Design for retail experience

    March 2026

    March 2026

    March 2026

    Digital game design

    March 2026

    March 2026

    March 2026

    NID DAT Mains Result 2026

    The NID DAT 2026 results for Mains of BDes and MDes programmes will be declared at the official web portal of NID - admissions.nid.edu. Candidates should use their login credentials to view and download the NID DAT 2026 Mains results. The NID DAT Mains result dates for BDes and MDes are provided in the table below.

    ParticularsNID DAT Mains Result Dates

    NID DAT Mains result date - BDes

    May 2026

    NID DAT Mains result date - MDes

    May 2026

    Steps to download the NID DAT 2026 result Mains are as follows.

    • Visit admissions.nid.edu
    • Click on the link NID DAT final result (BDes/MDes)
    • Enter the login credentials
    • View and download the NID DAT Mains results
    • Print the downloaded NID DAT 2026 results of Mains for further admission process

    NID Selection Process (Revised Weightage)

    NID B.Des Mains 2026 Revised Weightage

    Particulars

    Weightage in Final Selection

    Prelims

    No weightage in final selection. Qualifying exam for mains

    Mains

    Studio sensitivity test - 60%

    In-person sensitivity test - 40%


    NID M.Des Mains 2026 Revised Weightage

    Particulars

    Weightage in Final Selection

    Prelims

    No weightage in final selection. Qualifying exam for mains

    Mains

    Studio test - 40%

    Interview - 60%


    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: Is the NID DAT exam date the same for BDes and MDes programmes?
    A:

    No, the NID DAT 2026 exam date for BDes and MDes will be held on different dates.

    Q: What is the NID DAT admit card release date for BDes and MDes Mains?
    A:

    The NID DAT admit card for BDes Mains will be released in April and MDes Mains in February 2026 tentatively.

    Q: When and where will the NID DAT Mains schedule be released?
    A:

    The NID DAT Mains schedule will be released tentatively in February/March 2026 at admissions.nid.edu. 

    Q: How to qualify for NID mains?
    A:

    Candidates who have scored the minimum qualifying marks in the NID prelims will be considered for NID mains. 

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    Questions related to NID DAT

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to NID DAT ?

    No specific stream is required in Class 11 for BDes admissions. You can join B.Des (Bachelor of Design) with any stream in Class 11th (Science, Commerce, or Arts/Humanities). Top design institutes like NID ( NID DAT scores) and NIFT ( NIFT Entrance Exam ), as well as IITs (via UCEED),

    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