NID DAT Application Date:11 Sep' 25 - 01 Dec' 25
The National Institute of Design (NID) will notify the NID DAT mains 2026 exam dates on its official website - nid.edu. The entire NID DAT schedule will be released in the admission handbook at the time of NID DAT 2026 notification. NID DAT mains is the second stage of the NID DAT 2026 exam. Shortlisted candidates who clear the NID DAT prelims will be called to appear for NID DAT mains. The authorities will issue the NID DAT 2026 admit card for mains to the eligible candidates. In this article, get the NID DAT mains 2026 dates for B.Des and M.Des.
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The NID mains 2026 dates will span several days. The test consists of tests in multiple formats in a studio set. The NID DAT mains carries a 60% weight in the selection process. Only those candidates who appear for both phases of the NID DAT entrance exam will be able to secure NID admission.
The NID exam notification will contain the NID 2026 dates. The table below provides the NID DAT mains 2026 exam calendar for both B.Des and M.Des courses.
Events | Dates |
NID DAT mains 2026 admit card date | Second week of April 2026 |
NID DAT mains exam 2026 date | First week of May 2026 |
NID DAT mains result 2026 date | Third week of May 2026 |
Events | Dates |
NID DAT mains 2026 admit card date | Fourth week of February 2026 |
NID DAT mains exam 2026 | March /April 2026 |
NID DAT mains result 2026 | First week of May 2026 |
The detailed schedule including the NID M.Des mains 2026 date and time will be notified by the institute. Candidates from each specialisation discipline will be allotted a separate date and time.
Candidates who qualified and shortlisted appeared for DAT mains exam 2026 can view the below schedule of NID DAT mains 2026.
The National Institute of Design (NID) will release the NID Mains admit card 2026 online, tentatively 1-2 weeks before the exam. Shortlisted candidates can download their admit card for DAT Mains through their login. The NID DAT mains 2026 admit card is a mandatory document for the exam.
The NID authorities will tentatively conduct the NID DAT Mains 2026 for B.Des, in the first week of May 2026. The DAT Mains exam for M.Des will be tentatively conducted from the first week of March 2026.
The NID DAT Result for mains will be declared on the official website nid.edu. The NID DAT Mains results for B.Des and M.Des will be declared on different dates.
The authorities will announce the M.Des NID DAT Counselling dates at admissions.nid.edu. Candidates who clear the NID DAT mains will be called to participate in the counselling process. The institute is expected to conduct the NID 2026 counselling in May 2026. The dates will be notified separately for B.Des and M.Des.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The official website to check the dates of NID DAT mains 2026 is admissions.nid.edu.
National Institute of Design (NID) conducts the DAT mains exam 2026.
The NID DAT mains exam 2026 for B.Des aspirants is expected to be conducted in the first week of May 2026.
The DAT mains 2026 for M.Des aspirants will be tentatively conducted from the first week of March 2026.
The candidates who qualified the NID DAT Prelims will be eligible to appear for the DAT Mains exam 2026.
On Question asked by student community
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
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.
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:
Hope it helps !
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