NID Reservation Seats Categories Wise (OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS, PwD)

NID Reservation Seats Categories Wise (OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS, PwD)

Ongoing Event

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

Rajyalaxmi VenkatapuramUpdated on 12 Sep 2025, 03:51 PM IST

The NID DAT reservation 2026 details are now available on the official website - admissions.nid.edu. The authorities released the NID DAT 2026 reservation seat details through the information brochure for both BDes & MDes programmes at admissions.nid.edu. NID offers reservation of seats for the candidates belonging to different categories, such as OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS, PwD, and Overseas. NID entrance exam is conducted in two stages - Prelims and Mains.

This Story also Contains

  1. NID DAT Reservation 2026
  2. NID DAT Reservation Weightage - MDes & BDes Programme
  3. NID DAT Reservation - B.Des Programme
  4. NID DAT Reservation of Seats for Economic Weaker Sections (EWS)
  5. NID DAT Reservation of Seats for Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer) (OBC-NCL)
  6. NID DAT Reservation of Seats for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST)
  7. NID DAT Reservation of Seats for Persons with Disabilities (PwD)
  8. Process to claim Reservation in NID DAT 2026
  9. Documents Required under NID DAT Reservation Criteria
NID Reservation Seats Categories Wise (OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS, PwD)
nid-dat-reservation

The NID reservation policy is based on the guidelines of the Government of India and the seat availability in each discipline and NID campus. Candidates who wish to avail the NID DAT reservation 2026 benefit need to mention their category without fail in the NID application form during its filling process and submit the required documents at the time of admission. This article provides a detailed overview of the NID DAT 2026 reservation policy, including the category-wise division of seats, the documents required, and the application process.

NID DAT Reservation 2026

NID offers BDes and MDes courses. The NID admission is based on the merit/rank obtained in the entrance exam. The total number of seat intake for MDes and BDes programme varies. According to the NID 2026 official brochure, the NID seat intake is 428 seats for the B.Des program, and 347 seats for the M.Des program. The authorities will release the NID DAT 2026 merit list category-wise for seat allotment. Candidates from EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, and persons with disabilities will be eligible for NID DAT reservation 2026. The NID DAT reservation 2026 provides benefits like lower application fees, cutoff marks, and fees payable at NID admission. Grasping this can be a key factor in obtaining a seat at NID. Candidates can check the table below for the NID DAT reservation eligibility category.

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NID DAT Reservation

Seat Category

Category of Eligible Candidates

Open

GEN, GEN-EWS, OBC-NCL,SC, ST, GEN-PwD, OBC-NCL-PwD, SC-PwD, ST-PwD, GEN-EWS-PwD

General- Economically Weaker Section (GEN-EWS)

GEN- EWS, GEN-EWS-PwD

Other Backward Class-Non Creamy Layer (OBCNCL)

OBC-NCL and OBC-NCL-PwD

Schedule Caste (SC)

SC and SC –PwD

Schedule Tribe (ST)

ST and ST –PwD

Open—Persons with Disability (PwD)

GEN-PwD, GEN-EWS-PwD, OBC-NCL-PwD, SC-PwD, ST-PwD

Other Backward Class-Non Creamy Layer— Persons with Disability (OBC-NCL-PwD)

OBC-NCL-PwD

Schedule Caste —Persons with Disability (SC-PwD)

SC-PwD

Schedule Tribe—Persons with Disability (ST-PwD)

SC-PwD

NID DAT Reservation Weightage - MDes & BDes Programme

Candidates can check the NID reservation weightage provided for different categories for the M.Des programme and B.Des programme through the tables given below.

NID DAT Category-wise reservation of seats

Particulars

M.Des

B.Des

GEN-EWS

10%

10%

OBC-NCL

27%

27%

Scheduled Caste

15%

15%

Scheduled Tribe

7.5%

7.5%

PwD

5%

5%

NID DAT Reservation of Seats for Economic Weaker Sections (EWS)

The EWS category is a new addition to the reservation policy of the NID, introduced in 2019. This category is meant for the general candidates who are not covered under any other reservation category and have an annual family income of less than Rs. 8 lakhs. The NID DAT reservation is 10% of its seats for the EWS candidates in both B.Des and M.Des courses.

To be eligible for the EWS reservation, candidates should not belong to any other reservation category such as SC, ST, OBC-NCL, PwD, etc. To claim the EWS reservation, the candidates have to submit a certificate issued by a competent authority that verifies their EWS status. The certificate should be in the prescribed format and should be valid for the year of application. The candidates should also mention their EWS status in the online application form for the NID DAT.

Also Check:

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NID DAT Reservation for General- EWS for both B.Des and M.Des

Particulars

GEN-EWS (10%)

M.Des

3

B.Des

45

NID DAT Seat Reservation for General- EWS - B.Des Programme

NID Campuses

GEN-EWS (10%)

NID Ahmedabad

13

NID Andhra Pradesh

8

NID Haryana

8

NID Madhya Pradesh

8

NID Assam

8

Total

45

NID DAT Seat Reservation for General- EWS - M.Des programme

Particulars

GEN-EWS (10%)

Disciplines with 19 seats each

2

Disciplines with 12 seats each

1

NID DAT Reservation of Seats for Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer) (OBC-NCL)

The OBC-NCL category refers to the candidates who belong to the socially and educationally backward classes that are not included in the creamy layer. OBC community that is not eligible for reservation. The NID reserves 27% of its seats for the OBC-NCL candidates in both B.Des and M.Des courses.

To be eligible for the OBC-NCL reservation, candidates should belong to one of the castes or communities that are listed as OBC by the central government or the state government where they reside. To claim the OBC-NCL reservation, the candidates have to submit a certificate issued by a competent authority that verifies their OBC-NCL status. The certificate should be in the prescribed format and should be valid for the year of application. The candidates should also mention their OBC-NCL status in the online application form of NID DAT.

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NID DAT Reservation of seats for OBC-NCL for both B.Des and M.Des

Particulars

OBC -NCL (27%)

M.Des

8

B.Des

115

NID DAT 2026 Reservation of seats for OBC-NCL - B.Des Programme

NID Campuses

OBC-NCL (27%)

NID Ahmedabad

35

NID Andhra Pradesh

20

NID Haryana

20

NID Madhya Pradesh

20

NID Assam

20

Total

115

NID DAT reservation of seats for M.Des programme

Particulars

OBC-NCL (27%)

Disciplines with 19 seats each

5

Disciplines with 12 seats each

3

NID DAT Reservation of Seats for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST)

The SC and ST categories refer to the candidates who belong to the historically disadvantaged and marginalized castes and tribes that are recognized by the constitution of India. The NID reserves 15% of its seats for the SC candidates and 7.5% of its seats for the ST candidates in both B.Des and M.Des courses.

To be eligible for the SC and ST reservation, candidates should belong to one of the castes or tribes that are listed as SC or ST by the central government or the state government where they reside. To claim the SC and ST reservation, the candidates have to submit a certificate issued by a competent authority that verifies their SC or ST status. The certificate should be in the prescribed format and should be valid for the year of application. The candidates should also mention their SC or ST status in the online application form of NID DAT.

NID DAT Total Reservation of seats for SC/ST for both B.Des and M.Des

Particulars

Scheduled Caste (15%)

Scheduled Tribe (7.5%)

M.Des

5

2

B.Des

63

34

NID DAT 2026 Reservation of seats for SC/ST - B.Des Programme

NID Campuses

Scheduled Caste

(15%)

Scheduled Tribe

(7.5%)

NID Ahmedabad

19

10

NID Andhra Pradesh

11

6

NID Haryana

11

6

NID Madhya Pradesh

11

6

NID Assam

11

6

Total

63

34

NID DAT 2026 reservation of seats for SC/ST - M.Des programme

Particulars

Scheduled Caste

(15%)

Scheduled Tribe

(7.5%)

Disciplines with 19 seats each

3

1

Disciplines with 12 seats each

2

1

NID DAT Reservation of Seats for Persons with Disabilities (PwD)

The PwD category refers to candidates who have a minimum of 40% of any of the specified benchmark disabilities, as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. NID DAT reservation is 5% of its seats for the PwD candidates in both B.Des and M.Des courses.

To claim the PwD reservation, the candidates must submit a certificate issued by a medical authority verifying their PwD status. The certificate should be in the prescribed format and valid for the year of application. The candidates should also mention their PwD status in the online application form of the NID DAT.

Note: A total of 5% of seats across all categories such as Open, GEN-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, and ST are earmarked for Persons with Disability (PwD). These seats will be allocated to the top 5% of candidates based on their merit. However, only those candidates who meet the disability criteria as stipulated by the Indian Government under the RPwD Act 2016 will be eligible for this reservation.

Process to claim Reservation in NID DAT 2026

The candidates who want to claim a reservation in NID DAT 2026 have to follow the below-mentioned steps:

  • Students have to fill out the online NID DAT reservation 2026 registration form and select the appropriate category from the options given.

  • Upload the scanned copies of the relevant certificates that prove their reservation status along with the application form.

  • Students have to pay the NID DAT reservation fees for application as per their category and submit the application form before the deadline.

  • Download and print the admit card of NID DAT 2026 and carry it along with the original certificates to the exam centre.

  • Candidates have to qualify for the NID DAT 2026 prelims and mains exams as per the cutoff marks for their category.

  • Participate in the counselling process of NID DAT 2026 and seat allotment process and produce the original certificates for verification.

Documents Required under NID DAT Reservation Criteria

The candidates who claim reservation in NID DAT for 2026 have to submit the following documents as proof of their reservation status:

  • EWS certificate issued by a competent authority in the prescribed format and valid for the year of application.

  • OBC-NCL certificate issued by a competent authority in the prescribed format and valid for the year of application.

  • SC or ST certificate issued by a competent authority in the prescribed format and valid for the year of application.

  • PwD certificate issued by a medical authority in the prescribed format and valid for the year of application.

The candidates to upload the scan copies of these certificates along with the online application form of NID DAT 2026. They also have to carry the original certificates to the NID exam centre and the counselling venue for document verification. The candidates who fail to produce the required documents or whose documents are found to be invalid or fraudulent will lose their reservation benefits and may face legal action.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How can I apply for a reservation in NID DAT?
A:

During the NID DAT reservation registration, candidates have to mention their category in the online application form and upload scanned copies of the relevant certificates that prove their category status. Candidates also have to produce the original certificates at the time of admission for verification.

Q: How much reservation is given to each category in NID DAT?
A:

The reservation percentage for each category in NID DAT is as follows:

  • EWS: 10%

  • OBC-NCL: 27%

  • SC: 15%

  • ST: 7.5%

Q: What is NID DAT Reservation?
A:

NID DAT Reservation is the policy of reserving some percentage of seats for candidates belonging to different categories such as Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer) (OBC-NCL), Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD) in the National Institute of Design (NID) admission process through the NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT).

Q: What are the documents required for reservation in NID DAT?
A:

The documents required for reservation in NID DAT are:

  • EWS certificate issued by a competent authority in the prescribed format and valid for the year of application.

  • OBC-NCL certificate issued by a competent authority in the prescribed format and valid for the year of application.

  • SC or ST certificate issued by a competent authority in the prescribed format and valid for the year of application.

  • PwD certificate issued by a medical authority in the prescribed format and valid for the year of application.

Q: What are the benefits of reservation in NID DAT?
A:

The benefits of reservation in NID DAT are:

  • Lower application fees for SC, ST, and PwD candidates

  • Lower cutoff marks for qualifying the DAT prelims and mains exams for reserved categories

  • Lower admission fees for reserved categories

Q: Is there any reservation for foreign nationals in NID DAT?
A:

Yes, there is a reservation of 15% supernumerary seats for foreign nationals in NID DAT. They can apply under the Overseas category and pay the program fee in foreign currency. Candidates do not have to appear for the DAT prelims and mains exams, but they have to submit a portfolio and a statement of purpose along with the application form. Candidates also have to attend an online interview for admission.

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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:

  1. Understand the Syllabus : Focus on key areas like design principles, creativity, visualization, and observation skills.
  2. Solve Previous Papers : Practice with past NID DAT papers to understand question types and patterns.
  3. Time Management : Dedicate daily hours to sketching, problem-solving, and revision.
  4. Strengthen Drawing Skills : Practice daily to improve speed and accuracy.
  5. Use Online Resources : Utilize free tutorials, sample papers, and design blogs.
  6. 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 !