UPES B.Des Admissions 2026
Ranked #45 amongst Universities in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in Academic Reputation in India by QS World University Rankings
The National Institute of Design will declare the NID 2026 prelims result on February 17, 2026, for M.Des and on April 7, 2026, for B.Des. It conducted the NID DAT prelims 2026 on December 21, 2025, in offline mode. Candidates who qualify in the prelims will be able to participate in the NID mains 2026. As per student feedback, the difficulty level of the exam was easy to moderate, with some questions being too lengthy. The NID DAT 2026 notification includes the complete NID DAT 2026 schedule and complete details of the NID 2026 entrance exam. The institute conducts NID DAT entrance exam for admissions into B.Des and M.Des programmes of NID campuses. Continue reading for more information on the NID entrance exam 2026.
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NID DAT 2026 exam has two components - Prelims and Mains. Candidates have to appear and qualify in both parts to be considered for NID admissions 2026. As per the revised NID selection process, NID prelims does not have any weightage in the final selection of the candidates. It is only a qualifying exam for the mains. Candidates will be offered NID admissions 2026 based on the scores in the mains exam. Aspirants can check the NID exam eligibility, the paper pattern of the NID DAT exam, the best books for preparation, NID exam dates, and more on this page.
Also read- How many students appeared for NID DAT 2026
| Particulars | NID Details |
|---|---|
NID full form | NID Design Aptitude Test |
Short Name | NID DAT |
Conducting Body | National Institute of Design |
Frequency of Conduct | Once a year |
Exam Level | National Level Exam |
Languages | English |
Mode of Exam | Offline |
Exam Duration | 3 Hours |
Official website | admissions.nid.edu |
Ranked #45 amongst Universities in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in Academic Reputation in India by QS World University Rankings
Last Date to Apply: 13th Jan | No. 1 Design & Fashion Institute by ASSOCHAM, India Today, Outlook and The Week rankings
The National Institute of Design has notified the NID 2026 exam date at admissions.nid.edu. Candidates can refer to the table given below for the schedule of NID DAT 2026 BDes and MDes.
| NID Events | NID BDes Dates 2026 | NID MDes Dates 2026 |
|---|---|---|
NID DAT 2026 application form date | September 11, 2025 | September 11, 2025 |
| NID application form 2026 last date | December 1, 2025 | December 1, 2025 |
Correction of NID DAT 2026 application form | December 2-4 2025 | December 2-4 2025 |
NID DAT admit card 2026 | December 11, 2025 | December 11, 2025 |
NID 2026 exam date for prelims | December 21, 2025 | December 21, 2025 |
NID DAT result 2026 prelims | April 7, 2026 | February 17, 2026 |
Rechecking request for DAT prelims | April 7-8, 2026 | February 17-18, 2026 |
Download admit card for NID DAT mains | April 2026 | February 2026 |
NID DAT 2026 exam date for mains | April 2026 | March 2026 |
NID DAT 2026 mains result | May 2026 | May 2026 |
Rechecking request for DAT mains 2026 | May 2026 | May 2026 |
The NID exam analysis for prelims based on feedback obtained from students shows that attempting the exam was time-consuming. The paper was lengthy, with only drawing-based questions. Given below are important points related to the exam analysis.
The NID 2026 exam difficulty level was easy to moderate
The questions seemed to be lengthy and time-consuming
There were only drawing-based questions
There was no part A
Students found that there was not enough time to detail their sketches
NID will not officially release the NID DAT answer key 2026. However, the unofficial NID answer key will be released by the coaching institute for the candidates' sake as per the memory-based questions. Candidates will be able to download the answer key online as per its release.
The NID DAT 2026 result will be declared online. First, the institute will declare the NID DAT prelims result 2026. The NID B.Des prelims 2026 result will be declared on April 7, 2026. The NID M.Des prelims result 2026 will be declared on February 17, 2026. Candidates who are shortlisted in the prelims will be called to attend the NID DAT 2026 mains in the ratio of 1.5 candidates for each available seat. The final NID DAT result 2026 will be prepared based on the scores of the candidates in the mains exam.
Candidates can download the result of NID DAT 2026 by following the steps given below
Last Date to Apply – 23rd January | Exam Dates – 31st Jan (online), 1st Feb (Online & Offline) | Leading Design College | Highest CTC: ₹12 LPA | Average CTC: ₹7.5 LPA | Scholarships for Deserving Students
Courses offered in- Fashion Design, Product Design, Communication Design, Interior & Spatial Design & Animation & VFX Design
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The tables given below provide the revised weightage for NID prelims and mains for final admission into B.Des and M.Des programmes.
Particulars | Revised Weightage in Final Selection |
Prelims | Nil |
Mains | Studio sensitivity test - 60% In-person sensitivity test - 40% |
Particulars | Revised Weightage in Final Selection |
Prelims | Nil |
Mains | Studio test - 40% Interview - 60% |
The institute released the NID DAT admit card 2026 on December 11, 2025, for NID prelims for candidates to download on the official website. Candidates who are shortlisted for NID DAT 2026 mains will be issued the NID DAT 2026 mains admit card separately. The NID admit card is issued online. Candidates can download the admit card through their login.
The full NID DAT counselling 2026 schedule will be released online. Candidates to visit the official website - admissions.nid.edu for the counselling dates. The NID DAT 2026 counselling will be held tentatively in May 2026. The NID DAT 2026 seat allotment will be done based on the campus and course preferences opted by the students during the counselling registration process. The authorities will also release the NID DAT cutoff 2026 as per each counselling round.
Candidates applying for the BDes and MDes programmes should meet NID DAT 2026 eligibility criteria. It is important to fulfill the NID DAT eligibility criteria so as not to face any disqualification at the last moment. The NID eligibility criteria 2026 for BDes and MDes programmes are different. Candidates can refer to the table given below for the NID DAT eligibility criteria 2026.
| Programme | Educational Qualification | Age Limit |
|---|---|---|
BDes |
|
|
MDes |
|
|
The National Institute of Design closed the NID DAT 2026 application form on December 1, 2025.
Candidates can no longer make corrections to the NID 2026 application form. The Application Form correction window closed on December 4, 2025 at 11:59 PM. Candidates were not allowed to edit details such as registered email ID, mobile number, name, category, and date of birth.
Steps to fill out the NID DAT registration form:
Category | NID form fees (BDes) | NID form fees (MDes) | |
1 Discipline | 2 Discipline | ||
General/ General- EWS/ OBC-NCL | Rs 3000 | Rs 3000 | Rs 6000 |
| Female candidates (except SC,ST,PwD) | Rs 2000 | Rs 2000 | Rs 4000 |
SC/ ST | Rs 1500 | Rs 1500 | Rs 3000 |
| PwD | Rs 500 | Rs 500 | Rs 1000 |
| Third gender | Rs 500 | Rs 500 | Rs 1000 |
Overseas (Supernumerary) | 125 USD | 125 USD | 250 USD |
The authorities do not release any specific NID syllabus for the DAT exam. However, candidates appearing for the NID DAT 2026 can check the table below for important topics based on the previous year's sample paper.
Innovation in design | Theme development | Exercises on imagination | Graphics & pictograms |
Principles of composition | Design Theory | Optical illusion | Form & function |
Inspiration & design development | Natural & geometrical form | Colour, pattern & texture | Drawing fundamentals |
Lateral thinking | Design Awareness | Creative thinking & writing | Ornaments & motifs |
Imagination & doodling | Understanding light & shade | Elements & Principles of Design | Colour psychology & optical illusions |
3D visualization | Lettering | Developing observation | Good design vs. bad design |
Optical illusion | Outline for beginners | Memory drawing | Innovation & Creation |
Mood, theme & colour inter-relationship | Visual logic | Colour terminology | Presentation techniques |
Picture analysis | Story pictures | Usage of colour in compositions | Natural & geometrical form |
Use of measurements, scale & proportions | Expression & emotion | Developing themes & colour associations | Foreshortening & perspective |
Check:
With the help of the NID DAT exam pattern 2026, candidates can understand the time allotted for each section, the number of questions asked, the types of questions, and the total marks. Refer to the table given below for a better understanding of the exam pattern.
Section | Type of question | Number of Questions in each section | Maximum marks per section |
Part I | MCQ |
|
|
Part II | Subjective type | Q28 - Q31 | 60 marks |
Total Marks | 100 marks |
Particular | Details |
Mode of exam | Offline |
Exam Duration | 3 hours |
NID DAT Total marks | 100 |
Mode of Language | English |
Type of questions | Based on Drawing/ Sketching/ Model Making |
NID DAT 2026 will consist of two parts: Prelims and Mains exams. The NID DAT exam pattern for the prelims and the mains exam varies. As per the previous year, the NID DAT question paper for the Prelims exam includes subjective and objective-type questions, and the Mains exam consists of questions based on drawing, sketching, and model making.
Aspirants who are going to appear for the NID 2026 exam are advised to check the list of recommended books for the entrance exam. With the help of the NID books, candidates can get a detailed explanation of topics and also the list of important topics.
NID DAT book by R.S. Aggarwal (aptitude section) | Design drawing by Francis D.K.Ching | NID (B.Des.) Entrance Books and Test Series |
NID Workbook | Basic Rendering from Robert W.Gill | Guide for NID |
NID Mock Test Series | Success Master- NID Entrance Examination | NIFT/ NID/ IIFT entrance exam guide by Surendra |
Also Check:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The NID 2026 prelims exam for B.Des and M.Des was held on December 21, 2025.
The limit criteria for the BDes programme are as follows:
The full form of NID in National Institute of Design. The purpose of NID entrance test is to shortlist candidates for UG and PG design admission offered by colleges in participating colleges.
The authorities notified the NID DAT dates for BDes and MDes at admissions.nid.edu on September 11, 2025.
The NID 2026 exam pattern consists of prelims as well as mains. Candidates who qualify the prelims will be called to attend the mains exam.
The NID DAT exam duration is 3 hours.
On Question asked by student community
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:
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
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
Among top 100 Universities Globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026
Last Date to Apply: 13th Jan | No. 1 Design & Fashion Institute by ASSOCHAM, India Today, Outlook and The Week rankings
Ranked #45 amongst Universities in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in Academic Reputation in India by QS World University Rankings
Outstanding Track Record in Placements.
UID-DAT Exam Date - 11th January 2026 | 1200+ Recruiters for Placements | 30+ International Collaborations | 45+ Advanced Labs and Studios
Ranked 2nd in the IIRF 2023 Design School Ranking | Approved by AICTE | Highest CTC 13 LPA | Application Deadline: 20th Jan'26