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
NID DAT Admit Card Date:11 Dec' 25 - 21 Dec' 25
Hello, Students! The National Institute of Design, or NID, administers the Design Aptitude Test (DAT), a national entrance test for admission to its M.Des programs. It is among India's most well-known design schools. Students who wish to perform well on the NID M.Des Exam must have a solid study strategy and assistance because it is one of the most difficult design exams for students to pass. Students can read this article to access the NID M.Des preliminary test questions from prior years in order to prepare for the NID M.Des 2026.
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As per the revised selection process, the NID DAT 2026 prelims will not have any weightage in the final selection of candidates for B.Des and M.Des programmes. The NID 2026 prelims exam will be a qualifying exam to shortlist candidates for the mains exam.
Particulars | Revised Weightage in Final Selection | Old Weightage in Final Selection |
Prelims | No weightage in final selection. Qualifying exam for mains | 30% |
Mains | Studio test - 40% Interview - 60% | Studio test - 40% Interview - 30% |
Students preparing for NID M.Des can get NID previous years question papers to prepare for the exam from below:
NID M.Des Part - A Question Papers | |
M.Des 2018 DAT Prelims Test Paper Part-A | |
NID DAT M.Des Prelims Official Sample Paper | |
M.Des 2019 DAT Prelims Test Paper Part-A | |
NID M.Des Part - B Question Papers | |
M.Des 2023 DAT Prelims Test Paper Part-B | |
M.Des 2022 DAT Prelims Test Paper Part-B | |
M.Des 2021 DAT Prelims Test Paper Part-B | |
M.Des 2020 DAT Prelims Test Paper Part-B | |
Students can get previous year questions for part-A of the NID Prelims M.Des according to the NID MDes 2026 exam Pattern, to help in their preparation from below:
Ques 1:

Solution: Option D
Ques 2:

Solution:
Pakistan's National Flag (Image 01):
Answer: The color scheme of the national flag of Pakistan is Primary.
Bhutan's National Flag (Image 02):
Answer: The color scheme of the national flag of Bhutan is Secondary.
Ques 3:

Solution:
Ques 4:

Solution: (D) Kathakali
Kathakali is a classical dance form from Kerala that often depicts stories from the Mahabharata and Ramayana.
Ques 5:

Solution: (C) Privacy
On 24 August 2017, a nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court of India declared the Right to Privacy as a fundamental right under the Constitution of India.
Ques 6:

Solution: (D) Continuation
The image shown, with its concentric circles, most closely evokes the concepts of Rhythm, Hypnosis, and Spiral, but Continuation is the term that doesn't suitably describe the effect of the image. The image creates a sense of repetition and a visual flow rather than continuation.
Ques 7:

Solution:
(A) 1-Make in India, 2-Saubhagya, 3-Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin, 4-Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna
Ques 8:

Solution: (B) 10
Looking at the numbers in the wheel, observe the pattern:
The sum of the numbers in the other pairs seems to follow a consistent increasing or decreasing pattern, and the missing number should be 10 to keep the balance. Therefore, the missing number is 10.
Ques 9:

Solution: (B)
In perspective drawing, the lines that run along the walls of a building should follow the same direction as the lines in the background to maintain the correct depth and perspective. In option B, the lines are not aligned with the rest of the building's structure, leading to a representational perspective flaw.
Ques 10:

Solution: (B)
The first image depicts a person with a sad and weary expression, conveying feelings of sorrow and distress. Among the options, (B) reflects a similar expression, with tears running down the face, which portrays sadness and emotional vulnerability, matching the feeling in the first image.
Students can get previous year questions for part-B (discipline wise) of the NID Prelims M.Des paper to help in their preparation from below:
Ques: Sequential drawing of making a kitchen knife.

Solution:
Ques: Make a poster: The Ministry of Transportation publishes a poster on a vehicle to promote it.
Solution:

Article students are advised to go through:
EXAMS dates- 13-14 Dec | Leading Design College | Highest CTC: ₹12 LPA | Average CTC: ₹7.5 LPA | Scholarships for Deserving Students
Recruiters: Aditya Birla, Wildcraft, Tommy Hilfiger, Vero Moda etc | Only Fashion Institute in India to have entered the LIMCA BOOK OF RECORDS
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
It is advised for Students preparing for NID M.Des to solve NID previous years question papers to get in depth understanding on the exam pattern and question formats.
Portfolios should be visually pleasing with conveying enough information on the projects for the examiner to understand.
NID MDes 2026 exam is one of the most prestigious and difficult exams of nation with limited seats for students making it very difficult to crack for students.
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:
https://design.careers360.com/articles/nid-admission-2026
Hope it helps.
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 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.
Among top 100 Universities Globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026
World-class design education with a global curricular collaboration with Parson’s School of Design
Ranked #45 amongst Universities in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in Academic Reputation in India by QS World University Rankings
Ranked 2nd in the IIRF 2023 Design School Ranking | Approved by AICTE | Highest CTC 13 LPA
No. 1 Design & Fashion Institute by ASSOCHAM, India Today, Outlook and The Week rankings
EXAMS dates- 13-14 Dec | Leading Design College | Highest CTC: ₹12 LPA | Average CTC: ₹7.5 LPA | Scholarships for Deserving Students