DSU- Dayananda Sagar University B.Des 2025
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NID DAT Application Date:11 Sep' 25 - 01 Dec' 25
Hello students, National Institute of Design, or as NID is one of the most prestigious institutions in the field of design which administers Design Aptitude Test (DAT), a national entrance exam for the admission to its M.Des programmes. NID M.Des Exam is one of the toughest design exams to crack for students and therefore, a proper preparation strategy and guidance is required for students to score high in the exam. Students can read this article to get the NID M.Des prelims previous year questions to prepare for the NID M.Des 2026 exam.
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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-1 | To be updated |
M.Des 2020 DAT Prelims Test Paper Part-1 | To be updated |
M.Des 2019 DAT Prelims Test Paper Part-1 | To be updated |
NID M.Des Part - B Question Papers | |
M.Des 2023 DAT Prelims Test Paper Part-B | To be updated |
M.Des 2022 DAT Prelims Test Paper Part-B | To be updated |
M.Des 2021 DAT Prelims Test Paper Part-B | To be updated |
M.Des 2020 DAT Prelims Test Paper Part-B | To be updated |
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
Option A: A circle and a cross, which doesn't fit the pattern.
Option B: A filled circle and a cross, which seems inconsistent with the prior sequence.
Option C: A circle symbol, which seems to repeat from an earlier image in the sequence, following the pattern.
Option D: A filled circle and a slash, which seems to follow the alternating pattern from the previous images.
Option E: A cross symbol with two stacked circles, which doesn't seem to continue the pattern.
Option F: A cross symbol with two stacked circles again, inconsistent.
Ques 2:
Solution:
Pakistan's National Flag (Image 01):
The flag primarily consists of green and white colors.
The green represents Islam, the dominant religion, and the white represents religious minorities.
The colors used in the flag can be classified as Primary Colors, because green and white are primary or neutral colors.
Since only two colors are used and they do not mix together to create a different tone, it cannot be considered monochrome.
The colors are not complementary (they don’t sit opposite each other on the color wheel), nor are they analogous (which would be similar hues).
Answer: The color scheme of the national flag of Pakistan is Primary.
Bhutan's National Flag (Image 02):
The flag is divided diagonally into yellow (top) and orange (bottom).
The yellow represents the spiritual tradition of Buddhism, and the orange represents the secular traditions and the strength of Bhutan.
These two colors can be considered Secondary Colors because they are created by mixing two primary colors (yellow is a primary color, and orange is created by mixing yellow and red).
The colors are not complementary or monochrome, and since they are not adjacent on the color wheel, they are not analogous.
Answer: The color scheme of the national flag of Bhutan is Secondary.
Ques 3:
Solution:
The first leaf: Bitter Gourd
The second leaf: Lady Finger
The third leaf: Tomato
The fourth leaf: Lemon
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
(1) represents "Make in India" (symbol of a hand with a tool on a laptop).
(2) represents "Saubhagya Yojana" (a lamp symbol, indicating the provision of electricity).
(3) represents "Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin" (a house symbol for rural housing).
(4) represents "Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna" (a gas cylinder symbol, indicating LPG connection).
Ques 8:
Solution: (B) 10
Looking at the numbers in the wheel, observe the pattern:
11 + 2 = 13
9 + 5 = 14
7 + 3 = 10
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:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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.
Portfolios should be visually pleasing with conveying enough information on the projects for the examiner to understand.
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.
On Question asked by student community
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 !
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:
Familiarize yourself with the NIFT entrance exam format:
Consider joining a coaching institute that specializes in NIFT preparation. They can provide structured guidance, practice tests, and expert feedback.
If you’re applying for design courses, develop a strong portfolio showcasing your creative work. Include sketches, designs, and any relevant projects.
Solving past years' question papers helps you understand the exam pattern and types of questions. It also aids in identifying important topics.
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 !
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