UPES B.Des Admissions 2026
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NID DAT Application Date:11 Sep' 25 - 01 Dec' 25
Hi there, students! The Design Aptitude Test (DAT), a national entrance exam for admission to its M.Des programs, is administered by the National Institute of Design, or NID. It is one of the most prominent design schools in India. Since the NID M.Des Exam is one of the hardest design exams for students to pass, students who want to do well on it need to have a good study plan and guidance. To get ready for the NID M.Des 2026, students can read this article to obtain the NID M.Des prelims exam questions from previous years.
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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):
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EXAMS dates- 13-14 Dec | Leading Design College | Highest CTC: ₹12 LPA | Average CTC: ₹7.5 LPA | Scholarships for Deserving Students
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:

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
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 !
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.
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Ranked #45 amongst Universities in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in Academic Reputation in India by QS World University Rankings
EXAMS dates- 13-14 Dec | Leading Design College | Highest CTC: ₹12 LPA | Average CTC: ₹7.5 LPA | Scholarships for Deserving Students
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