NIFT 2026: Registration, Eligibility, Pattern, Syllabus, Books, Past Year Papers, Preparation Tips

NIFT 2026: Registration, Eligibility, Pattern, Syllabus, Books, Past Year Papers, Preparation Tips

Rajyalaxmi VenkatapuramUpdated on 28 Aug 2025, 12:23 PM IST
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National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) will release the NIFT 2026 notification at its official website - nift.ac.in, tentatively in November 2025. The NIFT 2026 notification will contain the complete NIFT 2026 schedule. Candidates will be able to complete NIFT 2026 registrations online from the official website - nift.ac.in. National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the NIFT entrance exam in February 2026 on behalf of the institute. The NIFT exam 2026 will be held for undergraduate and postgraduate design courses for the eligible applicants. Candidates who complete their class 12th will be eligible to apply for the NIFT exam 2026. Aspirants planning to appear for the NIFT fashion design entrance exam 2026 should refer to the NIFT entrance exam syllabus to get an idea of topics covered. Scroll down to have a clear understanding of the NIFT entrance exam date 2026, NIFT eligibility, and more.

This Story also Contains

  1. NIFT 2026: Overview
  2. NIFT 2026 Important Dates
  3. NIFT 2026 Application Form
  4. NIFT 2026 Syllabus
  5. NIFT Exam Pattern 2026
  6. NIFT Preparation Tips 2026
  7. Best Books for NIFT 2026
  8. Previous Year NIFT Question Paper
NIFT 2026: Registration, Eligibility, Pattern, Syllabus, Books, Past Year Papers, Preparation Tips
nift 2026

The NIFT 2026 includes various components such as the entrance exam and interview. Candidates will be admitted into B.Des, M.Des, B.FTech, M.FTech, and MFM programmes.

NIFT 2026: Overview

Particulars

Details

Full Exam Name

National Institute of Fashion Technology Entrance Examination

Short Exam Name

NIFT Entrance Exam

Conducting Body

National Testing Agency

Frequency of Conduct

Once a year

NIFT official website

nift.ac.in

NTA NIFT website

exams.nta.ac.in/NIFT/

NIFT counselling website

nift.admissions.nic.in

Exam Level

National Level Exam

Mode of Application

Online

NIFT Campuses

19

NIFT 2026 registration start date

November 2025 (Tentative)

NIFT exam date 2026

February (2026)

NIFT entrance exam 2026 sections

GAT (General Ability Test) & CAT (Creative Ability Test)

NIFT 2026 Important Dates

The NIFT 2026 dates will be announced at- nift.in.ac. The NIFT 2026 registrations will begin in November 2025 tentatively, while the entrance exam will be conducted in February. Check the table below for NIFT entrance exam 2026 dates:

NIFT Exam Date 2026

Particulars

Important dates (Tentative)

Start date for registrations of NIFT 2026

November, 2025

Last date for registrations of NIFT 2026 without a late fee

January 2026

Issue of NIFT admit card 2026

February 2026

NIFT 2026 exam date (CAT and GAT)

February 2026

Declaration of NIFT 2026 results

March 2026

NIFT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

The authorities will release the NIFT exam eligibility criteria 2026 on its official website- nift.ac.in. Candidates must meet the NIFT 2026 eligibility criteria to appear for the NIFT entrance exam. The NIFT exam eligibility criteria is important as they ensure that the candidates possess the essential skills and knowledge required to be eligible for appearing in the entrance test.

  • As per the NIFT eligibility criteria, those who have passed their 10+2 from any recognised boards or are appearing for the 12th class exams are eligible for the NIFT UG programmes. As of August 1st, the candidate’s maximum age limit should be 24 years.

  • Candidates applying for the postgraduate degree programmes should hold a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from any Institute/ University recognised by law in India or an Undergraduate Diploma of minimum three years duration from NIFT/NID, and there is no age limit.

NIFT 2026 Application Form

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will release the NIFT application form 2026 on its official website nift.ac.in. Candidates are advised to complete the application process before the NIFT 2026 application form deadline. Candidates also have to pay the NIFT application fee of Rs 3000. Below are the steps to fill out the application form:

  • Go to the official website- nift.ac.in

  • Click on registration and enter the required information

  • Select the NIFT exam centre from the drop-down list

  • Upload the scanned photograph of the candidate

  • Pay the prescribed application fee as per the category

  • Upload the required documents

  • Click on the ‘Submit’ button

  • Download and take a printout for future reference

Pearl Academy B.Des Admissions 2025

No. 1 Design & Fashion Institute by ASSOCHAM, India Today, Outlook and The Week rankings | Last Date to Apply: 31st August

UPES B.Des Admissions 2025

Ranked #46 amongst Universities in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in Academic Reputation in India by QS World University Rankings | Last Date to Apply: 31st August | Admissions Closing Soon

NIFT 2026 Syllabus

Candidates appearing for the NIFT entrance examination 2026 are advised to go through the NIFT syllabus as it will outline what topics will be covered and help the students to prioritise on important topics. The NIFT exam consists of two sections - General Ability Test (GAT) and Creative Ability Test (CAT). Below are the BDes and MDes NIFT 2026 syllabus topics.

  • NIFT Syllabus for General Ability Test (GAT)

    • Communication Ability

    • English Comprehension

    • Quantitative Ability

    • Analytical Ability

    • General Knowledge and Current Affairs

  • NIFT Syllabus for Creative Ability Test (CAT)

    • Design Theory

    • Colour Terminology

    • Inspiration & Design Development

NIFT 2026 Most Important Topics
Get ready for NIFT 2026 with this comprehensive eBook covering CAT & GAT, featuring key topics, tips, and sample questions.
Download EBook

NIFT Exam Pattern 2026

The NIFT 2026 exam pattern will help the students to prepare effectively for the entrance exam providing a clarity about the number of sections, type of questions, marks distribution, and exam duration. The entrance exam for NIFT 2026 admission includes 3 parts:

  • Creative Ability Test (CAT)

  • General Ability Test (GAT)

  • Situation Test

WUD Design Admissions 2025

International tie-ups | Project based learnings | Attractive Scholarships | State of the art infrastructure | Applications Closing Soon!

Apeejay Institute of Design, Delhi B.Design Admissions 2025

100% Placement Assistance. Ranked among top 5 Design Institutions in the Country

The Creativity Ability Test (CAT) will be for 3 hours as per the previous year’s exam pattern. The NIFT CAT total marks is 100.

General Ability Test (GAT)

Particulars

B.Des admission

M.Des admission

Exam duration

2 hours

2 hours

Mode of the exam

Computer-Based Mode

Computer-Based Mode

Medium of the exam

English/Hindi

English/Hindi

The total number of questions

100

120

Total NIFT CAT marks

100

100

NIFT Preparation Tips 2026

Preparing for the NIFT entrance exam is a crucial step for the candidates to secure a spot in the applied programme. Candidates are advised to focus more on weaker areas and stay updated with fashion trends and design concepts. Below are some preparation tips for the students appearing for the NIFT entrance exam 2026:

  • Practice previous year question paper of NIFT

  • Practice sketching and drawing regularly

  • Don’t overwork and take break to stay refreshed

  • Share your work with mentors to identify areas for improvement

  • Take mock tests for the Creative Ability Test (CAT) and General Ability Test (GAT)

  • Improve speed and accuracy

  • Build a portfolio of your creative work, including sketches, drawings, fashion design projects, and other creative endeavours

  • Develop a time management strategy

  • Try to attempt all the sections

Also Check:

Best Books for NIFT 2026

Providing candidates with a list of recommended books will significantly help in their preparation for entrance exams, and with the right resources, students can systematically approach their preparation. Below is a list of recommended books for the NIFT 2026 exam.

Book for NIFT 2026

Arihant NIFT Entrance Exam Self-Study Guide

NIFT Entrance Exam- Self-Study Guide

Bright Careers Guide NIFT Entrance Exam book

NIFT Exam Guide by Dr. R. P. Datason

NIFT Exam Guide by Verma

NIFT Entrance Examination (Guide) by D Mittal

Concepts of Pattern Grading

McGraw Hill Education

NIFT: Previous Years’ Papers (Solved) by Ramesh Publishing House

NIFT Entrance Exams: Ultimate Success Series By Surendra

Prashant Kumar’s NIFT Entrance Examination Preparation Guide

Popular Master Guide NIFT by R. Gupta

Previous Year NIFT Question Paper

To prepare effectively for NIFT entrance exam 2026, candidates are advised to refer to the previous year NIFT question papers. With the help of previous year papers, candidates can get an idea on the types of questions that are asked in the NIFT entrance exam.

Download NIFT Previous Years Paper PDF

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the duration of GAT?
A:

The duration of the General Ability Test (GAT) is 2 hours.

Q: What is the NIFT eligibility criteria for postgraduate students?
A:

Candidates applying for the postgraduate degree programmes should hold a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from any Institute/ University recognised by law in India or Undergraduate Diploma of minimum three years duration from NIFT/NID and there is no age limit.

Q: How many sections are there in the NIFT 2026 entrance exam?
A:

The entrance exam for NIFT 2026 admission includes 3 parts:

  • Creative Ability Test (CAT)

  • General Ability Test (GAT)

  • Situation Test

Q: What is the NIFT eligibility criteria for undergraduate students?
A:

Candidates those who have passed their 10+2 from any recognised boards or are appearing for the 12th class exams are eligible for the NIFT UG programmes. As of August 1st, the candidate’s maximum age limit should be 24 years.

Q: When will the NIFT 2026 application form be released?
A:

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will release the NIFT application form 2026 tentatively in November 2025. 

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Questions related to NIFT Entrance Exam

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to NIFT Entrance Exam ?
Hello,
It’s completely understandable to feel disheartened after not getting a seat in the first and second rounds, especially when you’ve filled all the colleges and have your hopes set on a particular course like Fashion Communication . With an OBC rank of 1910 and CMR 7192, your chances can improve in the upcoming counselling rounds as more students withdraw or shift to other colleges.
So make sure to check the further rounds of counselling and don’t lose hope. Many students get seats in the 3rd, 4th, and mop-up rounds. You can also consider updating your preference list or keeping a wider range of courses and campuses open in case you're okay with related fields.
Keep checking the official NIFT website for updates on seat allotment and further counselling instructions.
Thank you

Dear Candidate ,
Yes , you are eligible for NIFT - UG 2026 . Based on your birthdate , you will be 19 years old as of August 1 , 2026 , which is well within the age limit .
NIFT requires applicants to be under 24 years of age on August 1 of the admission year , with a 5 year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD candidates .

Hello

The syllabus of NIFT 2026 will be released on October 2025 by Nift officials on their official website nift.ac.in . The syllabus comprises of topics General Ability Test (GAT) and Creative Ability Test (CAT). The syllabus is different for UG and PG programmes. The GAT syllabus consists of :

  • Communication ability and English comprehension
  • Quantitative ability
  • Analytical and Reasoning
  • Case study
  • General knowledge and current affairs

The CAT syllabus consists important topics like

  • Creative ability
  • Observation power
  • Discernment ability
  • Design ability
  • Colour combination ability

To download the complete syllabus kindly refer this

https://design.careers360.com/articles/nift-syllabus

Good luck !

Hello,

The Chennai NIFT entrance exam results for 2025 are usually declared a few weeks after the exam date. You can check the official NIFT website or trusted education portals like Careers360 for the latest updates and result announcements.

Make sure to keep your application details handy to access your result easily.

Hope this helps!

Hii,

NIFTEE 2025 Result has been released by NTA on 24th April 2025. UG and PG aspirants can now check and download their scorecards through direct links given in this news. The NTA has declared the NIFT 2025 Result on its official website, exams.nta.ac.in/NIFT.