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The National Testing Agency (NTA) will release the NIFT CAT syllabus 2026 on its official website - nift.ac.in. The NIFT Creative Ability Test syllabus 2026 is designed to evaluate a candidate's intuitive ability, power of observation, concept development, and design ability. The NIFT CAT syllabus is an important component of the NIFT 2026 syllabus. Candidates aspiring to seek admission into B.Des and M.Des programmes have to appear for both components of the NIFT entrance exam - CAT and GAT to secure admission. In this article, get all details of the NIFT CAT syllabus 2026, including important topics, paper pattern, and more.
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NTA will tentatively conduct NIFT 2026 in February 2026. The CAT component of the exam will be conducted in an offline, pen and paper format. Candidates who qualify in the NIFTEE 2026 will be admitted into various programmes of participating NIFTs across India.
The CAT (Creative Ability Test) will be conducted by the authorities as it is mandatory, to provide admission to the aspirants into NIFT’s B.Des and M.Des courses. The main objective of conducting the NIFT CAT test is to test the inbuilt ability, observation power and innovative use of colours along with illustration skills. NIFT syllabus 2026 is available at nift.ac.in. However, the aspirants for the NIFT entrance exam 2026 can check the NIFT exam pattern and syllabus here.
Observation power
Intuitive ability
Design ability
Creativity
Demonstration skills
The topics that are important to clear the NIFT CAT exam are provided for the candidates for preparation. They are provided in the table below.
Design Theory | Colour Terminology | Inspiration and Design Development |
Creative thinking and writing | Optical Illusion | Understanding Light and Shade |
Colour Psychology and Optical Illusions | Elements and Principles of Design | Mood, Theme and Colour Inter-relationship |
Natural and Geometrical Form | Innovation in Design | Principles of Composition |
Memory Drawing | Inspiration and Creativity | Ornaments and motifs |
Theme Development | Drawing Fundamentals | Pictures Analysis |
Visual Logic | Form and Function | Colours, Patterns, and Textures |
Developing Themes and Colour Associations | Usage of Colour in Compositions | Imagination and Doodling |
Exercises on imagination | Lateral Thinking | Story Pictures |
Use of Measurements, Scale and proportions | Optical Illusion | Foreshortening and Perspective |
Graphics and Pictograms | Innovation and Creation | Design Awareness |
3D Visualisation | Presentation Techniques | Expression and Emotion |
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Along with the NIFT CAT 2026 syllabus, the NTA also releases the NIFT exam pattern. The NIFT 2026 exam pattern for CAT includes information about the exam structure with details about the exam duration, total marks, number of questions, and the marking scheme, etc. The NIFT CAT exam is a paper-based test.
Particulars | Details |
Number of questions asked | 3 |
Duration of the exam | 3 hours |
Mode of CAT exam | Paper-based test (PBT) |
NIFT CAT total marks | 100 |
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According to the NIFT exam weightage allotted section-wise, CAT holds nearly 50% for the rank list preparation and the NIFT admission.
Design Programmes | Weightage |
Bachelor of Design | CAT: 50% |
GAT: 30% | |
Situation Test: 20% | |
Master of Design | CAT: 40% |
GAT: 30% | |
Personal Interview: 30% | |
BFTech candidates opting for BF.Tech | GAT: 30% (Sec A) |
CAT: 50% | |
Situation Test: 20% | |
Bachelor of Fashion Technology | GAT: 30% (SecA) GAT: 70% (Sec B) |
Master of Fashion Technology | GAT: 70% |
Personal Interview: 30% | |
Master of Fashion Management | GAT: 70% |
Personal Interview: 30% |
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The aspirants aspiring to appear for the NIFT entrance exam have to understand the NIFT CAT syllabus 2026. For this, the candidates are required to go through the previous year's question papers to understand the NIFT exam pattern and syllabus. NIFT CAT question papers are the most useful exam guides to candidates that provide an idea to the students regarding the NIFT exam pattern and syllabus.
Referring to the old NIFT question papers, the candidates will be able to know the type of questions asked with the pattern and duration to practice effectively. The NIFT CAT question paper is prepared to test the candidate’s creativity and demonstration skills, observation power of the concept, design, and concept development ideas.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The NIFT CAT syllabus 2026 is released by the NTA authorities through the official brochure.
NIFT CAT stands for National Institute of Fashion Technology Creative Ability Test.
The major topics include creativity, design ability, observation power, intuitive ability, and illustration skills for the given concept.
The NIFT CAT exam is of 3 hours duration.
The NIFT CAT exam is a paper-based test.
On Question asked by student community
Hello Neharika
These are the topics which are most important in the Current affairs section in respect to NIFT Entrance Exam:
1. National and International Awards and Honors
2. Government Schemes and Initiatives
3. Sports
4. Appointments and Newsmakers
5. Science and Technology
6. Indian and World Economy
7. International Relations
8. Fashion Industry Updates
9. Books and Authors
10. Art and Culture
11. Environmental and Social Issues
To know more about NIFT Entrance Exam: NIFT Entrance Exam by CAREERS360
Hope this answer helps! Thank You!!!
Hello,
According to the sources, the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) entrance exam for 2026 will be held in February 2026. Also, the registration period may open from November 2025.
I hope it will clear your query!!
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 :
The CAT syllabus consists important topics like
To download the complete syllabus kindly refer this
https://design.careers360.com/articles/nift-syllabus
Good luck !
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