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

The National Institute for Fashion Technology has an upcoming entrance exam for interested candidates of the Masters disciplines in the form of the NIFT PG 2026. As we approach the next cycle of NIFT admissions, it becomes all the more reason to look into the admission cycle for NIFT PG 2026. Since the structure of the NIFT PG 2026 is likely to remain similar with that of previous years it is likely that they will be following a similar exam pattern. The NIFT PG entrance exam is a viable option for those looking to build a sizable career in Fashion.

This Story also Contains

1. Overview of NIFT PG 2026
2. NIFT PG 2026 Exam Schedule
3. NIFT PG 2026 Eligibility Criteria
4. NIFT PG 2026 Application Form
5. NIFT PG 2026 Exam Pattern and Syllabus
6. Best Books for NIFT PG 2026 Preparation
7. NIFT PG 2026 Admit Card
8. NIFT PG 2026 Answer Key
9. NIFT PG 2026 Result/Merit List
10. NIFT PG 2026 Cutoff: Course and Institute-Wise
11. NIFT PG 2026 Counselling

There are three Masters disciplines offered at the institute that are affiliated with a number of courses. M.Des. focuses on Trends Research and Forecasting, Design Thinking or Innovation among others. MFM or Fashion Management focuses on Management, Marketing and Merchandising, Entrepreneurship, as well as IT application. And lastly for MF.Tech, we have pattern engineering, sewn products technology, apparel quality engineering, textiles for apparel, apparel merchandising among others.

Based on the previous year’s schedule we can expect the NIFT PG 2026 registration to begin in the last week of November 2025 and remain open till the end of the first week of January 2026. The entrance exam can be expected in the first week of February.

Overview of NIFT PG 2026

NIFT PG 2026 allows individuals to become a part of the National Institute for Fashion Technology where they are provided with a space to attain several industry relevant skills in the disciplines of M.Des., MF.Tech, MFM with their respective courses and specializations be it Fashion Management, Apparel Management, UI UX Research or the like.

There are, however, slight variations in the NIFT PG 2026 Entrance Exam process for each discipline. However, the NIFT PG 2026 schedule, overall, is likely to remain the same across disciplines.

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NIFT PG 2026 Exam Schedule

The NIFT Entrance Exam Schedule is important to follow through to avoid any mishaps or misinformation all the way from the registration process to the results and list of shortlisted candidates. Keeping track of the schedule doesn’t just help with recollecting the exact date for each phase of the admission process, but can also give an edge in being prepared, be it for the possible exam dates or the announcements for the Personal Interview. For that purpose we recommend following the NIFT 2026 schedule to ensure some peace of mind.

NIFT PG 2026 Eligibility Criteria

The NIFT PG 2026 Eligibility Criteria will be released by the National Institute of Fashion Technology. The eligibility criteria can be checked on their official website, where they offer the criterion based on the discipline chosen by the candidates. The eligibility criteria will be released on the NTA Information Bulletin for 2026.

• Master of Design (M.Des): Undergraduate Diploma of minimum 3 years from NIFT/NID

• Master of Fashion Management (M.F.M): Undergraduate degree in any discipline from an Institute/University recognized by law in India (or) Undergraduate Diploma of minimum three years duration from NIFT/NID.

• Master of Fashion Technology (M.F.Tech): B.F.Tech from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) (or) B.E./B.Tech from any Institute/University recognized by law in India (or) B.F.Tech (4 years) from any Institute/University recognized by law in India.

There is a set of NIFT PG 2026 eligibility criteria for the Foreign National/NRI/OCI/PIO and SAARC candidates who are applying for NIFT PG entrance exam.

• Qualifying Age for PG programmes: No age limit.

• Possess working knowledge of English language

• If their Undergraduate degree has been obtained from a University/Board of any country other than India then an equivalence certificate must be obtained from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) New Delhi.

• The SAT/GMAT/GRE score of the candidate will be necessary for admission with the minimum score being set at 50%. The score should not be declared prior to January 1, 2024.

This constitutes the eligibility criteria which needs to be considered for an effective NIFT PG 2026 Registration. Failing to meet the criteria stipulated in the guidelines can lead to a rejection of the application.

NIFT PG 2026 Application Form

The NIFT PG 2026 Application link will be available on the official website of NIFT. Candidates interested in applying for a NIFT PG course can find the admission portal link on the homepage in the “Announcements” section. For more information such as the “Information Bulletin 2026” or the “Prospectus”, one can open the drop down menu by clicking on the three horizontal bars in the corner of the page. All the relevant links that detail information regarding each specific step of the admission process are clearly delineated.

The NIFT PG 2026 Application portal opens from the last week of November 2025 and closes in the first week of January 2026. The steps regarding the application process are as specified below, prior to filling up the application it is recommended to read through the Information bulletin 2026 for clarity regarding the application process.

• Start the application process by filling up the NIFT PG 2026 Registration page with the relevant details and obtaining a system generated Application number.

• Complete the application form the necessary particulars of the candidate along with the attachments of the scanned copies of the necessary documents.

• Select the four preferred examination cities in the decreasing order of preference.

• Upload the scanned photograph and signature of the candidate while keeping in mind the specified file size limit.

• Candidates are advised to keep a copy of the Application form for their own record and possibly future reference.

It is also worth noting that a candidate can only make one application at a time and multiple applications are liable to be rejected. However the application page does allow for candidates to apply to M.F.M and M.Des. Programmes provided they are eligible for them courses. Furthermore, candidates are given a correction window to alter the details of the application. This correction window is usually in the second week of January (ex. January 10 to 12, 2026)

Also Read: NIFT MDes Application Form 2026

NIFT PG 2026 Exam Pattern and Syllabus

The NIFT PG 2026 Exam Pattern has four different patterns depending on the choice of discipline/disciplines that the candidate will be applying for. The primary catalyst in all four cases is the implementation of the CAT (Creative Ability Test) and GAT (General Ability Test) exams.

The CAT exam is done offline on paper while the GPT test is a Computer Based Test. The entrance exam is the first stage of the test followed by stage two which is the interview round of the exam.

The CAT exam or Creative Ability Test examines:

• Intuitive Ability

• Power of Observation in Concept Development

• Design Ability of the Candidate

• Use of Colour and Illustration Skills

The GAT or the General Ability Test examines:

• Communication Ability & English Comprehension

• Case Study

• Quantitative Ability

• Analytical & Logical Ability

• General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Furthermore there are some distinctions to be made with regard to the NIFT PG 2026 Exam Pattern of M.F.M, M.Des, and M.F.Tech.

Download the previous year NIFT Official MDes CAT Sample Questions with Solutions

The marking scheme for the exams based on the NIFT PG 2026 Pattern specifies

• Each question carries one mark which will be given for a correct response

• For each incorrect response, -0.25 mark will be deducted from the total score

• Unanswered/unattempted will be given no mark

• In case a question is dropped due to a technical error, the marks of that question will be awarded to the candidates whether they have attempted that question or not (ex. The question does not appear on the screen during the Computer Based Test)

• The previous instance is not to be confused with a situation where if a question is found to be wrong the benefit of the marks will be given to the candidates who have attempted the question.

This constitutes much of the NIFT PG 2026 Syllabus and Exam Pattern. To remain ahead on the grade curve it is recommended to try and solve NIFT PG sample papers. This helps familiarize with the test and remain prepared for most eventualities that one might face on the test.

After the entrance test, stage two of the PG admission test has a personal interview where candidates are assessed on the basis of:

• Aptness

• Career Orientation

• Communication

• General Awareness

• Achievements

Also Read: How to Prepare NIFT Personal Interview 2026?

Best Books for NIFT PG 2026 Preparation

Read the NIFT PG books mentioned below for better preparation.

While these are some of the best books for the NIFT 2026 Entrance exam, one can achieve even better results by attempting the sample papers of the GAT exam and examining tips that have been picked up over the years. This can provide an advantage over the rest of competition aiding in a much more successful and smooth admission to the institution.

Also Read:

• How to Prepare for NIFT 2026

• 10 Tips to Crack NIFT 2026: Section-wise Preparation Tips

• How to Crack NIFT 2026 in 6 Months?

NIFT PG 2026 Admit Card

It is likely that the NIFT PG 2026 Admit Card will be launched in the first week of February and will be soon followed by the Entrance exam in between the First and Second Week of February 2026.

The admit card must be downloaded from the NTA website. The candidates are advised to read the instruction provided in the Admit Card and proceed accordingly for the Entrance Exam. If there are any discrepancies in the details shown in the NIFT PG Admit Card the candidate is requested to approach the Helpline and get it rectified.

NIFT PG 2026 Answer Key

NTA the examination committee will display the NIFT Answer key on their website for candidates to check their scores and draw up a rough possibility of getting through, the answer keys are likely to remain on the website for two to three days.

Candidates can challenge the questions on the Answer key with Rs. 200/- per challenged question which is non-refundable. After the final result has been declared no challenge against the Answer key will be entertained.

NIFT PG 2026 Result/Merit List

The NIFT merit list initially shows up with the results for the written test declaration in the last week of April 2026 with the final result with the shortlisted candidates being declared in the third week of June 2026.

• Stage 1 of the NIFT results will be declared in the last week of April 2026 showing the combined results of the CAT and GAT scores. Based on these scores candidates are shortlisted for the next round.

• Stage 2 of the PG admission process involved the personal interviews in the last week of May 2026. The results for the Personal Interview are declared in the last week of June 2026.

After the announcement of the Stage 2 results the process of seat allocation by appearing before the Evaluation Committee of NIFT.

Also use the NIFT College Predictor to know your suitable design college

NIFT PG 2026 Cutoff: Course and Institute-Wise

The NIFT PG cutoff is released each year at the time of the release of the list of final shortlisted candidates and the beginning of the counselling session. The cutoff is usually listed in the last week of July with the list displaying the cutoff for NIFT campuses with an opening rank and a closing rank.

The cutoff for the NIFT 2026 is far from being released however, with the announcement of the NIFT 2025 cutoffs, it could give a bit of a glimpse into the possible rankings that candidates might have to achieve to get into the institute of their choice.

NIFT PG 2026 Counselling

The NIFT Counselling for PG is likely to have its registration scheduled in the last week of June, 2026 and the first week of July, 2026. Candidates who have cleared the selection process and received a CMR (Common Merit Rank) should register in the time period mentioned above and fill the academic programme preferences.

Candidates are required to read the User Guide for the seat allocation process in advance. The guide is available on the official website of the University under the Admissions category. The steps that proceed after are as follows:

• Candidates who receive a seat in the first round can confirm it by logging in with their ID at the website

• Those who have an allotted seat can download their Provisional Allotment Letter

• Candidates then have to submit a “Willingness Submission” and then make the necessary admission payment

• Candidates who have not been allotted a seat will have one allotted to them in subsequent rounds.

According to the Counselling Schedule presented on the NTA website, there are three rounds of Counselling which can start from the last week of June 2026 til the end of July 2026. Candidates are required to pay their admission fees for the respective course they’ve chosen after the allotment of their seat.

After the three rounds the physical reporting of the candidate is made mandatory at the end of July. There is also a fourth Spot Round that is conducted in August 2026, with the physical reporting of the candidate scheduled for the middle of August 2026.

Also Read: NIFT Selection Process