Pearl Academy M. Des 2025
No. 1 Design & Fashion Institute by ASSOCHAM, India Today, Outlook and The Week rankings | Last Date to Apply: 31st August
The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the NIFT PG 2026 exam for the candidates interested to pursue the masters discipline in the form of the NIFT PG 2026. The NIFT PG entrance exam is a viable option for those looking to build a career in Fashion. The NIFT PG 2026 notification will be published in November 2025. The syllabus and exam pattern of NIFT PG 2026 is likely to remain similar with that of previous years with a similar exam pattern. Based on the previous year’s schedule, the NIFT PG 2026 registration is expected to begin in the last week of November 2025 and will remain open till the end of the first week of January 2026. The NIFT entrance exam will be conducted in the first week of February 2026 tentatively.
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There are three Master disciplines offered through NIFT PG admissions, namely MDes, MFM and MFTech. 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 M.F.Tech, we have pattern engineering, sewn products technology, apparel quality engineering, textiles for apparel, apparel merchandising among others.
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.
Particulars | NIFT Details |
Conducting Authority | National Institute of Fashion Technology |
Full form of GAT and CAT | General Ability Test and Creative Ability Test |
NIFT PG 2026 Exam Frequency | Once a year |
NIFT Exam Level | National Level |
NIFT PG 2026 Application Mode | Online |
NIFT PG 2026 Exam mode | Computer Based Test (CBT)-GAT Paper Based Test (PBT)-CAT |
Application Fees | Rs.3000 (Open/Open-EWS/OBC(NCL)) Rs.1500 (SC / ST / PwD ) Rs.4500 (Open/Open-EWS/OBC (NCL)) for two courses, like MFM and M.Des. Rs.2250 (SC / ST / PwD) for two courses |
Top Design Entrance Exams
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.
Important Events | NIFT 2026 Dates |
Commencement of Online NIFT PG 2026 Application | Last Week of November 2025 |
Last Date to Submit the NIFT PG 2026 Form | End of First week of January 2026 |
Last Date to Submit the NIFT PG 2026 Form (with Rs. 5000/- late fee) | Start of second week of January 2026 |
NIFT PG 2026 Application Correction Window | Second week of January |
NIFT PG 2026 Admit Card Date | First week of February |
NIFT PG 2026 Exam Date | Between First and Second Week of February 2026 |
NIFT PG 2026 Answer Key Date (For GAT) | Start of the Third week of February |
NIFT PG 2026 Written Test Result Declaration | Last week of April 2026 |
NIFT PG 2026 Personal Interview | Last week of May 2026 and first week of June 2026 |
NIFT PG 2026 Final Result Declaration | Last week of June 2026 |
NIFT PG 2026 Seat Allocation | Final week of June onwards |
The NIFT PG 2026 Eligibility Criteria will be released by the authorities through the NIFT official brochure. 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.
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.
The NIFT PG 2026 Application link will be made 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
The NIFT PG 2026 Exam Pattern has different patterns depending on the choice of discipline/disciplines that the candidate will be applying for. The primary catalyst 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 GAT test is a Computer Based Test. The entrance exam is the first stage of the test followed by stage two which is the situation test / interview round of the exam.
The GAT or the General Ability Test examines:
Communication Ability & English Comprehension
Case Study
Quantitative Ability
Analytical & Logical Ability
General Knowledge and Current Affairs
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
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.
Programme | Entrance Exam Components | Shortlist Criteria |
General Ability Test (GAT), Creative Ability Test (CAT) | Shortlisted based on GAT + CAT, followed by a Personal Interview (PI) | |
General Ability Test (GAT) | Shortlisted based on the GAT, followed by a Personal Interview (PI) | |
M.F.M & M.Des. | General Ability Test (GAT), Creative Ability Test (CAT) | Separate Common Merit Ranks (CMRs) will be generated for: M.F.M: Based on GAT (Sections A & B) + PI M.Des: Based on GAT (Section A) + CAT + PI |
General Ability Test (GAT) | Shortlisted based on the GAT, followed by a Personal Interview (PI) |
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?
Read the NIFT PG books mentioned below for better preparation.
Entrance Exam | Subject | Name of Books | Author |
GAT (General Ability Test) | Quantitative Ability | Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams | R.S. Aggarwal |
Analytical Ability and Logical Reasoning | Analytical Reasoning by Magical Book Series | Arihant NIFT Entrance Exam Self-Study Guide | |
English Language | English for Competitive Exams | Wren and Martin | |
General Knowledge and Current Affairs | Manorama Yearbook | Malayala Manorama Group | |
CAT (Creative Ability Test) | Learn to draw Human Figures, Postures, and Movements | The Fundamentals of Figure Drawing (Dover Art Instruction) | Charles Oliver |
Understand the fundamentals of Perspective Drawing | The Complete Guide to Perspective Drawing: From One-Point to Six-Point | Craig Attebery | |
Understand the Fundamentals of the Impact of Colors on Human Psychology | Color Psychology: Profit From The Psychology of Color: Discover the Meaning and Effects of Color: 2 | Richard G Lewis |
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:
It is likely that the NIFT PG 2026 Admit Card will be issued in the first week of February and will soon be followed by the Entrance exam in between the First or 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.
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.
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
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.
Round 1 NIFT 2025 PG Cutoff for Open Category | |||
NIFT Campus | Course | Opening Rank | Closing Rank |
1 | 24 | ||
1 | 26 | ||
1 | 15 | ||
5 | 57 | ||
8 | 65 | ||
8 | 58 | ||
27 | 52 | ||
60 | 84 | ||
48 | 124 | ||
54 | 130 | ||
17 | 102 |
The NIFT Counselling for PG is likely to have its registration scheduled in the last week of June 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
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
For NIFT PG candidates, there is no specified age limit, meaning candidates can apply as many times as they like.
The NIFT PG exam pattern for 2026 has two stages, the first stage has a written exam comprising either GAT (General Ability Test) or CAT (Creative Ability Test) or both exams while the second stage is a Situation test / Personal Interview.
Application for NIFT PG 2026 begins in the last week of November 2025 and will continue till the first week of January 2026.
The last date for NIFT PG 2026 is the first week of January 2026. However, this date can be extended into the second week, provided the candidate pays a late submission fee of Rs. 5000/- in addition to the application fee for the test.
Yes, there are negative marks in NIFT PG 2026. Every right answer receives one mark, whereas every wrong answer has a deduction of -0.25 marks. Leaving a question unanswered doesn’t lead to a deduction in the score.
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