NIFT Selection Process 2026: Check Criteria, Important Points

NIFT Selection Process 2026 - Overview

The NIFT 2026 selection process is allotted different levels for shortlisting the candidates for different courses. NIFT admission is based on marks obtained in the entrance exam.

NIFT 2026 Selection Process Snapshot

NIFT 2026 Selection Criteria

NIFT has specified its selection criteria for admission on its official website - nift.ac.in. The NIFT 2026 selection criteria include various levels of selection for different programs like:

• Meeting NIFT eligibility criteria

• Entrance examinations like GAT (General Ability Test) and CAT (Creative Ability Test) as per the courses applied for.

• Situation test for UG and Personal Interview for PG

• Counselling and seat allotment

Candidates who appeared for the NIFT entrance examinations will have to meet all the above selection processes depending on the merit gained. The NIFT 2026 final results of the shortlisted candidates are uploaded on their official website. The selected candidate's scores will depend on the tests and interview rounds. Each test is assigned a certain weightage for final selection.

Shortlisted candidates from the entrance exam and the situation test/interview are invited to register for the NIFT counselling process which is conducted in multiple rounds. Only those candidates who clear the NIFT cut-off for each round will be offered seat allotment. Candidates who do not appear for the prescribed examinations will not be allowed to appear for the selection interview.

Important points to be noted for the NIFT 2026 selection criteria :

• The NIFT entrance exam for all the programs is conducted at the allocated location/center

• Candidates have to mandatorily attend all the tests prescribed by NIFT.

• The General Ability Test will be conducted as a Computer-based test (CBT).

• The Creative Ability Test will be conducted as a Paper-based test (PBT).

• For B.Des, shortlisted candidates need to take the NIFT Situation Test.

• Candidates applying for both the courses like B.Des and M.Des have to appear for GAT and CAT tests.

• The candidates who do not appear for any of the tests, will not be allowed to appear for the next stage of the interview.

• The results will be uploaded on the official website - nift.ac.in

• Candidates are required to go through the Admissions Guidelines pdf available on the official website of NIFT for detailed information.

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NIFT 2026 Situation Test (ST)

The candidates who are shortlisted for the B.Des program after clearing the GAT and CAT tests are eligible to participate in the Situation Test (ST). This situation test is a hands-on test to check the candidate’s capability of material handling and the innovative ability for a situation provided with the set of materials. The candidate must innovate with the materials that have been provided as no other additional materials is issued.

• Candidates in this test are supposed to design a model with the set of materials available. The model is evaluated based on different parameters that include space visualization, innovative and creative use of the given materials, color schemes, the composition of elements, construction skills, the finesse of the model, and overall presentation of the creation, etc.
• All these parameters are checked and taken into consideration with the write-up explanation for the model created and the concept used behind it. As the medium of instruction used is English in NIFT, the write-up must be in English. Marks will not be given to the candidates if the write-up is in any other language.
• The important point to be noted is that the candidate should not disclose any of his/her identity by writing personal information or placing any identification mark on the model/design/write-up. Attempting for this leads to disqualification and the final result of the candidate will not be released. The evaluation of the test is done on the spot by the Jury and the model is not preserved for future reference.

NIFT 2026 Personal Interview (PI)

After the entrance examination for the Master’s program, the shortlisted candidates have to undergo a Personal Interview (PI) round. The parameters on which the candidates are evaluated are as follows.

• Career orientation

• Communication

• Aptness of the course

• Overall personal achievements in academics and co-curricular activities

• Aptitude

• General Awareness

• Creative and lateral thinking

NIFT 2026 Seat Allocation

NIFT seat allotment will be updated on the official website - nift.ac.in after each round of counselling. The allotted candidates are required to pay the admission fee and accept the seat within the prescribed deadline. Seat allocation will be done based on:

• Candidate's rank

• Campus preferences given by the candidate

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