National Testing Agency conducts the NIFT UG entrance exam for admission into the Bachelor of Design and Bachelor of Fashion Technology programmes of 20 NIFT campuses in India. However, there are different stages in the NIFT entrance exam for each of these two courses, and each stage has a prescribed weightage in the NIFT selection process. In this article, let’s understand the NIFT UG 2026 exam weightage for B.Des and B.FTech.
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NTA will conduct NIFT 2026 on February 8, 2026, at 102 exam centres across India.
There are two components for the NIFT entrance exam - the General Ability Test (GAT) and the Creative Ability Test (CAT). While GAT is conducted online, the CAT is administered offline. Candidates applying for B.Des have to appear in both, while the B.FTech applicants have to appear only for CAT. B.Des candidates must also appear for a NIFT Situation Test after getting shortlisted in the entrance exam
Programme | Entrance Exam Components | Shortlisting Criteria |
B.Des | GAT, CAT | Shortlisting based on the entrance exam and a Situation Test |
B.FTech | GAT | Shortlisted based on only the GAT |
B.FTech and B.Des | GAT, CAT | Separate Common Merit Ranks (CMRs) will be generated for: B.Des.: Based on the entrance exam and situation Test B.F.Tech: Based on GAT |
The table below provides the weightage for different components in the NIFT selection process for B.Des and B.FTech.
B.Des | B.F.Tech | B. F.Tech candidates opting for B.Des | |||||||||||
Exam | Weightage | Exam | Weightage | Exam | Weightage | ||||||||
GAT | 30% | GAT (Sec –A) | 30% | GAT (Sec –A) | 30% | ||||||||
CAT | 50% | GAT (Sec –B) | 70% | CAT | 50% | ||||||||
Situation Test | 20% | -- | -- | Situation Test | 20% | ||||||||
TOTAL | 100% | TOTAL | 100% | TOTAL | 100% | ||||||||
While both B.Des and B.FTech have GAT, the NIFT exam pattern for this component varies across the two programmes. The exam pattern is given below -
Particulars | B.Des | B.FTech | |
Section A | Section B | ||
Time | 120 minutes | 120 minutes | 60 minutes |
Communication Ability and English Comprehension | 40 | 40 | NA |
Quantitative Ability | 20 | 20 | 15 |
Analytical & Logical Ability | 15 | 15 | 15 |
GK and Current Affairs | 25 | 25 | NA |
Case Study | NA | NA | 20 |
100 | 100 | 60 | |
Candidates appearing for NIFT B.Des must also appear for the NIFT CAT, which evaluates the candidate’s intuitive ability, observation power in concept development, and design ability. Candidates will be required to make creative and innovative use of colours and illustration skills.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The shortlisting criteria for NIFT BDes include section A of GAT, CAT, and a situation test.
The shortlisting criteria for NIFT BFTech include sections A and B of GAT.
NIFT GAT is conducted online.
On Question asked by student community
Hello Student,
To attempt the mock test of BDes, click on the link given below
Link
https://design.careers360.com/download/ebooks/10-free-mock-tests-of-bdes-detailed-solutions
Please refer to the link - https://design.careers360.com/articles/nift-sample-papers
HELLO,
I am providing you the link below through which you will be able to download the NIFT Question papers with solutions PDF
Here is the link :-
https://design.careers360.com/articles/nift-question-paper
In the above link , you will get the direct links to download the year vise question papers with solutions ,
Hello,
Yes, a diploma holder in Computer Engineering can apply for the NIFT entrance exam , but only through the lateral entry route.
NIFT allows candidates with a 3-year or 4-year engineering diploma from a recognized board to apply for B.F.Tech (Fashion Technology) through lateral entry. The diploma must be
Hello aspirant,
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has determined the official date for NIFT 2026 applicant registrations, which is expected to open in November 2025. Online applications will be accepted through January 2026.
For complete information, you can visit our site through following link:
https://design.careers360.com/exams/nift-entrance-exam
Thank you
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