The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) is among the top design colleges in India. An analysis of the NIFT cut-off data for 2025-26 admissions provides some interesting insights about the preferred NIFT specialisation and programme choices. Candidates with high ranks in the NIFT entrance exam often go for B.FTech Apparel Production and B.Des programmes in Fashion Design and Fashion Communication. For this analysis, the five NIFT campuses that have been considered are Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai.
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In this article, let’s look at the opening and closing NIFT cut-off ranks for the first round of NIFT counselling for the open category at the top 5 NIFTs to understand the top specialisation choices among students. A higher cut-off rank indicates a stronger preference and vice versa. At present, there are 19 NIFT campuses in India offering various UG and PG design entrance exams.
As per the existing NIFT seat matrix, there are 38 seats for each available specialisation at all five NIFTs under consideration. Candidates have to provide their NIFT campus choices during the counselling process.
The data given below provides the NIFT cut-off data for the open category, arranged in the ascending order of closing ranks for each programme/specialisation.
A higher closing rank indicates that these specialisations/ programmes are often opted for by the NIFT toppers. A lower closing rank indicates it is not the most preferred choice by top-ranked candidates.
Programme | Opening Rank | Closing Rank |
Bachelor of Fashion Technology (Apparel Production) | 2 | 41 |
Bachelor of Design (Fashion Communication) | 2 | 54 |
Bachelor of Design (Fashion Design) | 8 | 86 |
Bachelor of Design (Accessory Design) | 47 | 151 |
Bachelor of Design (Fashion Communication)-NRI Sponsored | 269 | 269 |
Bachelor of Design (Textile Design) | 92 | 302 |
Bachelor of Design (Fashion Design)-NRI Sponsored | 147 | 322 |
Bachelor of Design (Knitwear Design) | 142 | 446 |
Bachelor of Design (Leather Design) | 183 | 800 |
Bachelor of Fashion Technology (Apparel Production)-NRI Sponsored | 413 | 1781 |
Bachelor of Design (Accessory Design)-NRI Sponsored | 682 | 1925 |
Bachelor of Design (Knitwear Design)-NRI Sponsored | 996 | 2466 |
Bachelor of Design (Textile Design)-NRI Sponsored | 1141 | 3198 |
Bachelor of Design (Leather Design)-NRI Sponsored | 2478 | 3565 |
Specialisation | Opening Rank | Closing Rank |
Bachelor of Design (Fashion Communication) | 3 | 79 |
Bachelor of Fashion Technology (Apparel Production) | 5 | 93 |
Bachelor of Design (Fashion Design) | 16 | 141 |
Bachelor of Design (Accessory Design) | 30 | 187 |
Bachelor of Design (Textile Design) | 206 | 477 |
Bachelor of Design (Knitwear Design) | 199 | 577 |
Bachelor of Design (Fashion Design)-NRI Sponsored | 360 | 1225 |
Bachelor of Design (Fashion Communication)-NRI Sponsored | 457 | 1946 |
Bachelor of Design (Accessory Design)-NRI Sponsored | 899 | 2312 |
Bachelor of Design (Textile Design)-NRI Sponsored | 2115 | 4366 |
Bachelor of Design (Knitwear Design)-NRI Sponsored | 1917 | 4871 |
Programme | Opening Rank | Closing Rank |
Bachelor of Fashion Technology (Apparel Production) | 51 | 119 |
Bachelor of Design (Fashion Communication) | 5 | 127 |
Bachelor of Design (Fashion Design) | 35 | 232 |
Bachelor of Design (Accessory Design) | 103 | 313 |
Bachelor of Design (Textile Design) | 331 | 652 |
Bachelor of Design (Knitwear Design) | 578 | 856 |
Bachelor of Design (Fashion Communication)-NRI Sponsored | 623 | 2007 |
Bachelor of Design (Fashion Design)-NRI Sponsored | 1252 | 2074 |
Bachelor of Design (Accessory Design)-NRI Sponsored | 2491 | 4223 |
Bachelor of Design (Knitwear Design)-NRI Sponsored | 3655 | 6447 |
Bachelor of Design (Textile Design)-NRI Sponsored | 3699 | 6863 |
Course | Opening Rank | Closing Rank |
Bachelor of Fashion Technology (Apparel Production) | 70 | 202 |
Bachelor of Design (Fashion Communication) | 93 | 209 |
Bachelor of Design (Fashion Design) | 229 | 370 |
Bachelor of Design (Accessory Design) | 338 | 452 |
Bachelor of Design (Textile Design) | 439 | 945 |
Bachelor of Design (Knitwear Design) | 518 | 1146 |
Bachelor of Design (Fashion Communication)-NRI Sponsored | 1510 | 2259 |
Bachelor of Design (Fashion Design)-NRI Sponsored | 947 | 3722 |
Bachelor of Design (Knitwear Design)-NRI Sponsored | 3511 | 5306 |
Bachelor of Design (Textile Design)-NRI Sponsored | 2200 | 5714 |
Bachelor of Design (Accessory Design)-NRI Sponsored | 2683 | 5984 |
Programme | Opening rank | Closing rank |
Bachelor of Fashion Technology (Apparel Production) | 32 | 253 |
Bachelor of Design (Fashion Communication) | 185 | 299 |
Bachelor of Design (Fashion Design) | 90 | 471 |
Bachelor of Design (Accessory Design) | 361 | 551 |
Bachelor of Fashion Technology (Apparel Production)-NRI Sponsored | 650 | 650 |
Bachelor of Design (Textile Design) | 18 | 972 |
Bachelor of Design (Knitwear Design) | 585 | 1220 |
Bachelor of Design (Leather Design) | 843 | 1420 |
Bachelor of Design (Fashion Design)-NRI Sponsored | 2216 | 3885 |
Bachelor of Design (Fashion Communication)-NRI Sponsored | 2994 | 4384 |
Bachelor of Design (Textile Design)-NRI Sponsored | 5099 | 5099 |
Bachelor of Design (Accessory Design)-NRI Sponsored | 5079 | 6963 |
Among all the top NIFTs except one, the most preferred programme or specialisation is the B.FTech (Apparel Production), as evidenced by a higher closing rank. B.Des courses in Fashion Communication and Fashion Design emerge as the next two preferred choices.
Conversely, Textile Design and Knitwear Design emerge as the least preferred programmes, as can be inferred through the low closing ranks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The top specialisation choices are B.FTech in Apparel Production, and B.Des in Fashion Communication and Fashion Design.
NIFT campuses offer B.Des and B.FTech programmes for their undergraduate courses.
The NIFT campuses that have been considered are NIFT Delhi, NIFT Mumbai, NIFT Bengaluru, NIFT Hyderabad, and NIFT Chennai
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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