NID DAT Application Date:11 Sep' 25 - 01 Dec' 25
The National Institute of Design will conduct the NID Design Aptitude Test for admission into its undergraduate and postgraduate design programmes. The NID selection process has been revised, and candidates appearing for the NID DAT 2026 should be aware of the qualifying marks for NID admission. In this article, let’s understand the changes in the NID qualifying marks and the revised selection process.
Through the NID entrance exam, candidates will be admitted into the B.Des and M.Des. programmes of participating NID campuses.
Before the selection process of NID was revised, the NID prelims marks were considered for the candidate’s final selection. In NID DAT B.Des, the prelims exam had a weightage of 40%, while the NID DAT mains had a weightage of 60%. In NID DAT M.Des, the prelims had a weightage of 30%, and the mains had 70% weightage - (Studio test 40% and Interview 30%).
The previous-year NID cut-off trends indicate that the qualifying marks were between 45 and 60 marks, varying across categories. However, this is likely to change under the revised selection process.
The tables below provide the rank and score of the last candidate who was allotted a seat at various NIDs under different categories.
Campus | OPEN | GEN-EWS | OBC-NCL | SC | ST | |||||
Open Rank | Score | Category Rank | Score | Category Rank | Score | Category Rank | Score | Category Rank | Score | |
NID Ahmedabad | 48 | 59.60 | 16 | 50.90 | 41 | 53.60 | 24 | 51.70 | 11 | 47.80 |
NID Andhra Pradesh | 225 | 53.50 | 53 | 45.60 | 125 | 48.20 | 67 | 45.50 | 46 | 38.60 |
NID Assam | 294 | 51.80 | 56 | 45.00 | 142 | 47.40 | 83 | 44.00 | 40 | 40.00 |
NID Madhya Pradesh | 197 | S4.20 | 49 | 45.90 | 103 | 49.30 | 44 | 48.20 | 25 | 42.80 |
NID Haryana | 193 | 54.30 | 48 | 45.90 | 106 | 49.00 | 56 | 46.60 | 35 | 41.20 |
Discipline | OPEN | GEN-EWS | OBC-NCL | SC | ST | |||||
Open Rank | Score | Category Rank | Score | Category Rank | Score | Category Rank | Score | Category Rank | Score | |
Animation Film Design | 12 | 55.10 | NE | NE | 6 | 46.65 | 5 | 46.30 | 1 | 52.15 |
Ceramic & Glass Design | 6 | 58.10 | NA | NA | 6 | 49.95 | 3 | 50.50 | NE | NE |
Furniture & Interior Design | 10 | 55.90 | 2 | 50.25 | 7 | 47.45 | 4 | 44.85 | 2 | 50.40 |
Film & Video Communication | 10 | 67.35 | 2 | 54.20 | 7 | 62.65 | 6 | 56.35 | 1 | 63.45 |
Graphic Design | 8 | 62.25 | NE | NE | 9 | 53.90 | 4 | 55.65 | 1 | 59.80 |
Product Design | 13 | 57.60 | NE | NE | 15 | 46.80 | 3 | 50.70 | 1 | 46.05 |
Textile Design | 8 | 59.25 | NE | NE | 5 | 47.20 | 6 | 40.20 | 1 | 48.40 |
Apparel Design | 9 | 54.15 | NE | NE | 6 | 47.95 | 3 | 40.65 | 1 | 43.35 |
Lifestyle Accessory Design | 10 | 59.30 | NE | NE | 9 | 48.60 | 7 | 43.95 | 2 | 46.25 |
New Media Design | 8 | 57.70 | NE | NE | 8 | 46.55 | 4 | 43.00 | 1 | 52.50 |
Photography Design | 16 | 50.15 | NE | NE | 1 | 46.50 | 5 | 43.50 | NA | NA |
Strategic Design Management | 11 | 61.40 | 1 | 50.50 | 7 | 45.15 | 4 | 43.90 | 2 | 55.25 |
Transportation & Automobile Design | 9 | 56.35 | NE | NE | S | 47.25 | 4 | 45.35 | NE | NE |
Toy & Game Design | 6 | 72.95 | NA | NA | 6 | 48.70 | 2 | 45.40 | NA | NA |
Digital Game Design | 7 | 66.65 | 2 | 60.00 | 6 | 54.85 | 5 | 52.7 | 53.15 | |
Oesign For Retail Experience | 7 | 59.30 | NE | NE | 8 | 47.60 | 3 | 55.10 | NA | NA |
Information Design | 10 | 63.50 | 3 | 52.10 | 8 | 49.95 | 3 | 53.45 | NE | NE |
Interaction Design | 11 | 57.50 | NE | NE | 7 | 50.35 | 5 | 52.80 | 41.80 | |
Universal Design | 14 | 60.55 | 2 | 57.00 | 11 | 48.80 | 5 | 51.25 | 1 | 46.55 |
Under the revised NID selection process, the NID prelims will not have any weightage in the final selection of the candidates. The NID prelims will only be a qualifying exam for the mains. As a result of this, the weightage for the mains has also changed.
The qualifying marks in NID will change drastically from the previous years in the revised admission process. There will be separate minimum qualifying marks for NID DAT prelims, after which all shortlisted candidates will be called for mains. The NID qualifying cut-off is expected to vary across categories but will remain the same for candidates within a particular category.
Next, candidates have to clear the NID DAT mains cut-off to secure admission.
Particulars | Weightage |
Prelims | No weightage in final selection |
Mains | Studio sensitivity test - 60% In-person sensitivity test - 40% |
Particulars | Weightage |
Prelims | No weightage in final selection |
Mains | Studio test - 40% Interview - 60% |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Studio test has a weight of 40% in the NID M.Des mains
NID Prelims will not have any weightage in the final seletion of candidates. It is only a qualifying exam for mains.
Yes, the NID selection process has been changed.
Through NID DAT candidates will be admitted into B.Des and M.Des programmes
On Question asked by student community
Hi daksh
As 563 rank in nid dat exam cannot guarantee admission in designing college but it could be a good chance to explore some campus as if you are not from general category as category role plays an important role . But now you can do one thing focus on your strengthening your protofile or preparing for the studio test (bdes) or interview (mdes).
Thanks.
No, IPU (Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University) does not accept NID DAT Prelims score for admission to the B.Des (Bachelor of Design) program.
Instead, IPU conducts its own entrance test or may consider CUET (UG) scores for B.Des admissions, depending on the latest admission guidelines. Always refer to the university's official prospectus for the year you're applying to for the final admission criteria.
NIT DAT (https://www.shiksha.com/design/articles/nid-admissions-2025-colleges-accepting-nid-entrance-exam-scores-for-bdes-mdes-courses-blogId-13097)
Hello,
Yes, it's possible to prepare for the NID DAT 2025 exam on your own, even with limited time, by following these steps:
Hope it helps !
Hello,
There are numerous websites which give free study material and classes to prepare for entrance exams NID DAT, UCEED, or NIFT. Here are a few popular ones:
YouTube: YouTube has many educators as well as institutes, which have been uploading free video lectures on important topics, on aptitude for design, and how to give these exams. Useful content can be found in the channels "Design Coach" and "NID Preparation".
You can download free courses offered on websites like Coursera, edX, and Khan Academy on the topics of design principles, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
Official Websites: Both NID and UCEED and also NIFT would usually release sample papers and previous question papers for self-preparation.
Study Groups: One can join online forums or social media groups which are dedicated to NID, UCEED, and NIFT preparation for peer-to-peer learning assistance.
The resource utilization would bring in good preparation for the exams and, therefore, increase in confidence.
Hello,
Preparing for the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) entrance exam involves focusing on several key areas. Here’s a structured approach to get you started:
Familiarize yourself with the NIFT entrance exam format:
Consider joining a coaching institute that specializes in NIFT preparation. They can provide structured guidance, practice tests, and expert feedback.
If you’re applying for design courses, develop a strong portfolio showcasing your creative work. Include sketches, designs, and any relevant projects.
Solving past years' question papers helps you understand the exam pattern and types of questions. It also aids in identifying important topics.
Engage in activities that boost your creativity, such as drawing, painting, or crafting. Keep experimenting with new ideas and techniques.
By focusing on these areas, you'll build a solid foundation for the NIFT entrance exam. Good luck with your preparation!
You can also refer to the following articles to better understand the NIFT examination and its preperation strategy :-
1. https://design.careers360.com/articles/how-prepare-for-nift-entrance-exam
2. https://design.careers360.com/exams/nift-entrance-exam
Hope it helps !
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