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    CMR Full Form in NIFT, Difference Between Common Merit Rank & Category Merit Rank

    CMR Full Form in NIFT, Difference Between Common Merit Rank & Category Merit Rank

    Sumeet SudarshanUpdated on 08 Feb 2026, 04:05 PM IST

    CMR in NIFT stands for Common Merit Rank. The common merit rank NIFT is a type of rank list that includes candidates who belong to the general as well as minorities. Based on the NIFT 2026 CMR, the students get NIFT admissions. Only those candidates who are shortlisted based on performance in all components of NIFT 2026 - the NIFT entrance exam and the situation test (for BDes), and personal interview (PG programmes), and clear the NIFT 2026 cut off will be eligible to seek admission through the NIFT counselling. The authorities will also release the NIFT cut-off for each counselling round, which will include the opening and closing common merit rank for admission to campuses. Continue reading for more details on CMR in NIFT.

    This Story also Contains

    1. What is the Full form of CMR in NIFT?
    2. What is the Common Merit Rank in NIFT?
    3. CRM for NIFT Seat Allotment 2026
    4. What is Category Merit Rank in NIFT?
    5. Difference Between Common Merit Rank and Category Merit Rank
    6. NIFT Seat Reservation
    CMR Full Form in NIFT, Difference Between Common Merit Rank & Category Merit Rank
    What is CMR in NIFT

    What is the Full form of CMR in NIFT?

    The CMR full form is the Common Merit Rank. The students must not confuse it with the list of NIFT category merit rank. We suggest reading the full article to solve all the queries related to the common merit rank and category merit rank in NIFT.

    What is the Common Merit Rank in NIFT?

    The NIFT common merit rank is the rank obtained by the candidates who have been shortlisted for admission and seat allocation. It includes an all-India rank list of students without their categories included. For students who belong to the unreserved or general category, the common merit rank in NIFT is the rank under which they will be allotted seats. This rank is derived from the marks obtained by the candidate in the exam. The students are allotted the ranks without including their category.

    CRM for NIFT Seat Allotment 2026

    Along with the NIFT 2026 counselling notification, the authorities will also release the details on CMR ranks of candidates eligible to participate in the NIFT counselling and allocation process. Only those candidates who are shortlisted for the counselling process will be eligible to register for the counselling and obtain NIFT seat allotment into various programmes.

    UPES B.Des Admissions 2026

    Last Date to Apply: 26th March | Ranked #45 amongst Universities in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in Academic Reputation in India by QS World University Rankings

    Pearl Academy B.Des Admissions 2026

    No. 1 Design & Fashion Institute by ASSOCHAM, India Today, Outlook and The Week rankings

    What is Category Merit Rank in NIFT?

    The NIFT category merit rank of the student depends on the category he/she belong to. According to the Government of India, every institution needs to reserve a certain number of seats for each category that is considered a minority. These include the SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwD students who have been provided reservations across all institutions according to the Government of India. Each category has a different percentage of reservation depending on its population.

    Difference Between Common Merit Rank and Category Merit Rank

    The major difference between Common Merit Rank and Category Merit Rank in NIFT entrance exam is that the NIFT Common Merit Rank is a rank that includes both unreserved and reserved candidates, and a rank is allotted to them according to their marks they have secured. The NIFT category merit rank, on the other hand, is for students who belong to the reserved category. The students who belong to SC/ST/OBC-NCL/GEN-EWS/PwD are eligible for the category merit rank. This rank is separately issued for each category based on its reservation percentage.

    NIFT Seat Reservation

    Each campus of NIFT has reservations for seats under each course. The students must produce valid certificates for the category that they have applied to when the authorities ask for them. The certificate should be strictly in the name of the applicant. The certificate must only be in Hindi/ English. If the certificate is produced in any other language, a certified translation must be submitted. The inability to produce the certificates/ translations of the certificates may result in the cancellation of the admissions. In case a reserved candidate is considered for admission under the category of unreserved category, he/she will be asked to pay the difference in the fee amount. The unfilled PwD seats will be converted to the respective category, such as unfilled Open (PWD) to Open, OBC (NCL) (PWD) to OBC, SC (PWD) to SC and ST (PWD) to ST. The unfulfilled reserved seats will be converted to the unreserved category once two rounds of seat allocation are over.

    Based on these NIFT reservations, the students will be given ranks of their category merit rank. The students must register for the exam and give their correct category during the NIFT application form fill-out. The students must note that once they have submitted their category, it cannot be changed at any point during the admission process. The category merit rank is allotted to each of the minorities separately, and a rank list is prepared for each category. The students who belong to the reserved category need to check their category rank and take admission based on this.

    Reservation used to decide the category merit rank in NIFT

    Category

    Reservation

    SC

    15 %

    ST

    7.5 %

    OBC-NCL (Non-Creamy Layer)

    27 %

    General EWS

    10 %

    Person with Disability (PwD)

    5 %

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: What is the full form of CMR in an exam?
    A:

    CMR stands for Common Merit Rank that is released during the process of admissions.

    Q: Which rank is considered for NIFT counselling?
    A:

    If a student belongs to the unreserved category, then the common merit rank is considered, if a student belongs to a reserved category, then the category merit rank will be considered.

    Q: Why is NIFT so expensive?
    A:

    NIFT provides the students good labs and studios to learn from. NIFT is one of the best options to pursue fashion design studies in India. There are several scholarships available for deserving students.

    Q: Is 3000 a good rank in NIFT?
    A:

    It depends on the factors such as category of the student, course and the campus the student prefers.

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    Questions related to NIFT Entrance Exam

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to NIFT Entrance Exam ?

    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