UPES B.Des Admissions 2026
Ranked #45 amongst Universities in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in Academic Reputation in India by QS World University Rankings
What’s New in NID DAT 2026? Revised Weightage, Changes Application Fees & Test Centres
Ongoing Event
NID DAT Application Date:11 Sep' 25 - 01 Dec' 25
Planning to appear for the NID DAT 2026 entrance exam requires that candidates learn about what’s new in NID DAT 2026. The NID DAT 2026 changes extend to the not just peripheral details like the application fee, but also the exam pattern. Looking into this article will reveal the NID DAT section‑wise weightage change that has been implemented for the 2026-27 round of NID DAT. NID DAT 2026 studio test changes have been made for both B.Des and M.Des with the DAT Prelims no longer being considered for the final scoring criteria.
This Story also Contains
- NID DAT 2026 Changes: What’s New?
- Changes in NID DAT Application Fees
- What changes made in NID DAT 2026 Weightage?
- What are the NID DAT 2026 Test Centre Changes?
In the NID DAT revised weightage 2026 the prelims is merely to shortlist candidates who are to appear for the mains. The NID DAT application form for the entrance exam is open from September 11 to December 1, 2025. The NID DAT Prelims entrance exam is scheduled for December 21, 2025 while the DAT Mains date is yet to be announced. To know the complete schedule, check out the NID exam dates on the official portal.
NID DAT 2026 Changes: What’s New?
The NID DAT 2026 weightage change has dictated that DAT Prelims can no longer be considered in the final score along with DAT Mains. The NID DAT Prelims Mains 2026 changes relies on Prelims only to shortlist candidates for the Mains section of the entrance exam. Further changes have been made to the application fees for the NID entrance exam.
Top Design Entrance Exam
Changes in NID DAT Application Fees
Candidates can certainly benefit from knowing the changes made in the NID DAT 2026 new pattern for application fees. These changes have been made to B.Des and M.Des with an additional category being introduced for the Third gender along with a currency revaluation for the Overseas category. Individual Tables showing the changed B.Des and M.Des fees are given below.
NID DAT B.Des Fees for 2026-2027
Applicants | Application Fees for 2026-2027 |
General, Gen-EWS, OBC-NCL | Rs.3000 |
Female Candidates (except SC, ST& PwD) | Rs.2000 |
SC & ST Candidates | Rs.1500 |
PwD Candidates | Rs.500 |
Third Gender | Rs.500 |
Overseas (Supernumerary) Candidates | USD 125 |
In NID DAT 2026 exam fees, the female candidates can pay a separate amount of Rs.2000. PwD candidates need to pay a fee of Rs.500 which has come down from Rs.1500 of the previous year. The third gender category that was introduced this year needs to pay only Rs.500. Overseas candidates now no longer pay the fixed Rs.5000 but instead USD 125.
NID DAT M.Des Fees for 2026-2027
Applicants for M.Des in NID DAT 2026 | M.Des Fees in 2026-2027 | |
M.Des (1 Discipline) | M.Des (2 Disciplines in the same faculty stream) | |
General, Gen-EWS, OBC-NCL | Rs.3000 | Rs.6000 |
Female Candidates (except SC, ST & PwD category) | Rs.2000 | Rs.4000 |
SC & ST Candidates | Rs.1500 | Rs.3000 |
PwD Candidates | Rs.500 | Rs.1000 |
Third Gender | Rs.500 | Rs.1000 |
Overseas (Supernumerary) | USD 125 | USD 250 |
The same rules apply to M.Des in NID DAT 2026 application fees. Female candidates (except SC, ST & PwD category) have received a category where they need to pay only Rs.2000. PwD candidates have a separate category and need to pay Rs.500 instead of Rs.1500 of the previous year. The third gender category that was introduced this year pays only Rs.500. Overseas candidates now pay USD 125 instead of the fixed Rs.5000.
The NID DAT application fee is neither refundable nor transferable. Furthermore, the equivalent exchange for the USD to Rupee is rounded off to the higher Rs.100 at the time of admission.
What changes made in NID DAT 2026 Weightage?
Changes have also been made in the score weightage that is considered for the final selection of the candidates. Before having the NID DAT weightage % updated for 2026-27 round, candidates in the 2025 exam round had the scores from the DAT Prelims considered for the final score. For NID DAT 2026 entrance exam, DAT Prelims is considered only for shortlisting candidates to the DAT Mains. Candidates can look into the NID 2026 weightage revised in the table below.
Also Read: NID 2026 Selection Process Revised: How New Weightage Affects NID Admission Chances?
Changes in NID weightage revised for B.Des
NID DAT 2026-2027 | |
DAT Prelims | Shortlisting for DAT Mains |
DAT Mains | Studio Sensitivity Test: 60% In-Person Sensitivity Test: 40% |
In the NID DAT 2026 round of admissions, the DAT Prelims score is taken only to shortlist candidates for the DAT Mains. The previous 40% weightage of DAT Prelims is given to the In-Person Sensitivity Test.
Changes in NID weightage revised for M.Des
NID DAT 2026-2027 | |
DAT Prelims | Shortlisting for DAT Mains |
DAT Mains | Studio Test: 40% Interviews: 60% |
Based on the table above, DAT Prelims no longer has any weightage in the final scoring process and is used to shortlist candidates for the mains exam. 30% of the DAT Prelims weightage from the previous year has been shifted to the interview round.
What are the NID DAT 2026 Test Centre Changes?
Candidates who are appearing for NID DAT 2026 entrance exam need to select their preferred test centre. However, the NID DAT 2026 test centre has changed the test cities that are available to candidates. The list of updated NID DAT test centres 2026 are given in the table below. The number of test cities have dropped from 22 in the previous test to 17 in the NID DAT 2026 round.
Candidates no longer have test centres at Guwahati, Kurukshetra, Raipur, Ranchi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Vijayawada. However, candidates will have an additional test centre added at Jorhat.
NID DAT 2026 Test Centres
Ahmedabad | Bengaluru |
Bhopal | Bhubaneswar |
Chandigarh | Chennai |
Dehradun | Hyderabad |
Jaipur | Jorhat |
Kochi | Kolkata |
Lucknow | Mumbai |
Nagpur | New Delhi |
Patna |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is the NID exam online or offline?
A:
The DAT Prelims is an online exam, while the DAT Mains requires the candidates to be in person for the NID studio test and the interview.
Q: How much is the B.Des NID application fee?
A:
The application fee for NID Admission is Rs.3,000 for General/ EWS/ OBC, Rs.2000 for Female Candidates, Rs.1,500 for SC/ ST, Rs.500 for PwD and Third Gender candidates and USD 125 for Overseas Candidates
Q: How many NID test centres are there in India?
A:
Currently, candidates can choose from 17 available test centres for their convenience.
Q: What is the difference between NID prelims and mains?
A:
The Prelims is a written test, while the Mains include a studio test and personal interview. For B.Des there is a Studio Sensitivity Test for 60% and an In-Person Sensitivity Test for 40% weightage. For M.Des, the Studio Test is worth 40% and Interviews for 60%.
Q: What is the pattern of the NID exam 2026?
A:
Candidates who will qualify the prelims exam will only be able to appear in the mains exam. The Mains exam involves studio tests and personal interviews.
Articles
Related Stories
|
Upcoming Design Exams
Certifications By Top Providers
Explore Top Universities Across Globe
Popular Courses and Specializations
Popular Degrees
Popular Branches
List of colleges accepting NID DAT
Browse Design Colleges by State
Questions related to NID DAT
On Question asked by student community
Have a question related to NID DAT ?
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:
- Understand the Syllabus : Focus on key areas like design principles, creativity, visualization, and observation skills.
- Solve Previous Papers : Practice with past NID DAT papers to understand question types and patterns.
- Time Management : Dedicate daily hours to sketching, problem-solving, and revision.
- Strengthen Drawing Skills : Practice daily to improve speed and accuracy.
- Use Online Resources : Utilize free tutorials, sample papers, and design blogs.
- Mock Tests : Take regular mock exams to assess progress and manage time efficiently.
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:
1. Understand the Exam Structure
Familiarize yourself with the NIFT entrance exam format:
- General Ability Test (GAT): Tests general knowledge, current affairs, and quantitative ability.
- Creative Ability Test (CAT): Assesses your creative and visual ability through sketching and design-based questions.
- Situation Test (for B.Des): Evaluates your ability to create a design from given materials.
- Group Discussion and Personal Interview (for M.Des/MFM): Tests your communication skills, understanding of the fashion industry, and design knowledge.
2. Gather Study Materials
- For GAT: Use general knowledge books, current affairs magazines, and quantitative aptitude guides.
- For CAT: Practice sketching and drawing regularly. Books on design and creativity can be useful.
- For Situation Test: Practice creating models from various materials and understanding design principles.
- For GD/PI: Prepare by staying updated on fashion trends, industry news, and developing a strong portfolio.
3. Create a Study Plan
- Daily Study: Allocate time for each section based on your strengths and weaknesses.
- Weekly Goals: Set goals for completing practice papers and revising key concepts.
- Mock Tests: Regularly take mock tests to simulate the exam environment and improve time management.
4. Enroll in Coaching Classes (if needed)
Consider joining a coaching institute that specializes in NIFT preparation. They can provide structured guidance, practice tests, and expert feedback.
5. Work on Your Portfolio
If you’re applying for design courses, develop a strong portfolio showcasing your creative work. Include sketches, designs, and any relevant projects.
6. Refer to Previous Years’ Papers
Solving past years' question papers helps you understand the exam pattern and types of questions. It also aids in identifying important topics.
7. Stay Updated
- Follow fashion industry news to stay informed about trends and innovations.
- Read relevant books and articles about design and fashion.
8. Practice Creativity
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 !
Applications for Admissions are open.
UPES B.Des Admissions 2026
ApplyRanked #45 amongst Universities in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in Academic Reputation in India by QS World University Rankings
Graphic Era (Deemed to be University) Admissions 2025
ApplyNAAC A+ Grade | Among top 100 universities of India (NIRF 2024) | 40 crore+ scholarships distributed
IIAD Admissions 2026
ApplyEXAMS dates- 13-14 Dec | Leading Design College | Highest CTC: ₹12 LPA | Average CTC: ₹7.5 LPA | Scholarships for Deserving Students
Silver Oak University B.Design Admissions 2025
ApplyManagement Conclaves | Industrial visits to eminent companies | Celebrated guest speakers
Pimpri Chinchwad University B.Design Admissions
Apply1000+ Recruiters | 450+ Patents | 50000+ Alumni network
Creative Edge Design Exam Coaching By Toprankers
ApplyChoose Creative Edge by TopRankers for Design Test Preparation
NID DAT Notifications
Never miss an NID DAT update
Get timely NID DAT updates directly to your inbox. Stay informed!