The NIFT 2026 entrance exam is conducted annually by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to various undergraduate and postgraduate design and fashion programs at the National Institute of Fashion Technology. The exam consists of two main parts: the General Ability Test (GAT) and the Creative Ability Test (CAT), depending on the course. It is conducted online and assesses skills such as communication, quantitative reasoning, current affairs, and creative thinking. The application process begins in November 2025, and the exam is expected to be held in February 2026. Candidates must meet specific eligibility criteria based on their chosen program. Those who qualify are called for further rounds like the Situation Test, Studio Test, or Personal Interview. The final selection is based on overall performance in all stages.
NIFT 2026 Highlights
The NIFT Entrance Exam is conducted annually for admission to design and fashion programs. Here are the key details like exam mode, duration, number of questions, application fee, and more for NIFT 2026.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Examination | NIFT Entrance Examination |
| Conducting Authority | NTA |
| Mode of Examination | CBT |
| Language | Hindi and English |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Duration | 2 hours for General Ability Test (GAT), and 3 hours for Creativity Ability Test (CAT). |
| Number of Questions | 100 questions for GAT, drawing questions for CAT |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions |
| Application Fee | INR 3,000 for unreserved candidates, INR 1,500 for reserved candidates |
| Examination centers | 32 cities |
NIFT 2026 Important Dates
The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) conducts its entrance exam annually. The tentative dates for NIFT 2026 are provided below, including application, exam, result, and counselling timelines.
| Events | Dates 2026 (Tentative) |
|---|---|
| Online Application form registration starts | 4th week of November 2025 |
| Last date to register | 1st week of January 2026 |
| Deadline to submit the form with a Late fee of Rs. 5000/- | 1st week of January 2026 |
| Correction window opens | 2nd week of January 2026 |
| Admit card | 1st week of February 2026 |
| NIFT Entrance Exam 2026 | 2nd week of February 2026 |
| Display of the question paper with the answer key | 3rd week of February 2026 |
| Result declaration | 4th week of March 2026 |
| Interview Round | April 2026 |
| Registration begins for NRI/Foreign Nationals | 2nd week of January 2026 |
| Deadline to register for NRI/ Foreign national | 4th week of April 2026 |
| Declaration of Final Results | 4th week of April 2026 |
| Counselling Begins | May/ June 2026 |
NIFT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for NIFT 2026 vary for undergraduate and postgraduate programs. It includes academic qualifications, age limits for bachelor's courses, and degree requirements for master's courses. Check the course-wise eligibility details below.
| Course and Duration | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Design (four years) |
|
| Bachelor's in Fashion Technology (four years) | |
| Master of Fashion Technology (two years) |
|
| Master's in Design (two years) | |
| Master's in Fashion Design (two years) |
NIFT 2026 Application Process
The NIFT 2026 application form will be available from the fourth week of November 2025. The registration process will be conducted online only. Before filling out the form, candidates must check the eligibility criteria. To complete the application, candidates need to enter personal details such as name, mobile number, address, and educational qualifications. Scanned copies of the photograph and signature must be uploaded in the correct format. A correction window to edit details will open in the second week of January 2026. The last date to submit the form is the first week of January 2026. It is advised to keep a printout of the filled application form for future use.
How To Apply
Step 1: Go to the official NIFT website (https://www.nift.ac.in/).
Step 2: Click on the “Apply Now” link on the homepage.
Step 3: Enter personal, contact, and educational details.
Step 4: Upload a scanned photo and signature in JPEG format.
Step 5: Check all the details carefully and submit the form.
Step 6: Pay the application fee online.
Step 7: Download and print the filled form for future use.
NIFT 2026 Syllabus
The NIFT 2026 syllabus is divided into two main parts: the General Ability Test (GAT) and the Creative Ability Test (CAT). These sections evaluate language, reasoning, quantitative skills, and creative thinking required for fashion and design courses.
| Test Section | Subjects/Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| General Ability Test (GAT) | - Communication Ability - English Comprehension - Quantitative Ability - Analytical Ability - General Knowledge and Current Affairs |
| Creative Ability Test (CAT) | - Design Theory - Colour Terminology - Inspiration & Design Development |
NIFT 2026 Exam Pattern
The NIFT 2026 exam pattern varies by program and is designed to assess candidates' aptitude and subject knowledge. The test includes sections such as communication skills, quantitative ability, reasoning, and general awareness in both GAT and CAT formats.
| Program | Duration | Mode | Language | Sections | No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.Des | 120 min | CBT | English/Hindi | Communication Ability | 40 |
| English Comprehension | 30 | ||||
| Quantitative Ability | 20 | ||||
| Analytical Ability | 15 | ||||
| GK & Current Affairs | 25 | ||||
| Total | 100 | ||||
| M.Des | 120 min | CBT | English/Hindi | Communication Ability | 30 |
| English Comprehension | 30 | ||||
| Quantitative Ability | 20 | ||||
| Analytical Ability | 25 | ||||
| GK & Current Affairs | 15 | ||||
| Total | 120 | ||||
| B.F.Tech | 180 min | CBT (A+B) | English/Hindi | Communication Ability + English Comprehension | 40 |
| Quantitative Ability | 20 + 15 | ||||
| Analytical & Logical Ability | 15 + 15 | ||||
| GK & Current Affairs | 25 | ||||
| Case Study | 20 | ||||
| Total | 150 (100+50) | ||||
| M.F.Tech | 180 min | CBT | English/Hindi | Communication Ability & English Comprehension | 45 |
| Quantitative Ability | 30 | ||||
| Analytical & Logical Ability | 25 | ||||
| GK & Current Affairs | 25 | ||||
| Case Study | 25 | ||||
| Total | 150 | ||||
| MFM | 180 min | CBT | English/Hindi | Communication Ability & English Comprehension | 50 |
| Quantitative Ability | 10 | ||||
| Analytical & Logical Ability | 25 | ||||
| GK & Current Affairs | 25 | ||||
| Case Study | 40 | ||||
| Total | 150 |
NIFT 2026 Admit Card
The NIFT 2026 admit card is expected to be released in the first week of February 2026. Candidates who qualify for the entrance test will also be required to appear for Stage 2, which includes the Situation Test, Studio Test, and Personal Interview, depending on the program.
To download the NIFT 2026 admit card, follow these simple steps:
- Visit the official NIFT admission portal.
- Click on the “Admit Card Download” link.
- A login window will appear.
- Enter the NIFT 2026 application number and date of birth.
- After logging in successfully, download and print the admit card for future reference.
NIFT 2026 Result
The NIFT 2026 result is expected to be announced in the fourth week of March 2026. Candidates will be able to check and download their results from the official website. Those who qualify will be shortlisted for the next round of the selection process, including the Situation Test, Studio Test, or Personal Interview, depending on the program.
Steps to Check NIFT 2026 Result:
- Visit the NTA’s NIFT exam portal: https://exams.nta.nic.in/NIFT/
- Log in using the required credentials.
- Enter the NIFT 2026 application number and date of birth.
- Click on the Submit button.
- The result status will be shown as “Shortlisted” or “Not Shortlisted for the Situation Test.”
NIFT 2026 FAQs
Ques. What is the full form of the NIFT 2026 exam?
Ans. NIFT stands for the National Institute of Fashion Technology. The NIFT 2026 exam is conducted for admission to various design and fashion technology courses.
Ques. Who conducts the NIFT 2026 entrance exam?
Ans. The NIFT 2026 exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the National Institute of Fashion Technology.
Ques. What is the mode of the NIFT 2026 exam?
Ans. NIFT 2026 will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode for the General Ability Test (GAT) and as a paper-based drawing test for the Creative Ability Test (CAT).
Ques. What is the exam duration for NIFT 2026?
Ans. The duration is 2 hours for GAT and 3 hours for CAT, depending on the course applied.
Ques. What is the application fee for the NIFT 2026 exam?
Ans. The application fee is INR 3,000 for unreserved candidates and INR 1,500 for reserved category candidates.
Ques. When will the NIFT 2026 application process start?
Ans. The NIFT 2026 application form will be available from the 4th week of November 2025.
Ques. What is the eligibility for the NIFT 2026 B.Des course?
Ans. Candidates must have passed or appeared for Class 12 from a recognised board. The upper age limit is 24 years.
Ques. What are the subjects included in the NIFT 2026 syllabus?
Ans. The syllabus includes Communication Ability, English Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, Analytical Ability, General Knowledge, and Creative topics like Design Theory and Colour Terminology.
Ques. When will the NIFT 2026 admit card be released?
Ans. The admit card for NIFT 2026 is expected to be released in the 1st week of February 2026.
Ques. How can candidates check the NIFT 2026 result?
Ans. The result can be checked by visiting the official NTA NIFT portal, logging in with the application number and date of birth, and viewing the result status.