NTA NIFT Exam 2026 was conducted on Feb 8, 2026. The exam difficulty level was easy to moderate. The provisional answer key has been released on Feb 17, 2026. The objection window link has also been activated.
The NIFT 2026 Exam was conducted successfully on Feb 8, 2026. The exam difficulty level is analyzed to be easy to moderate. However, the paper was observed to be a bit lengthy. CAT was a bit challening and there were 25 quetsions from GK and Current Affairs. Questions were also asked from sections such as pie chart, mensuration, vocabulary, time & speed and others.
The provisional NIFT answer key 2026 has been released on Feb 17, 2026. The commission has also allowed objections on the provisional answer key. Following the objections, the final answer key and NIFT result 2026 will be out in Mrach- April 2026. The expected NIFT 2026 cutoff rank shall be between 7-85 for the B.Des Fashion Design for the General category.
NIFT Entrance Exam 2026 Important Dates
Check out the event-wise dates for the NIFT exam 2026.
|
Event |
Dates |
|
NIFT 2026 application form (Regular fees) |
Dec 8, 2025- Jan 6, 2026 Jan 13, 2026 Jan 16, 2026 |
|
NIFT 2026 application form (Late fees) |
07 Jan ' 26 - 10 Jan ' 26 Jan 14-16, 2026 Jan 17-19, 2026 |
|
NIFT 2026 application form Edit Window |
12 Jan ' 26 - 14 Jan ' 26 Jan 18-19, 2026 Jan 20-21, 2026 |
|
NIFT 2026 Issue of Admit Cards |
Feb ' 26 |
|
NIFT 2026 (Stage 1: Written Exam) |
08 Feb ' 26 |
|
NIFT Stage 2: M.Des and M.F.M Interview |
May ' 26 - Jun ' 26 |
|
NIFT Stage 2 Admit Card |
Jun ' 26 |
|
NIFT Stage 2: M.F.Tech Personal Interview |
Jun ' 26 |
|
NIFT Situation Test Stage 2: B.Des |
Jun ' 26 |
|
NIFT Final Result |
Jun ' 26 |
|
NIFT Registration for e-Counselling / Seat Allotment |
Jun ' 26 - Jul ' 26 |
NIFT Course-wise Timings 2026
The shift wise timing is as follows:
|
Programmes |
Test |
Examination Time |
|---|---|---|
|
Bachelor of Design |
GAT |
10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon |
|
CAT |
03:00 PM to 06:00 PM |
|
|
Bachelor of Design (NLEA) |
GAT |
10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon |
|
Bachelor of Fashion Technology |
GAT |
10:00 AM to 01:00 PM |
|
Bachelor of Fashion Technology (NLEA) |
GAT |
10:00 AM to 01:00 PM |
|
Bachelor of Fashion Technology and Bachelor of Design |
GAT |
10:00 AM to 01:00 PM |
|
CAT |
03:00 PM to 06:00 PM |
|
|
Master of Design |
GAT |
10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon |
|
CAT |
03:00 PM to 06:00 PM |
|
|
Master of Fashion Management |
GAT |
10:00 AM to 01:00 PM |
|
Master of Fashion Management and Master of Design |
GAT |
10:00 AM to 01:00 PM |
|
CAT |
03:00 PM to 06:00 PM |
|
|
Master of Fashion Technology |
GAT |
10:00 AM to 01:00 PM |
Shift Details for UG Courses
Check out the timing for UG Exams for NIFT B.Des and NIFT B.F.Tech.
|
Programmes |
Test |
Examination Time |
|---|---|---|
|
Bachelor of Design |
GAT |
10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon |
|
CAT |
03:00 PM to 06:00 PM |
|
|
Bachelor of Design (NLEA) |
GAT |
10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon |
|
Bachelor of Fashion Technology |
GAT |
10:00 AM to 01:00 PM |
|
Bachelor of Fashion Technology (NLEA) |
GAT |
10:00 AM to 01:00 PM |
|
Bachelor of Fashion Technology and Bachelor of Design |
GAT |
10:00 AM to 01:00 PM |
|
CAT |
03:00 PM to 06:00 PM |
NIFT Exam Application Form 2026
The application form for NIFT 2026 was available for NIFT B.Des, NIFT M.Des, and NIFT B.F.Tech, NIFT M.F.Tech, and NIFT M.F.M programs. When filling out the form, the candidate has the option to select their program of study.
NIFT Application was open from December 8, 2025, to January 16, 2026, without late fine. Applications can also be submitted with late penalties of INR 5,000 until Jan 17-19, 2026.
Steps To Fill the NIFT Application Form
Follow the steps outlined below to fill out the application form.
- Step 1: Navigate to the NIFT admission portal and click on the "Registration" link.
- Step 2: A signup form will open. Enter your name, email address, phone number, and any pertinent information.
- Step 3: Upon registration, an applicant account will be generated.
- Step 4: Log in to complete the remainder of the form and choose a test centre.
- Upload documents.
- Step 5: Finally, pay the application cost to finalise the procedure.
Read This:
NIFT Application Form Correction Window
The correction window was open from January 20 to 21, 2026. The NIFT 2026 application correction window allows the candidate to make changes to any of the information in the form except the mobile number and email ID. Once the correction window closes, no additional changes to the application form will be permitted.
NIFT Eligibility Criteria 2026
The National Institute of Fashion Technology provides the following design courses: B.Des, M.Des, B.F.Tech, M.F.Tech, and M.F.M. The NIFT 2026 eligibility requirements are unique to each of these courses.
This implies that if you want to apply to the B.Des program, you must meet its special qualifying requirements. The candidate's eligibility status will be reviewed during the NIFT 2026 counselling and seat allocation process. As a result, if you provide false information to prove your eligibility, you risk being disqualified.
The following table shows the program-specific eligibility criteria for NIFT 2026.
|
Course |
Specialization |
NIFT Eligibility Criteria |
Years |
|
Bachelor of Design (B.Des) |
Accessory Design |
Class 10+2 from a recognised Board of Education. |
4 |
|
Fashion Communication |
|||
|
Fashion Design |
|||
|
Knitwear Design |
|||
|
Leather Design |
|||
|
Textile Design |
|||
|
Bachelor of Fashion Technology (B.F.Tech) |
Apparel Production |
Class 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics from a recognised Board of Education. |
4 |
|
Master of Design (M.Des.) |
Master of Design |
Bachelor's degree from any institute recognised by law in India or an undergraduate A diploma of a minimum of 3 years duration in UG Design from National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) or the National Institute of Design (NID). |
2 |
|
Master of Fashion Management (M.F.M) |
Master of Fashion Management |
Bachelor's degree from any institute recognised by law in India or an undergraduate A diploma of a minimum of 3 years duration in UG Design from National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) or National Institute of Design (NID). |
2 |
|
Master of Fashion Technology (M.F.Tech.) |
Master of Fashion Technology |
Bachelor of Fashion Technology from National Institute of Fashion Technology or Bachelor of Engineering (B.E )/ Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) from any Institute recognized by law in India. |
2 |
NIFT Exam Pattern 2026
Candidates taking the NIFT 2026 exam should refer to the exam format to prepare. The exam pattern will provide significant information regarding the exam, such as question kinds, number of questions asked, total and sectional questions, weightage, and so on.
Here is the NIFT 2026 exam pattern for written exams and Situation Test/PI.
|
Particulars |
Highlights |
|
Exam Mode |
Offline i.e., Pen & Paper Based Test |
|
Type of Questions |
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
|
Medium of Exam |
English |
|
Exam Duration |
2 Hours (B.Des & M.Des) 3 Hours for B.F.Tech, MFM & M.F.Tech |
|
Negative Marks |
No Negative Marking |
Read More:
NIFT Exam Syllabus 2026
The NIFT entrance exam syllabus includes themes covered in exams such as the Creative Ability Test (CAT), General Ability Test (GAT), Performance Round, Situation Test, Group Discussion, and Personal Interview Round. It is critical to understand the details of the NIFT 2026 syllabus before studying for the test.
The entrance exam comprises two main tests:
1. General Ability Test (GAT)
The GAT is mandatory for all NIFT programs and typically consists of objective-type Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
|
Section |
Focus and Core Topics |
|
Quantitative Ability |
Basic mathematical ability, including: Addition, Multiplication, Division, Fractions, Percentage, Rate of Interest, Work and Task, Ratio and Proportion, and Distance. |
|
Communication Ability & English Comprehension |
Language and communication skills, including: Synonyms, Antonyms, Idioms and Phrases, One-word Substitutes, Correct Spellings, Grammar (singular/plural, etc.), and Reading Comprehension passages. |
|
Analytical and Logical Ability |
Inference, logic, and reasoning from given information. This evaluates the ability to identify a problem and apply reasoning to solve it. |
|
General Knowledge and Current Affairs |
Awareness of current events and general knowledge, especially in areas like the fashion industry, Indian heritage, art, culture, brands, and logos. |
|
Case Study (Applicable to M.F.Tech, M.F.M., and M.Des) |
Based on a situation in an industry environment, designed to evaluate managerial and problem-solving ability. |
2. Creative Ability Test (CAT)
The CAT is mandatory for B.Des and M.Des programs and is designed to evaluate a candidate's creative and artistic aptitude.
|
Parameter |
Description of Assessment |
|
Intuitive Ability & Observation Power |
The capacity to observe, analyse, and intuit concepts from a design perspective. |
|
Conceptual Knowledge & Design Ability |
Creative thinking, originality in design, developing ideas from scratch, and an understanding of design principles. |
|
Use of Colours & Illustration |
Ability to use colours effectively and innovatively, illustration skills, and developing new ideas through drawing and imagination. |
|
Drawing Skills |
Includes line drawings, composition, light and shadows, perspective, proportion, and memory drawing. |
NIFT Exam Admit Card 2026
The National Testing Agency (NTA) will release the NIFT 2026 admit card for Stage 1 during the first week of February 2026. Candidates who have completed the application process can access their admission cards via the official NIFT website by inputting their application number and date of birth.
The NTA will publish the NIFT Admit Card for Stage 2 on its official website in the first week of June 2026. The exam is scheduled to take place at 26 centres across 18 cities in the country. The NIFTEE Stage 2 Situation Test is expected to be held in the second week of June 2026.
How to Download NIFT Admit Card
The steps for downloading the NIFT Admit Card are:
- Navigate to the NIFT admission portal.
- Click the admit card link.
- A login window will appear.
- Enter your NIFT 2026 application number and date of birth.
- After successfully logging in, you can download the admit card.
NIFT City Intimation Slip 2026
NTA has issued the NIFT city intimation slip 2026 on January 29, 2026 for Stage 1. To obtain the intimation slip, you must enter your application number and birth date. The intimation slip includes the name of the city assigned to the candidate, as well as other information such as the application number and examination date. It is important to note that once a city has been allocated, it cannot be changed. The intimation slip is not required to be presented on the exam day.
| Particulars | Link |
| NIFT 2026 City Intimation Slip Download Link | Click Here |
The City Intimation Slip for the Stage 2 Examination of NIFT 2026 will be available in the final week of May (tentative). Students should keep in mind that this is not their Admit Card. The City Intimation Slip solely tells candidates about the city where their examination will be held, allowing them to arrange their travel in advance.
NIFT Answer Key 2026
National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) released the provisional NIFT 2026 answer key on the NTA admissions portal on Feb 17, 2026. Candidates can use the answer key to compute the number of right tries, followed by the predicted score. Challenges to the draft key will also be allowed.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has also prpvided an objection window for the NIFT 2026 admission exam. Candidates can challenge the provisional answer key and raise their objection. Objections can be lodged for a non-refundable charge of around INR 200 per objection. The final answer key for NIFT 2026 will be provided after considering the candidates' comments.
NIFT Result 2026
The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) 2026 entrance exam results for Stage 1 are likely to be released in the last week of April 2026. The NTA announces the results of the NIFT online at the NTA NIFT admittance webpage. Candidates will not receive hard copies of their results. Also, the written exam scores (Stage 1) will not be used for admission. Its sole purpose is to shortlist candidates for the subsequent admission round.
The NIFTEE Final Results (Stage 2) for UG and PG Programmes are likely to be published on official websites in the last week of June 2026. The NTA NIFT Final Results will be followed by NIFT Counselling Registration and Schedule.
Steps to Check NIFT Results 2026
To verify your results, follow these instructions.
- Click on the results link.
- In the login window that appears, enter your application number and date of birth.
- When you log in, the NIFT 2026 results will be presented on the screen.
- Download and print the results.
- The NIFT 2026 scorecard will feature section and total scores, as well as qualifying status. Candidates who pass the exam are entitled to participate in a Situational Test/Personal Interview.
NIFT Counselling 2026
The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) will begin NIFT 2026 counselling after the NIFTEE 2026 Final results are announced. NIFT 2026 is planned to have three seat allocation rounds and one Spot Counselling round.
NIFT will publish seat allocation and e-counselling for undergraduate and postgraduate admissions in 2026 during the last week of June. Candidates who received a valid Common Merit Rank (CMR) in the final results would be required to register on the official NIFT counselling portal in the last week of June 2026.
Quick Facts
-
Exam was successfully held on Feb 8, 2026. -
Provisional answer key released on Feb 17, 2026. -
Objection fee is around INR 200 per objection. -
Final NIFT 2026 results expected in June 2026.