NIFT Entrance Exam 2026 – National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct NIFTEE 2026 written exams around 2nd week of Feb 2026. The written exams includes CAT and GAT papers.
GAT paper is mandatory for all courses, whereas only B.Des and M.Des applicants must take the CAT paper. GAT paper will be conducted in a computer-based mode, whereas CAT paper will be offline based. Consult the NIFTEE 2026 syllabus and exam pattern to prepare for the exam.
NTA is expected to release the detailed exam notification anytime now.
The application form of NIFTEE 2026 is expected to START in the 3rd week of November 2026.
Candidates who meet the NIFT 2026 eligibility criteria must fill out the application form before the last date. The link to apply for NIFTEE 2026 will be provided here.
Table of Contents
NIFTEE Exam 2026 – Important Dates
The admission schedule for NIFT 2026 will be given in the information brochure. You can check the tentative dates in the table below.
| Event | Dates |
| NIFT 2026 application form START date | 3rd week of November 2025 |
| Last date to submit applications | 1st week of January 2026 |
| Last date to submit applications with late fees | 2nd week of January 2026 |
| Application CORRECTION window | 2nd week of January 2026 |
| Issue of NIFT 2026 City Intimation Slip | Last week of January 2026 |
| Download NIFT 2026 admit cards | 1st week of February 2026 |
| NIFT 2026 exam date | 2nd week of February 2026 |
| Release of Answer key (will be available only for GAT paper) – Download using registered user ID and password | 3rd week of February 2026 |
| Window to submit objections against the provisional answer key | 3rd week of February 2026 |
| Declaration of NIFTEE 2026 results (Stage 1) | 4th week of April 2026 |
| NIFTEE 2026 (Stage 2) Interview Call Letter for PG Courses | 3rd week of May 2026 |
| NIFTEE 2026 (Stage 2) Admit Card for UG Courses | 1st week of June 2026 |
| Personal Interview for PG courses | May – June 2026 |
| Release of City Intimation Slip for Stage 2 (UG Courses) | 4th week of May 2026 |
| Situation Test (Regular) / Studio Test, Personal Interview & document verification (NLEA) at Test Center for UG courses | 2nd week of June 2026 |
| Declaration of FINAL Result (Online) | 4th week of June 2026 |
| Counseling | To be notified |
NIFT Entrance Exam 2026 Highlights
| Particulars | Description |
| Exam Name | NIFT Entrance Exam (NIFTEE) |
| Exam STAGES | Stage 1 – Written exams – CAT and GAT Stage 2 – Situation Test/ Personal Interview |
| Conducting Body | The written exam is conducted by the NTA. The 2nd STAGE will be conducted by the National Institute of Fashion Technology. |
| Who will conduct NIFT 2026 counseling? | The National Institute of Fashion Technology The role of the NTA is limited to the conduct of NIFT 2026 written exams and declaration of results. |
| Frequency of exam | Annual |
| Number of Attempts | There is no limit on the number of attempts. |
| Courses offered | B.Des, M.Des, M.F.M, B.F.Tech, M.F.Tech |
| Application fee | INR 3,000 |
| Mode of application | Online |
| Application form START date | November 2025 |
| Exam date | 2nd week of February 2026 |
| Participating NIFTs | 19 |
| Combined seat intake | Regular: All India Seats – 4392 State Domicile – 445 Grand Total = 4837 |
| NIFT Preparation | Key Resource to Prepare for NIFT Entrance Exam |
| Download Here | NIFT 2025 – Prospectus NIFT 2025 – Information Bulletin NIFT 2025 – Admission Guidelines |
| NIFT 2026 Official Website | nift.ac.in/admission exams.nta.ac.in/NIFT/ |
| Available Seats | NIFT 2025 – Seat Matrix |
| Useful resources | NIFT Cut-off – Institute-wise Opening & Closing Ranks, How is Cut-off Prepared |
NIFT Application Form 2026
The application form of NIFTEE 2026 is likely to open in the 3rd week of November 2025.
. Eligible candidates had to apply following the link that was provided on this page.
Note that the NIFT application form must be filled online.
You can select your academic program when filling out the form. NIFT entrance exam is conducted for admission to the following courses- B.Des, M.Des, B.F.Tech, M.F.Tech, and M.F.M.
How to fill out NIFT Application Form 2026
The NIFT 2025 application form had to be filled online. Follow the steps given below to register for the exam:
- Go to the NIFT exam portal – exams.nta.ac.in/NIFT
- If the application form is open, the “Registration” link will be activated
- Click on the link to open the registration form.
- You will have to enter details like your name, email ID, and phone number in the form.
- On registration, your applicant account will be created.
- Log in to fill in academic, personal, and contact details.
- Select an exam center from the drop-down menu.
- Next, upload documents per the given format.
- Finally, complete the application process by paying the application fee.
NIFT 2026 Application Form – Document Checklist
| Document | Description |
| Photograph | Upload a recently scanned passport-size color photograph File size – File size should be no more than 100KB. Format – jpeg only |
| Signature | The scanned signature should be in Blue/Black ink on a white background. File size – File size should be no more than 100KB. Format – jpeg only |
NIFT 2026 Application Fees
The applicant will have to pay the NIFT application fee 2026 online using credit card, debit card, or net banking.
| Category | NIFT 2026 Application Fee (non-refundable) |
| General/OBC (Non-Creamy)/GEN-EWS Category | INR 3,000 |
| SC/ ST/ PwD Category | INR 1,500 |
Also Read:
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- NID Interview Question With Answers 2026 – Common Questions Asked, Prep Tips, How to Answer
NIFT Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026
The program-wise NIFT 2026 eligibility criteria is given in the tables below.
NIFT Eligibility Criteria 2026 – UG Courses
| NIFT 2026 Eligibility Criteria | ||
| Program | B.Des | B.F.Tech |
| Age | The candidate must be less than 24 years old as of August 1 of the admission year. SC, ST, and PwD candidates are eligible for 5-year relaxation in Upper Age Limit. | The candidate must be less than 24 years old as of August 1 of the admission year. SC, ST, and PwD candidates are eligible for 5-year relaxation in Upper Age Limit. |
| Academic Eligibility | Passed 10+2 exam. OR Cleared Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Open School with a minimum of five subjects. OR Obtained a 3 or 4-year diploma recognized by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education. OR Passed any Public School/ Board/ University Examination in India or in foreign countries recognized by the Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to a 10+2 system OR General Certificate Education (GCE) Examination (London/ Cambridge/ Sri-Lanka) at the Advanced (A) level/ International Baccalaureate | Passed 10+2 exam. Or, A passing grade in the Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Open School with a minimum of five subjects. Or, Any Public School/Board/University Examination in India or in foreign countries recognized by the Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to the 10+2 system. Or, General Certificate Education (GCE) Examination (London/Cambridge/Sri-Lanka) at the Advanced (A) level/ International Baccalaureate (IB). |
NIFT Eligibility Criteria 2026 – PG Courses
| Parameter | M.Des and M.F.M courses | M.F.Tech. course |
| Number of attempts | No limit. | No limit. |
| Age limit | There is no age bar. | There is no age limit. |
| Academic Qualification | The candidate must have passed a UG Degree in any discipline from any Institute / University recognized by law in India or UG Diploma of minimum three years duration from NIFT / NID. | B.F.Tech. from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) or B.E / B.Tech. from any Institute / University recognized by law in India. |
NIFT 2026 Situation Test and Interview
Candidates will be shortlisted for the Situation Test/ Interview based on NIFT 2026 written exam scores.
B.Des candidates who get shortlisted must appear in a Situation Test. Those opting for B.Des (NLEA) scheme must appear in a Studio Test and Personal Interview. Meanwhile, B.F.Tech. (NLEA) for candidates, a Technical Ability Test (TAT) and Personal Interview is conducted. The TAT will be in paper-based (OMR) format.
PG candidates had to appear in a Personal Interview.
Read here how to prepare for the NIFT 2026 Situation Test. Also, download sample papers to practice for the NIFT Situation Test.
Meanwhile, PG applicants may go through the preparation tips for the NIFT 2026 personal interview.
Also Read:
- How to Prepare for NIFT Personal Interview – Dress Code, Skill Tested, Questions Asked
- How to Prepare for NIFT Situation Test – TEN Easy Tips, Model Making, Material Handling
NIFT Admit Card 2026
NTA will released the admit card for NIFTEE 2026 (Stage 1) in the 1st week of February 2026. The link to download the admit card will be given here.
The NIFT admit card 2026 will carry details like exam date and timings, roll number, name and address of the allotted NIFT 2026 exam center, and exam-day guidelines.
The candidate needs to bring the NIFT 2026 admit card and photo ID proof on the day of the exam.
How to download the NIFT admit card 2026
- Go to the NIFT 2026 admission portal
- Click on the admit card download link
- Enter your application number and date of birth in the log-in window
- Download the admit card
Documents required for appearing in NIFT 2026
The candidate will need the following documents for appearing in the NIFT 2026 exam.
- NIFT 2026 admit card
- A valid photo ID proof.
NIFT 2026 City Intimation Slip
NTA will release the NIFT 2026 city intimation slip around the last week of January 2026. The city intimation slip is typically released a few days before the release of the NIFT admit card.
The city intimation slip is released to notify the candidate about the exam city they have been allocated.
Requests for a change in the NIF 2026 exam city is not entertained. However, if the candidate has been allocated a wrong exam city, they must contact exam officials and get it rectified.
Will the NIFT 2026 exam city be accepted as entry document?
The city intimation slip will not be considered as an alternative to the NIFT 2026 admit card. This means, if you bring the NIFT City Intimation Slip, you can’t take the NIFT 2026 exam. You need the admit card for appearing in the exam.
NIFT Exam Center 2026
NTA will conduct the NIFTEE 2026 written exams in 82 cities across India. The list of exam centers will be intimated through the NIFTEE 2026 Information Bulletin. The candidate can select their choice of exam city when filling out the NIFT 2026 application form. Note that you can’t directly select an exam center.
The allotment of NIFTEE 2026 exam centers will be based on the city option selected by the candidate and their address.
An exam city can have one or more exam centers.
The details pertaining to the allocated exam center will be mentioned on the NIFT admit card 2026.
NOTE that separate admit cards will be released for the NIFTEE 2026 (Stage 2) exam, which comprises the Situation Test /Personal Interview (PI). The Situation Test/ PI will be conducted in various NIFT campuses. The candidate will have to select their choice of campuses once the choice-filling window opens.
NIFT 2026 Exam City
| S. No. | State | City | |
| 1 | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | Port Blair | |
| 2 | Andhra Pradesh | Kurnool | |
| 3 | Andhra Pradesh | Vijayawada | |
| 4 | Andhra Pradesh | Visakhapatnam | |
| 5 | Andhra Pradesh | Rajahmundry | |
| 6 | Andhra Pradesh | Tirupathi | |
| 7 | Arunachal Pradesh | Naharlagun | |
| 8 | Assam | Guwahati | |
| 9 | Bihar | Muzaffarpur | |
| 10 | Bihar | Patna | |
| 11 | Chandigarh | Chandigarh/Mohali | |
| 12 | Chhattisgarh | Raipur | |
| 13 | Chhattisgarh | Jagdalpur | |
| 14 | Dadra & Nagar Haveli | Silvassa | |
| 15 | Delhi | Delhi NCR | |
| 16 | Goa | Mapusa | |
| 17 | Gujarat | Ahmedabad/ Gandhinagar | |
| 18 | Gujarat | Rajkot | |
| 19 | Gujarat | Surat | |
| 20 | Gujarat | Anand | |
| 21 | Gujarat | Gandhinagar | |
| 22 | Gujarat | Mehsana | |
| 23 | Haryana | Hisar | |
| 24 | Haryana | Kurukshetra | |
| 25 | Himachal Pradesh | Bilaspur Hp | |
| 26 | Himachal Pradesh | Kangra | |
| 27 | Jammu And Kashmir | Jammu | |
| 28 | Jammu And Kashmir | Srinagar | |
| 29 | Jharkhand | Dhanbad | |
| 30 | Jharkhand | Ranchi | |
| 31 | Karnataka | Bengaluru | |
| 32 | Karnataka | Mysuru (Mysore) | |
| 33 | Karnataka | Mangalore (Mangalore) | |
| 34 | Kerala | Ernakulam | |
| 35 | Kerala | Kannur | |
| 36 | Kerala | Kozhikode | |
| 37 | Kerala | Kollam | |
| 38 | Kerala | Kottayam | |
| 39 | Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram | |
| 40 | Kerala | Thrissur | |
| 41 | Ladakh | Leh / Kargil | |
| 42 | Lakshadweep | Kavaratti | |
| 43 | Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal | |
| 44 | Madhya Pradesh | Jabalpur | |
| 45 | Madhya Pradesh | Gwalior | |
| 46 | Madhya Pradesh | Satna | |
| 47 | Madhya Pradesh | Ujjain | |
| 48 | Maharashtra | Mumbai / Thane | |
| 49 | Maharashtra | Nagpur | |
| 50 | Maharashtra | Pune | |
| 51 | Maharashtra | Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar | |
| 52 | Maharashtra | Amravati | |
| 53 | Maharashtra | Kolhapur | |
| 54 | Maharashtra | Nanded | |
| 55 | Manipur | Imphal | |
| 56 | Meghalaya | Shillong | |
| 57 | Mizoram | Aizawl | |
| 58 | Nagaland | Kohima | |
| 59 | Odisha | Berhampur-Ganjam | |
| 60 | Odisha | Bhubaneswar | |
| 61 | Puducherry | Pondicherry | |
| 62 | Punjab | Ludhiana | |
| 63 | Rajasthan | Jaipur | |
| 64 | Rajasthan | Jodhpur | |
| 65 | Rajasthan | Udaipur | |
| 66 | Sikkim | Gangtok | |
| 67 | Tamil Nadu | Chennai | |
| 68 | Tamil Nadu | Coimbatore | |
| 69 | Tamil Nadu | Madurai | |
| 70 | Tamil Nadu | Salem | |
| 71 | Tamil Nadu | Tiruchirappalli | |
| 72 | Tamil Nadu | Vellore | |
| 73 | Telangana | Hyderabad | |
| 74 | Tripura | Agartala | |
| 75 | Uttar Pradesh | Meerut | |
| 76 | Uttar Pradesh | Muzaffarnagar | |
| 77 | Uttar Pradesh | Kanpur | |
| 78 | Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow | |
| 79 | Uttar Pradesh | Varanasi | |
| 80 | Uttarakhand | Dehradun | |
| 81 | Uttarakhand | Haldwani | |
| 82 | West Bengal | Kolkata | |
NIFT Exam Syllabus 2026
The NIFT exam is conducted in TWO stages.
The candidate has to 1st appear in the written exams – General Ability Test (GAT) and Creative Ability Test (CAT).
If shortlisted, the candidate can appear in a Situation Test/ Personal Interview.
Here we bring you NIFT 2026 exam syllabus for the written exams, Situation Test, and Personal Interview.
NIFT 2026 Written Exam Syllabus
| NIFT 2026 Syllabus for Written Exams | |
| GAT Test | CAT Test |
| Quantitative Ability: Addition, Multiplication, Division, Fractions, Percentage, Rate of Interest, Work, and Task, Ratio and Proportion, and Distance. English Comprehension: synonyms, antonyms, words with corresponding meanings, singular, plural, one-word substitutes, idioms and phrases, correct spellings, comprehending a situation from a given passage, etc. Analytical and Logical Ability General Knowledge and Current Affairs Communication Ability | The CAT test will evaluate a candidate’s intuitive ability, power of observation, concept development, and design ability. An important aspect of the test is the creative and innovative use of color and illustration skills.The candidate is not allowed to reveal his or her identity by marking the answer sheet. |
NIFT Exam Pattern 2026
The candidate must refer to the updated exam pattern of NIFT 2026 when preparing for the exam. This is because exam officials may decide to change tweak some elements to make the exam more contemporary.
That being said the candidate can follow the current exam pattern. If and when the updated NIFT 2026 exam pattern is released, it will be updated here.
NIFT Exam Pattern 2026 – B.Des, B.F.Tech
| Program | B.Des | B.F.Tech | NIFT Exam Pattern 2026 – B.Des, B.F.Tech | |
| Paper | GAT | GAT – Section A | GAT – Section B | Section A (2 hrs) + Section B (1 hrs) + CAT (3 hrs) |
| Mode of exam | CBT | CBT | CBT | |
| Language | English/ Hindi | English/ Hindi | English/ Hindi | |
| Test Duration | 120 minutes | 120 minutes | 60 minutes | |
| Sections | Number of Questions | Number of Questions | Number of Questions | |
| Communication Ability & English Comprehension | 40 | 40 | NA | |
| Quantitative Ability | 20 | 20 | 15 | |
| Analytical and Logical Ability | 15 | 15 | 15 | |
| General Knowledge and Current Affairs | 25 | 25 | NA | |
| Case Study | NA | NA | 20 | |
| TOTAL | 100 | 100 | 50 | |
NIFT Exam Components & Weightage 2026
The program-wise test components and weightage for the NIFT 2026 exam is given in the table below.
| Program | Test | Weightage |
| Bachelor of Design (BDes) | CAT | 50% |
| GAT | 30% | |
| Situation Test | 20% | |
| Bachelor of Fashion Technology (BFTech) | GAT (Sec –A) | 30% |
| GAT (Sec –B) | 70% | |
| B. F.Tech candidates opting for B.Des | GAT | 30% |
| CAT | 50% | |
| Situation Test | 20% | |
| Master of Design (MDes) | CAT | 40% |
| GAT | 30% | |
| Personal Interview | 30% | |
| Master of Fashion Technology (MFTech) | GAT | 70% |
| Personal Interview | 30% | |
| Master of Fashion Management (MFM) | GAT | 70% |
| Personal Interview | 30% | |
| M.F.M candidates opting for M.Des | GAT | 30% |
| CAT | 40% | |
| Personal Interview | 30% |
NIFT Answer Key 2026
The NTA will release the provisional answer key of NIFT 2026 within a few days of the exam. The candidate will also be allowed to submit objections against the provisional key.
Here are a few key points related to the NIFTEE 2026 Answer Key
- The answers key is released ONLY for the GAT paper.
- Also, the answer keys are released program-wise
- The answer key contains the official keys (or answers) to questions asked in the NIFT 2026 GAT paper.
- NTA also has released the NIFT 2026 question paper and the candidate’s recorded responses.
- Using the answer key in tandem with the question paper and recorded responses, the candidate will be able to calculate probable scores.
- This score will give the candidate a fair idea of them being shortlisted for the Situation Test/ Personal Interview.
- Challenge the provisional key – The candidate can challenge a key (keys) through the given portal on payment of ₹ 200/- (Rupees Two Hundred Only) per question.
- FINAL answer key – The final answer key will be prepared after considering candidate feedback. Note that no individual candidate will be informed about the acceptance or non- acceptance of his/her challenge. The keys finalized by experts after the settlement of the challenge will be final.
Preparation of results – The final answer key will be consulted for evaluating the GAT answer sheets.
NIFT 2026 Result
NTA will declared the results of the NIFT 2026 written exams in April 2026. The results will be released online at exams.nta.ac.in/NIFT. Check NIFTEE 2026 results using your application number and date of birth.
Candidates will be shortlisted in the ratio of 1:4 (one seat: four candidates), category-wise for the next round, which comprises the Situation Test/ PI. NIFT 2026 Stage 1 result will include details like sectional and overall score, merit ranks, and the qualifying status.
NIFT 2026 (Stage 2) results will be declared in June 2026.
How to Check NIFT 2026 Results
- Go to the NIFT 2026 admission portal – Click Here
- Click on the result link
- In the log-in window that opens, enter your application number and date of birth
- On log-in, you can view NIFT 2026 results
NIFT Seat Matrix 2026
The seat matrix for the NIFTEE exam is given below.
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