NIFT Syllabus 2025 – NTA is responsible for drafting the syllabus for NIFT 2025. The syllabus is outlined in the NIFT 2025 information brochure.
Questions in the NIFT 2025 exam are asked only from the official syllabus.
So, candidates need to follow the syllabus for exam preparation. The syllabus includes the section-wise topics that candidates need to prepare for the NIFT exam.
Note that the NIFT syllabus 2025 has released for all the stages of the entrance exam.
This includes the written exams (GAT and CAT), and the Situation Test/ Personal Interview.
NTA conducted the NIFT 2025 exam on Feb 9, 2025. The exam was administered in a center-based mode in 82 cities across India.
The NIFT application form 2025 is closed.
Keep reading to learn the full details of NIFT 2025 syllabus.
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Table of Contents
Stages of the NIFT 2025 Entrance Exam
Before we jump into the NIFT 2025 exam syllabus, it is important for candidates to understand the NIFT 2025 entrance exam process.
The NIFT entrance exam 2025 is conducted in TWO stages.
- The candidate 1st appears in a written exam
- If shortlisted, the candidate has to next appear in a Situation Test (B.Des)/ Personal Interview (PG courses).
The FINAL results of NIFT 2025 will be prepared by giving weightage to the written exams and Situation Test/ PI.
Note that the written exams comprise a Creative Ability Test (CAT) and General Ability Test (GAT).
B.Des and M.Des candidates need to appear in both the CAT and GAT, whereas B.F.Tech, M.F.Tech, and M.F.M candidates only need to take the GAT.
NIFT 2025 – Program-wise Test Components, Weightage
| Programme | Test | Weightage |
| Bachelor of Design (BDes) | CAT | 50% |
| GAT | 30% | |
| Situation Test | 20% | |
| Bachelor of Fashion Technology (BFTech) | GAT | 100% |
| Master of Design (MDes) | CAT | 40% |
| GAT | 30% | |
| GD/PI | 30% | |
| Master of Fashion Technology (MFTech) | GAT | 70% |
| GD/PI | 30% | |
| Master of Fashion Management (MFM) | GAT | 70% |
| GD/PI | 30% |
NTA will notify the NIFT entrance exam syllabus 2025 through the information brochure.
Also Read:
- NIFT Acceptance Rate
- NIFT Cut-off 2025 – Download year-wise Cut-off PDF, How is Cut-off Prepared
- NIFT Eligibility Criteria 2025 – Academic Qualification, No. Of Attempts, Age Limit
NIFT Syllabus 2025 for CAT
B.Des and M.Des candidates must take the CAT (along with the GAT).
This is what the official notification says about NIFT 2025 CAT syllabus:
“This test is administered to judge the intuitive ability, power of observation, concept development and design ability of the candidate. An important aspect of the test is the creative and innovative use of color and illustration skills.
Candidates who try to disclose their identity by writing any personal details or place any identification mark on the answer sheet shall be ‘DISQUALIFIED’ and the result of these candidates shall not be declared.The decision of NIFT on such cases will be final and there will be no appeal.”
NIFT CAT Syllabus 2025 – Summary
The following skills will be evaluated during the CAT exam.
- Creative Ability
- Power of Observation
- Intuitive Abilities
- Concept development Ability
- Design Prowess
- Ability to use colors
- Illustration skills
NIFT CAT Syllabus 2025 – Important Topics
| Important topics for NIFT CAT Paper | ||
| Design Theory | Colour Terminology | Inspiration & Design Development |
| Colour Psychology & Optical Illusions | Elements & Principles Of Design | Mood, Theme & Colour Inter-relationship |
| Natural & Geometrical Form | Innovation in Design | Principles of Composition |
| Creative thinking & writing | Optical Illusion | Understanding Light & Shade |
| Visual Logic | Form & Function | Colour, Pattern & Texture |
| Design Awareness | Drawing Fundamentals | Theme Development |
| Exercises on imagination | Inspiration & Creativity | Ornaments & motifs |
| Use of Measurements, Scale & proportions | Story Pictures | Foreshortening & Perspective |
| Developing Themes & Colour Associations | Usage of Colour in Compositions | Imagination & Doodling |
| Picture Analysis | Presentation Techniques | Expression & Emotion |
| Innovation & Creation | Lateral Thinking | 3D Visualization |
| Graphics & Pictograms | Optical Illusion | Memory Drawing |
NIFT GAT Syllabus 2025 – Sections
As discussed above, the GAT paper is mandatory for all courses. Also, if you see the weightage chart given above, you will see that it carries 100% weightage for B.F.Tech, and 70% weightage for M.F.Tech and M.F.M courses.
So, the paper is of great importance for these courses.
As for the B.Des and M.Des programs it carries 30% weightage.
GAT paper (B.Des and M.Des) – Sections
The GAT paper for B.Des and M.Des will have the following sections.
- Communication Ability
- English Comprehension
- Quantitative Ability
- Analytical Ability
- General Knowledge and Current Affairs
GAT paper (B.F.Tech, M.F.Tech, and M.F.M) – Sections
Meanwhile, GAT paper for B.F.Tech, M.F.Tech, and M.F.M will include questions from the following sections.
- Communication Ability & English Comprehension
- Case Study
- Quantitative Ability
- Analytical & Logical Ability
- General Knowledge And Current Affairs
NIFT GAT Syllabus – Components of GAT (for all programs)
| Section | Skill Tested |
| Quantitative Ability | This sub-test is designed to test the quantitative ability of the candidates. The sub testconsists of questions on Addition, Multiplication, Division, Fractions, Percentage, Rate of Interest, Work and Task, Ratio and Proportion, and Distance. |
| Communication Ability and English Comprehension | This sub-test is aimed at testing the language ability of the candidates in day to day communication in English. It includes questions on synonyms, antonyms, words with corresponding meanings, singular, plural, one word substitutes, idioms and phrases, correct spellings, comprehend a situation from a given passage etc. |
| Analytical Ability and Logical Ability | This sub-test is designed to test the candidate’s capacity for inference and logic from the given information and to evaluate the candidate’s ability to identify the given problem and apply reasoning in solving the core issues of the problem. Concepts and practice of creative and lateral thinking are likely to be useful. |
| General Knowledge and Current Affairs | This sub-test is designed to test the candidate’s general knowledge and current affairs. |
| Case Study | This sub-test is based on a situation of an industry environment. It helps to evaluate the candidate’s managerial ability |
NIFT Syllabus 2025 – Situation Test
Shortlisted candidates for B.Des from the written entrance examination are required to take a Situation Test.
- The Situation Test will be a hands-on test and will evaluate the candidate’s skills for material handling and innovative ability in a given situation.
- The candidate will be provided with a given set of materials.
- Note: No additional material will be provided / allowed.
- Using the given material, the candidate will have to make a model.
Evaluation of the NIFT 2025 Situation Test
The model will be evaluated on space visualization, innovative and creative use of given material, composition of elements, color scheme, construction skill, finesse of the model and overall presentation etc. These parameters will be checked with the write up explaining the concept behind the model constructed.
Since the medium of instruction in NIFT is English, the write-up should be in English.
No marks will be given for write-up in any other language.
The use of outside/additional material in making the model/design is not permitted. Also, candidates who try to disclose their identity by writing any personal details or place any identification mark on the model/ design/write-up will be ‘DISQUALIFIED’ and the final result of these candidates will not be declared.
The evaluation of the SItuation Test will be done by the Jury on the SPOT. The model will not be preserved for future reference.
NIFT Syllabus 2025 – Group Discussion & Personal Interview (GD/PI)
Shortlisted candidates for PG courses from the written entrance examination are required to undergo Case Study based Group Discussions (GD) and Personal Interview (PI).
Group Discussion
The GD would comprise approximately 15 to 20 minutes of discussion on a given case study. A panel of experts will assess the candidates on various parameters including:
- Conceptual clarity
- Knowledge of the topic assigned
- Contribution made to the topic
- Interpersonal skills
- Ability to generate new ideas
- Problem solving approach
- Leadership qualities
- Effective communication
Personal Interview
Candidates will be evaluated on the various parameters as listed below by a panel, in the Personal Interview:
- Career orientation
- Aptness for the course
- Overall personal achievements in academics and co-curricular activities
- Communication
- General awareness and aptitude, creative and lateral thinking
NIFT GAT Syllabus 2025 – Important Topics
Here are some important topics for the GAT exam that candidates can follow to prepare for the NIFT exam.
| Section | Topics |
| English | Synonyms Antonyms Para jumbles Error spotting One word substitution Work Analogy Sentence completion |
| Numrical Ability | Ratio and Proportion Percentage Profit and loss Simple and Compound interest Average / Ratio Speed time and distance Work and Time Numbers Area, Volume and Surface Area Permutations and Combinations HCF LCM Probability Time and Work |
| GK and Current Affairs | Static GK Current GK GK related to the fashion industry |
| Logical Reasoning | Series completion Venn Diagrams Seating arrangement Statements Correct/ Incorrect Blood relations Character Puzzle Coding Decoding Data sufficiency Syllogisms Analogy Direction Sense Arithmetic reasoning Clocks and calendar |
| Communication Ability | English LanguageGrammarVocabulary and Reading skills |
NIFT CAT Syllabus 2025 – Important Topics
| Important topics for NIFT CAT Paper | ||
| Design Theory | Colour Terminology | Inspiration & Design Development |
| Colour Psychology & Optical Illusions | Elements & Principles Of Design | Mood, Theme & Colour Inter-relationship |
| Natural & Geometrical Form | Innovation in Design | Principles of Composition |
| Creative thinking & writing | Optical Illusion | Understanding Light & Shade |
| Visual Logic | Form & Function | Colour, Pattern & Texture |
| Theme Development | Drawing Fundamentals | Picture Analysis |
| Memory Drawing | Inspiration & Creativity | Ornaments & motifs |
| Use of Measurements, Scale & proportions | Optical Illusion | Foreshortening & Perspective |
| Developing Themes & Colour Associations | Usage of Colour in Compositions | Imagination & Doodling |
| 3D Visualisation | Presentation Techniques | Expression & Emotion |
| Exercises on imagination | Lateral Thinking | Story Pictures |
| Graphics & Pictograms | Innovation & Creation | Design Awarenes |
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