LATEST UPDATE 2026

The latest update for the NIFT 2026 entrance exam is that the registration process has begun, with applications being accepted online through the official NTA portal. This year, the number of exam centers has been expanded to 102 cities, including newly added locations such as Vapi (Gujarat) and Daman, to make the exam more accessible for students. The application deadline has been extended, giving candidates more time to apply and correct their details if needed. Admit cards are expected to be released in January 2026, and the entrance exam (GAT and CAT) is scheduled to be held in February 2026. After the exam, the answer key and results will be released in March–April 2026, followed by further stages such as the Situation Test for design programs and final merit list publication. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official website for any notifications or changes in dates and procedures.

IMPORTANT DATES

The NIFT 2026 admission schedule is expected to follow the usual timeline, with the online application process likely to begin in mid-September 2025 and continue until early October 2025, followed by a correction window in October. The admit cards are expected to be released in January 2026, and the NIFT entrance exam (GAT and CAT) will be conducted in February 2026. The answer keys are likely to be released in March 2026, followed by the results in March–April 2026. For design programs, the Situation Test or Studio Test is expected in April–May 2026, after which the final merit list and cutoffs will be announced in May 2026. The counselling and seat allotment process is expected to begin in June 2026, subject to official notifications.

PROGRAMS OFFERED

The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) offers a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in design, technology, and management.

At the undergraduate level, students can apply for B.Des (Bachelor of Design) in specializations such as Fashion Design, Leather Design, Accessory Design, Textile Design, Knitwear Design, and Fashion Communication, as well as B.F.Tech (Bachelor of Fashion Technology).

For postgraduate courses, NIFT offers M.Des (Master of Design) in several design domains, M.F.Tech (Master of Fashion Technology) for advanced fashion technology studies, and M.F.M (Master of Fashion Management) for fashion business and management.

Admission to these programs is through the NIFT entrance exam, which includes GAT (General Ability Test) and CAT (Creative Ability Test), along with additional stages such as the Situation Test or Studio Test for design courses, depending on the program applied for.

TOP COLLEGES & SEATS

The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) has a network of 16 campuses across India, offering quality education in design, technology, and management.

Some of the top NIFT campuses include New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Gandhinagar, and Bhubaneswar, which are highly preferred by students due to better faculty, infrastructure, and placement opportunities.

The seat distribution varies by program and campus, with popular design programs like B.Des and M.Des having around 30–60 seats per specialization in each campus, while technology and management programs such as B.F.Tech, M.F.Tech, and M.F.M have 20–50 seats per course depending on demand.

The total number of seats across all NIFT campuses is usually limited, making competition high, and admissions are granted based on combined scores of GAT, CAT, and Situation/Studio Test where applicable. Students are advised to choose campuses carefully considering specialization, placement records, and personal preference.

HOW TO APPLY

Candidates can apply for the NIFT 2026 entrance exam through the online application process conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The application form is available on the official NTA admission portal during the registration period.

First, candidates need to register online by providing basic details such as name, date of birth, email ID, and mobile number. After successful registration, a unique application number and login credentials are generated.

Next, candidates must fill in the detailed application form, which includes personal information, academic qualifications, program preference (B.Des, M.Des, B.F.Tech, M.F.Tech, or M.F.M), and selection of preferred exam cities.

After filling in the details, candidates are required to upload scanned copies of documents, including a recent passport-size photograph, signature, and category or disability certificate (if applicable), as per the prescribed format and size.

Once the documents are uploaded, candidates must pay the application fee online using debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI. The fee varies according to category and program. After successful payment, candidates should submit the application form and download or print the confirmation page for future reference.

Candidates are advised to carefully review all details before final submission, as corrections are allowed only during the official correction window announced by NTA.

1. Registration: Candidate follow the below-mentioned steps to complete registration process for NIFT:

STEP 1 – Visit the official website

STEP 2 –  Fill in the details like candidates name, DOB, reserved category details, valid email- id, select the program from the drop-down.

STEP 3 – Candidates email id and Date of Birth will be used for login.

STEP 4 – Login with the details of email id and DOB to fill up NIFT Application Form.

STEP 5 – Enter the details of the verification code and click on “Submit” button.

STEP 6 – Enter other relevant details like examination center preference, parent’s details, gender, nationality, academic details, address and contact information.

2. Upload Photograph, Signature & Certificates:   In the next step, candidates are required to upload the scanned images of photograph, signature,Provisional certificate,Category certificate. The specifications for uploading are given below:

3. Filling up the NIFT application form: In this part, candidates are required to enter their educational qualification,NIFT exam centres, choices of participating banks, languages, etc.
4. Fee payment: The payment can be done by using debit cards/credit cards, internet banking, IMPS, cash cards/mobile wallets.
5. Print the Confirmation page: On successful completion of the transaction, an e-receipt is generated. Candidates can take a printout of the e-receipt and online NIFT application form.

Application Fees

EXAM CENTERS

The NIFT Entrance Exam is conducted across multiple cities in India to ensure easy accessibility for candidates from different regions. During the application process, candidates are required to select their preferred exam cities. The final exam center is allotted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) based on availability and administrative considerations.

NIFT exam centers are usually located in major metropolitan cities, state capitals, and prominent educational hubs. Some commonly allotted cities include Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Patna, Bhopal, Indore, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Shillong, Dehradun, Jammu, Srinagar, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Coimbatore, Madurai, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Raipur, Nagpur, Pune, Aurangabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Udaipur, Jodhpur, and several others.

The exact exam center address, reporting time, and exam shift details are mentioned on the NIFT Admit Card. Candidates are advised to visit the exam location a day in advance, if possible, to avoid last-minute confusion. Requests for changing the exam center after allotment are generally not entertained, so candidates should choose their preferred cities carefully during registration. 

For NIFT 2026, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has expanded the number of examination cities. Two new cities — Vapi (in Gujarat) and Daman (in the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu) — have been added to the list of exam centres. This increases the total number of cities where the NIFT examination will be held to 102 across India.

These additions aim to reduce travel burden and improve convenience for candidates in those regions. Students who have already applied can change their chosen exam city to one of these new centres during the official application correction window.

ADMISSION TO THE EXAMINATION CENTERS

1. The Examination Centre will be opened two hours before the commencement of the test. Therefore, candidates must ensure that they leave home well in advance considering all facts like traffic, location of the Centre, weather conditions, etc. Candidates are expected to take their seats immediately after the opening of the Examination Hall.
2. The candidate must show, on-demand, the Admit Card for admission in the Examination Hall. A candidate who does not possess a valid Admit Card shall not be allowed to enter the Examination Hall by the Centre Superintendent.
3. A seat with a roll number will be allotted to each candidate. Candidates must find out and occupy their allotted seats. If a candidate is found appearing in the Examination from a seat or room other than the allotted one, the candidature shall be cancelled.
4. During the examination time, the Invigilator will check Admit Card of the candidates to ascertain the identity of each candidate. The Invigilators will also put their own signature in the place provided in the Answer Sheet and on the Attendance Sheet.
5. A candidate who comes late shall not be permitted to enter the Examination Centre under any circumstances.

ADMIT CARD

The NIFT Admit Card is a mandatory document that candidates must carry to the examination centre. It is released online by the National Testing Agency (NTA) a few days before the NIFT entrance exam. Candidates can download the admit card from the official NTA website by logging in with their application number and date of birth.

The admit card contains important details such as the candidate’s name, roll number, photograph, signature, exam date, exam timing, reporting time, exam centre address, and exam instructions. Candidates are advised to carefully check all the details mentioned on the admit card and immediately report any discrepancy to the authorities.

On the day of the exam, candidates must carry a printed copy of the admit card along with a valid photo ID proof (such as Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport, or Driving Licence). Entry to the examination hall is strictly not allowed without the admit card. Candidates should also follow all instructions mentioned on the admit card, including reporting time, dress code (if any), and items permitted or prohibited inside the exam hall.

Given below are the steps that the students need to follow to download NIFT Admit Card.

STEP 1 – Go to the official website

STEP 2 – Click on the admit card link.

STEP 3 – Enter any the following credentials:Email ID, Password.

STEP 4 – Click on Submit.

STEP 5 – The admit card will automatically be downloaded to your system.

STEP 6 – Check the details printed on the NIFT admit card.

EXAM RESULTS

The NIFT entrance exam results are usually declared a few weeks after the exam and release of the answer key. The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), through the National Testing Agency (NTA), publishes the results on the official NTA website. Candidates can check their individual scores, section-wise marks, and qualifying status online by entering their application number and date of birth.

Given below are the detailed steps to check NIFT Results.

STEP 1 – Go to the official website

STEP 2 – Click on the result link given above

STEP 3 – Next, click on the Applicant “Sign In” option

STEP 4 – A login window will open. Enter the following details: Email Address, Password.

STEP 5 – The result of NIFT would be displayed on screen.

STEP 6 – Take a printout of it and keep it safely for further use.

COULSELLING & CUTOFFS

After the NIFT entrance exam results are declared, candidates who meet the qualifying cutoffs are called for the counselling process. The cutoffs are released separately for each program and category (General, OBC, SC/ST/PwD) and indicate the minimum score required to be eligible for the next stage or admission. For design programs like B.Des and M.Des, cutoffs are based on the combined score of GAT, CAT, and Situation/Studio Test, while for technology and management programs such as B.F.Tech, M.F.Tech, and M.F.M, cutoffs are primarily based on GAT scores.

The counselling process is usually conducted online or at designated NIFT campuses. Candidates are called according to their merit rank and are required to submit documents for verification, including educational certificates, category or PwD certificates (if applicable), and identity proof. During counselling, candidates also select campuses and programs based on availability of seats. The final allotment is made based on rank, category, and seat availability. It is important for candidates to attend counselling on time and carry all required documents, as failure to do so may result in forfeiture of admission.

CUTOFFS

NIFT Cutoffs – Last 2 Years (2024 & 2025)

2024 Cutoffs (General Category) – B.Des (Round 5 / Final)
At top campuses, the closing ranks were approximately:
NIFT Delhi: Fashion Design ~160, Fashion Communication ~48, Accessory ~223
NIFT Mumbai: Fashion Design ~191, Fashion Communication ~79
NIFT Hyderabad: Fashion Design ~452, Fashion Communication ~472
NIFT Bengaluru: Fashion Design ~520, Fashion Communication ~113?

2025 Cutoffs (General Category) – B.Des (Final / Seat Allotment)
From the closing ranks in Round 2/Final:
NIFT Delhi: ~92
NIFT Mumbai: ~133
NIFT Bengaluru: ~135
NIFT Hyderabad: ~426
NIFT Chennai: ~371
NIFT Gandhinagar: ~224
NIFT Kolkata: ~596
NIFT Bhubaneswar: ~1002
NIFT Patna: ~1196
NIFT Kannur: ~814?

Other data shows similar trends where top campuses like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru had much lower (more competitive) closing ranks, while newer campuses had higher closing ranks.

Expected Cutoffs for NIFT 2026 (General Category)

Based on trends and expert estimations, the expected closing ranks for various campuses in NIFT 2026 (General Category) are likely to be:

NIFT Delhi: ~50–100?
NIFT Mumbai: ~100–200
NIFT Bengaluru: ~200–350
NIFT Hyderabad: ~350–500
NIFT Chennai: ~500–700
NIFT Kolkata: ~700–900
NIFT Gandhinagar: ~900–1200
NIFT Patna: ~1200–1500
NIFT Bhubaneswar: ~1500+?

Another estimate suggests for the B.Des program overall on average:
Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru will have more competitive (lower) ranks,
and campuses with larger seat availability or newer campuses may have higher (less competitive) ranks.

Key Notes on Cutoffs

Cutoffs are usually based on final merit list ranks, after combining GAT, CAT, and Situation Test where applicable.
Lower rank = better score / more competitive (e.g., rank 50 is more competitive than rank 500).
Different specializations/courses (Fashion Communication, Accessory Design, etc.) have different cutoffs within the same campus.
Cutoffs can vary year to year based on exam difficulty, number of applicants, and seat availability.