NIFT Entrance Exam

NIFT 2026 entrance exam was conducted in January 2026 for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes — fashion design, textile design, leather design, accessory design, knitwear design, fashion communication, fashion management, and fashion technology — at 17 NIFT campuses including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Gandhinagar. NIFT is India's premier fashion and design institution, established by the Ministry of Textiles.

There is no NIFT campus in Northeast India yet, but NIFT Kolkata and NIFT Bhubaneswar are the most accessible options for NE students. Demand for design professionals in NE India is growing in handloom and textile design — Assam silk (Muga, Eri, Pat), Naga shawls, Mizo puan, and Manipuri textiles represent a ₹500 crore+ organised sector where NIFT-educated designers can contribute to brand development, product design, and export market access.

• UG programmes: Passed Class 12 from any stream and any board
• No minimum marks requirement from NIFT for the entrance exam (college admission cutoffs apply)
• No age limit for most programmes (check specific programme guidelines)
• PG programmes: Bachelor's degree in relevant field (design, management, or technology)

Tests Required (UG Programmes)

Most UG design programmes: Creative Ability Test (CAT) + General Ability Test (GAT) Management/Technology tracks: GAT only (plus Situation Test for shortlisted candidates)

Creative Ability Test (CAT) — 3 hours | 100 marks

• Conducted at test centres using drawing materials
• Tests creativity, imagination, observation, colour theory, and design thinking
• Evaluated centrally by NIFT faculty — originality and concept quality are key
• Practise by drawing from observation, working with colour, and developing visual ideas

General Ability Test (GAT) — 2 hours | 100 marks

• Online CBT
• Sections: English Communication, Quantitative Ability, Logical Reasoning, General Knowledge and Current Affairs, Case Study (for management tracks)

Situation Test (shortlisted UG candidates)

• Hands-on 3D model-making task using provided materials
• Tests spatial ability, creativity under time constraint, and manual skill
• Conducted at NIFT campuses after written test results

Final Selection

• Weightage: Written test (CAT + GAT) + Situation Test performance combined
• Programme-specific merit lists prepared campus-wise