The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Entrance Examination is India’s premier gateway to world-class education in design, management, and fashion technology. Administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA) across 60+ cities nationwide, the exam allocates seats across 18+ NIFT campuses.
Whether your goal is a Bachelor of Design (B.Des), Bachelor of Fashion Technology (B.F.Tech), or postgraduate specialization (M.Des, M.F.M, M.F.Tech), here is the comprehensive guide to NIFT 2027.
About the NIFT Entrance Examination
Established under an Act of Parliament, NIFT holds statutory authority to award undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral degrees in fashion and apparel disciplines.
The admission process is a multi-tier assessment evaluated on analytical acumen, design aptitude, and technical skills.
- Stage 1 (Written Exam): Comprises the General Ability Test (GAT) and the Creative Ability Test (CAT).
- Stage 2 (Practical Assessment/Interview): Shortlisted candidates advance to the Situation Test (for B.Des) or Personal Interviews / Group Discussions (for PG disciplines). B.F.Tech admissions are determined solely by Stage 1 GAT scores.
Eligibility Criteria
- Age Limits
- Undergraduate Programmes (B.Des & B.F.Tech): Maximum age must be less than 24 years as of August 1, 2027. A relaxation of 5 years applies to candidates from SC, ST, and PwD categories.
- Postgraduate Programmes (M.Des, M.F.M, M.F.Tech): No upper age limit.
- Academic Qualifications
| Programme | Mandatory Educational Qualification |
|---|---|
| B.Des (Bachelor of Design) | 10+2 from a recognized Central/State board (CBSE, ICSE, NIOS, or equivalent) in any stream. 3 or 4-year AICTE-recognized diploma holders are also eligible. |
| B.F.Tech (Fashion Technology) | 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics as mandatory subjects. AICTE-recognized diploma in engineering is also accepted. |
| M.Des / M.F.M | Undergraduate degree in any discipline from a recognized university, or a 3-year UG diploma from NIFT/NID. |
| M.F.Tech | B.F.Tech from NIFT, or B.E./B.Tech from a recognized university. |
Note: Candidates appearing for their qualifying final-year examinations in 2027 are also eligible to apply provisionally.
Scheme of Examination
The NIFT entrance test uses a hybrid format: Computer-Based Test (CBT) for objective sections and Paper-Based Test (PBT) for hand-drawn design sections.
Test Structure & Format
| Paper | Mode | Focus Areas | Applicable Courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAT (General Ability Test) | CBT | Quantitative Ability, English Comprehension, Communication Ability, Analytical & Logical Reasoning, GK & Current Affairs. | All Programmes |
| CAT (Creative Ability Test) | PBT (Offline Drawing) | Observation, intuitive drawing, perspective, color composition, and conceptual design. | B.Des & M.Des |
| Situation Test / GD-PI | Offline Hands-on | 3D model creation with assigned materials (B.Des); Case discussion and interview (PG). | Shortlisted candidates |
- Marking Scheme
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- GAT: marks for every correct response; negative marking of marks for incorrect answers.
- CAT & Situation Test: Evaluated holistically with no negative marking.
Exam Schedule & Tentative Dates
Take a look at the table below for the complete schedule of NIFT Entrance Exam 2027 exam
| Event | NIFT 2027 (tentative) |
|---|---|
| NIFT 2027 Exam (GAT + CAT) | Sunday, 10 January 2027 (officialy declared) |
| Notification + Application Form Releases | October–November 2026 (expected) |
| Last date to apply (regular fee) | December 2026 (expected) |
| Late-fee window (₹5,000) | ~3 days after deadline |
| Application Correction window | December 2026 (expected) |
| Admit card Release (Stage 1) | Late December 2026 – early January 2027 (expected) |
| Provisional answer key + objections | Mid–late January 2027 (expected) |
| Stage 1 Result Declaration | February–March 2027 (expected) |
| Situation Test admit card (UG) | April 2027 |
| Situation Test / Interviews | February–April 2027 (expected) |
| Counselling | April–June 2027 (expected) |
Reservation and Facilities for PwD Candidates
Seats are allocated in accordance with Government of India reservation policies across all campuses:
-
- SC: 15%
- ST: 7.5%
- OBC-NCL: 27%
- GEN-EWS: 10%
- Persons with Disabilities (PwD): 5% horizontal reservation across open and reserved categories.
Facilities for PwD Candidates
- Compensatory Time: A minimum of 20 minutes compensatory time per hour of examination is granted to eligible PwD applicants.
- Scribe Assistance: Candidates with benchmark disabilities (≥40%) who have physical limitations in writing can opt for a scribe provided by the NTA or bring their own, subject to submitting valid medical certificates and undertakings during registration.
- Accessible Infrastructure: Centers are prioritized on ground floors with wheelchair-accessible pathways.
Registration and Application Process
Applications are submitted exclusively online via the official NTA NIFT portal (exams.nta.ac.in/NIFT):
- New Registration: Register using a valid mobile number and email ID to generate your Application Number and password.
- Fill Academic & Personal Details: Select your qualifying exam, personal details, category, and preferred academic program.
- Upload Documents:
- Passport-sized photograph (clear background, JPEG format).
- Scanned signature.
- Category / PwD certificate (if applicable).
- Pay Application Fees: Pay via Net Banking, UPI, or Credit/Debit Card.
- General / OBC-NCL / EWS: ~₹3,000 (Single programme)
- SC / ST / PwD: ~₹1,500 – ₹2,000 (Single programme).
- Confirmation Page: Download and print the generated Confirmation Page for future reference.
Choice of Examination Cities
Applicants can choose up to four preferred examination cities during online registration.
- Centers are allocated based on order of preference and seat capacity.
- The exam is conducted across major metro and tier-2 hubs (including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Patna, Lucknow, Guwahati, and Srinagar).
- City Intimation Slip: Prior to the admit card release, NTA issues an Advance City Intimation Slip allowing students to confirm their test city and book travel ahead of time.
Admit Card
The NTA issues the NIFT 2027 Admit Card online roughly 7 to 10 days before the exam date:
- Download using your Application Number and Date of Birth.
- Essential Details Displayed: Candidate name, roll number, assigned exam center, reporting time, slot timings (GAT vs. CAT), and category.
- Discrepancy Resolution: If any photo, signature, or name detail does not match the confirmation page, contact the NTA Help Desk immediately for rectification.
Key Exam Day Instructions [Mandatory Documents]
- Mandatory Documents: Printed copy of the NIFT Admit Card with the self-declaration undertaking signed.
-
- One original, valid photo ID (Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport, PAN Card, or School ID).
- Additional passport photograph matching the application form.
- Scribe documentation (if applicable).
- Permitted Materials for CAT (Design Test): HB pencils, erasers, sharpeners, dry colors (pencil colors, oil pastels, markers), and a transparent ruler. Watercolors and wet media are strictly restricted unless specified.
- Prohibited Items: Mobile phones, smartwatches, calculators, bags, paper scraps, or unauthorized geometry containers.
Procedure for Declaration of Results
- Provisional Answer Key & Challenges: NTA releases the master question paper and provisional GAT answer keys on the portal, giving candidates 48–72 hours to challenge questions for a nominal fee.
- Stage 1 Scorecard: Final GAT and CAT marks are declared, revealing candidates’ shortlisting status for Stage 2.
- Stage 2 Evaluation: Situation Test and Personal Interview scores are consolidated.
- Final Common Merit Rank (CMR): A unified merit list is published detailing the Common Merit Rank and Category Rank based on the overall weighted scores.
- Centralized E-Counselling: Qualified candidates register for centralized online counselling to submit campus and department preferences according to their CMR.
