Best Books for NIFT 2025: Subject-wise Books recommended by Experts and Toppers

National Institute of Fashion Technology Entrance Exam 2025 ( NIFT Entrance Exam )

DeskCalelnderCounselling - 7 Jul '25

Sayeba
Sayeba Naushad
Assistant Manager
Updated on Jun 5, 2025 10:51 IST

An often overlooked aspect of NIFT exam preparation is the quality of the study material. It is because if you use poor-quality books, you are most likely going to falter in the exam. So, getting the best books for NIFT 2025 preparation is non-negotiable. Here we bring you subject-wise NIFT 2025 books recommended by toppers and experts.

Best Books for NIFT 2025 - There is a common saying that well begun is half the work done. But how exactly do you START your preparation for NIFT 2025? Here is how.

By getting the best possible collection of books for NIFT 2025. If the study material is good, then it will be up to date, explain the concepts crisply, won’t confuse and deviate aimlessly, and contain few to no errors.

Considering the market is flooded with books, making it difficult to zoom in on any one specific one, here we have compiled a list of the best study material for the NIFT exam. Make them a part of your preparation arsenal, and there will be no stopping you from cracking the NIFT 2025 entrance exam.

But before we jump into deciding which book is the best for NIFT exam preparation, let's take a bit to understand the NIFT 2025 exam pattern. 

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The NIFT entrance exam is conducted in two rounds:

  1. Stage I - The candidate first appears in the CAT and GAT written exams. The GAT paper is mandatory for all courses, while only B.Des and M.Des candidates need to take the CAT.
  2. Stage II - Shortlisted candidates have to next appear in a Situation Test / Personal Interview. 
Q:   Which book is best for NIFT 2025 exam preparation?
A:

If you want a short and effective answer, then NIFT entrance preparation books by Arihant are considered to be reliable. They touch all the syllabus and are also recommended by toppers. Also, note that the GAT paper for B.Des carries only 30% weightage, so it is not wise to get bogged down by heavy-duty books.

Q:   I am from Arts background. Will I be at a disadvantage in NIFT?
A:

The NIFTEE Exam for the B.Des programme doesn't ask very difficult maths questions; so, even if you are not from Science background and have average skills in the subject, you can manage. Just solve previous years question and sample papers, and read book for NIFT preparation.

Q:   What should I study to get a good score in NTA NIFTEE Exam?
A:

For the Common Aptitude Test (CAT), the candidate needs to practice various forms of drawing, including - photorealism, cartoon, caricature, line drawing, figure, etc. The candidate must also know how to blend colors, do shading, etc. As for the GAT paper, NIFT preparation books by Arihant are pretty reliable. For additional reading, RS Aggarwal book is recommended. As for GK and Current Affairs section, read leading newspapers like The Hindu, The Indian Express, or the Times of India.

The FINAL merit list for admission will be prepared by giving weightage to both the written exams and the Situation Test/ Personal Interview

NIFT 2025 - Test components and Weightage

Each of the test components, CAT, GAT, and Situation Test (Personal Interview in case of PG courses) carries a definite weightage (as shown in the table below).

Programme

Test

Weightage

Bachelor of Design

CAT

50%

GAT

30%

Situation Test

20%

Master of Design

CAT

40%

GAT

30%

GD/PI

30%

Bachelor of Fashion Technology

GAT

100%

Master of Fashion Technology

GAT

70%

GD/PI

30%

Master of Fashion Management

GAT

70%

GD/PI

30%

Explore more Design exams with upcoming dates

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Candidates may also check out the NIFT 2025 exam pattern in DETAIL. 

NIFT Best Books 2025 - Recommended by Experts and Toppers

Now that we know the composition and structure of the entrance exam, let's dive into which books are best for NIFT 2025 exam preparation.

In the table below, you will find a list of books that can help you ace the NIFT 2025 entrance exam. Note that the list is kept minimalistic, but it should be enough for you to easily ace the exam. Remember, it is easy to make a long collection of books, but it is even easier to get lost in the pile.

Unless it is necessary, keep the books to a bare minimum. The mantra is to prepare smart, not hard!

Q:   What should I focus on while reading newspapers for the Current Affairs and General Knowledge section for the NIFT exam?
A:

The candidate should focus on news of national and international importance; don't spend precious time reading up on local or even sometimes national (or international) news of little importance. For example, some times newspapers carry some news for the sake of entertainment. The candidate also needs to practice difficult words and meaning given in editorials and opinion pieces.

Read new relatd to the fashion industry, fashion events like Cannes, Met Gala, Lakme Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, Seoul Fashion Week, etc. Read fashion magazines for more trending updates.

Q:   How to select the best books for NIFT Entrance Exam?
A:

When selecting study material for the NIFTEE Exam, candidate should make sure the books are as per the current syllabus and pattern, are well written, easy to follow, explains the concepts in detail, etc. 

Also go through articles and videos which have last year question papers. 

Q:   How much time is required to prepare for the NIFT exam?
A:

In an ideal situation, one year is a good enough time to cover the entire NIFT syllabus, solve sample papers, and take mock tests. But considering there is only 6 months or so left for the NIFT exam, the candidate can still prepare for the exam in that period. But for that to happen, the candidate needs to get hold of the best study material available, manage their time efficiently, follow a strict study routine, get familiar with the exam syllabus and pattern, and prepare in earnest.

NIFT 2025 Study Material - Subject-wise books and Smart tips

The following table presents the books and tips to prepare well for the NIFT Exam:

Subject

Books

 

Arihant Books

Current Affairs and GK

Read newspapers: The Hindu, The Times of India


What to read:


  • Skim through the headlines; focus on what is happening of national and international import
  • Pick an editorial or opinion piece, and practice 10-20 new words every day. 
  • Maintain a notebook; make it a repository of all that you have learned; it will come in handy for quick revision.

Maths

NIFT Arihant 


Why - It covers the entire Maths portion needed for NIFT 2023.


However, if you want to do additional reading:


  • RS Aggarwal 

English 

NIFT Arihant

GAT

Solve previous years' NIFT questions and sample papers for the last 10 years or so.


The trick is to solve as many sample papers as you can; also, you may solve the same sample paper 3-4 times to check your progress.


Important:


  1. Even though there is a slim chance the same question will be repeated in the NIFT entrance exam, candidates claim that word meanings can get repeated.
  2. So, if the candidate practices the words given in those paragraphs carefully, it can help the candidate immensely.

Mock Test Books


  1. Learnx Mock Test Series Books
  2. NIFT Mock Test Series by NIFT Alumni

Taking notes

While it is well and good to follow the best books and solve sample papers, it is equally important that you make it a habit of taking notes.


Jot down all the important or troubling points in it. This notebook will work as a reference material in the future for quick revision.


If your notes are well prepared, you can revise all the topics in the syllabus in a jiffy! On the other hand, if you don’t take notes, you will have to go through each paragraph, chapter, or book to revise the key points. 

Also Read:

Books for NIFT Situation Test

The Situation Test is conducted to test the 3-D making skills of the candidate. Test materials for making the model will be provided to the candidate. 

The material kit is not standard, but ideally contains items like clay, metal wire, thermocol sheet, straws, paper clippings, aluminum foils, etc.

NIFT Situation Test 2025 - Book Suggestion

Name of the book

Author (Publication) 

Don’t make me think

Steve King

Universal Principles of Design

Tom Kelley and David Kelley

100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People (Voices That Matter) 

Weinschenk Susan

The Design of Everyday Things

Don Norman

Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday Things

Don Norman

NIFT Situation Test 2023 - Download free 10 years papers

Download Here

NIFT 2025 Stationery Items/ Materials

If you are appearing in an entrance exam like NIFTEE or NID DAT, you need to practice drawing a lot. And for that, you have stationery items, like the one mentioned in the table below.

Level

Pencils 

Beginner

  1. Pencils - popular brands include 
  2. Once your shading skills are more refined, you can try Faber-Castell,

The student can use pencils by popular brands like Camline and Artline: 


They are affordable, with each packet costing around Rs. 50 and contacts 6 pieces.

Mid Level

As your shading skills are more refined, you can use drawing pencils - Peroci and Faber-Castell are good to go.

Give fine detailing to sketches

Microns Pen


Note: Microns are available at many points like 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, etc. So, you can make even the finest details with these pens. 

Color Pencils

Staedtler Color Pencil, Faber-Castell Color Pencil

Blending Stumps

  1. With these, you can very effectively blend various colors.
  2. Or when you are making pencil sketches, you can use the blending stumps to blend strokes that are visible in the sketch.

The books and tips suggested above can work like magic only if you are persistent and dedicated. Study regularly, make a timetable, and focus on all the sections and stages of the NIFTEE Examination. Also, stay updated with any news and information provided by NTA NIFT.

About the Author
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Sayeba Naushad
Assistant Manager

Sayeba is an editorial professional with over 5 years of experience in content creation, editing and proofreading. She holds a master's degree in commerce, which has helped her develop a strong attention to detail a... Read Full Bio

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Answered Yesterday

There are no marks requrired for mfm admission . You have to give the college exam for admission.

A

Adiba Ansari

Beginner-Level 4

Answered 4 days ago

With an EWS category rank of 69, you have a very strong chance of getting into NIFT Delhi for most B.Des. courses, and even some Master's programs, especially compared to the closing ranks for the EWS category in previous years.

 

For example, for B.Des. Fashion Design, which is highly competitive, th

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Surendra Bijarniya

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Answered 2 weeks ago

The NIFTEE written exam 2026 will be conducted in computer-based mode, while the sketching-based CAT paper will be held in offline mode. 

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Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 weeks ago

The NIFT 2026 admit card will be available for download in the first week of February 2026. Candidates who have successfully registered for the exam can download the admit card from the NIFT admission portal.

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Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 weeks ago

Unless you have finished the NIFT 2026 syllabus and solved the sample papers, it is a safe bet not to start with any new chapters or topics, simply because there is not so much time left and revision needs to be the priority.

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Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 weeks ago

Yes, it is very important to solve NIFT sample papers to gauge one's exam readiness. In addition, sample papers will help the candidate rectify silly mistakes, learn time management, and learn how to use various concepts to solve problems.

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Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 weeks ago

The NIFT 2026 Entrance Exam Stage 1 is expected to be conducted in the second week of February 2026. The exact dates will be out on the NTA NIFT official website.

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Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 weeks ago

The table below shows the top government Fashion Design colleges in India accepting NIFT entrance exams along with their tuition fees and their India Today ranking 2024:

Public/Government Colleges

Tuition Fee

India Today 2024

NIFT Delhi AdmissionINR 12.34 lakh1
NIFT Bangalore AdmissionINR 12.34 lakh3
NIFT Hyderabad AdmissionINR 12.34 lakh4
NIFT Gandhinagar AdmissionINR 12.34 lakh6
NIFT Kolkata AdmissionINR 12.34 lakh7
NIFT Patna AdmissionINR 12.34 lakh8
NIFT Bhubaneswar AdmissionINR 9.26 lakh13

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website/ counselling body and may vary.

T

Tasbiya Khan

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

According to India Today ranking 2024, NIFT Delhi emerged to be as the No. 1 ranked Fashion Design colleges in India accepting NIFT exam secured 1st position followed by other colleges like NIFT Mumbai and NIFT Bangalore.

 

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Tasbiya Khan

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 weeks ago

NIFT Bangalore inducts students to its BDes programme via the NIFT Entrance Exam. For admission to the 2025 batch, this test was conducted by NTA on Feb 9, 2025. Moreover, NTA has also released the entrance exam results. Students who took the exam can check their results and download their scorecar

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Shailja Rawat

Contributor-Level 10