NID DAT 2026 Dress Code For Male & Female Candidates
National Institute of Design Entrance Exam 2026 ( NID Entrance Exam )
Result - 17 Feb '26
Candidates appearing in NID DAT 2026 exam must follow a proper dress code and exam day instructions. An indecent dressing may invite unwanted attention. So, here we bring you NID DAT 2026 dress code you may follow to stay out of trouble and have a smooth exam day experience.
NID DAT 2026 Dress Code
The National Institute of Design (NID) is to conduct the NID Entrance Test 2026 today, on December 21, 2025 at 10 AM. On exam day, you would ideally like to wear something comfortable and decent. But what if you wear something fancy or indecent? Will NID invigilators stop you from appearing in the entrance exam? Are there any downsides to not dressing inappropriately for the exam? What exactly is appropriate dressing inside the NID DAT 2026 exam center?
NID DAT Admit card 2026 for the Prelims exam is released now, on December 11, 2025 for B.Des and M.Des. It contains exam centre details and timing. Candidates must carry admit card and photo ID with them.
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Latest Update:
NID DAT 2026 (Mains) exam for the B. Des programme will be held in the last week of April 2026. The timings for the DAT Mains exam will be mentioned in the NID DAT 2026 admit card. Candidates need to reach the DAT Mains exam centre as per the timings given in the admit card.
The NID DAT 2026 Studio Test and Interview for the M.Des program will be conducted from in the first week of March 2026. Candidates will be shortlisted for DAT Mains on the basis of their performance in DAT Prelims.
The Studio Test and Interview will be conducted programme-wise from. Candidates who have qualified DAT prelims are eligible to appear in DAT Mains, which comprise a Studio Test and Interview for the M.Des programme. The Studio Test is usually conducted from 9 am - 12 noon. The Interview will be conducted after the completion of the studio test.
These are some of the questions that could go through your mind when you consider picking a dress for the NID DAT 2026 exam.
So, here we discuss the NID DAT 2026 dress code in detail, explaining what a proper dress code is, why some dressing should be avoided and why too much jewelry is a big no.
- Does NID prescribe a dress code for the NID DAT exam?
- Recommended dress code for NID DAT 2026
- NID DAT 2026 Code of Conduct
- NID DAT 2026 - Barred and Allowed Items
- NID DAT 2026 - Document Cheklist
- NID DAT 2026 Important Dos and Don’ts
Does NID prescribe a dress code for the NID DAT exam?
The National Institute of Design has not prescribed any dress code for NID DAT 2026 exam. But this doesn’t mean that you can wear anything you like. The assumption is that the candidate will have the good sense to dress appropriately for the exam, keeping in mind traditional and community norms. Candidate is not expected to dress in a way that may disturb the exam environment.
Recommended dress code for NID DAT 2026
Here is how the candidate must dress for the NID DAT 2026 exam.
Clothing
- Dress comfortably - NID DAT is a very competitive exam, and you don’t want to be distracted. If you are dressed comfortably, you will be calm.
- Try formal attire - Both male and female candidates can wear formal attire, like a shirt, trousers, and salwar kameez.
- Don’t wear a dress with lots of pockets or flaps - This will unnecessarily raise suspicion, and you may be subject to a lot of frisking.
- Head covering - Unless it is for a religious purpose, don’t wear items like scarves, stoles or other accessories that cover your head.
- Shoe type - Closed-toe shoes can be an option. However, if you instead wear shoes with heavy heels or thick soles, you may face extra frisking.
- Slippers and sandals are perfectly ok.
- Jewelry, belts, hats, and other accessories may be avoided. It is recommended that you don’t wear jewelry to the exam hall, as exam invigilators will not take responsibility for any items damaged or lost.
- Personal belongings - Don’t bring electronic items like mobile phones, smart watches, calculators, etc., inside the exam hall. Candidates found to have these items can be disqualified.
- Printed/Embroidered Clothing - There is no restriction on wearing printed or embroidered clothing. But do ensure that it is nothing obscene, racial, or controversial.
Religious Attire
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The candidate can wear religious attire like hijabs and turbans. However, exam invigilators may demand that the attire doesn’t obstruct security checks and verification of the candidate’s identity.
Also Read:
- NID DAT 2026 exam-day guidelines - Reporting time, Attempting the Paper
- Subject-wise Books to prepare for NID DAT 2026
NID DAT 2026 Code of Conduct
While there is no code of conduct for the NID DAT 2026 exam, here are some general guidelines.
- Follow the exam schedule - The exam timings, including the reporting time, will be mentioned on the NID DAT 2026 admit card. If you arrive late at the exam center, you may not be allowed entry into the NID DAT 2026 exam hall/ center.
- Identity verification - The candidate must carry with them the admit card and a valid photo ID proof. Without these documents, the candidate will not be allowed to sit in the exam.
- Exam center etiquette - Maintain discipline and respectful behavior at the exam center. You are not allowed to communicate with others during the exam, either verbally or non-verbally.
- Unfair practices - Any candidate found indulging in unfair means will be disqualified.
- Prohibited Items - The candidate is not allowed to bring items included in the prohibited list. For instance, written text, electronic gadgets, bags, etc., are not allowed inside the exam hall.
- Conduct Inside the NID DAT 2026 exam hall - The candidate must take his or her seat immediately after entering the exam hall. Also, once the exam commences, listen carefully to and follow what the invigilator says. No candidate is allowed to leave the exam hall until the exam ends.
- Use of a scribe - The services of a scribe are available to candidates with a disability for the Objective NID DAT 2026 question paper. However, scribe service is not available for the Subjective part of DAT Prelims.
NID DAT 2026 - Barred and Allowed Items
The following items are barred inside the NID DAT 2026 exam center.
Mobile phones, any type of watch, bag, handbag, papers, notes, books, calculator, electronic gadgets, correction marker/white fluid, etc.
Candidate is allowed to carry the following items.
- Lead pencils of various grades
- Sharpener
- Scissor
- Ruler
- Dry colors
- Two black ball point pens to mark the OMR answer sheet
NID DAT 2026 - Document Cheklist
The candidate needs to bring the following documents with them.
- NID DAT 2026 Admit Card
- Photo ID proof
Any of the following documents will be accepted as valid photo ID proof.
The National Institute of Design will release schedule for NID DAT 2026 counseling on its admission portal soon after DAT Mains results are declared.
Eligible candidates seeking admission to the B.Des program has to submit campus preferences.
The 1st round of seat allotment for B.Des program will be announed around the last week of May 2026. Note that the seat allotment for the M.Des program will be announced in April 2026.
The counseling process will be conducted online and include one or more seat allotment rounds.
NID counseling notification will include information like the mode of the counseling, application process, fees, etc. The candidate needs to carefully go through the notification to learn about the process. The NID counseling will be conducted for admission to the B. Des and M.Des courses. For the current session, there ate 425 B. Des seats, and 247 M.Des seats.
The National Institute of Design (NID) will conduct the Studio Test for the B. Des program in April 2026. The Studio Test will be conducted offline. Note that B. Des candidates are not required to appear in any interview, unlike the M.Des applicants. Admit cards for the Studio Test will be released a few days in advance.
On the day of the Studio Test, the candidate had to report at the exam center with the admit card and a valid photo id proof. The Studio Test (or that Mains) is the 2nd stage of the two-stage NID that admission process. The final results of NID DAT 2026 is prepared by considering the performance of the candidate in DAT Mains and DAT Prelims.
The candidate needs to report for the exam at 8 am. Gates closing time is 9.30 am.
The B.Des exam will be held from 10 am - 1 pm; meanwhile, the M.Des exam will be held from 10 am - 12.30 am.
The DAT Prelims for the B.Des programme will be conducted in a paper-and-pencil/pen mode. The question paper may incude both textual and visual questions. Other details like duration of the exam, marking scheme, etc. will be published in the DAT Prelims admit card.
The DAT Prelims exam for the M.Des programme will be conducted offline and include a mix of objective and subjective questions. The paper will have a total of 100 questions.
- Aadhaar card
- Voter card
- Passport
- PAN card
- Driving license
Note that the IDs should be in the original. Photocopies will not be accepted.
NID DAT 2026 Important Dos and Don’ts
Candidate can quickly go through NID DAT 2026 exam dos and don’ts given below.
| Dos |
Don'ts |
|---|---|
| Admit Card - Bring a printout of the admit card. |
Don’t Bring Banned Items Items like mobile phones, smartwatches, tablets, calculators, etc, are not allowed inside the exam hall. |
| ID proof - Bring an ID proof in the original. Photocopies will not be accepted. |
Don’t Carry Bags or Purses |
| Be punctual. |
Bags, purses, and clutches are prohibited |
| Reach the exam center at least an hour in advance. |
Don’t wear unnecessary jewelry, including rings, bracelets, etc. |
| Follow the dress code. |
Take your seat immediately after entering the exam hall. |
| Do Follow the Dress Code |
Don’t leave your seat during the exam |
| Adhere to the dress code and wear simple, comfortable clothing. |
Don’t gossip or disturb other candidates during the exam. |
| Carry the stationery required to attempt the exam Lead pencils, erasers, ball pens, etc. |
Do help or take help from other candidates. |
| Carry two passport-size photos, a transparent water bottle, and sanitizer. |
Don’t cheat or use unfair means. |
| Read the instructions carefully before attempting the exam |
Don’t scribble on the admit card or OMR Sheet |
| Follow all instructions on the admit card and given by the invigilator |
Don’t enter the exam hall late |
| Use the Washroom Before the Exam |
No candidate will be allowed inside the exam hall once the exam has commenced. |
| Carefully fill in all the particulars in the OMR sheet |
Don’t disregard instructions given by exam invigilators. |
| Mark answers clearly and accurately on the OMR sheet. |
Don’t cheat or indulge in malpractice of any kind. |
| Crosscheck the answers if you have time. |
Don’t waste time. Try to complete the paper within the given time. |
| Do Check Your Answers |
Don’t misbehave with exam invigilators |
Sayeba Naushad is a commerce postgraduate from Banaras Hindu University. She has over five years of experience in content writing and editing. She has a nose for current events in design field. At Shiksha.com, she s
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 months ago
NID 2026 Application correction Window for B.Des and M.Des was open from December 02, 2025 to December 04, 2025.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
The result for NID DAT Prelims 2026 will be announced on April 07, 2026 around 4 PM.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
The details that cannot be modified in NID DAT 2026 Application window are programs applied, name of the candidate, date of birth, registered mobile number and registered email address.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
NID DAT 2026 Application edit window was open from December 02, 2025 to December 04, 2025.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
The last date to fill the application form for NID DAT 2026 for B.Des and M.Des programme was December 01, 2025. The registration forms were available online.
S
Contributor-Level 10
The Studio Test and Personal Interview for the M.Des programme will be conducted sometime starting March 2026. Candidates will be shortlisted for the Studio Test and Interview based on their performance in DAT Prelims. The Studio Test will be conducted in offline mode at various NID campuses. Eligible candidates have to get registered at the test centre. The Studio Test will start at around 9 am, followed by the Interview. It is mandatory for candidates to appear in both the Studio Test and the Interview. If any candidate skips the interview, he or she will not be considered for admission to the B.Des or M.Des course.