NID DAT 2026: B.Des/M.Des Registration (Open), Exam Date (OUT), Syllabus, Pattern & Question Papers

NID DAT stands for NID Design Aptitude Test. It is conducted by the National Institute of Design at the national level for admission to B.Des and M.Des programmes at NID institutes in India. NID DAT evaluates candidates on the basis of creativity, problem-solving skills, innovative skills, visual perception, etc.

Highlights of NID Entrance Exam 2026

The important highlights for NID DAT 2026 are listed in the table below:

The application form for NID 2026 is expected to be out in the first week of September 2026.

How to fill out the NID 2026 Application Form?

The step-wise process to apply for NID is explained below:

1. Get Registered - Register for the exam by entering your email ID, mobile number, etc. 
2. Fill in the application form. Next, enter personal, academic, and contact details.
3. Upload necessary documents - Photographs, signatures, and academic documents must be uploaded in the prescribed format.
4.  Pay the exam fee - The application fee must be paid online using a debit card, credit card, or net banking. 

Can I Edit the NID Application Form 2026? 

The NID 2026 application form for the edit window is expected to open in December 2025. It will open for 2-3 days only on the official website. Candidates could use the edit option to make corrections to the application form. However, only certain information using the correction window could be edited.

For instance, you can't edit the name, email ID, mobile number, or program of study. Particulars that can be edited include the exam center, address, uploaded documents, etc. So be careful when filling out the form.

Eligibility for NID DAT 2026

The National Institute of Design has released the detailed NID DAT 2026 eligibility criteria for the B.Des and M.Des programs. Before proceeding to fill out the form, make sure that you go through the details.

Program-wise NID DAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for NID DAT 2026 are:

NID DAT 2026 Test Centres

The DAT Prelims exam is expected to be conducted in 23 test cities in the country. The candidate can select their choice of exam center at the time of filling out the application form. Check the list of NID exam centers 20256 below:

The participating institutes of NID 2026 offer B.Des and M.Des courses. Admission to these courses will be based on NID DAT merit ranks.

The step-wise admission process for NID DAT 2026 is given below, starting from application submission to the allotment of seats:

1. Fill out the NID DAT Application Form - Eligible candidates have to duly fill out the form and submit it before the last date. Use only genuine and verifiable information for filling out the form. 
2. Download Admit Card - Download the Admit card and check all the details mentioned in it. If there are any discrepancies, contact the NID helpdesk. It is mandatory to appear for the NID Exam with the Admit Card. 
3. Appear in DAT Prelims - After downloading the admit card, the candidate must appear for the NID DAT Prelims. The prelims exam will be held offline in pen/pencil paper mode.
4. Check DAT Prelims Result - Enter the credentials and check the NID DAT Prelims result.  
5. Download DAT Mains Admit Card - All registered candidates will be issued admit cards that have to be downloaded online. After downloading the admit card, take a printout of it.
6. Appear for NID DAT Mains - DAT Mains will comprise a Studio Test; M.Des candidates will also have to appear in an online interview round. In the studio test for NID admissions, aspirants are given hands-on practical assignments, which they need to complete within the stipulated time.
7. Check NID DAT final Result - DAT Prelims and NID DAT Mains performance are considered to prepare the FINAL results. Note that the final result or merit rank will be considered for the admission or seat allotment process.

Candidates appearing in the NID DAT 2026 exam must consult the exam syllabus to prepare for the Design Aptitude Test (DAT).

The First phase of the NID DAT 2026 entrance exam is NID DAT Prelims. 

• DAT Prelims syllabus for the B.Des and M.Des programs will include topics like color terminology, principles of composition, design theory, lettering, optical illusion, picture analysis, theme development, etc.
• To get a good score in the exam, it is important to prepare for all the topics. However, during the preparation, if the candidate is not able to complete a topic even after trying hard, it is wise to move to the next topic or get help. Once the candidate has completed the other topics, he or she can always come back and complete the pending topic.
• Go through the syllabus of NID DAT (Prelims) 2026 here. 

NID DAT Mains 

Candidates who get shortlisted based on their DAT Prelims have to next appear in the DAT Mains exam. 

• DAT Mains for the B.Des program will include a Studio Test
• However, M.Des applicants will also have to appear in a Personal Interview in addition to the Studio Test.

The NID Studio Test will be conducted in offline mode. On the other hand, the NID personal interview will be held online.

Important Instructions for DAT Mains

Some of the NID DAT guidelines that should be kept in mind are:

1. Candidates will be included in the final NID DAT 2026 merit list only if they take both the DAT Prelims and DAT Mains.
2. The weightage for DAT Prelims and DAT Mains will be announced before the declaration of NID DAT 2026 (Final) Results.
3. Requests for rescheduling the Studio Test will not be entertained
4.  Admit cards will be issued separately for the Studio Test and Online Interview.
5. If a candidate fails to appear in the online interview, admit cards will not be generated for the Studio Test.
6. On the day of the Studio Test, the candidate must bring with them a hard copy of the admit card and a valid photo ID proof.
7. Simply appearing in DAT Mains doesn't guarantee admission.

DAT Mains 2026 Components

The NID DAT Mains 2026 test for the M.Des program has two test components:

1. Studio Test
2. Personal Interview

However, DAT Mains for the B.Des program has only one test component: Studio Test. 

Statement of Purpose and Portfolio Review for DAT Mains

1. Candidates who get shortlisted for the DAT Mains will have to upload a Statement of Purpose (SoP) and Portfolio during the given window.
2. The specific time/window for uploading SoPs and Portfolio will be intimated to the candidate by the National Institute of Design through the registered email ID/ result page.
3. The candidate has to upload SoPs and Portfolios separately for each discipline they are shortlisted for.
4. Format of the SoP - The Statement of Purpose should not contain more than 100 words for each question. The SoP should be uploaded as a single file (maximum size - 2 MB).
5. Format of the Portfolio - The candidate has to upload a digital copy of their Portfolio in a single file (maximum size - 10 MB).

NID DAT 2026 Exam Pattern

The NID DAT 2026 entrance exam has two parts. The candidate will first appear in NID DAT Prelims 2026, and if shortlisted, they have to appear in NID DAT Mains 2026. The Final result of NID DAT 2026 will be prepared by giving weightage to DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. 

Exam Pattern 2026 - DAT Prelims (Overview)

The NID DAT 2026 exam pattern for the DAT Prelims and DAT Mains exams is given below.

Exam Pattern for the NID DAT 2026 Mains or Studio Test

The DAT Mains for the B.Des will comprise a Studio Test, whereas for the M.Des, it will also include a Personal Interview.

DAT Mains exam pattern 2026 - B.Des

The exam pattern for NID DAT B.Des is:

Also Read:

• UCEED vs NID - Which is Better?
  

• NID vs NIFT - Differences, Participating colleges, Admission Process, Placement
• Tips to prepare for NID Design Aptitude Test

The NIDs are among the top design institutes in the country. To prepare for the exam, candidates need to follow the syllabus and pattern. The following are a few points that can help in preparation:

• Know the NID exam pattern and marking scheme well.
• Get well-versed with the NID DAT syllabus.
• Prepare a timetable, if possible, and try to adhere to it.
• Work on your sketching and try to improve your creative side.
• Solve NID's previous year's question papers.
• Ensure that you use the best books as reference material. Use the updated books and resources for the pattern.
• Solve NID sample papers and mock tests regularly.
• Keep revising.

Last week's prep tips for NID DAT Prelims 2026

• In the last week leading up to the exam, make sure that you do extensive revision.
• Solve a few sample papers and take mock tests.
• Try not to start any new topics at the last moment, as it can eat up your revision time and turn the timetable upside down.
• Stay hydrated, get enough sleep, and engage in light exercise to ensure you start fresh and energized.
• Maintaining a balanced diet will also help improve your focus and performance.

What happens after the NID DAT Prelims?

Candidates who qualify for DAT Prelims 2026 will be shortlisted for NID DAT Mains 2026, which comprises a Studio Test ( + a Personal Interview for PG courses) 

NID Entrance Exam Analysis 2026

The exam analysis for the NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) exam will be updated here once the exam is over. The DAT Prelims exam analysis will cover key points like the overall and sectional difficulty level of the exam, the types of questions asked, whether questions were asked as per the syllabus, and the expected cut-off. If there are any technical or other issues during the exam, they will also be covered in the analysis.

NID DAT 2024 (Prelims) - Exam Analysis

1. Part A had many GK questions 
2. 1 question was on perspective drawing, 1 question on storyboard, and 1 on problem-solving
3. The paper was lengthy, according to one student
4. Compared to previous editions, many students thought this year’s paper was easier
5. A projection-based question on cubes was asked
6. The cut-off, as per some students, could go up to around 90

NID DAT 2025 - Sectional and Overall Difficulty Level

The NID DAT Sectional and Overall Difficulty Level are:

Read More:

• NID DAT Preparation 2025: Subject-wise Books, Tips to learn Drawing & Improve Creativity and Aptitude
• Sample Questions for NID Entrance Exam
• How to prepare for Design Aptitude Test (DAT)?

Candidates can secure admission to B.Des and M.Des courses offered by NID campuses through the NID 2026 Entrance Exam.

The various B.Des and M.Des specializations offered at the NID participating colleges are given below:

The seven NID campuses accepting NID entrance exam scores/ranks for admission include:

NID DAT Admit card 2026 for Prelims for B.Des and M.Des will be out on December 11, 2025, on the official website. NID DAT Mains Admit Card for B.Des is expected to be out in the second week of April, 2026, and for M.Des, the NID DAT Mains Admit Card is likely to be out in the last week of February 2026. The Admit card will be available online and no hard copies of the admit card will be sent to the candidates.

How to Download the NID DAT 2026 Admit Card?

The admit card for NID DAT UG and PG 2026 will be released online at the NID admission portal. To download it, follow these steps.

1. Go to the NID admission portal.
2. Click on the admit card download link.
3. A log-in window will open.
4. Enter your email ID and date of birth to download the admit card.