NIFT Artisan Category: Who can Apply, Programmes, Application and Exam Components

NIFT 2027 application form OPEN (Regular fees)

16 Oct '26 - 16 Nov '26

Assistant Manager

Updated on Oct 29, 2026 10:35 IST

NIFT Artisan Category is an opportunity given by NIFT for candidates coming from an artisan background. It is a special path that provides admission to children of artisans, like handicrafts, handlooms, etc. NIFT provided B.Des under this category. Candidates need to fill the application form in December and appear for the exam in April.

NIFT Artisan Category provides design education to traditional craft families and supports the growth of Indian crafts. It allows candidates to study at the top design college of India without appearing for the NIFT Stage 1 Examination. Let's see how.

NIFT Artisan Category is an opportunity given by NIFT for candidates coming from an artisan background. It is a special path that provides admission to children of artisans, like handicrafts, handlooms, etc. NIFT provides B.Des under this category. Candidates need to fill the Registration form till January 31, 2027 and appear for the exam in April. The application fee is INR 2000 for General category and INR 500 for SC/ST and PwD categories. The age limit of the candidate must be below 24 years as on 1 August of the admission year.

Candidates who want to appear under this category will be required to appear NIFT Artisan Test and NIFT Personal Interview. Candidates under this category are not required to appear for Stage 1 NIFT Entrance Exam.

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Table of contents

Who Can Apply for NIFT B.Des Artisan?
Programmes Offered by NIFT for Artisan Category
NIFT B.Des Artisan Category Overview
Important dates for NIFT Artisan Category
Eligibility Criteria for NIFT B.Des under Artisan Category
Components and Marks for Artisan Skill Test for NIFT Stage 2
NIFT Artisan College

Who Can Apply for NIFT B.Des Artisan?

A candidate can apply if:

They have passed Class 12.
They are below 24 years of age as on 1 August of the admission year.
They are an artisan themselves or the son/daughter of an artisan.
They possess a valid Artisan Card issued to self, father, or mother by Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles or State Government authorities

Programmes Offered by NIFT for Artisan Category

NIFT offers B.Des in the following.

B.Des in Fashion Design
B.Des in Leather Design
B.Des in Accessory Design
B.Des in Textile Design
B.Des in Knitwear Design
B.Des in Fashion Communication.

NIFT B.Des Artisan Category Overview

Check out the overview of NIFT Artisan Category.

Particulars	Details
Courses Offered by NIFT	B.Des programmes at NIFT campuses
Artisan Requirement	Candidate or parent must possess a valid Artisan Card
Entrance Exam	No need to appear for NIFT Stage 1
NIFT Selection Process	Artisan Skill Test + Personal Interview
Merit Preparation	Based on Skill Test and Interview performance
Seats Available	2 supernumerary seats per campus
Degree Type	Same NIFT degree as regular students
Placement Opportunities	Same placements, internships, and career support as other NIFT students

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Important dates for NIFT Artisan Category

Check out the important dates for NIFT Artisan Category.

Admission Event / Activity	Schedule / Deadline
Online Registration	16th October, 2026
Last date for Online Registration	31st January, 2027
Correction in the Particulars of Application Form (online only)	1st to 4th February, 2027
Admit Card (online only)	March, 2027
Artisan Skill Test and Personal Interview	April, 2027
Declaration of Final Result (online)	1st week of May, 2027
Seat Allocation*	May / June, 2027

Eligibility Criteria for NIFT B.Des under Artisan Category

Read the eligibility Criteria for NIFT B.Des programme under the Artisan Category.

Programme

Eligibility Criteria

Age Criteria

For Bachelor’s Programmes (B. Des and B.F. Tech.), the maximum age should be less than 24 years as on 1st August of the year of admission. The upper age limit may be relaxed by a period of 5 (five) years for candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/ Person with Disability (PwD) categories.
For Master’s Programmes (M. Des, M.F.M and M.F. Tech) and Ph.D. there is No age limit.

Educational Qualification

Passed the plus 2 level examination in the 10+2 pattern of examination of any recognized Central/ State Board of Secondary Examination, such as Central Board of Secondary Education / State Board New Delhi / Council for Indian School of Certificate Examination, New Delhi.

A pass grade in the Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Open School with a minimum of five subjects.

3 or 4-years Diploma recognized by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education after secondary school examination.

Any Public School/Board/University Examination in India or in foreign countries recognized by the Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to 10+2 system.

AND

Artisan/Ward of Artisan can seek admission under this category on submission of a valid Artisan Card issued to Self/ Father/ Mother by the Development Commissioner (Handicraft), or Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India or have applied for the Artisan Card before the launch of Prospectus for Admissions-2026.

Components and Marks for Artisan Skill Test for NIFT Stage 2

Candidates under the Artisan Category have to appear for Artisan Skill Test. It will comprise creative ability and basic 3-D modelling ability (using 3-D modelling clay) or other material(s). Check out the components and marks of the Artisan Skill Test. The exam is conducted with the Stage 2 Entrance Exam.

Component	Marks
Artisan Skill Test	70
Visualization of form and space
Innovative and Creative use of material
Composition of Elements
Construction skill and Finesse of the model
Overall presentation
Write-up:
Explanation and Communication of concept
Language
Personal Interview (verification of documents/eligibility)	30
Total Marks	100

NIFT Artisan College

The 20 participating NIFTs offer B.Des Artisan courses with specialisations in various disciplines.

S.No	NIFT Campus
1	NIFT New Delhi
2	NIFT Chennai
3	NIFT Gandhinagar
4	NIFT Hyderabad
5	NIFT Kolkata
6	NIFT Mumbai
7	NIFT Bengaluru
8	NIFT Raebareli
9	NIFT Bhopal
10	NIFT Kannur
11	NIFT Shillong
12	NIFT Patna
13	NIFT Kangra
14	NIFT Bhubaneswar
15	NIFT Jodhpur
16	NIFT Srinagar
17	NIFT Panchkula
18	NIFT Daman
19	NIFT Varanasi
20	NIFT Nava Raipur

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Sayeba Naushad

Assistant Manager

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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