NIFT Exam Timing 2026: Shift Schedule, Reporting Time & Instructions

NIFT Entrance Exam is around the corner. All you must be preparing day and night for one of the most important design entrance examinations. The exam will be held on February 08, 2026, for all the UG and PG programmes. Read on to find out about the exam timing, shifts, reporting time and other exam-related details.

NIFT Reporting Time: GAT and CAT

NIFT Entrance Test will be conducted by NTA on February 08, 2026, for all UG and PG programmes. The exam will be conducted in CBT and PBT modes. NIFT General Ability Test (GAT) will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) and NIFT Creative Ability Test (CAT) will be conducted in Paper-Based Test (PBT). All the NIFT 2026 UG and PG entrance exams will begin at 10 AM. 

The details regarding the reporting time and centre details will be mentioned in the NTA 2026 NIFT Admit Card. NIFT Entrance exam will be conducted in 102 cities in India. Daman and Vapi are two newly added cities. 

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NIFT 2026 Exam Timing: Shift-Wise Schedule

Check out the timing for NIFT GAT and CAT. B.Des, B. F.Tech M.Des and MFM will have GAT and CAT both. The exam will be held in two shifts on the same day.

Shift Details for UG Courses

Check out the timing for UG Exams for NIFT B.Des and NIFT B.F.Tech.

Shift Details for PG Courses

Check out the timing for the NIFT M.Des, NIFT MFM, NIFT MFM-M.Des and M.F.Tech. The exam will be held in two shifts, separately for NIFT GAT and NIFT CAT.

How NIFT 2026 Exam Timing Affect Travel Plans?

Parents should keep the following points in mind.

• They should take care of travel and accommodation for exam day. The details of the centre are already mentioned on the NIFT 2026 Hall ticket. 
• Carry 2-3 copies of NIFT Admit card, in case the admit card is lost, one should have a backup.
• Keep 2-3 Photo ID proofs for the exam day.
• Make sure the tickets and all other bookings have been finalised before exam day.

• Plan a healthy diet for the candidates and ensure they get proper sleep.
• Visit the centre in advance to check the way and traffic patterns.
• Avoid staying at the centre during exam time to make the exam centre less crowded.
• Keep the atmosphere at home light. Avoid discussing mock test scores or comparing your child’s progress with others. A calm home leads to a focused mind.

NIFT 2026 Reporting Time & Entry Guidelines

Read the NIFT Exam Day guidelines that must be followed by the candidates on the exam day.

• Candidates must bring the following documents on February 08, 2026 at the test centre. Candidates who do not bring these will not be allowed to appear in the NIFTEE Stage 1 Examination.
  • Print copy of Admit Card Stage 1
  • Two passport-size photographs (same as uploaded on the Online Application Form) for pasting on the specific space in the attendance sheet at the Centre during the Examination.
  • Any one of the authorised Govt. photo IDs (must be original, valid and non- expired), viz. School Identity Card/ PAN card/ Driving License/ Voter ID/Passport/ Aadhar Card (With photograph)/ Aadhaar Enrolment No/ Ration Card
  • PwD certificate / UDID issued by the Competent Authority, if claiming the relaxation under PwD category. 
• Candidates are not allowed to carry any baggage inside the NIFT 2026 Examination Centre. NTA will not be responsible for any belongings stolen or lost at the premises. There will be no arrangement to keep the bag or luggage at the centre.
• Candidates must report to the Examination Centre at the time mentioned on NIFT 2026 Admit Card.
• Candidates must reach the test centres on or before the reporting Entry of the candidates into the centre shall be stopped 30 minutes before the start of the Examination.
• Candidates may note that late entry to the Examination premises is not permitted under any circumstances. NTA shall not be responsible for any delayed arrival of the candidate in reaching the centre for any reason. Candidates are advised to familiarise themselves with the location of the test centre and plan travel time
• Biometric information of all the candidates shall be taken. Identity checks will be made upon arrival at the NIFT test centre to ensure that there are no unauthorised candidates appearing for the test. Candidates must cooperate with the security people for security checks.
• Candidate must show the Admit Card (print out) for entry in the Examination room/hall. A candidate who does not possess a valid Admit Card shall not be allowed to enter the Examination Centre.
• Candidates should take their seats immediately after opening the Examination Hall on their allotted If not, they are likely to miss some of the general instructions to be announced in the Examination Rooms/ Halls. NTA shall not be responsible for any delay.
• Any candidate found to have changed room/ hall or the seat on his/her own, other than allocated would be considered as a case of unfair means and the candidature shall be cancelled and no plea would be accepted.
• Candidate must sign and paste the photograph on the Attendance Sheet at the appropriate place.
• Candidate should make sure that the question paper available on the computer is as per the opted Examination indicated in the Admit Card. In case the subject of the question paper is other than the opted Examination, the same may be told to the Invigilator concerned immediately.
• All calculations/writing work is to be done only in the rough sheet provided at the centre in the Examination Room/Hall and on completion of the test, candidates must hand over the rough sheets to the invigilator on duty in the Room/Hall.
• No candidate, without the special permission of the Observer or the Invigilator concerned, will leave his/her seat or Examination Room/Hall until the full duration of the paper is over. Candidates must follow the instructions strictly as instructed by the Centre Head/Observer/Invigilators.
• Please note that only registered candidates will be allowed at the Examination Centre. Friends or relatives of the candidates shall not be allowed entry into the test centre under any circumstances and will not be allowed to contact the candidate while the Examination process is going on.
• Candidate shall appear at their own cost at the Centre on the date and time as indicated on their Admit Card issued by the No TA, DA or any accommodation facility will not be admissible for appearing in NIFT Entrance Examination 2026.
• The candidates must follow the Rules and Regulations/Instruction of the NTA regarding their conduct in the Examination Hall. All cases of unfair means will be dealt with as per rules.
• Applications for candidates submitting false and fabricated information will be rejected and such candidates will be further debarred from appearing in Examinations conducted by NTA.
• NTA reserves the right to withdraw permission, granted inadvertently if any, to any candidate who is not eligible to appear in the NIFT Entrance Examination 2026 even though the Admit Card has been issued by the NTA.
• In case of any confusion in the interpretation of any of the instructions/ terms/ rules/ criteria regarding the determination of Eligibility/ Conduct of Examination/ Registration of Candidates/ Information contained therein, the interpretation of the NIFT /NTA shall be final and binding.

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