NIFT 2026 Official Notification PDF (OUT): NIFTEE Stage 2 Notification (SOON)

National Institute of Fashion Technology Entrance Exam 2026 ( NIFT Entrance Exam )

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NIFT Spot Round: Documents Verification of new registered candidates

19 Jul '26 - 22 Jul '26

Sayeba
Sayeba Naushad
Assistant Manager
Updated on Mar 20, 2026 16:37 IST
The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) releases the official notification for the NIFT Entrance Exam 2026 on December 08, 2025. The application process begins in December, and candidates are able to apply online through the official NIFT website. The last date to submit the application form.

NIFT Notification for Stage 1 result 2026 is out now. NIFTEE 2026 written exams were conducted on February 08, 2026 and the result has been announced today. Get all the latest updates on the exam, including exam schedule, exam date, exam pattern, and much more. Read on.

NIFTEE Notification 2026

NTA announced the NIFT Stage 1 Result 2026 today in online mode. The announcement was made via an official NTA NIFT result notification. Candidates can check their result and download scorecard through login. NIFT 2026 entrance exam Stage 1 was held on February 8 and NTA released the NIFT Provisional Answer Key on February 17, 2026. NTA released the NIFT Answer Key for GAT section only. No answer key was released for NIFT CAT.

Latest Update - NIFT 2026 Result Stage 1 (OUT) Live Updates

Table of contents
  • Key Highlights about the NIFT 2026 Exam
  • When will the NIFT 2026 Application Form open?
  • Courses offered through the NIFT Entrance Exam
  • NIFT 2026 Admission Schedule Notification
  • Dates for Bachelor of Design (B. Des.) - Artisan Category
  • Dates for NIFT UG/PG Programmes for NRI/Foreign National/OCI/PIO/SAARC
  • Dates for NIFT PhD. Programme
  • NIFT 2026 Exam Timings Notification
  • NIFT B.Des Artisan Category 2026
  • NIFT 2026 Exam Centre Notification
  • NIFT Stage 2 Examination Notification
  • NIFT Final Result 2026 Notification
  • NIFT Counselling and e-registration 2026 Notification
View More

Key Highlights about the NIFT 2026 Exam

Importantly, the exam notification also informs candidates whether any changes have been made to the NIFT exam pattern, syllabus, admission process, etc. This page brings you updates on NIFT 2026 exam notifications. So, keep reading. The highlights of NIFT 2026 are:

Particulars

Description

Application process

Closed

Exam DATE

February 08, 2026

Papers

The NIFT exam has TWO papers - GAT and CAT

  • B.Des and M.Des candidates must attempt both papers.
  • M.F.Tech, M.F.M, and B.F.Tech candidates only need to take the GAT exam.

Mode of the exam 

  • GAT will be held in a computer-based mode
  • CAT will be an offline-based exam

When will the NIFT 2026 Application Form open?

The NIFTEE application Form 2026 is closed. It was out on December 08, 2025 and closed on January 19, 2026 with late fees. The application form had to be filled out online. The NIFT 2026 application fee was INR 2,000 for General, and INR 500 for SC, ST, and PwD candidates.

Courses offered through the NIFT Entrance Exam

The NIFT participating colleges 2026 will offer the following courses:

Admission to the above courses will be based on NIFT 2026 merit ranks.

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NIFT 2026 Admission Schedule Notification

The exam schedule for NIFT 2026 is given in the table below.

Events

Dates

Start of NIFT 2026 application form

Out, December 08, 2025

Last date to apply

January 16, 2026 (Regular)
January 17, 2026 to 19 January 2026 (Late)

Window to edit application form

January 20, 2026 to January 21, 2026

Exam date 

February 08, 2026

Release of draft answer key

February 17, 2026 

Declaration of NIFT 2026 results

March 20, 2026

Situation Test/ Interview

Last week of May 2026

Declaration of NIFTEE FINAL results

Last week of June 2026

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Dates for Bachelor of Design (B. Des.) - Artisan Category

Check out the timeline for B.Des Artisan Category.

Events

Dates

Online Registration

08 December 2025

Last date for Online Registration

28 February 2026

Admit Card (Online only)

To be announced later on website

Artisan Skill Test and Personal Interview

April 2026

Declaration of Final Result (Online)

April 2026

Seat Allocation

May/June 2026

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   When will slot booking open for the situation test at NIFT 2026?
A: 

Slot booking process for the NIFT Situation Test 2026 will be held a few weeks before the Situation Test. Slot booking process will be held online and will be open for candidates who have qualified in NIFT written exams. As part of the slot booking process, candidate needs to book their date and time slots for Situation Test. Note that slots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The details of the slot allocated to the candidate, exam centre, and other key details will be mentioned on the admit card.

Q:   What materials can be used for making the model during NIFT Situation Test?
A: 

Candidates will be provided with the items for making the model during the NIFT Situation Test. Materials that students may be provided with are Glaze Papers, Plasticine Clay, Copper Wire, Ivory Sheets, Cardboard, Thermocol (thick And Thin), Kite Papers, Handmade Sheet, Coloured Clay, Cellophane, Fabric, Thread, Ribbon, Straw, Aluminum Foil, etc. The candidate can not use any other items except the ones provided in the exam hall. 

Q:   Where can I find student reactions for NIFT 2026?
A: 

We at Shiksha.com will bring you student reactions for the NIFT exam. Our representatives will be present at the NIFT 2024 exam centre to do live coverage and provide insights into various aspects of the exam. We will get in touch with students appearing in the NIFT 2026 exam after they have appeared in the entrance exam. The student reactions will cover aspects like difficulty level of the exam, types of questions asked, expected cut-off, etc. Note that the student reactions will be available for all the design courses - M.Des B. Des, B.FTech M.FTech and MFM.

Q:   What are various items that candidates need to carry with them to the NIFT exam centre?
A: 

On the day of the NIFT exam, candidates must bring the following items with them NIFT 2026 admit card, a valid photo id proof, HB Pencil, eraser, sharpener, and dry colours.

Items that are not allowed inside the exam venue are water bottle, papers, notes, Books, calculator, electronic gadgets, mobile phone, bag, handbagand correction marker/ white fluid.

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   When and where will officials verify original documents for NIFT 2026 admission?
A: 

The information provided by the candidate when filling out the NIFT 2026 application form will be verified by NIFT officials before any candidate is considered for admission.

The verification of original documents will be conducted at the campus when the candidate reports for the alloted regular programme. When reporting for verification, along with the original documents, the candidate must also bring with them self-attested photocopies. 

Also, if the certificates are in any other language than Hindi/ English, then a certified translation in Hindi/ English produced duly verified by the issuing institution/ gazetted officer. If the candidate fails to produce the translation, the candidate may be denied admission. 

Q:   When do I need to start my preparation for NIFT 2026 exam?
A: 

The NIFT exam is among the competitive and is also considered among the toughest. So, it is recommended that the candidate starts their exam preparation early. NIFT exam has various components like written exam and Situation Test /Personal Interview. Candidates seeking admission to the B. Des and M.Des courses need to prepare for both the CAT and GAT. The CAT is a drawing-based exam. Now unless the candidate is already well-versed, the exam will be very difficult. So, start early. The same goes for the GAT.

Q:   At what time do I need to report for the NIFT 2026 written exam?
A: 

The GAT paper for all the B.Des and M.Des courses was conducted from 9 am - 11 am. Meanwhile, the GAT written exam for B.F.Tech, M.F.Tech, and M.F.M. courses were conducted from 9 am - 12 noon.

Q:   What is the candidate asked to perform during the NIFT situation test?
A: 

During the Situation Test, the candidate will be provided with a set of materials. Using these materials, the candidate will be required to make specific models. In this test, candidates are required to create a 3D model based on the question asked for, which they are given 2 hours, within which they need to conceptualize and complete the model.

After completing the mode, the candidate will also have to draft a write-up, which is evaluated by the jury later. Note that besides material exploration & management skills, NIFT also lays great emphasis on time management skills and students are closely monitored on the fact that whether they have managed to complete the task at hand in two hours or not.

Dates for NIFT UG/PG Programmes for NRI/Foreign National/OCI/PIO/SAARC

 Check out the NIFT UG and PG programmes.

Events

Dates

Online Registration

08 December 2025

Last date for online registration

30 April 2026

Last date to receive SAT / GMAT / GRE Scores

30 April 2026

Seat allotment and payment of fees

May/June 2026

Also Read: NIFT Admission through SAT/GRE/GMAT: Admission Process, Eligibility Criteria and Seat Intake

Dates for NIFT PhD. Programme

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   How many test centres are there for NIFT 2026 situation test?
A: 

NIFT Situation Test will be conducted in an offline mode at the various NIFT campuses. Considering there are 19 NIFTs, the candidate will be able to select any of these institutes to appear in the Situation Test. The window to select test centres for the Situation Test will be announced soon after the declaration of NIFT results for the written exam. Test centres for the Situation Test will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. So, candidates need to book their slots as soon as possible. Note that if seats in a particular centre (or institute) fill out, the candidate will not be able to be offered slots for that institute.

Q:   What details will be evaluated during the NIFT Situation Test?
A: 

NIFT situation test will test candidate on Colour scheme, Space visualization, Construction skill, Finesse of the model, Composition of elements, Overall presentation, Innovative and creative use of given material, etc. Situation Test will be evaluated on the spot.

Model made by candidate will not be kept for future reference. Candidate must make sure that their model is unique and stands out from the crowd. After making model, candidate must write about the model- write-up explaining the model.

Q:   What are the parameters that will be tested during NIFT 2026 Personal Interview (PI)?
A: 

PG candidates will be evaluated on the various parameters as listed below by a panel, in the Personal Interview:

  1. Career orientation 

  2. Aptness for the course 

  3. Overall personal achievements in academics and co-curricular activities 

  4. Communication 

  5. General awareness, aptitude, creative and lateral thinking 

Candidates will be shortlisted for the PI based on their performance in the written exam - GAT (and CAT in case of M.Des program).

Please note that NIFT reserves the right to modify the entrance examination scheme. This includes non-conduct of any stage (s) due to unforeseen circumstances.

Q:   What will be the basis of NIFT 2026 seat allotment?
A: 

The allotment of seats will be based on: 

  1. Choice opted at the time of counseling registration (academic programs + campuses)
  2. The category of the candidate
  3. Seat intake in the college opted for admission
  4. NIFT merit rank of the candidate. 

Check out the timeline for NIFT PhD.

Events

Dates

Online Registration

08 December 2025

Last date for Online Registration

28 February 2026

Admit Card (Online only) 

April 2026

Entrance Examination

April /May 2026

Declaration of Entrance Examination (Online)

May 2026

Research Proposal, Presentation and Interview

May/June 2026

Declaration of Final Result

Last week of June 2026

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What information will be included in the NIFT important dates 2026?
A: 

The important dates of NIFT 2026 will cover the entire admission schedule of NIFT 2026 admission process. The important dates will therefore cover events like release of admission notification, application form, and admit cards, conduct of the exam, declaration of results, counseling schedule, and date of commencement of classes. The candidate by consulting the important dates will know in advance about an upcoming event and so will be able to plan in advance. The exam schedule for NIFT 2026 will be released by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Note that in some cases previously scheduled event may be postoned, prepponed, or even cancelled. So, it is recommend to keep visiting this page for the latest updates.

Q:   What is NIFT Situation Test?
A: 

NIFT Situation Test is a hands on test. It evaluates a candidate skills for material handling and innovative ability with a given set of materials. Candidates are required to make a 3D model.

Q:   What instructions need to be followed by the candidates at the NIFT 2026 exam centre?
A: 

Admit card for NIFT will contain the important guidelines that candidates need to follow at the NIFT exam centre. 

  • Candidate needs to report at the NIFT 2026 exam centre one hour before the commencement of the exam. 
  • Candidate can't leave the exam hall until the exam ends.
  • Entry to the exam centre will only be allowed when the candidate produces their id card and a valid photo id proof.
  • The candidate must refrain from adopting unfair means inside the exam hall, including cheating, etc.
  • For the CAT the candidate will have to bring along stationery items like blue or black ballpoint pen, HB pencils, eraser, sharpener and dry colours.

NIFT 2026 Exam Timings Notification

The NIFT exam timings for the various design courses are given in the table below.

Programmes

Test

Test Timings

Bachelor of Design

GAT

10:00 am to 12.00 noon

CAT

03.00 pm to 06.00 pm

Bachelor of Fashion Technology

GAT

10:00 am to 01.00 pm

Bachelor of Fashion Technology & Bachelor of Design

GAT

10:00 am to 01.00 pm

CAT

03.00 pm to 06.00 pm

Master of Design

GAT

10:00 am to 12.00 noon

CAT

03.00 pm to 06.00 pm

Master of Fashion Management

GAT

10:00 am to 01.00 pm

Master of Fashion Management and Master of Design

GAT

10:00 am to 01.00 pm

CAT

03.00 pm to 06.00 pm

Master of Fashion Technology

GAT

10:00 am to 01.00 pm

Also Read:

NIFT B.Des Artisan Category 2026

Check out the schedule for NIFT Bachelor of Design (B. Des.) - Artisan Category

Activities

Timeline

Online Registration

08 December 2025

Last date for Online Registration

28 February 2026

Admit Card (Online only)

To be announced later

Artisan Skill Test and Personal Interview

April 2026

Declaration of Final Result (Online)

April 2026

Seat Allocation

May/June 2026

NIFT 2026 Exam Centre Notification

The NIFT exam 2026 was conducted in 100 cities. Candidates were asked to give four choices for the NIFT centres for the entrance examination in order of preference. Examination centres were allotted on a first-come, first-served basis. Refer to the table below to check the NIFT 2026 exam center list.

State

City

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Port Blair

Andhra Pradesh

Kurnool

Andhra Pradesh

Rajahmundry

Andhra Pradesh

Tirupathi

Andhra Pradesh

Vijayawada

Andhra Pradesh

Visakhapatnam

Arunachal Pradesh

Itanagar

Assam

Guwahati

Bihar

Bhagalpur

Bihar

Gaya

Bihar

Muzaffarpur

Bihar

Patna

Chandigarh

Chandigarh/ Panchkula/Mohali

Chhattisgarh

Durg/Bhilai

Chhattisgarh

Bilaspur (CG)

Chhattisgarh

Raipur

Delhi

Delhi NCR

Goa

Panaji

Gujarat

Ahmedabad/ Gandhinagar

Gujarat

Rajkot

Gujarat

Surat

Gujarat

Vadodara

Haryana

Hisar

Himachal Pradesh

Shimla

Himachal Pradesh

Hamirpur

Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu

Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar

Jharkhand

Dhanbad

Jharkhand

Jamshedpur

Jharkhand

Ranchi

Karnataka

Bengaluru

Karnataka

Mangaluru (Mangalore)

Karnataka

Mysuru (Mysore)

Kerala

Kochi

Kerala

Ernakulam/Alappuzha

Kerala

Kannur

Kerala

Kollam

Kerala

Kottayam

Kerala

Kozhikode

Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram

Kerala

Thrissur

Ladakh

Leh

Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal

Madhya Pradesh

Gwalior

Madhya Pradesh

Indore/Ujjain

Madhya Pradesh

Jabalpur

Madhya Pradesh

Sagar

Madhya Pradesh

Satna

Maharashtra

Amravati

Maharashtra

Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar

Maharashtra

Kolhapur

Maharashtra

Mumbai/Navi Mumbai/Thane

Maharashtra

Nagpur

Maharashtra

Nashik

Maharashtra

Pune

Manipur

Imphal

Meghalaya

Shillong

Mizoram

Aizawl

Nagaland

Kohima

Odisha

Balasore

Odisha

Berhampur-Ganjam

Odisha

Bhubaneswar

Odisha

Sambhalpur

Punjab

Amritsar

Punjab

Jalandhar

Punjab

Ludhiana

Rajasthan

Jaipur

Rajasthan

Jodhpur

Rajasthan

Kota

Rajasthan

Udaipur

Rajasthan

Sikar

Sikkim

Gangtok

Tamil Nadu

Chennai

Tamil Nadu

Coimbatore

Tamil Nadu

Cuddalore

Tamil Nadu

Madurai

Tamil Nadu

Nagercoil

Tamil Nadu

Puducherry

Tamil Nadu

Salem

Tamil Nadu

Thanjavur

Tamil Nadu

Tiruchirappalli

Tamil Nadu

Vellore

Telangana

Hyderabad

Telangana

Warangal

Tripura

Agartala

Uttar Pradesh

Agra

Uttar Pradesh

Gorakhpur

Uttar Pradesh

Kanpur

Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow

Uttar Pradesh

Meerut

Uttar Pradesh

Prayagraj (Allahabad)

Uttar Pradesh

Varanasi

Uttar Pradesh

Bareilly

Uttarakhand

Dehradun

Uttarakhand

Haldwani

Uttarakhand

Roorkee

West Bengal

Asansol

West Bengal

Durgapur

West Bengal

Kolkata

West Bengal

Siliguri

Gujarat

Vapi

Daman & Diu

Daman

NIFT 2026 Exam Centre Reporting Time

The reporting time is mentioned on the NIFT admit card. Generally, the candidate must reach the exam center at least an hour in advance. Once the exam commences, no candidate will be allowed inside the exam venue.

NIFT Stage 2 Examination Notification

  • NTA NIFT Stage 2 will be conducted in the second week of June, 2026, for B.Des programmes. 
  • NIFT Personal Interview will be conducted for PG programmes in the last week of May 2026, till the first week of June 2026. Stage 2 will include NIFT Situation Test, Studio Test, and/or NIFT Personal Interview.
  • NTA is expected to release the City Intimation Slip for Stage 2 in the last week of May 2026, on the official website.
  • NIFT Admit Card Stage 2 for B.Des and B.F Tech programmes in the first week of June 2026. The Stage 2 Entrance Exam will be conducted in June, 2026.

NIFT Final Result 2026 Notification

NTA is expected to release the NIFTEE 2026 Final Result for UG and PG Programmes in the last week of June 2026. NIFTEE Final Result is declared after the Stage 2 Entrance Examination. 

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NIFT Counselling and e-registration 2026 Notification

Candidates who have secured a valid Common Merit Rank (CMR) in the NIFTEE final result will have to register for NIFT Counselling and appear as per the schedule shared. The  Counselling is expected to be between the last week of June 2026 and to first week of July 2026, on the official NIFT counselling portal.

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About the Author
author-image
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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Answered 2 months ago

NIFT 2026 Final Result for UG and PG programmes was released on June 03, 2026

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Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10