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NIFT vs NID Cutoff 2026: Which is hard to Crack?

NIFT vs NID Cutoff 2026: Which is hard to Crack?

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Sayeba
Sayeba Naushad
Assistant Manager
Updated on Mar 13, 2026 17:13 IST
NIFT and NID are both national-level exams, conducted for design aspirants who want to make a career in Design. Both exams are conducted in two levels or stages and have similar exams. But NID DAT is said to be tougher because the selection criteria are a bit tougher and the number of seats available is less in NIDs.

Have you applied for both NIFT Entrance Exam and NID DAT Entrance Exam? And wondering, whose cutoff is easy to clear? Then you are at the right place. This article will guide you about NIFT and NID Cutoffs, seat availability, number of applicants, etc.

NIFT vs NID Cutoff

NIFT vs NID Cutoff 2026

NIFT and NID are both national-level exams, conducted for design aspirants who want to make a career in Design. Both exams are conducted in two levels or stages and have similar exams. But NID DAT is said to be tougher because the selection criteria are a bit tougher and the number of seats available is less in NIDs. 

NIFT conducts NIFT Entrance Exam, then Situation test and Interview, whereas NID conducts NID DAT Prelims and then NID Mains, which comprises NID Studio Test and Interview.

The focus area of NIFT is Fashion and Apparel. It is for candidates who want to make a career in the fashion industry. The courses focus on fashion design, textile design, fashion communication and fashion technology. whereas the focus area of NID is Design Thinking in the field of fashion and other industries. It offers design courses beyond fashion, like animation, UI/UX, Films, etc.

Table of contents
  • Number of Applicants at NIFT and NID
  • Competition Ratio of NIFT and NID
  • Seat Availability at NIFT and NID
  • Ranks at NIFT and NID
  • NID vs NIFT - Admission Process of NIFT and NID
  • NIFT Cutoff for B.Des (Fashion Design)
  • NIFT Cutoff for M.Des 2025
  • NID Cutoff for B.Des. 2025 Programme
  • NID Cutoff for M.Des. 2025 Programme
View More

Number of Applicants at NIFT and NID

Check out the number of Applicants applying for NIFT Entrance Exam and NID DAT Entrance Exam.

Exam Number of candidates Difficulty Level
NIFT 30,000 - 40, 000 Moderate to High
NID DAT 20,000 - 25,000 High
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   When will the Studio Test and Interview be conducted for the M.Des programme?
A: 

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.

 

Q:   Is the NID DAT exam very difficult to crack?
A: 

NID DAT, along with NIFT and UCEED are among the most competitive national-level entrance exams in the country. The fact that there are only 425 seats for the B. Des and 347 seats for the M.Des programme makes it very competitive. But that being said, if the candidate prepares well and with the correct strategy, then the NID DAT exam can be cracked. Among the first things the candidate needs to do is prepare a efficient study timetable get familiar with the syllabus and pattern, and use good books as reference material. 

Q:   Is there negative marking in NID Studio Test?
A: 

No, there is no negative marking in the NID Studio Test. Candidates will be evaluated based on their thinking and creative skills. Studio Test will carry 40% of the total Marks for the NID Mains Exam.

Competition Ratio of NIFT and NID

Check out the competition ratio for NIFT and NID.

  NIFT Competition Ratio NID Competition Ratio
Competition Ratio 1 seat for every 7 applicants 1 seat for every 36 applicants
Acceptance Rate 13- 15 % 0.94% to 1.2%
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Seat Availability at NIFT and NID

Check out the seat availability at NIFT and NID.

Institute Seats Campus
NIFT 5076 19
NID 400- 500 5

Also Read:

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   In how many cities will NID DAT 2026 (Mains) exam be conducted?
A: 

NID DAT Mains 2026 exam for the B. Des and M.Des programme will be conducted in 17 cities. NID DAT 2026 exam was conducted on December 21, 2025 and application was closed on December 01, 2025.

Q:   How can I find details of NID DAT 2026 Exam center allocated to me?
A: 

Details of NID DAT 2026 Exam centre, name, address, and reporting time are given in the NID DAT 2026 Admit card. DAT Prelims admit card was available for download from December 11, 2025.

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Ranks at NIFT and NID 

The ranks at which candidates can get NIFT and NID Campus is given below.

Criteria NIFT NID DAT
Rank/Score 100- 300 High Score Needed
Seat per course High Low
Good Score 70- 80/100 70- 80/100
Top Campus Rank up to 150 Rank up to 50
Focus Area Fashion & Drawing Analytical & Creative

NID vs NIFT - Admission Process of NIFT and NID

Check out the Admission Process of NIFT and NID.

Particular NID NIFT
Exam structure
  • NID exam has two Design Aptitude Tests (DATs) - DAT Prelims and DAT Mains
  • The DAT will test the design, aptitude, and behavioral abilities of the candidates along with their drawing and problem-solving skills.
  • The candidate next has to appear in a Studio Test and Portfolio round.
  • The NIFT exam includes NIFT Written Test: Creative Ability Test (CAT) and a General Ability Test (GAT) and NIFT Situation test and Interview.
  • NIFT CAT exam will evaluate the creative and intuitive ability of the candidate.
  • The written exam will be followed by a Situation Test. NIFT Situation Test will examine the candidate’s skills for material handling and innovative ability.
Studio Test and Interview
  • Candidates who get shortlisted for the DAT Mains will have to appear in a Studio Test.
  • The studio test will evaluate the creativity of the candidate.
  • During the Studio Test, the candidate will have to make a model with material provided in the examination hall. 
  • The test will evaluate the candidate's material handling and creative skills in a given scenario and with a given set of materials.

Design Focus
  • It is generally believed that the NIDs have a broader design perspective. For instance, you get a broader set of specializations to pick from. This may mean you need to focus more on concepts like design principles, creative thinking, problem-solving, etc.
  • Unlike the NIDs, the NIFTs are more inclined towards fashion and fashion-related subjects. So, if you have a keen interest in fashion, NIFT may be more suited to you.

Portlio 
  • The candidate may be asked for a portfolio as part of the DAT Mains interview.
  • The portfolio must include the best works of the candidate and must cover a diverse spectrum of topics. The portfolio mustn't cover a narrow topic.
  • The portfolio will help you to make a first and lasting impression on the jury. 
  • If you are asked for a portfolio during the interview, it may be limited to fashion-related topics.
  • The portfolio must showcase a strong inclination towards fashion, fashion trends, materials, etc.

Also Read:

NIFT Cutoff for B.Des (Fashion Design)

Check out the cutoff for B.Des for round 1 for NIFT Colleges.

NIFT Cutoff for M.Des 2025

Check out the NIFT Cutoff for M.Des.

NID Cutoff for B.Des. 2025 Programme

Check out the NID Cutoff for B.Des 2025 Open, GEN-EW and OBC-NCL:

Campus OPEN Rank OPEN Score GEN-EWS Rank GEN-EWS Score OBC-NCL Rank OBC-NCL Score
NID Ahmedabad 48 59.60 16 50.90 41 53.60
NID Andhra Pradesh 225 53.50 53 45.60 125 48.20
NID Assam 294 51.80 56 45.00 142 47.40
NID Madhya Pradesh 197 54.20 49 45.90 103 49.30
NID Haryana 193 54.30 48 45.90 106 49.00

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NID Cutoff for M.Des. 2025 Programme

Check out the M.Des Cutoff for 2025 for Open and GEN-EWS Category:

Discipline OPEN Rank OPEN Score GEN-EWS Rank GEN-EWS Score
Animation Film Design 12 55.10 NE NE
Ceramic & Glass Design 6 58.10 NA NA
Furniture & Interior Design 10 55.90 2 50.25
Film & Video Communication 10 67.35 2 54.20
Graphic Design 8 62.25 NE NE
Product Design 13 57.60 NE NE
Textile Design 8 59.25 NE NE
Apparel Design 9 54.15 NE NE
Lifestyle Accessory Design 10 59.30 NE NE
New Media Design 8 57.70 NE NE
Photography Design 16 50.15 NE NE
Strategic Design Management 11 61.40 1 50.50
Transportation & Automobile Design 9 56.35 NE NE
Toy & Game Design 6 72.95 NA NA
Digital Game Design 7 66.65 2 60.00
Design for Retail Experience 7 59.30 NE NE
Information Design 10 63.50 3 52.10
Interaction Design 11 57.50 NE NE
Universal Design 14 60.55 2 57.00

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About the Author
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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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