Is there negative marking in NID DAT?

There is no negative marking in NID DAT 2025 exam. The candidate is recommended to go through the detailed exam pattern to get insights into the question paper structure, including types of questions asked, sections, etc. The DAT Prelims exam for the B. Des programme has two parts. Part I will include 22 objective-type questions, whereas Part II will include 4 subjective-type questions. Objective-type questions carry 1-2 marks, while subjective-type questions carry 15-20 marks. The total marks for the NID DAT Prelims will be 100 marks.

How to prepare for NID admissions?

Candidates are advised to be thorough in their preparation when they plan to appear for NID DAT. Being regular in studies is a must when appearing for NID Entrance Exam. NID Prelims comprises both objective and subjective questions. NID Entrance Exam preparation plan that candidates can follow includes. Know the NID exam pattern and marking scheme well Get well-versed with the NID that syllabus Prepare a time-table and strictly adhere to it Attempt NID previous year question papers Solve NID sample papers and mock tests Keep revising.

Can I carry the NID question paper with me after the exam?

No, the candidate is not allowed to carry the question paper of the NID exam with them after conclusion of the exam. In fact, the question papers of NID will not be released neither for that Prelims or that Mains. The reason for the non release of the question paper is because the NID question papers are highly subjective in nature. The question paper of NID DAT will be set in English language. Note that the candidate can download unofficial versions of the NID question papers released by the coaching institutes. These question papers will be mostly memory-based, compiled with the help of questions shared by candidates.

How can I improve my sketching skills for NID DAT?

If you want to get a good rank in NID DAT, you should able to sketch quickly without compromising on sketch quality. This means you should be able to conceive idea as you sketch. Remember, when you are in the exam hall, time seems to just fly. So, it is vital that you are able to sketch uninhibited and fast, and with confidence.

Does NID syllabus change every year?

NID syllabus largely remains the same. However, aspirants are advised to keep a close eye on NID exam notifications on Shiksha so that they do not miss out on the latest developments around NID admissions. To prepare for the exam, students are advised to be creative, practice sketching, reasoning, GK, and basic concepts. The that Mains exam for the B. Des may include questions from topics like color terminology, optical illusion, from and function, picture analysis, literal thinking, story pictures, memory drawing, etc. Note that the NID that question paper will not include questions from all of these topics. However, to stand a good chance of scoring good marks in the NID that exam, the candidate must practice all the topics.

What are the best study material to prepare for NID DAT 2026?

The NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT) is a two-step entrance exam. The candidate first appears in DAT Prelims. If shortlisted, the candidate has to next appear in DAT Mains. Here are some suggested study material for NID DAT: Quantitative Aptitude - Physics and Maths syllabus up to Class 10. Logical Reasoning - Step-by-Step Verbal Reasoning by Philip Kay, How to Pass Diagrammatic Reasoning Test by Mike Bryon. GK and Current Affairs - Read newspapers daily for current affairs. For static GK, read any good GK book for NID. English - The Ultimate Guide for NIFT/NID/IIFT Entrance Exam by Arihant

What is the application fee for NID DAT?

The application fee of NID DAT 2026 for the B. Des for General, General-EWS, OBC-NCL candidates is INR 3,000. SC, ST, PwD candidates only ned to pay INR 1,500. However note that the application fees for overseas candidates seeking admission to supernumerary seats is INR 5000. In case of the M.Des programme, the application fees for General, General-EWS, OBC-NCL candidates applying for one discipline is INR 3,000. If two disciplines are chosen, the application fee is INR 6000. Meanwhile, SC, ST, PwD candidate need to pay INR 1,500 for one discipline, and INR 3000 for two disciplines. The NID DAT 2026 application form is now open.

What is the syllabus for NID Entrance Exam?

The NID syllabus for that Prelims will include questions from topics like Drawing fundamentals, Innovation in design, Theme development, Exercises on imagination, Graphics & pictograms, Principles of composition, Design theory, etc. The syllabus for NID that Mains will include topics like Model making, Material manipulation, Audio-visual exercises, Importance of body language, Doodling, Creative thinking and the likes. Candidates may note that the National Institute of Design doesn't release any official syllabus. The important topics for the exam are identified by consulting previous years' question papers. The candidate is advised to visit the NID admission portal for the latest updates on NID Syllabus; alternately they may visit this page.

What will be the pattern for NID DAT Prelims?

The NID DAT 2025 (Prelims) exam will be conducted on January 5, 2024. As per the official pattern, the DAT Prelims exam wil be conducted offline and will be of 3 hours duration. The test will be conducted in English language and include a maximum of 26 questions. The question paper will include both subjective and objective-type questions. The paper will be for 100 marks. Candidate who qualify in DAT Prelims have to next appear in DAT Mains. The candidate needs to consult the exam pattern along with the syllabus to prepare for the NID that exam. Note that the National Institute of Design also has the authority to make changes to the exam pattern.

When will the final results of National Institute of Design be declared?

The National Institute of Design will declare the final results of NID DAT 2025 for the B. Des and M.Des courses eparately. Final results for the B.Des program will be announced somtime in May 2025, while final results for the M.Des program will be announced aorund the last week of April 2025. The final results would be prepared by giving weightage to DAT Prelims and DAT Mains 2024. The National Institute of Design will declare the weightage for the two exams at the time of declaration of results or sometime thereabout. In the previous edition of the exam, final results for B. Des programme was prepared by giving 40% weightage to that Prelims and 60% weightage to DAT Mains. Meanwhile, final results for M.Des will be prepared by giving 30% weightage to DAT Prelims and 70% weightage to DAT Mains.

When will the Studio Test and Interview be conducted for the M.Des programme at NID?

The Studio Test and Personal Interview for the M.Des programme will be conducted sometime starting March 2025. Candidates will be shortlisted for the Studio Test and Interview based on their performance in DAT Prelims. The Studio Test will be conducted in offline mode at various NID campuses. Eligible candidates have to get registered at the test centre. The Studio Test will start at around 9 am, followed by the Interview. It is mandatory for candidates to appear in both the Studio Test and the Interview. If any candidate skips the interview, he or she will not be considered for admission to the B.Des or M.Des course.

What are the subjects in NID exam?

Some of the topics that aspirants should study as part of NID syllabus for that Prelims include Colour Terminology, Design Development, Mood, Theme & Colour Inter-relationship, Design Theory, Elements & Principles Of Design, Theme Development, Visual Logic, Memory Drawing, Exercises on Imagination, etc. Candidates who qualify that Prelims has to next appear in that Mains. The that Mains includes a Studio Test for the B. Des programme. The paper may include questions like Doodling, Material Manipulation, Audio Visual Exercise, How to Evolve Ideas, etc. The candidate needs to prepare for the NID that exam as per the updated syllabus. It is recommended that along with the syllabus, the candidate also consults the exam pattern to prepare for NID that exam.

Is the NID exam difficult?

NID evaluates aspirants based on their knowledge, creativity and aptitude for design. Experts share that NID is one of the most challenging design entrance exams conducted in the country. However, if prepared well, the difficulty level of NID Entrance Exam is medium. On of the main reasons why NID is such a competitive exam is there are very limited number of seats. For instance, there are only 425 seats available for the BDes programme through NID. In contrast, the NIFTs offer 2748 seats.

Does NID syllabus change every year?

NID syllabus largely remains the same. However, aspirants are advised to keep a close eye on NID exam notifications on Shiksha so that they do not miss out on the latest developments around NID admissions. To prepare for the exam, students are advised to be creative, practice sketching, reasoning, GK, and basic concepts. The that Mains exam for the B. Des may include questions from topics like color terminology, optical illusion, from and function, picture analysis, literal thinking, story pictures, memory drawing, etc. Note that the NID that question paper will not include questions from all of these topics. However, to stand a good chance of scoring good marks in the NID that exam, the candidate must practice all the topics.

How to crack NID DAT without coaching?

It is not mandatory to take coaching to get a good rank in NID DAT. It is because, the entrance exam will test the creative, drawing, and innovative skills of the candidate. Now, a coaching institute cannot exactly teach you to be creative or become innovative. Instead, with a little effort these skills can yourself learn these skills yourself. Also, a major thrust of the design aptitide test is to evaluate the drawing skills of the candidate. So, make it a point to work on your design skills, including learning how to draw line, shadow, figure, gesture, cartoon drawing, etc. When practicing drawing, also keep a tab on the drawing speed, as it will help you complete the paper in the allotted time.

What is the NID Interview and what aspects are tested during the interview?

Candidates who get shortlisted based on their DAT Prelims scores for the M.Des programme has to next appear in DAT Mains, which comprises a Studio Test and Interview. The Personal Interview is conducted after the Studio Test and carries a weightage of 30%. The interview will be conducted by a panel, which may include experts from industries/academics. The purpose of the interview is to assess the general awareness, extracurricular activities, academics, and the field of interest of the candidate. It is mandatory for candidates to appear in the Personal Interview or else the candidate will not be included in the final merit list. The National Institute of Design (NID) has released the schedule for NID DAT 2024 (Mains).

When will the Studio Test and Interview be conducted for the M.Des programme at NID?

The Studio Test and Personal Interview for the M.Des programme will be conducted sometime starting March 2025. Candidates will be shortlisted for the Studio Test and Interview based on their performance in DAT Prelims. The Studio Test will be conducted in offline mode at various NID campuses. Eligible candidates have to get registered at the test centre. The Studio Test will start at around 9 am, followed by the Interview. It is mandatory for candidates to appear in both the Studio Test and the Interview. If any candidate skips the interview, he or she will not be considered for admission to the B.Des or M.Des course.

NID DAT Syllabus 2026 (Prelims & Mains): Subject-wise Important Topics PDF, Weightage

510 Students Q&A

Registration - 11 Sep '25 - 1 Dec '25

This exam is conducted for courses given below:

BDes, GDPD MDes

Updated on Oct 28, 2025 11:15 IST

By Sayeba Naushad, Assistant Manager

NID DAT Syllabus 2026 - The National Institute of Design (NID) does not release any official syllabus for the NID DAT exam. So, to help the candidate, we have analyzed the previous years' NID question papers and have distilled out the important topics that candidates need to prepare for the design entrance exam.

The important topics are compiled based on previous years' DAT Prelims and DAT Mains question papers. So, if you prepare for the NID DAT 2026 exam by consulting the important topics, you will not only know what and how to prepare but also give yourself a better chance of scoring well on the exam. The important topics will provide insights into the weightage carried by various topics, the difficulty level of questions asked, and any specific trends.

Latest updates:

NID DAT 2026 Application Form Released; Apply Now at admissions.nid.edu

Table of content

NID DAT Prelims Syllabus for B.Des Program
NID DAT Prelims Syllabus for M.Des
NID DAT Mains Syllabus for B.Des (Studio Test)
NID DAT Mains Syllabus for MDes (Studio Test)
Previous years' NID DAT Question Papers
NID DAT 2026 Exam Pattern
How to Prepare for NID DAT 2026 (Prelims)
NID DAT Syllabus 2026 - FAQs

NID DAT Prelims Syllabus for B.Des Program

NID DAT Prelims Syllabus for M.Des

NID DAT Mains Syllabus for B.Des (Studio Test)

NID DAT Mains Syllabus for MDes (Studio Test)

Previous years' NID DAT Question Papers

NID DAT 2026 Exam Pattern

How to Prepare for NID DAT 2026 (Prelims)

NID DAT Syllabus 2026 - FAQs

33 Institutes accepting NID Entrance Exam

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Courses Offered

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Duration

4 years
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Courses Offered

Exams

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Total Fees

₹ 9.60 Lakh

Duration

4 years
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NID DAT Mains Syllabus for B.Des (Studio Test)

NID DAT Mains Syllabus for MDes (Studio Test)

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How to Prepare for NID DAT 2026 (Prelims)

NID DAT Syllabus 2026 - FAQs

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