NID DAT Admit Card 2026 (B.Des & M.Des): Prelims & Mains Hall Ticket Date, Steps to Download

Q: Will NID 2025 studio test and personal interview be conducted on the same day?

The studio test and personal interview for M.Des DAT Mains are conducted on the same and in some cases different days. For instance, in the previous edition of the NID DAT exam, for the New Media Design program, the studio test was conducted on March 4, 2024. However, the personal interview were conducted between March 4 & 7, 2024. Therefore the candidate has to consult their DAT Mains admit to confirm their studio test and interview schedule.

Q: When will the NID DAT 2025 Prelims exam be conducted?

The candidate needs to report for the exam at 8 am. Gates closing time is 9.30 am. The B.Des exam will be held from 10 am - 1 pm; meanwhile, the M.Des exam will be held from 10 am - 12.30 am. The DAT Prelims for the B.Des programme will be conducted in a paper-and-pencil/pen mode. The question paper may incude both textual and visual questions. Other details like duration of the exam, marking scheme, etc. will be published in the DAT Prelims admit card. The DAT Prelims exam for the M.Des programme will be conducted offline and include a mix of objective and subjective questions. The paper will have a total of 100 questions.

Q: What is the weightage carried by DAT Mains?

The final results of NID DAT is prepared by giving weightage to DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. In case of the B.Des program, the DAT Prelims carries 40% weightage, while DAT Mains carries 60% weightage. Meanwhile for the M.Des programme, DAT Prelims carries 30% weightage, while DAT Mains carries 70% weightage. Note that DAT Mains for M.Des contains to sub-components - Studio Test and Interview. Candidates who qualify DAT Prelims has to mandatorily appear in the DAT Mains. Or else, the candidate is not considered for admission.

Q: Do I need to preserve the NID DAT 2024 admit card?

The National Institute of Design (NID) will release admit cards for DAT Prelims on December 12, 2024. Meanwhile, the DAT Prelims exam will be conducted on December 24, 2023. Admit cards for the DAT Mains will be released later. The candidate must carefully presere the admit cards for the DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. It is because the admit cards will be required at the time of seat allotment and admission. Also, note that the window to download the admit card will only be open for a limited period of time.

Q: When will the NID DAT 2026 Prelims exam be conducted?

The National Institute of Design (NID) is expected to conduct the DAT Prelims exam in the first week of January 2026. The B.Des exam will be held around 10 am - 1 pm; meanwhile, the M.Des exam will be held around 10 am - 12.30 am. The candidate needs to report for the exam at 8 am. Gates' closing time is 9.30 am. The DAT Prelims for the B.Des programme will be conducted in a paper-and-pencil/pen mode. The question paper may include both textual and visual questions. Other details like duration of the exam, marking scheme, etc., will be published in the DAT Prelims admit card. The DAT Prelims exam for the M.Des programme will be conducted offline and include a mix of objective and subjective questions. The paper will have a total of 100 questions.

Q: When will NID DAT (Prelims) admit card be released?

The National Institute of Design (NID) will release the NID DAT 2026 admit card for DAT Prelims in the last week of December 2025. The direct link to download the admit card is given on this page. Admit cards will be issued only to successfully registered candidates. To download the admit card, you need to log in to the portal using your email ID and date of birth. On exam day, bring the admit card and a photo ID proof.

Q: At what time do I need to report for NID DAT 2026 exam?

The reporting time for the DAT Prelims exam will be mentioned on the NID DAT 2026 admit card. Arrive at the exam center on time according to the reporting time. Please note that latecomers will not be permitted inside the NID DAT 2026 exam center. The gates at the exam center will close half an hour before the exam. The expected timing of NID DAT 2026 is: Event B.Des (Expected) M.Des (Expected) NID DAT (2025) Prelims date First week of January 2026 First week of January 2026 Reporting Time 8 AM 8 AM Gate closing time 9.30 AM 9.30 AM Time of the exam 10 AM - 1 PM (Part I + Part II) 10 AM - 12.30 PM (Part I + Part II)

Q: How much time is needed to prepare for the NID DAT exam?

A candidate would ideally need around 6 months or so to prepare the NID DAT exam. This time frame will allow the candidate to go through each topic in depth and prepare for the exam effectively. However, if the candidate has a strong grip over the fundamentals and basis concepts, it is still possible to prepare for the exam even in 3 months or less. But as the time duration shrinks, one will have to be more judicious with the use of each day and hour and be meticulous. Having a well defined time table in place will help matters. The time table can include things like day-wise topics to read and revise, sample papers to be solved, etc.

Q: What is the criteria to shortlist candidates for DAT Mains of NID?

NID officials will consider the Merit list of that Prelims to shortlist candidates for DAT Mains. The number of candidates shortlisted will be no less than three times in each category. The National Institute of Design will prepare merit lists for GENERAL, GENERAL-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD & OVERSEAS categories. In the scenario where two or more candidates score the same marks in the DAT Prelims, then a tiebreak policy will be applied to decide the merit rank.

Q: What details will be mentioned on NID DAT admit card?

The NID DAT 2025 admit card will carry the following like the application number, Candidate's name, Roll number, Date of birth, Name of the course applied for admission, Reporting time for exam, Date of exam, Exam duration, GATE closing time, Test center code, NID DAT test centre address, Photograph, and Signature. Additionally, it will also contain the Dos and Donts for candidates inside the exam venue. On the day of the NID DAT exam, the candidate needs to report at the exam center as per the reporting time mentioned on the admit card. Candidates arriving at the exam after the exam has commence may not be allowed entry inside the exam venue.

559 Students Q&A

Registration - 11 Sep '25 - 1 Dec '25

This exam is conducted for courses given below:

BDes, GDPD MDes

Updated on Sep 12, 2025 16:35 IST

By Sayeba Naushad, Assistant Manager

NID DAT Admit Card 2026: National Institute of Design will issue the NID DAT Prelims Exam Admit Card for the B.Des and M.Des programmes on December 11, 2025, around 4 PM. The NID DAT Mains Admit Card 2026 is expected to be out one month before the DAT Mains exam for B.Des and M.Des. The NID DAT Prelims Entrance Exam will be conducted on December 21, 2025, for UG and PG courses.

DAT Mains B. Des Admit Card is expected to be out in the second week of April 2026, and the NID DAT M.Des Mains Admit Card 2026 will be tentatively released in the last week of February 2026.

Candidates can access their NID DAT 2026 admit cards and check the exam venue details once they are available. Candidates can download their admit card from the official NID Website. A registered email ID and Date of Birth are required to access the B.Des and M.Des DAT admit card. The DAT Prelims admit card carries details like the name and address of the NID DAT 2026 exam center allotted, reporting time, exam date and timings, roll number, and NID DAT exam-day guidelines.

On exam day, bring a valid photo ID proof with the admit card. You must get the admit card duly signed by the invigilator and with the seal of the test center. Also, follow the NID DAT 2026 dress code. The admit card, duly signed and with the seal of the exam center, is mandatory for submitting a re-check request for NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) results.

Q: When will the NID DAT 2026 Prelims exam be conducted?

Q: When will NID DAT (Prelims) admit card be released?

Q: At what time do I need to report for NID DAT 2026 exam?

Table of content

How to download NID DAT Admit Card 2026?
NID Entrance Exam 2026 Exam Dates & Schedule
NID DAT 2026 Admit Card - Details Included
NID Admit Card 2026 - How to Fix Discrepancies
NID DAT Exam Day Instructions 2026
NID DAT Admit Card 2026 - Required for DAT Prelims & Mains Result Recheck
NID DAT Admit Card 2026 - Required to Download Answer Sheets
NID DAT (Prelims) Admit Card - Sample Test Centre Copy
NID DAT Admit Card 2026 - FAQs

How to download NID DAT Admit Card 2026?

DeskCalendar Admit Card: 11 Dec ' 25

Candidates can download their admit cards from the official NID website:

Visit the official NID website or the NID Admissions Portal.
Click on the link "Download Admit Card 2026."
Enter your Registered Email ID and Date of Birth.
Click Submit to view and download your admit card.
Check the NID DAT Admit card thoroughly and in case of discrepancies, connect with the NID Helpdesk.

NID DAT Admit cards 2026 will not be sent by post or any other means. So, make sure to download the admit card as soon as you can. This is because if you wait until the very last minute, you won't get the time to fix any discrepancies (if any) in the admit card.

Also Read:

Design Courses Offered by IITs: Course List, Eligibility Criteria and Fees

Commonly asked questions

Q: Will NID 2025 studio test and personal interview be conducted on the same day?

Q: When will the NID DAT 2025 Prelims exam be conducted?

NID Entrance Exam 2026 Exam Dates & Schedule

Take a look at the table below for the complete schedule of NID Entrance Exam 2026 exam

Dates	Upcoming Exam Dates
11 Sep ' 25 - 01 Dec ' 25	NID DAT 2026 Registration Date ONGOING
02 Dec ' 25 - 04 Dec ' 25	NID DAT 2026 Application Correction Window
11 Dec ' 25	NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) - Issue of Admit Cards
21 Dec ' 25	NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) Date: B.Des & M.Des
Feb ' 26	NID DAT 2026 (Mains) - Issue of Admit Cards for M.Des TENTATIVE
Apr ' 26	NID DAT 2026 (Mains) - Issue of Admit Cards for B.Des TENTATIVE
May ' 26	B.Des DAT Mains Studio Test TENTATIVE

NID DAT 2026 Admit Card - Details Included

The NID DAT Admit card can contain the following information:

Information given on NID DAT 2026 Admit card
Application number	Candidate's name	Roll number
Date of birth	Name of the course applied for admission	Reporting time for exam
Date of exam	Exam duration	Gate closing time
Test centre code	NID DAT test centre address	Photograph
Signature	Do’s & Don’ts for NID DAT entrance exam

Also Read:

Commonly asked questions

Q: Should I wait till the last few days or hours to download NID DAT 2025 admit card?

Q: Will I be penalized if I do not follow guidelines mentioned in NID DAT 2025 admit card?

NID Admit Card 2026 - How to Fix Discrepancies

The DAT Prelims or Mains admit card 2026 may have any of the following or similar types of discrepancies:

Your name may be incorrectly spelled
Some information may be missing or blurred, for instance, the roll number
You are allocated a test city you didn't choose
Or any other discrepancy.

If you find any discrepancy in the NID DAT 2026 admit card, you need to get in touch with the admission officials at the earliest. You can contact NID officials at the following address:

NID Admissions Cell
National Institute of Design
Paldi, Ahmedabad - 380007
Email: admissions@nid.edu

Also read:

Commonly asked questions

Q: When will the NID DAT 2025 Prelims exam be conducted?

NID DAT Exam Day Instructions 2026

On the day of the NID DAT 2026 exam, the candidate has to follow the guidelines outlined in the admit card.

Reporting time: The exam centre reporting time will be mentioned in the admit card. Make sure to reach the NID DAT 2026 exam centre on or before the reporting time.
Admit card - Carry a printout of the NID admit card.
ID proof - Along with the admit card, you will also need a valid photo ID proof.
Impersonation/ Use of Unfair Means - Any candidate found indulging in unfair means or impersonation will be disqualified. In some cases, criminal proceedings may also be initiated.
Stationery - You must carry your stationery - pens, pencils, sharpeners, ruler, eraser, sketch pens, colours, etc. Exam officials will not provide any stationery to the candidate inside the exam hall.
Barred items - Electronic devices, including mobile phones, smartphones, smartwatches, calculators, and tablets, are not allowed inside the exam hall. Written texts, books, or any other items that may be used to gain an unfair advantage over other candidates are also not allowed. The barred list also includes the following items: handbags, purses, wallets, markers, papers, and bags.
Candidates are not allowed to take the NID DAT question booklet along with them after the exam is over

NID DAT 2026 Exam Day - Document Checklist

Candidates need to carry a valid photo ID card along with their NID admit card to their allotted test centre on the day of the design entrance exam. Candidates can carry any of the following photo ID cards with them on the NID DAT exam day:

Aadhaar Card
Student ID card
Voter ID Card
Driving licence
Pan Card
Passport

Also Read:

NID 2026: DAT Drawing Tips & Tricks

Commonly asked questions

Q: Do I need the admit card even after NID DAT Prelims exam is over?

Q: When will NID DAT 2025 admit card (Mains) be released for B.Des?

NID DAT Admit Card 2026 - Required for DAT Prelims & Mains Result Recheck

The rechecking window for the NID DAT (Prelims) B.Des result is expected to open in the first week of April 2026 and will be available for one day. Rechecking Request for DAT Prelims for M.Des is expected to open in the third week of February 2026 from 6 PM. It will also open for one day.

DAT Prelims exam re-check window - DATES

B.Des program: First week of April 2026
M.Des program: Third week of February 2026

Rechecking window is also there for NID Mains Exam, both for B.Des and M.Des programmes. For B.Des programme, the rechecking window is expected to open in the third week of May 2026 and for the M.Des programme, the rechecking window will open around the first week of May 2026.

B.Des: Third week of May 2026
M.Des: First week of May 2026

Any rechecking request will only be entertained if the candidate submits a scanned copy of the NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) admit card, duly signed by the invigilator and with the seal of the test center. Candidates need to make an online payment of Rs. 1000 per exam (expected) and submit their admit card, duly attested by the invigilator, with the seal of the test centre. So, candidates must not only carefully preserve the admit card even after the DAT Prelims exam is over, but also ensure to get it:

Duly signed by the invigilator
With the seal of the test center.

The candidate is urged to go through the detailed NID DAT result re-check process.

NID DAT Admit Card 2026 - Required to Download Answer Sheets

In the earlier section, we discussed how the admit card is required for submitting a DAT Prelims re-check request.

Additionally, you will need the admit card duly signed by the invigilator and with the seal of the test center to avail yourself of the NID DAT 2026 answer sheets.

The answer sheets will be available for one year after the NID DAT 2026 (FINAL) results are announced.

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