NID DAT exam 2026 is conducted will be held in offline mode on December 21 across various centres.
NID DAT 2026 exam on December 21 is compulsory for all registered candidates
NID DAT 2026 exam will be conducted on December 21 by National Institute of Design (NID) for candidates looking for admission to its B.Des and M.Des programmes. With less time left for preparation, aspirants are advised to understand NID DAT exam pattern 2026 and marking structure to plan their final revision effectively.
DAT exam pattern and evaluation criteria have been shared in official NID DAT handbook 2026 for both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
NID DAT 2026 Exam Pattern
The NID DAT exam 2026 is conducted in offline mode and is divided into two stages- DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. The December 21 test is for the DAT Prelims stage.
- For BDes Candidates
- The DAT Prelims consists of:
- Objective-type questions
- Subjective and drawing-based questions
The paper is designed to test:
- Visual perception
- Creativity
- Design aptitude
- Observation skills
- Logical reasoning
The NID DAT Prelims score is used for shortlisting candidates for DAT Mains.
For MDes Candidates
The NID DAT Prelims for MDes includes:
- Design aptitude questions
- Analytical and problem-solving tasks
Shortlisted candidates will be called for DAT Mains, which includes studio tests and interviews, depending on the discipline.
NID DAT 2026 Weightage
As per the NID DAT handbook 2026:
DAT Prelims is used only for shortlisting
Final merit list is prepared based on:
- DAT Mains performance
- Studio test
- Personal interview (for MDes)
For BDes admissions, higher weightage is given to DAT Mains, while Prelims stage acts as a qualifying filter.
For MDes admissions, weightage varies by discipline, but DAT Mains and interviews play a decisive role in final selection.
Important Points for NID DAT 2026 Candidates
- The NID DAT 2026 exam on December 21 is compulsory for all registered candidates.
- Performance in Prelims determines eligibility for the next stage.
- Candidates must follow the NID DAT exam pattern while preparing drawing and aptitude sections.
- Exact weightage details are programme-specific and mentioned in the official handbook.
Candidates are advised to go through the NID DAT exam pattern 2026 carefully and check programme-wise criteria before appearing for exam.
What’s Next After NID DAT Prelims 2026?
After December 21 exam:
- NID will announce DAT Prelims results
- Shortlisted candidates will be invited for DAT Mains
- Final admission offers will be issued based on combined performance
Candidates should keep checking official NID admissions portal for updates related to NID DAT 2026, result dates and DAT Mains schedules.
Read more:
NID DAT 2026 Exam Soon: Check Things to Carry on Exam Day
NID Kurukshetra accepts scores of the NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT) for admission to its B.Des program. The merit list is prepared based on various factors, including NID DAT entrance examination scores, portfolio evaluation, and interview. Candidates should have passing marks in 10+2 as per the NID Haryana course eligibility criteria. For NID Haryana admission, candidates first have to clear DAT Prelims. After that, shortlisted candidates have to clear DAT Mains. A final merit list is released considering the scores of both the entrance tests
As per the information available online, NID Gandhinagar admissions are entrance-based. Hence, direct admission is not offered to the candidates. Candidates seeking admission to MDes programmes have to appear for the DAT prelims and DAT mains. The institute shortlist candidates for the Mains based on score in prelims. Further, in the Mains exam, candidates have to take the studio test followed by an interview round.
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The NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) exam will be conducted on December 21, 2025.
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.