What is the reservation process for the NIFT entrance exam?

The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFTs) will follow the following reservation criteria: Category Reservation (%) SC 15 ST 7.5 OBC-NCL 27 GEN-EWS 10 PwD 5 The candidate has to select their category of admission at the time of filling out the application form and attach supporting documents. The admission officials will verify all relevant documents at the time of counseling.

Will unfilled seats in OBC, EWS, categories during NIFT counseling be converted to open category?

In case there unfilled seats in the OBC (NCL), EWS and domicile (Open) and domicile (OBC NCL) category, these seats will be converted to open category after a minimum of two rounds of seat allocation. The candidate has to select their category at the time of filling out the NIFT application form. Also, the candidate must ensure that they have the requisite valid and verificable certificate for the category chosen. If the candidate fails to submit proper documents, he or she will be considered under open category. Also

How can I prepare for the Creative Ability Test (CAT) of NIFT 2026 exam?

NIFT Creative Ability Test or NIFT CAT will evaluate the intuitive ability, power of observation in concept development, and design ability of the candidate. To prepare for CAT the candidate must develop their observation skills, learn the basics of geometrical shapes, understand conceptualization, learn product drawing and shading. Additionally, the candidate must also work on their line quality. For instance, the candidate needs to ensure there are no jittery or multiple lines. To improve one's drawing skills, one may start with simple drawings and then move on to complex shapes. Also, while shading is not so important for the exam, shading skills can definitely help the candidate get a positive nod from the evaluator.

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

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.

Can I apply for NIFT 2026 with late fees?

Yes, the National Institute of Fashion Technology will allow candidates with late fees. The late fee application window will open once the deadline to fill out the NIFT 2026 application form with regular fee closes. The start and last date to fill out the NIFT 2026 application form with late fee will be notified by the institute before the regular application form closes or sometime thereabout. The late fee for NIFT 2026 will be INR 5,000. The late fee has to be paid in addition to the application fee, which is INR 3000 for open category candidates.

When will the NIFT 2026 application form open?

NIFT Application 2026 is closed now. The registration started on December 08, 2025. NIFT 2026 Application forms and Notifications can be out anytime now for B.Des, M.Des, B.F. Tech, M.F.Tech, and M.F.M programmes. The application form will be released at @nift.ac.in. The NIFT entrance exam application form is the same for all courses. The application fee for NIFT is INR 2,000 (INR 500 for SC, ST, and PwD categories). NIFT Application forms can also be filled with late fees. The late fee is INR 5,000.

When and where will officials verify original documents for NIFT 2026 admission?

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.

Do I need to keep a photocopy/printout after filling out the NIFT 2026 application form?

The application process for NIFT will be conducted online. After completing the application process, inclduing payment of fees, the candidate must download a printout of the application form. In fact, the NIFT prospectus prescribes the candidate to “apply on time and keep a printout / photocopy of application form for further reference along with proof of payment.”

What is the last date to fill out the NIFT 2026 application form?

The NTA has released the admission schedule for the NIFT 2026 entrance exam, including the application dates. The last date to fill application will be in the first week of January 2026. Candidates applying a late fee will have to pay an additional INR 5,000.

How can I make corrections in the NIFT 2026 application form?

NIFT 2026 application form correction window will open soon after the online application form closes. To make corrections in the form, candidates need to Go to the NIFT 2026 admission portal If the application correction window is open, link will be activated Click on the link Log in using candidate credentials Upon log in, make the necessary change Submit the form after making changes.

What are the cities or test centres where NIFT 2026 exam will be conducted?

NIFT 2026 exam is expected to be conducted in the cities given below. S.No City S.No City 1 Ahmedabad 20 Kolkata 2 Bengaluru 21 Lucknow 3 Bhopal 22 Madurai 4 Bhubaneswar 23 Mumbai 5 Chandigarh 24 Nagpur 6 Chennai 25 New Delhi (East, Central, North, South, and West Delhi) 7 Cochin 26 Noida 8 Coimbatore 27 Patna 9 Daman 28 Pune 10 Dehradun 29 Raipur 11 Faridabad 30 Ranchi 12 Ghaziabad 31 Rajkot 13 Gurugram 32 Surat 14 Guwahati 33 Udaipur 15 Hyderabad 34 Vadodara 16 Jaipur 35 Varanasi 17 Jammu 36 Vishakhapatnam 18 Jodhpur 37 Srinagar 19 Kannur (Kerala)

Who can apply for NIFT 2026 under Persons with Disability (PwD) category?

As per Section 2(t) of the RPwD Act, “Persons with Disability (PwD)” means a person with long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairment which, in interaction with barriers, hinders his full and effective participation in society equally with others.

What are the documents needed and prescribed format to apply for NIFT 2026?

When filling NIFT 2026 application form, you will have to upload your Live photo, photograph and signature. Check out details given below. Photograph - Upload only a recent scanned passport size color photograph. Accepted file size should be no more than 100KB. The accepted format is jpeg only. Signature - Scanned signature should be in Blue/Black ink on white background.

NIFT 2026 Application Form: Direct Link, Steps to Edit Online Form

641 Students Q&A

Admit Card - To be notified

This exam is conducted for courses given below:

B.Des BFTech MDes, MFM MFTech

Updated on Mar 24, 2026 17:50 IST

By Sayeba Naushad, Assistant Manager

NTA NIFT 2026 Application correction window is closed now for all candidates who have filled the NIFT Registration form 2026. It was active from January 21, 2026 to January 22, 2026 up to 11:50 P.M. Candidates who wished to make changes to their details submitted in the form can do so now. No fees were charged by NTA for making the permitted corrections in the form.

NIFTEE Registration 2026 is closed with regular and late fees of INR 5000. The window was open from December 08, 2025 to January 19, 2026. Applications were released on the official website for B.Des, M.Des, and B.F. Tech, M.F.Tech, and M.F.M. Candidates who meet NIFT eligibility criteria 2026 could apply. The application fee (regular) for NIFT was INR 2,000 for General/OBC (Non-Creamy)/GEN-EWS Category and INR 500 for SC/ ST/ PwD Category.

NTA NIFT 2026 Exam is to be conducted on February 08, 2026.

Latest Update:

Table of contents

NIFT 2026 Application Correction Window
NIFT Entrance Exam 2026 Exam Dates
How to Fill NIFT Entrance Exam Application Form 2026
NIFT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Track Status of NIFT 2026 Application Form
NIFT 2026 - Seat intake and Admission Process for UG and PG program
NIFT Step-wise Application Process - Watch Video
NIFT Application Form 2026 - FAQs

NIFT 2026 Application Correction Window

NIFTEE 2026 application correction window for UG and PG is closed. It was open from January 21, 2026. Using the NIFT application correction process, candidate could only change a few specific information.

Details that can be corrected in the NIFT Registration Form

The candidate can make changes in their NIFT application form during the application correction window.

Action	Fields
Non-editable details Candidates shall NOT be allowed to change	Mobile Number E-Mail address Address (Permanent and Present) Signature - Image Upload
Any one field can be changed	Candidate Name Father Name Mother Name
All fields can be edited	Class 10/ equivalent details Class 12/ equivalent details Graduation Details (if applicable) Post Graduation Details (if applicable)
Candidates shall be allowed to change examination Cities based on their Permanent and Present address	Exam Centre City Selection (all 4 preferences) Medium
Candidate shall be allowed to change all the fields	Date of Birth Gender Category Sub-category /PwBD
Candidate shall be allowed to edit the fields	Programme Selection

How to make corrections in the NIFT Application Form 2026?

To edit the NIFT 2026 application form

Go to the application correction link
Log in to the portal using your application number, email ID, and DOB
Once you log in, you can access the application form.
Make the necessary changes
Submit the edited application form.

NIFT Entrance Exam 2026 Exam Dates

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

Dates	Upcoming Exam Dates
To Be Notified	NIFT Stage 2 Admit Card
To Be Notified	NIFT Situation Test Stage 2: B.Des

Dates	Past Exam Dates
08 Feb ' 26	NIFT 2026 (Stage 1: Written Exam)
29 Jan ' 26	NIFT City Intimation Slip 2026
21 Jan ' 26 - 22 Jan ' 26	NIFT 2026 application form Edit Window
View More Past Events (2)

How to Fill NIFT Entrance Exam Application Form 2026

NTA also allows candidates to edit the NIFT Application form if they have filled in any incorrect information. The Application Edit Window usually opens in the second week of January. Candidates must check and fill in the correct information to avoid cancellation of admission.

NIFT participating colleges 2026 offer admission in UG and PG programmes like B.Des, M.Des, B.F. Tech, M.F.Tech, and M.F.M. The NIFT entrance exam application form is the same for all courses. Candidates have to mention their course preference in the given field. Under the NIFT Lateral Entry Admission, candidates will be considered for admission directly to the third semester of the UG program.

Eligible candidates will have to fill out the form online. The step-wise process to apply for NIFT 2026 is given below.

Enter the AADHAR Number and create a login ID

Click on the application tab. A registration form will open, asking you to enter the Aadhaar Number.

After successful verification of your AADHAR number, fill in the following details:

Enter the following details:

Parent's name
Email ID
Mobile Number

Once the details are submitted, an acknowledgment mail will be sent to the registered email address. Note that details provided at the time of creating the login ID cannot be modified later.

Fill in the Application Form

The candidate next had to log in to the newly created account and fill in the following details:

Test center - Select a test center (city) from the drop-down menu.
Personal information - including the name of one's parents, gender, nationality, domicile, etc.
Address for correspondence.
Academic Qualification

Upload documents

The candidate must upload their signature and photograph in the prescribed format (refer to the table below).

Document	Description
Photograph	Upload a recently scanned passport-size color photograph File size - File size should be no more than 100 KB. Format - jpeg only
Signature	The scanned signature should be in Blue/Black ink on a white background. File size - File size should be no more than 100 KB. Format - jpeg only

Note: Candidates seeking reservation need to upload a Valid Caste Certificate.

Pay the application fee

This is the final step in the application process. The application fee has to be paid online using Credit Card/ Debit Card/Net Banking. The category-wise application fee for NIFT 2026 is given below.

Category	Application Fee (in ₹)
Open / Open-EWS/OBC(NCL)* (for either B.Des. or B.F. Tech. or MFM or M. Des. or M.F.Tech. or Ph.D.)	₹ 2000
SC / ST / PwD (for either B. Des. or B.F. Tech. or MFM or M. Des. or M.F.Tech. Ph.D.))	₹ 500
Open/Open-EWS/OBC (NCL) applying for two programmes i.e. B.F.Tech. and B.Des. or M.F.M. and M.Des.	₹ 3000
SC / ST / PwD applying for two programmes i.e. B.F. Tech. and B. Des. or MFM and M. Des.	₹ 750
NRI/Foreign National/OCI/PIO/SAARC (for UG / PG Programmes)	₹ 11100

NIFT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility criteria for the NIFT exam given by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) are given below.

The qualifying exam passed (which will vary depending on the academic program selected by the candidate)
Year in which the candidate passed the qualifying exam
Minimum marks obtained in the qualifying exam
Age limit
Nationality
Whether the candidate has applied under the domicile category.

Candidates must meet the eligibility criteria for NIFT 2026, or else he or she will not be considered for admission. The eligibility criteria are category-specific. The exam conducting body will verify the eligibility requirements submitted by the candidate during NIFT counselling and seat allotment. Any candidate found to be furnishing incorrect or fake information will be disqualified.

Programme

Eligibility Criteria

Bachelor of Design (B. Des.)

Passed the plus 2 level examination in the 10+2 pattern of examination from any recognized Central/State Board of Secondary Examination, such as the Central Board of Secondary Education/State Board New Delhi/Council for Indian School Certificate Examination, New Delhi.

A pass grade in the Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Open School with a minimum of five subjects.

3 or 4 years diploma recognized by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education after secondary examination/10th standard.

Any Public School/Board/University Examination in India or in foreign countries recognized by the Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to the 10+2 system.

General Certificate Education (GCE) Examination (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka) at the Advanced (A) level/International Baccalaureate (IB).

Bachelor of Fashion Technology (B.F.Tech.)

Passed the plus 2 level examination in the 10+2 pattern of examination from any recognized Central/State Board of Secondary Examination, such as the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi/Council for Indian School Certificate Examination, New Delhi with Mathematics.

A pass grade in the Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Open School with a minimum of five subjects with Mathematics.

3 or 4 years diploma in any branch of Engineering recognized by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education after secondary examination/10th standard.

Any Public School/Board/University Examination in India or in foreign countries recognized by the Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to the 10+2 system with Mathematics.

General Certificate Education (GCE) Examination (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka) at the Advanced (A) level with Mathematics/International Baccalaureate (IB).

Eligibility Criteria for Post-Graduate

The eligibility criteria for M.Des, M.F.M and M.F.Tech

Programme

Eligibility Criteria

Master of Design (M. Des.)

Undergraduate Degree in any discipline from any Institute/University recognized by law in India. OR

Undergraduate Diploma of minimum three years duration from NIFT/NID.

Master of Design (M.Des.) is an advanced course that demands an understanding of fundamentals in design and presupposes that candidates would be familiar with the basic skills and theories for successful completion of the program. The course will not provide any basic knowledge and skill development in design as a part of its curriculum.

Master of Fashion Management (M.F.M.)

Undergraduate Degree in any discipline from any Institute/University recognized by law in India OR

Undergraduate Diploma of minimum three years duration from NIFT/NID.

Master of Fashion Technology (M.F.Tech.)

B.F.Tech. from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) OR

B.E./B.Tech. from any Institute/University recognized by law in India OR

B.F.Tech. (4 years) from any Institute/University recognized by law in India.

Eligibility Criteria for B.Des Artisan

The eligibility Criteria for B.Des Artisan are given below.

Programme

Eligibility Criteria

Bachelor of Design (B.Des.)

Passed the plus 2 level examination in the 10+2 pattern of examination of any recognized Central/ State Board of Secondary Examination, such as Central Board of Secondary Education / State Board New Delhi / Council for Indian School of Certificate Examination, New Delhi. OR

A pass grade in the Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Open School with a minimum of five subjects. OR

3 or 4-years Diploma recognized by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education after secondary school examination.

Any Public School/Board/University Examination in India or in foreign countries recognized by the Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to 10+2 system.

AND

Artisan/Ward of Artisan can seek admission under this category on submission of a valid Artisan Card issued to Self/ Father/ Mother by the Development Commissioner (Handicraft), or Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India or have applied for the Artisan Card before the launch of Prospectus for Admissions-2026.

Eligibility Criteria for NIFT Lateral Entry Admission (NLEA)

Programme	Eligibility Criteria
Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) NLEA	Candidates having minimum 1- or 2-years diploma recognized by AICTE/AIU/ UGC / National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)/ITI or a State Board of Technical Education in courses related to Fashion / Apparel / Textile and Accessories / Home Science/ Handloom Technology / Products / Visual Communication / Graphic Design / Industrial Design / Interior Design / Multimedia Design / Apparel Technology / Leather/ Fine arts after passing Secondary Examination / 10th standard AND Two -year Full Time Industry Experience in the related field after completion of Diploma before launch of Admissions.
	OR
	Candidates having minimum 1 year diploma recognized by AICTE/AIU/ UGC / National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) /ITI or a State Board of Technical Education in courses related to Fashion / Apparel / Textile and Accessories / Home Science/ Handloom Technology / Products / Visual Communication / Graphic Design / Industrial Design / Interior Design / Multimedia Design / Apparel Technology / Leather/ Fine arts after passing Senior Secondary Examination / 12th Standard. AND One-year Full Time Industry Experience in the related field after completion of Diploma before the launch of Admissions.
	OR
	Candidates who have completed 2-year regular UG Diploma Programme at NIFT after passing Senior Secondary Examination/ 12th standard.

Track Status of NIFT 2026 Application Form

The candidate can track the status of the NIFT 2026 application form during the application process. The application process has various stages like 1) Fill Application 2) Uploading of Photograph & Signature, 3) Make Payment, and 4) Print Application. If a stage was completed, a check sign and the text completed were displayed in green. Refer to the image given below for clarity.

NIFT 2021 application form completion

Important Dates NTA NIFT Applications 2026

The timeline of the NTA NIFT Application 2026 is

NIFT Application Timeline	NTA NIFT Application Dates 2025	NTA NIFT Application Dates 2026
NIFT 2025 application form OPEN (Regular fees)	22 Nov ' 24 - 06 Jan ' 25	Dec 08, 2025 to January 16, 2026
NIFT 2025 application form OPEN (Late fees)	07 Jan ' 25 - 09 Jan ' 25	January 17, 2026 to January 19, 2026
NIFT 2025 application form Edit Window	10 Jan ' 25 - 12 Jan ' 25	January 20, 2026 to January 21, 2026

Also Read:

NIFT 2026 - Seat intake and Admission Process for UG and PG program

The NIFTs currently offer a combined intake of 5,289 seats. These include all-India, state-domicile, and NRI seats. Note that the NIFTs offer B.Des, M.Des, B.F.Tech, M.F.Tech, and M.F.M courses.Admission to the above courses will be conducted based on NIFT 2026 scores. B.Des and M.Des candidates need to appear in both the CAT and GAT written exams. However, B.F.Tech, M.F.Tech, and M.F.M. candidates only need to take the GAT written test.

Shortlisted candidates have to next appear in a Situation Test (B.Des) / Personal Interview. The final merit list for admission will be prepared by giving weightage to GAT, CAT, and the Situation Test/ Personal Interview. The only exception is B.F.Tech program, as admission to the course, will be based on GAT scores only.

Seat Intake of NIFT

Check out the seat intake of UG and PG programmes.

Program / Level	Total Seats (All Campuses)	State Domicile Seats	Grand Total
Bachelor of Design (B.Des): Accessory Design (AD)	576	61	637
B.Des Fashion Communication (FC)	644	75	719
B.Des Fashion Design (FD)	712	89	801
B.Des Knitwear Design (KD)	330	21	351
B.Des Textile Design (TD)	606	75	681
B.Des Leather Design (LD)	152	0	152
B.F.Tech – Apparel Production (AP)	542	49	591
M.Des	254	21	275
M.F.M.	644	75	719
M.F.Tech	68	0	68
TOTAL (All Programmes)	4596	480	5076

Read More:

NIFT Step-wise Application Process - Watch Video

The video below shows the step-by-step process to fill out the NIFT application form.

NIFT Application Form 2026 - FAQs

Go through the frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to the NIFT 2026 application form below.

Q: Can I fill out NIFT 2026 application form if I don't meet the eligibility criteria?

No, you should not fill out NIFT 2026 application form if you do not meet the eligibility criteria because all documents and information provided by you in application form will be cross checked. And if any discrepancy is found, you can be disqualified at any stage of application process.

Q: How can I apply for NIFT 2026 exam?

The application form for NIFT is closed.

To fill out NIFT registration form

Go to NIFT admission portal and click on application link.
A registration form will open. Enter registration details like email ID, mobile number, and phone number
Upon registration, a unique candidate account will be created.
Fill in the rest of the form, including personal, academic, and contact details.
Documents candidate has to upload during registration include photograph and signature in JPEG format and size not exceeding 100 kb.
Pay application fee to complete application process.

Q: Will my candidature for NIFT 2026 be cancelled if I select the wrong admission category?

The candidate has to select their admission category at the time of filling out the NIFT 2026 application form. The candidate must make sure that they have the requisite valid and verificable certificate supporting their category.

Note that the category selected by a candidate at the time of submitting the application form will be considered as final.

If a candidate selects a reserved category i.e. SC/ST/OBC (NCL)/EWS/PWD but fails to submitted a valid Category Certificate, he or she will be considered for open category seats provided any benefit of relaxed age or income or cut offs has not been availed by the candidate at any stage of the Admission Process. If any benefit has been availed, the candidate’s application will be rejected.

Also, if a reserve category candidate is considered for open category, then he/she will have to pay the difference in amount of application fee as applicable for open category.

Q: What is the application fee for NIFT 2026 exam?

The NIFT 2026 application fee is category-specific. The application fee for General/OBC (Non-Creamy)/GEN-EWS Category. Meanwhile, those belonging to SC/ ST/ PwD Category need to pay only INR 1,500. The application fee has to be paid online using net banking, credit, or debit cards. The application fee will have to be paid at the time of filling out the NIFT application form. Note that payment made using demand draft will not be accepted.