NID Entrance Exam

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.

The results of DAT Prelims for B.Des was declared on April 02, 2026, while results for the M.Des programme was declared on February 12, 2026.

The candidate were able to check their results by logging into the result portal using their email ID and date of birth. Such candidates who get shortlisted have to next appear in DAT Mains.

The reporting time for NID DAT will be mentioned in the Admit card, along with gate closing time, and exam timings and date.

The candidate needs to report for the DAT Prelims exam at 8 am. The gates of the exam center will close at 9:30 AM (or 30 minutes before the commencement of the exam). After that no candidate will be allowed inside the exam hall.

NID DAT Exam timings:

• B.Des - 10 am - 1 pm
• M.Des - 10 am - 12.30 pm

The candidate mustn't under any circumstances wait for the dying hours to download the admit card for NID DAT 2026. It is because in the last few hours, there may a server crash or website slowdown issues due to heavy traffic.

If that happens, you may face difficulty in downloading the admit card.

Also, if there is any discrepancy in the admit card, you won't have much time to get it fixed if you don't download it soon after it is released.

Yes, you may be disqualified from the NID Admission Process if you do not follow the NID DAT guidelines during the exam.

The guidelines include

• Candidate must not indulge in cheating

• Canddiates must not disturb other candidates

• Carry barred items

• Do not leave the exam hall until the exam is over

No, National Institute of Design may not make any arrangements for a baggage counter. So, candidates must bear this in mind when packing for NID DAT Prelims exam.

It is recommended that candidate only pack bare essentials and not bring unnecessary stuff to exam centre. Also, expensive items like smartphones, jewellery, gadgets, etc., should be better left at home.

The National Institute of Design (NID)  released admit cards for DAT Prelims on December 11, 2025. Meanwhile, the DAT Prelims exam was conducted on December 21, 2025.

Admit cards for the DAT Mains will be released later.

The candidate must carefully preserve 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.

The National Institute of Design (NID) conducts the DAT Mains exam separately for the B. Des and M.Des programs.

NID DAT Mains Exam for B.Des was conducted on 

• Studio Sensitivity Test: April 19, 2026
• In-Person Sensitivity Test: May 11 to May 17, 2026

NID DAT Mains exam for M.Des was conducted on March 08, 2026. Personal Interview was from March 21, 2026 to April 01, 2026. 

Aadhaar is one of the valid photo id proofs that candidates can produce as identity proof. But exam officials will also accept other government ids like Driving License, Passport, etc. The list of acceptable ids will be mentioned on the NID DAT 2026 admit card. The security personal at the NID DAT exam center will verify the documents before allowing the candidate entry inside the exam center. Any candidate who fails to produce the admit card and id proof will not be allowed to take the DAT Prelims exam.

The National Institute of Design (NID) is conducting the DAT Prelims exam in a center-based mode across 17 cities in India.