NID DAT 2026: Registration (Ongoing), Exam Dates, Pattern, Syllabus

NID DAT 2026 Registration is ongoing. The registration process will conclude on December 1, 2025. The National Institute of Design will also open the application correction window between December 2 and December 4, 2025. NID DAT Prelims Exam 2026 for B.Des & M.Des will take place on December 21, 2025, while the NID DAT Mains Exam 2026 will be held in April 2026.

NID DAT Prelims Results for M.Des will be announced on February 17, 2026, and B.Des will be announced on April 7, 2026. After the release of the results, candidates will be required to submit their campus preferences by the last week of May 2026. However, the dates for physical reporting and document verification will be announced by the respective NIDs. Aspirants are advised to carefully review NID DAT 2026 Syllabus and Pattern to understand the exam structure & paper, and prepare accordingly. Read further to know more about the NID DAT Entrance Test 2026 in detail.

NID DAT 2026 Highlights

The NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the National Institute of Design (NID) for admission to its B.Des and M.Des programs offered at NID campuses across India. The exam is conducted in two stages:

• DAT Prelims: The prelims exam is a written exam aimed to test the candidate's ability in design aptitude, creativity, visual observation, and analytical ability. It tests the candidate through an NID exam pattern of objective (MCQs), subjective questions, and sketching.
• DAT Mains: Candidates who qualify for the prelims can appear in the mains exam. The main exam involves studio tests and personal interviews. Candidates need to showcase their practical skills, problem-solving abilities, and creativity during the studio test. Personal interviews test the candidates' perspectives on design, motivations, and communication abilities, providing a comprehensive evaluation of their suitability for the field.

Check important highlights for NID DAT 2026 in the table below.

NID DAT 2026 Important Dates

Candidates can find out the important NID DAT 2026 dates in the table shown below:

NID DAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

The National Institute of Design (NID) Design Aptitude Test (DAT) 2026 has specific eligibility criteria for its Bachelor of Design (B.Des) and Master of Design (M.Des) programs. Below are the key NID DAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria:

Bachelor of Design (B.Des)

Check out the following table for the NID DAT Eligibility for B.Des Program.

Master of Design (M.Des)

Check out the following table for the NID DAT Eligibility for M.Des Program.

NID DAT 2026 Application Process

The NID DAT 2026 Registration process is an important step for aspiring design students seeking admission to NID's undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The process involves registration, form submission, document upload, and payment of the required fees. Here's how to apply: Candidates can follow the steps provided below to fill out theNID DAT application form 2026online.

• Step 1: Visit the official NID website at admissions.nid.edu.
• Step 2: Navigate to the ‘How to Apply’ section and click on ‘Sign Up.’
• Step 3: Enter the required details to create an account and log in with the generated credentials.
• Step 4: Complete the application form by filling required details and uploading the documents.
• Step 5: Pay the applicable fee and submit the form.
• Step 6: Download and print a copy of the confirmation page.

Documents Required for NID DAT 2026 Application Process

The following are important documents to have on hand when registering and filling out an application form:

• Scanned photograph (75-100 KB, JPG)
• Scanned signature (under 100 KB, JPG)
• SC/ST candidates: caste certificate (under 150 KB, JPG)
• PwD candidates: disability certificate (under 150 KB, JPG)
• Foreign candidates: passport (under 150 KB, JPG)
• Payment via debit/credit card or net banking.

NID DAT 2026 Application Fee

The NID entrance exam fee can be paid either online or offline. Payment can be made online through a debit card/credit card. Below are the application fees for the B.Des and M.Des programs for the academic year 2026, categorised by applicant type.

B.Des Program Application Fee

Check out the following table for NID DAT B.Des Application Fees 2026.

M.Des Program Application Fee

Check out the following table for NID DAT M.Des Application Fees 2026.

NID DAT 2026 Exam Pattern

Candidates are assessed on the basis of their design skills, creativity, reasoning ability, and problem-solving skills. The exam is designed to evaluate a candidate's overall aptitude for design and innovation. The NID DAT 2026 will consist of two stages: the Prelims and the Mains. The Prelims consist of an objective-type test, while the Mains include a studio test and an interview. NID DAT 2026 Exam Pattern highlights have been tabulated below separately for B.Des and M.Des:

NID DAT (Prelims) 2026 Exam Pattern

Check out the following table for NID DAT (Prelims) 2026 Exam Pattern.

NID DAT (Mains) 2026 Exam Pattern

The DAT Mains for the B.Des comprises a Studio Test, whereas for the M.Des it also includes a Personal Interview.

NID DAT Prelims Syllabus 20256 for B.Des Program

The NID DAT Prelims Syllabus 2026 for the B.Des Program is designed to assess candidates' design aptitude, creativity, and analytical skills. The NID Entrance Exam Syllabus includes various topics that test the ability to think critically and solve design problems effectively. Candidates can refer to the topics below to prepare for the exam:

NID DAT Prelims Syllabus 2026 for M.Des Program

The NID DAT Prelims Syllabus 2026 for the M.Des Program is structured to evaluate candidates' creativity, design thinking, and problem-solving abilities. It covers a variety of topics that help assess conceptual knowledge, visual skills, and analytical reasoning. Aspirants can refer to the following table for the topics they need to study:

NID DAT Mains Syllabus 2026 for B.Des (Studio Test)

The NID DAT Mains Syllabus 2026 for the B.Des Studio Test focuses on evaluating candidates' practical design skills, creativity, and the ability to conceptualise ideas through hands-on activities. Candidates are tested on various aspects of design, material handling, and problem-solving. Below is a list of topics to master for preparation:

NID DAT Mains Syllabus 2026 for M.Des (Studio Test)

The NID DAT Mains Syllabus 2026 for M.Des. (Studio Test) assesses candidates' design thinking, creativity, and conceptual skills through practical tasks. This stage evaluates the candidates' ability to express ideas visually and solve design problems. Below is a list of key topics to focus on while preparing for the MDes studio test:

NID DAT 2026 Admit Card

The authorities will release the NID DAT 2026 Admit Card for B.Des Mains exam on the official website. Candidates who completed the registration process for the NID DAT successfully could download the NID DAT admit card 2026. It is crucial for students to carry the NID DAT hall ticket to the exam centre. If they fail to bring the admit card, candidates are not permitted to enter the NID DAT 2026 exam centre. Candidates need to bring any one of the valid documents, such as PAN card, driving licence, Aadhar card, etc, along with the NID admit card 2026.

Steps to download the NID DAT 2026 Admit Card

Candidates can access the NID DAT admit card 2026 by following the steps below:

• Go to the NID official website at admissions.nid.edu.
• Click the NID DAT admit card tab on the home page.
• Enter the credentials, such as email ID and date of birth, in the login window.
• Click the submit button and check the details mentioned on the admit card.
• Take the printout of the downloaded admit card for further reference.

NID DAT 2026 Answer Key

The answer key for NID DAT 2026 for the prelims exam will be released, and the link to download will be available on the official website. The purpose of the NID DAT exam answer key is to help candidates get an idea of their possible scores.Candidates can match their answers with the NID DAT 2026 answer key with the answers given by them in the entrance exam. While calculating the marks, the candidates should follow the same marking scheme as shown on the day of the actual examination.

How to Check NID DAT 2026 Answer Key?

Candidates can follow these steps to check the NID DAT 2026 Answer Key:

• Go to the official NID website (https://admissions.nid.edu/) to access the answer key.
• Look for the “NID DAT 2026 Answer Key” link under the latest announcements or notifications section.
• Enter your login credentials, such as application number and password, to access the answer key.
• Click on the link to view and download the answer key for the respective program and exam stage (Prelims/Mains).
• Compare your responses with the answer key to estimate your score.

NID DAT 2026 Result

The National Institute of Design will release the NID DAT 2026 results (M.Des) on its official website at admissions.nid.edu. NID DAT Results 2026 for B.Des and M.Des will be released separately by the authorities. Candidates will be able to download the NID DAT results by logging into the official NID website using their login credentials, including roll number/application number and date of birth. The authorities will prepare a separate merit list for each category, including General, General-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD and overseas.

How to Download NID DAT 2026 Result?

Candidates can follow the steps below to download the NID DAT 2026 result:

• Go to the NID official website (https://admissions.nid.edu/).
• Look for the “NID DAT 2026 Result” link under the latest notifications or announcements section.
• Enter your application number and password to access your result.
• The result will display your score, rank, and qualification status.
• Download the result for future reference and take a printout for use during the admission process.

NID DAT 2026 Cutoff

Candidates from the various categories are considered eligible for admission only if they meet the minimum NID DAT 2026 Cutoff. It is important to meet the NID DAT cutoff to be eligible for shortlisting and admission. Not meeting the cutoff will result in elimination from the NID DAT Admission Process 2026. Check out the following table for NID DAT Qualifying Marks 2026.

NID DAT 2026 Exam Centres

NID DAT 2026 will take place in various cities across India. Some of the major cities include Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Mumbai, New Delhi, and more. Check out the following table for NID DAT 2026 Exam Centers.

NID DAT 2026 Counselling

The National Institute of Design will conduct NID DAT 2026 counselling in online mode. Candidates who qualify for the NID DAT 2026 entrance exam can participate in the counselling process. As part of the NID 2026 counselling process, B.Des candidates must register and fill in campus preferences. However, M.Des candidates aren't required to submit campus preferences. The seat allotment for the B.Des program is based on the NID DAT 2026 merit rank and campus preference opted. Meanwhile, seat allotment for M.Des is solely based on NID DAT 2026 merit rank.

NID DAT 2026 Counselling Process

The NID DAT 2026 counselling process is conducted for candidates who qualify for the Design Aptitude Test. It involves the following steps:

• Candidates shortlisted based on their DAT scores are notified for counselling.
• NID releases a schedule on its official website (nid.edu) with details of counselling dates, venue, and required documents.
• Shortlisted candidates must attend the counselling session with original documents, including academic certificates, caste certificates (if applicable), and the DAT scorecard.
• Seats are allotted based on merit, preferences, and availability in the desired program and campus.
• After seat allotment, candidates must pay the admission fee to confirm their seats.

Documents Required for NID DAT 2026 Counselling Process

Candidates must carry the following documents during the NID DAT 2026 counselling process for verification:

• NID DAT 2026 Scorecard
• Admit Card
• Class 10 & 12 Mark Sheets
• Degree Certificate (if applicable)
• Caste Certificate
• PwD Certificate
• EWS Certificate
• Passport-sized Photographs
• Proof of Identity
• Domicile Certificate
• Migration Certificate
• Portfolio

NID DAT 2026 FAQs