NIFT 2027 Exam Date, Eligibility, Syllabus, Exam Pattern & Top Colleges

NIFT 2027 at a Glance (Quick Answer)

• NIFT 2027 exam (Stage 1): confirmed – Sunday, 10 January 2027, per the NTA exam calendar (2026 exam was on 8 February 2026)
• Notification & registration: RELEASED – registration opened 16 October 2026 at exams.nta.nic.in/niftee. Last date to apply: 16 November 2026.
• Application window: 16 October – 16 November 2026 (late fee till 21 November)
• Conducted by: National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of NIFT
• Stage 1: GAT + CAT (B.Des/M.Des) or GAT only (B.FTech/M.FTech/MFM) ·
  Stage 2: Situation Test (UG) / Personal Interview (PG) – March–April 2027 (official schedule).
• Are the 2027 dates confirmed? Yes – all dates are now official. The NIFTEE-2027 notification was released on 16 October 2026: registration is open until 16 November, and the exam is on Sunday, 10 January 2027 (GAT 9 AM, computer-based · CAT 3–6 PM, pen-and-paper).

All dates, fees and pattern details below are verified against the official NIFTEE-2027 Information Bulletin and NIFT 2027 Prospectus released by NTA on 16 October 2026.

What Changed in the NIFT Exam Recently

1. Hybrid mode: from the 2026 cycle, the exam runs in both computer-based (CBT) and pen-paper (PBT) modes – GAT on computer, CAT on paper
2. 100 test cities, up from 82 – you’re likely to get a nearby centre
3. Application fees were reduced 026 levels – ₹2,000 (Open/EWS/OBC-NCL) and ₹500 (SC/ST/PwD)
4. Stage 2 differs by level: UG programmes (B.Des) go to the hands-on Situation Test; PG programmes face a Personal Interview instead

What is the NIFT Entrance Exam?

The NIFT Entrance Examination (NIFTEE) is the national-level exam for admission to the National Institute of Fashion Technology’s programmes – B.Des, B.FTech, M.Des, M.FTech and MFM – across its campuses in India. It is conducted once a year by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of NIFT. NIFT is India’s premier fashion institute, set up under the Ministry of Textiles, and its degrees span fashion design, textile design, accessory design, knitwear, communication, fashion technology and fashion management.

Official websites: exams.nta.nic.in/niftee (application) · nift.ac.in (institute)

NIFT 2027 Exam Overview

Particulars	Details
Exam name	NIFT Entrance Examination (NIFTEE)
Conducting body	National Testing Agency (NTA) for NIFT
Level / frequency	National · once a year
Programmes	B.Des, B.FTech (UG) · M.Des, M.FTech, MFM (PG)
Exam Mode	Hybrid – GAT computer-based, CAT pen-and-paper
Exam Duration	CAT – 3 hours (B.Des/M.Des) · GAT – 2 hours (B.Des/M.Des), 3 hours (B.FTech/M.FTech/MFM) · Situation Test – 2–3 hours
Courses Offered	B.Des, B.FTech, M.Des, M.FTech, M.F.M
Stage 1	Written: GAT + CAT (B.Des, M.Des) / GAT only (B.FTech, M.FTech, MFM)
Stage 2	Situation Test (B.Des) / Personal Interview (PG programmes)
Exam date (Stage 1)	10 January 2027 – confirmed (NTA exam calendar)
Test cities	~100
Official website	exams.nta.nic.in/niftee

NIFT Exam 2027-28 Important Dates (Official)

Event	Date(official)
Notification + Application Form Releases	16 October 2026
Last date to apply (regular fee)	16 November 2026
Late-fee window (₹5,000)	17 – 21 November 2026
Application Correction window	22 – 25 November 2026
Admit card Release (Stage 1)	4 January 2027
NIFT 2027 Exam (GAT + CAT)	Sunday, 10 January 2027
Provisional answer key + objections	January 2027
Stage 1 Result Declaration	February – March 2027
PG Interview admit card	April 2027
Situation Test admit card (UG)	March – April 2027
Situation Test / Interviews	March – April 2027
Counselling	May – June 2027

NIFT 2027 Eligibility Criteria

Undergraduate programmes (B.Des and B.FTech) – age limit: under 24 years as on 1 August 2027, relaxed by 5 years for SC/ST/PwD candidates. There is no minimum percentage requirement in Class 12 – passing is sufficient. (Official – NIFT 2027 Prospectus.)

B.Des (Fashion / Textile / Accessory / Knitwear / Communication Design): passed or appearing in 10+2 in any stream from a recognised board – or an equivalent qualification such as Senior Secondary from the National Open School, an AIU-recognised qualification, or IB / GCE A-Level.

B.FTech (Apparel Production): passed or appearing in 10+2 with Mathematics as a subject from a recognised board – or an equivalent qualification with Mathematics: Senior Secondary from the National Open School (minimum five subjects including Mathematics), a 3- or 4-year engineering diploma recognised by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education (after Class 10), an AIU-recognised qualification, or GCE A-Level / IB with Mathematics. (Official – NIFT 2027 Prospectus.)

Postgraduate programmes – no age limit.

M.Des: a bachelor’s degree in any discipline, or a UG diploma in Design from NIFT or NID.

MFM (Master of Fashion Management): a bachelor’s degree in any discipline.

M.FTech: B.FTech from NIFT, or B.E./B.Tech.

Final-year candidates across all programmes can apply, subject to submitting proof of qualification by the deadline set in the prospectus.

NIFT 2027 Application Fee

The official NIFT 2027 application fees (per the NIFTEE-2027 Information Bulletin):

Category	Application Fee
Open / Open-EWS / OBC (NCL)	₹2,000
SC / ST / PwD / PwBD	₹500
Open / EWS / OBC-NCL – two programmes (B.FTech + B.Des)	₹3,000
SC / ST / PwD – two programmes	₹750
Late fee (17–21 Nov)	₹5,000 in addition to the application fee

The fee is paid online via net banking, debit card, credit card or UPI, and is non-refundable once successfully paid. Payment gateway processing charges and GST, where applicable, are extra. Candidates applying for two programmes submit only one application form.

NIFT 2027 Exam Pattern

Stage 1  Written tests:

Test	Mode	Who takes it	What it covers
GAT (General Ability Test)	Computer-based	All programmes	Quantitative ability, communication ability & English comprehension, analytical & logical ability, general knowledge & current affairs
CAT (Creative Ability Test)	Pen-and-paper	B.Des and M.Des only	Drawing, observation, innovation, design ability and visual communication – tested through sketching-based questions

Stage 2 – programme-wise:

• B.Des: shortlisted candidates take the Situation Test – a hands-on material-handling and model-making test. See our complete NIFT Situation Test guide for tasks, materials and preparation.
• M.Des / M.FTech / MFM: shortlisted candidates face a Personal Interview.

Final weightage ( official – NIFT 2027 Prospectus):

Programme	Stage 1	Stage 2
B.Des	CAT 50% + GAT 30%	Situation Test 20%
B.FTech	GAT Section A 30% + Section B 70%	–
M.Des	CAT 40% + GAT 30%	Personal Interview 30%
M.FTech / MFM	GAT 70%	Personal Interview 30%

Two strategic reads from this table: for B.Des, CAT alone is half your score – drawing practice outweighs everything else; and for B.FTech, GAT is everything – a completely different preparation from B.Des despite sharing the exam day.

NIFT 2027 Syllabus

GAT: percentage, ratio, interest, speed-distance (quantitative); synonyms, one-word substitution, comprehension passages (communication/English); series, coding, puzzles, data interpretation (analytical); static GK + current affairs with emphasis on art, design, fashion and culture.

CAT: there is no fixed question bank – expect theme-based drawing, memory drawing, picture completion, story illustration, colour application and design-thinking prompts. Evaluation rewards originality, observation and visual storytelling over polished rendering.

Practise with the real thing: free NIFT UG past year papers · NIFT PG past year papers · free NIFT All-India Monthly Mock Tests.

NIFT Campuses & Programmes

NIFT operates 20 campuses across India, with New Delhi as the flagship. Campus and programme availability varies – not every campus offers every programme – and the seat matrix is published with each year’s official prospectus.

NIFT campuses (state-wise):

• New Delhi (Delhi) – flagship campus
• Mumbai (Maharashtra)
• Bengaluru (Karnataka)
• Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
• Kolkata (West Bengal)
• Hyderabad (Telangana)
• Gandhinagar (Gujarat)
• Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh)
• Bhubaneswar (Odisha)
• Patna (Bihar)
• Jodhpur (Rajasthan)
• Kangra (Himachal Pradesh)
• Kannur (Kerala)
• Raebareli (Uttar Pradesh)
• Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh)
• Shillong (Meghalaya)
• Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir)
• Panchkula (Haryana)
• Nava Raipur (Chhattisgarh)
• Daman (Union Territory)

Campus allotment happens at counselling based on your rank and category – and since NIFT Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru are consistently the most sought-after campuses, a qualifying score alone isn’t the goal; rank is what decides whether you get the campus you want.

How to Prepare for NIFT 2027 – 5 Steps

1. Split your prep by weightage. B.Des aspirants: 50% of your score is CAT – daily sketching is non-negotiable. B.FTech aspirants: it’s a GAT-only game – speed and accuracy drills.
2. Practise CAT with a timer – theme drawings and memory sketches in exam-length slots, not open-ended sessions.
3. Build GAT fundamentals early (Sept–Nov): quant shortcuts, vocabulary, one GK/current-affairs habit – design and fashion news included.
4. Solve past papers monthly, mocks weekly from December. Benchmark on the All-India Monthly Mock Test to know your rank position, not just your score.
5. Don’t ignore Stage 2 until results. B.Des: start material-handling practice by March (the Situation Test decides 20%). PG: your portfolio and interview story need weeks, not days – see our portfolio preparation guide.

Prepare for NIFT 2027 with DQ Labs

Choosing the right mentor is the first step toward a career in fashion and design. At DQ Labs, you prepare inside an ecosystem built by people who have lived these exams:

• 8 out of 10 DQ Labs students secure seats in NIFT – our strongest track record is in the very exam you’re preparing for
• Led by industry practitioners: our faculty are practising design professionals from NIFT Bangalore, NID Ahmedabad, IIT Delhi, University of Genoa and Brera Academy, bringing over two decades of national and international industry experience to the classroom
• Proven across every design entrance: 1 in 4 DQ students selected into NIDs and IITs, and a 99.9% selection rate in NATA & JEE Paper 2
• A 25,000+ student community mentored since 2007, with alumni at NID Ahmedabad, IIT Bombay, NIFT Bangalore, SPA Delhi, CEPT and international universities

Studio-based preparation: five specialised Design Studios in Bangalore – real materials, timed CAT sketching sessions and Situation Test model-making practice, the exact hands-on skills NIFT’s selection process evaluates DQ Labs coaches NIFT aspirants across B.Des, B.FTech and PG programmes – CAT sketching practice in real studios, GAT test series, the free NIFT All-India Monthly Mock Test, Situation Test material-handling workshops and PG interview + portfolio preparation. Explore NIFT coaching or take a free mock test to see where you stand.

Sources: NIFT 2026 admission cycle – official NTA notification (8 December 2025), NIFT 2026 prospectus, and the verified 2026 schedule. The NIFT 2027 notification has not been released as of this update; all 2027 dates and fees are projections and will be confirmed against the official notification the day it publishes.

Frequently Asked Questions – NIFT 2027