NIFT 2027: exam date, pattern, syllabus and how to apply
The NIFT Entrance Examination (NIFTEE) admits students to the National Institute of Fashion Technology's bachelor's and master's programmes, including the B.Des. in Fashion Design, Fashion Communication, Textile Design and other specialisations. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts it for NIFT. NIFTEE 2027 is on Sunday 10 January 2027, and online applications close on 16 November 2026 (checked 20 October 2026 in NIFT's notification of 16 October 2026 and the NTA public notice of the same day).
NIFT 2027 at a glance
| Conducting body | National Testing Agency, for NIFT (Ministry of Textiles) |
| What it is for | B.Des., B.F.Tech., M.Des., M.F.M. and M.F.Tech. at NIFT campuses |
| Mode | GAT on computer (CBT); Creative Ability Test (CAT) on paper |
| Questions (B.Des.) | GAT: 100 objective questions; CAT: 3 questions |
| Time (B.Des.) | GAT 120 minutes; CAT 180 minutes |
| Marking (GAT) | +1 for a right answer, −0.25 for a wrong one, 0 for a blank |
| Languages | English and Hindi |
| How often | Once a year |
| Official website | nift.ac.in/admissions and exams.nta.nic.in/niftee |
NIFT 2027 exam date
From the NIFTEE 2027 information bulletin and NIFT's notification, as of 20 October 2026 (NTA calls these dates tentative):
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online registration opened | 16 October 2026 |
| Last date with the normal fee | 16 November 2026 |
| Last date with ₹5,000 late fee | 21 November 2026 |
| Correction window | 22 to 25 November 2026 |
| Advance city intimation slip | 21 December 2026 |
| Admit card | 4 January 2027 |
| NIFTEE 2027 (GAT and CAT) | Sunday 10 January 2027 |
| Stage 1 result | February/March 2027 |
| Situation Test (B.Des.) | March/April 2027 |
| Final result | First week of May 2027 |
The exam is held in 100 cities across India.
How to apply for NIFT 2027
- Read the Admissions Guidelines 2027 and the prospectus on nift.ac.in/admissions.
- Apply on the NTA portal, exams.nta.nic.in/niftee, using the UG and PG application form.
- Choose the programme (B.Des., B.F.Tech. or both) and your exam cities. Aadhaar-based e-KYC and a live photograph may be required.
- Upload your photograph, signature and documents; PwD candidates upload a UDID card.
- Pay by 16 November 2026. The bulletin gives ₹2,000 (Open, Open-EWS, OBC-NCL) or ₹500 (SC, ST, PwD/PwBD) for one programme, and ₹3,000 or ₹750 for two programmes (B.Des. and B.F.Tech.), plus bank charges.
- Download the confirmation page.
Age limit: for B.Des. and B.F.Tech. you must be under 24 years on 1 August 2027, with 5 years' relaxation for SC, ST and PwD/PwBD candidates. Master's programmes have no age limit. Educational eligibility is in the Admissions Guidelines 2027.
NIFT exam pattern (B.Des.)
B.Des. candidates sit two papers on the same day:
| Test | Mode | Time | Questions | Weight in final merit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Ability Test (GAT) | Computer | 120 minutes | 100 | 30% |
| Creative Ability Test (CAT) | Pen and paper | 180 minutes | 3 | 50% |
| Situation Test (if shortlisted) | Studio, later | – | Model and write-up | 20% |
In the Admissions Guidelines 2026, the B.Des. GAT was split into Communication Ability and English Comprehension 40, Quantitative Ability 20, Analytical and Logical Ability 15, and General Knowledge and Current Affairs 25. NIFT says section counts may change by course and year, so check the 2027 guidelines. GAT has one clock and no calculator. B.F.Tech. adds a 60-minute Section B of 50 questions, including a case study, instead of the CAT.
NIFT syllabus
- English: synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitutes, idioms, spellings, singular and plural, and short passages.
- Quantitative: arithmetic, fractions, percentage, interest, work, ratio and proportion, distance.
- Analytical and logical: inference, series, coding, order, direction and statements.
- General knowledge and current affairs: no topic list is published.
- CAT: observation, concept development, design ability and the creative use of colour and illustration.
Our NIFT syllabus page covers the GAT sections in detail.
A twelve-week plan to 10 January
Weeks 1–2. Apply before 16 November. Take a full timed NIFT GAT mock test to find your weakest section. Start drawing for 30 minutes every day.
Weeks 3–8. GAT: daily practice in English vocabulary and quantitative questions without a calculator, plus 15 minutes of news. CAT: one full creative task three times a week in timed conditions, using colour. The CAT carries 50% of the B.Des. merit, so do not let GAT practice crowd it out.
Weeks 9–11. One full GAT mock a week and one 3-hour CAT practice a week. Count wrong answers in each GAT mock; at −0.25 each, random guessing does not pay.
Week 12. Download the admit card (4 January), check the centre and the materials allowed for the CAT, and rest before the day.
Useful links
- NIFT admissions (guidelines and prospectus 2027)
- NIFTEE 2027 on the NTA portal (application)
- Free NIFT mock tests
- NIFT syllabus
- NIFT exam dates
- NID DAT 2027: exam date, pattern and how to apply
- Negative marking: when to guess
Frequently asked questions
When is the NIFT 2027 entrance exam?
Sunday 10 January 2027, according to NIFT's notification and the NTA information bulletin (checked 20 October 2026). The admit card is due on 4 January 2027.
What is the last date to apply for NIFT 2027?
16 November 2026 with the normal fee, or 21 November 2026 with a ₹5,000 late fee.
Is there negative marking in NIFT?
Yes, in the objective GAT. A right answer gets 1 mark and a wrong answer loses 0.25. A blank scores nothing.
What is the age limit for NIFT B.Des.?
You must be under 24 years on 1 August 2027, with 5 years' relaxation for SC, ST and PwD/PwBD candidates. There is no age limit for master's programmes.
Can I write NIFT in Hindi?
Yes. The bulletin says the exam is held in English and Hindi. Under the 2026 guidelines, the Situation Test write-up was marked only if written in English.
How is the NIFT B.Des. merit list made?
GAT counts 30%, CAT 50% and the Situation Test 20%, according to the NIFTEE 2027 bulletin.