NIFTEE 2026: The National Institute of Fashion Technology Entrance Examination (NIFTEE) 2026 is the national-level entrance Examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission into India’s most prestigious fashion education institute, the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). Through this examination, aspiring designers and fashion technologists can secure admission to Undergraduate (UG), Postgraduate (PG), and Doctoral (Ph.D.) programs across NIFT campuses in India. For the academic year 2026-27, the NTA has released the official schedule, inviting applications from eligible candidates to pursue careers in Design, Management, and Technology.
NIFTEE 2026: Details in brief
| Full Exam Name | National Institute of Fashion Technology Entrance Examination |
| Short Name | NIFTEE 2026 |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Organizing Institute | National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Exam Mode | CBT (GAT) & PBT (CAT) |
| Exam Date | 08 February 2026 |
| Registration Window | 08 December 2025 – 06 January 2026 |
| Exam Cities | Around 100 cities across India |
| Official Websites | exams.nta.nic.in/niftee, nift.ac.in, nta.ac.in |
| Programmes Offered | UG, PG & Ph.D Programs |
NIFTEE 2026: Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration Begins | 08 December 2025 |
| Registration Closes | 06 January 2026 |
| Late Fee Registration | 07 – 10 January 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | To be Notified |
| Entrance Examination | 08 February 2026 |
| Answer Key Display | To be Announced |
| Result Declaration | To be Announced |
| Situation/Studio Test | April – June 2026 |
| Seat Allocation | May – June 2026 |
Programs Offered through NIFTEE 2026
Bachelor of Design (B.Des) in:
Fashion Design
Leather Design
Accessory Design
Textile Design
Knitwear Design
Fashion Communication
Fashion Interiors
- B.F.Tech – Fashion Technology
- M.Des – Master of Design
- M.F.M – Master of Fashion Management
- M.F.Tech – Master of Fashion Technology
- Ph.D. (Full-time and Part-time) – Research programmes in Design/Fashion/Textiles
Eligibility Criteria
| Programme | Eligibility Criteria |
| Bachelor of Design (B.Des) | • Passed the +2 level examination in the 10+2 pattern from any recognized Central/State Board (e.g., CBSE, ICSE, State Boards). • 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. • OR Any Public School/Board/University Examination in India or abroad recognized by the Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to the 10+2 system. • OR 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 +2 level examination in the 10+2 pattern from any recognized Central/State Board with Physics and Mathematics. • OR A pass grade in the Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Open School with a minimum of five subjects with Physics and Mathematics. • OR 3 or 4-years diploma in any branch of Engineering recognized by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education. • OR Any Public School/Board/University Examination in India or abroad recognized by the Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to the 10+2 system with Mathematics. • OR General Certificate Education (GCE) Examination (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka) at the Advanced (A) level with Mathematics/International Baccalaureate (IB). |
| 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 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. |
| Ph.D. | • Master’s degree in relevant area (Design, Management, or Technology) with CGPA of 6.0 (5.5 for SC/ST) or 55% marks (50% for SC/ST). • OR Master’s Degree in a non-relevant discipline with 10 years of professional experience (teaching/working) in the proposed area of research. • OR Bachelor’s degree in relevant area with CGPA of 8.0 (7.5 for SC/ST) or 75% marks (70% for SC/ST). |
Note: Category-wise relaxation, subject combinations and document requirements apply as per official norms.
Examination Fee Details
| Category | One Programme | Two Programmes |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC-NCL / EWS | ₹ 2,000 | ₹ 3,000 |
| SC / ST / PwD | ₹ 500 | ₹ 750 |
| NRI / Foreign Nationals / OCI / PIO / SAARC | ₹ 11,100 | – |
Fees are payable online through debit/credit cards, UPI, or net banking.
Age Limit
For UG Programmes (B.Des & B.F.Tech): The candidate must be less than 24 years of age as of 1st August of the year of admission. A relaxation of 5 years is applicable for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
For PG Programmes (M.Des, M.F.M, M.F.Tech) & Ph.D.: There is No Age Limit.
Scheme of Examination
NIFTEE consists of multiple stages depending on the programme:
1. GAT – General Ability Test (CBT Mode)
Assesses:
- Quantitative Ability
- Analytical & Logical Ability
- Communication Ability
- General Knowledge
- English Comprehension
2. CAT – Creative Ability Test (Paper Based)
Evaluates:
- Creative thinking
- Illustration skills
- Design sensitivity
3. Situation/Studio Test / Personal Interview
Applicable for shortlisted candidates for specific programmes.
Exam Structure
1. Bachelor of Design (B.Des)
Components: GAT + CAT + Situation Test
Weightage: GAT (30%) + CAT (50%) + Situation Test (20%).
Duration: GAT (2 hours) + CAT (3 hours).
2. Bachelor of Fashion Technology (B.F.Tech)
Components: GAT (Section A & B)
Weightage: GAT Section A (30%) + GAT Section B (70%).
Duration: 3 hours (10:00 AM to 01:00 PM).
3. Master of Design (M.Des)
Components: GAT + CAT + Personal Interview
Weightage: GAT (30%) + CAT (40%) + Interview (30%).
4. Master of Fashion Management (M.F.M)
Components: GAT + Personal Interview
Weightage: GAT (70%) + Interview (30%).
Exam Timing Schedule (Tentative)
| Programme | Paper | Time |
| B.Des | GAT (CBT) CAT (PBT) | 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon 03:00 PM to 06:00 PM |
| B.F.Tech | GAT (CBT) | 10:00 AM to 01:00 PM |
| M.Des | GAT (CBT) CAT (PBT) | 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon 03:00 PM to 06:00 PM |
| M.F.M / M.F.Tech | GAT (CBT) | 10:00 AM to 01:00 PM |
Exam Cities
NIFTEE 2026 will be conducted in approximately 100 cities across India.
Some major cities include:
Metros: Delhi NCR, Mumbai/Navi Mumbai/Thane, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad.
Other Cities: Ahmedabad, Pune, Jaipur, Lucknow, Patna, Chandigarh, Kochi, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Ranchi, Raipur, Dehradun, and many more.
Candidates may select their preferred exam city during the online application process.
How to Apply
Candidates must apply online through the official portal. Follow these steps:
Registration: Visit
https://exams.nta.nic.in/niftee/and register using your Email ID and Mobile Number to generate an Application Number.Fill Application Form: Login with the Application Number and Password. Enter personal details, educational qualifications, and choose 4 exam cities.
Upload Documents: Upload scanned images of:
Photograph (JPG, 10kb-200kb)
Signature (JPG, 4kb-30kb)
Category/PwD Certificate (PDF, 50kb-300kb) if applicable.
Fee Payment: Pay the requisite examination fee via Net Banking, Credit/Debit Card, or UPI.
Confirmation: Download and print the Confirmation Page for future reference.
Official Links
NTA NIFTEE Portal: https://exams.nta.nic.in/niftee
NIFT Official Website: https://nift.ac.in
NTA Website: https://nta.ac.in
- Inviting Online Applications for the National Institute of Fashion Technology Entrance Examination (NIFTEE) – 2026 for Admissions to UG, PG, NLEA, Artisans and Ph.D. Programmes
- स्नातक (यूजी), स्नातकोत्तर (पीजी), एनएलईए, कारीगर और पीएचडी (Ph.D.) कार्यक्रमों में प्रवेश हेतु राष्ट्रीय फैशन प्रौद्योदिकी संस्थान प्रवेश परीक्षा (NIFTEE) – 2026 के लिए ऑनलाइन आवेदन आमंत्रण संबंधी
About NIFT
The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) is India’s leading institute for fashion, design, technology, and management education. Established in 1986, NIFT has grown into a network of campuses across India, offering world-class academic programmes and industry exposure. It continues to shape the future of fashion professionals and innovators through its rigorous curriculum and world-class facilities.
