NID Admission Process: Eligibility, Exam Pattern, and Selection Process
Published by Shikha Kumari on Jan 22, 2025
The National Institute of Design (NID), internationally acclaimed as one of the foremost multi-disciplinary institutions in the field of design education and research. NID has been declared as an ‘Institution of National Importance’ by the Act of Parliament. Operates autonomously under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), which is part of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India
Established in 1961 as a primer design institute of India in the city of Ahmedabad has now extended to seven campuses across the nation. It is a dream of thousands to be a part of this prestigious institute and around twenty two thousand students appear every year for the exam. This article will cover the gateway to this institute, the NID entrance exam
What is the NID Entrance Exam?
The National Institute of Design (NID) exam happens once a year across various campuses including Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram, etc. It is known as NID DAT exam, Design aptitude Test and the exam happens in two phases: prelims and mains.
- Prelims: a paper-and-pencil/pen test, with a focus of general aptitude.
- Mains: eligible candidates will be shortlisted for the DAT Mains as per merit
Design Aptitude Test (DAT), entrance exam conducted by the institution itself to provide admission to design UG and PG programs in the National Institute of Design.
NID Eligibility Criteria
Candidates who want to follow through with their dreams must know about the minimum requirements to get an admission in th National Institute of Design. Given below is the NID eligibility criteria for the same :
- B.Des: Candidates must have a 10+2 or equivalent qualification with a minimum aggregate of 50%
- M.Des: Candidates must have a bachelors degree from a recognized institution with a minimum aggregate of 50%.
- They must have appeared for the NID DAT (Design Aptitude Test) conducted by NID.
- NID DAT Exam has 2 rounds – NID Prelims & NID Mains
NID Application Process
- Online Registration: Visit the official NID website and provide the required details. Login credentials will be sent to your registered email and mobile.
- Filling the Application Form: Re-login using the credentials received, and complete the form by entering all required details accurately.
- Uploading Documents: Upload all necessary documents in the specified format.
- Payment of Application Fee: Pay the application fee through online or offline mode to complete the process.
NID DAT Exam Pattern
NID exam takes place in two Design aptitude Test and the exam happens in two phases: prelims and mains with different weightages for B.des and M.des. The bifurcation of both is given below
- Prelims: a paper-and-pencil/pen test, conducted at the same time on the same day across all test centers with a focus of general aptitude.
- Mains: Based on Prelims, eligible candidates will be shortlisted for the DAT Mains as per merit and it may happen in multiple formats such as studio exam
Weightage of DAT Exam
| Exam Component | Weightage | |
| B.Des | M.Des | |
| DAT Prelims | 40% | 30% |
| DAT Mains | 60% | 70% |
NID DAT 2026 Exam pattern
The exam pattern for DAT for the B.Des and M.Des programs is given in the table below.
DAT Exam Pattern
| NID DAT 2026 Exam | B.Des | M.Des |
| Mode of Exam | Offline | Offline |
| No. of Questions | Section A: 64 (MCQ)* Section B: 3 (Subjective)* | Section A: 59 (MCQ)*Section B: 3 (Subjective)* |
| No. of Sections | 2 | 2 |
| Total Marks | 100 | 100 |
| Negative Marking | No | No |
| Duration | 3 hours | 3 hours to 3.5 hours** |
NID DAT Main Exam
Only shortlisted candidates as per merit proceed to NID DAT main. DAT mains exam is for both the undergraduate and the postgraduate programme offered by the institute and given below is the detail for both the exam including studio test and personal interview.
Mains exam Pattern
| Admission Type | Studio Test Details | Personal Interview |
| BDes | Includes tasks like drawing, sketching, model-making, group discussions, and presentations. | Only shortlisted candidates are eligible. |
| MDes | Conducted separately for each specialization, includes drawing, model-making, and group discussions. | Conducted immediately after the studio test. |
Important Dates for NID Exam 205
Given below is a list of important dates of the upcoming NID exam 2026:
| Event | Date |
| Registration Start Date | September 2024 |
| Last Date for Registration | December 2024 |
| NID DAT Prelims Exam Date | January 5 2025 |
| NID DAT Prelims Result | February 17 2025 |
| NID DAT Mains Exam Date(B.Des) | April 26 to May 4 2025 |
| NID DAT Mains Exam Date(M.Des) | March 3 to April 6 2025 |
NID 2025 Selection Process
- Seat allotment for NID 2025 will be based on merit, campus preference, category, and seat availability. The process may be conducted online or offline, as decided by the institute.
- Candidates qualifying in both Prelims and Mains are eligible for counselling. For offline counselling, candidates must report in person with required documents as per the announced schedule. Failure to do so will result in seat forfeiture, and the seat will be offered to the next eligible candidate.
- Reservation benefits like compensatory time, scribe facility, or age relaxation will affect final seat allotment.
The NID entrance exam is a highly competitive and prestigious gateway for aspiring designers seeking admission to undergraduate and postgraduate programs at the National Institute of Design with a process that ensures the selection of the most creative and deserving candidates. By excelling in both the Prelims and Mains candidates can secure a place in one of India’s most prestigious institutes, paving the way for a rewarding career in design and fulfilling their dreams.
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