NIFT Entrance Exam 2027 (NIFTEE)
Which NIFT 2027 papers do I sit for B.Des., B.F.Tech. or a Masters, how is the final merit weighed, and am I within the age limit?
NIFTEE 2027 is the entrance test for the 20 campuses of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, run by the National Testing Agency for NIFT. The written exam is on 10 January 2027: the General Ability Test (GAT) on computer in the morning and the Creative Ability Test (CAT), a drawing test on paper, in the afternoon. B.Des. candidates take GAT Section A and CAT, then a hands-on Situation Test if shortlisted; B.F.Tech. candidates take GAT Sections A and B only. B.F.Tech. needs Mathematics in class 12, and both undergraduate programmes need you to be under 24 on 1 August 2027 (under 29 for SC, ST and PwD candidates). This page follows the NTA Information Bulletin of 16 October 2026 and the NIFT Admission Prospectus 2027.
This page may be out of date. It was due for a re-check on 30 June 2027. Confirm every rule with the official source before acting on it.
Applications are open from 16 October to 16 November 2026 (late fee to 21 November). The written test is on 10 January 2027. All dates are tentative.
Exam at a glance
- Conducted by
- National Testing Agency, for the National Institute of Fashion Technology (20 campuses)[1]
- Programmes in Stage 1
- B.Des. (7 specialisations), B.F.Tech., M.Des., M.F.M., M.F.Tech., lateral entry (NLEA), artisan B.Des. and Ph.D.[3]
- Apply
- 16 October to 16 November 2026; late-fee window to 21 November 2026[1]
- Correction window
- 22 to 25 November 2026[1]
- Exam date
- 10 January 2027 (tentative)[1]
- Mode
- GAT on computer (CBT); CAT on paper (PBT)[1]
- Language
- Hindi and English, your choice; the English version is final if the two differ[1]
- Marking
- +1 per correct answer, -0.25 per wrong answer, 0 for a blank[1]
- UG age limit
- Under 24 on 1 August 2027; 5 more years for SC, ST, PwD and PwBD; no limit for Masters[1]
- Exam cities
- About 100; you pick four, all in the state of your permanent or present address[1]
- Results and seats
- Stage 1 result February/March 2027; Situation Test and interviews March/April 2027; final result first week of May 2027; seat allocation by NIFT May/June 2027[1]
This check runs in your browser and sends nothing anywhere. It applies sections 2.2, 3.2 and 3.6 and the paper structures of the NTA Information Bulletin NIFTEE 2027 (16 October 2026), checked 22 October 2026. It does not tell you your chances, and NIFT's seat allocation has its own rules.
How a B.Des. rank is made
How a B.F.Tech. rank is made
NIFTEE 2027: from the form to a seat
| You apply for | Papers on 10 January 2027 | After the written test | Final merit |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.Des. | GAT Section A (100 questions, 2 hours, 9:00-11:00 am) + CAT (3 hours, 3:00-6:00 pm) | Situation Test if shortlisted | GAT 30%, CAT 50%, Situation Test 20% |
| B.F.Tech. | GAT Sections A + B (150 questions, 3 hours, 9:00 am-12:00 noon) | None | Section A 30%, Section B 70% |
| B.F.Tech. + B.Des. | GAT A + B in the morning, CAT in the afternoon | Situation Test for the B.Des. rank | A separate rank for each |
| M.Des. | GAT Section A (120 questions, 2 hours) + CAT (3 hours) | Personal interview | GAT 30%, CAT 40%, interview 30% |
| M.F.M. | GAT Sections A + B (150 questions, 3 hours) | Personal interview | GAT 70%, interview 30% |
| M.F.Tech. | GAT (150 questions, 3 hours) | Personal interview | GAT 70%, interview 30% |
One application can cover two programmes: B.F.Tech. with B.Des., or M.F.M. with M.Des. Lateral entry (NLEA) is weighed differently: GAT 40%, Studio Test (B.Des.) or Technical Ability Test (B.F.Tech.) 40%, interview 20%, with the second stage in April 2027.[1]
| Section | B.Des. | B.F.Tech. | M.Des. | M.F.M. | M.F.Tech. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communication Ability and English Comprehension | 40 questions | 40 questions | 50 questions | 50 questions | 45 questions |
| Quantitative Ability | 20 questions | 20 (Sec A) + 15 (Sec B) questions | 20 questions | 20 questions | 30 questions |
| Analytical and Logical Ability | 15 questions | 15 (Sec A) + 15 (Sec B) questions | 25 questions | 25 questions | 25 questions |
| General Knowledge and Current Affairs | 25 questions | 25 questions | 25 questions | 25 questions | 25 questions |
| Case Study | None | 20 questions (Sec B) | None | 30 questions (Sec B) | 25 questions |
| Total GAT | 100 questions | 150 questions | 120 questions | 150 questions | 150 questions |
| CAT (on paper) | 3 questions | None | 3 questions | None | None |
M.F.Tech. also has some questions from engineering. NTA notes that the split can change from year to year; the full syllabus is in the NIFT Admissions Guidelines 2027.[1]
| Programme and category | Rule | Born on or after (our reading) |
|---|---|---|
| B.Des., B.F.Tech.: General, OBC, EWS | Under 24 on 1 August 2027 | 2 August 2003 |
| B.Des., B.F.Tech.: SC, ST, PwD, PwBD | Under 29 on 1 August 2027 | 2 August 1998 |
| M.Des., M.F.M., M.F.Tech. | No age limit | None |
NIFT prints the age as "less than 24 years as on 1st August of the year of admission" and gives no birth dates. The last column is our arithmetic: if you turn 24 on 1 August 2027 itself, you are not under 24. The bulletin prints no OBC or EWS age relaxation.[1]
NIFTEE admits students to the regular B.Des., B.F.Tech., M.Des., M.F.M. and M.F.Tech. programmes at NIFT's 20 campuses. B.Des. runs for four years in seven specialisations: Fashion Communication, Accessory Design, Fashion Design, Knitwear Design, Leather Design, Textile Design and Fashion Interiors. B.F.Tech. is a four-year degree in Apparel Production. The three Masters programmes run for two years.
NTA sets and runs the written test and publishes the Stage 1 result. NIFT runs the Situation Test, the interviews and seat allocation, and it posts admit cards, results and seat allocation news only on its own website.[1]
For B.Des. you need class 12 from a recognised board in any stream (NIOS with five subjects counts), or a 3 or 4-year diploma after class 10, or an AIU-recognised equivalent, GCE A level or IB. B.F.Tech. asks for the same with Mathematics, and a 3 or 4-year diploma has to be in an engineering branch.
You can apply while still in class 12. If your result isn't out by seat allocation, admission is provisional and you must hand the final result to your campus by 30 September 2027, or the admission is cancelled and the fee forfeited. A class 12 compartment candidate gets provisional admission only and must clear the compartment exam under the same board.
M.Des. and M.F.M. take a degree in any discipline, or a 3-year NIFT or NID diploma. M.F.Tech. takes a B.F.Tech., B.E. or B.Tech.[2]
CAT tests observation, concept development and design ability, and it rewards creative use of colour and illustration. You bring your own drawing and colouring materials in a transparent pouch, and you answer in the question booklet. Your answer sheet must not show your name, any personal detail or a coaching centre's logo; any identifying mark disqualifies you. NTA can't provide a scribe for CAT.
If GAT and CAT put you on the B.Des. shortlist, you take the Situation Test in one of 20 cities. You build a 3D model from materials handed to you at the centre and can't bring in anything of your own. A jury marks it out of 100: 50 for the model, 20 for a short write-up explaining your idea, and 30 for overall presentation. The write-up must be in English; one in any other language gets no marks.[1]
GAT is a multiple-choice test with four options per question. Quantitative Ability covers everyday arithmetic: fractions, percentages, interest, work and time, ratio and distance. Communication Ability covers synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitutes, idioms, spellings and a reading passage. The B.F.Tech. and M.F.M. papers add a Section B with a case study on a business situation.
If two B.Des. or M.Des. candidates have the same overall score, the higher CAT mark goes ahead. If CAT ties too, GAT marks decide, then the GAT sections in order, starting with English.[1]
NIFT reserves 15% of seats for SC, 7.5% for ST, 27% for OBC (non-creamy layer, central list) and 10% for EWS, plus 5% across all categories for persons with 40% or more disability. OBC-NCL and EWS certificates must be issued on or after 1 April 2026.
Some campuses keep State Domicile Preferential Seats for students who passed class 12 in that state, among them Patna (Bihar), Kannur (Kerala), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Bhubaneswar (Odisha), Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Kangra (Himachal Pradesh), Shillong (the north-eastern states) and Srinagar. There is no separate merit list for these seats.[2]
- 16 October to 16 November 2026: apply (late-fee window to 21 November)
- 22 to 25 November 2026: correction window
- 21 December 2026: exam city slip; 4 January 2027: admit card
- 10 January 2027: GAT and CAT
- February/March 2027: Stage 1 result
- March/April 2027: Situation Test (B.Des.), interviews (Masters), Studio Test or TAT (lateral entry)
- First week of May 2027: final result; May/June 2027: seat allocation by NIFT
Source[1]
Tips and tricks
- Look at the weights before you plan your study. For B.Des., CAT and the Situation Test together make up 70% of your rank, so drawing practice counts for more than GAT.[1]
- For B.F.Tech., Section B carries 70% of the rank, and that includes the 20 case-study questions. Practise reading a short business case against the clock.[1]
- If you have class 12 Maths, apply for B.F.Tech. and B.Des. together. It's one form, both papers fall on the same day, and you get a separate rank for each.[1]
- A wrong answer costs a quarter mark and each question has four options, so a pure guess gains 0.06 marks on average (1/4 x 1 minus 3/4 x 0.25). Rule out one option and it rises to 0.17. Answer every question you have time to read.[1]
- Pack your drawing and colouring things in a transparent pouch the night before CAT, and keep your name and every personal detail off the answer sheet.[1]
- Practise writing a few clear English sentences about something you made. That write-up is worth 20 of the Situation Test's 100 marks, and only English counts.[1]
Questions people ask
What is the NIFT 2027 exam date?
10 January 2027 (tentative). GAT is in the morning on a computer and CAT in the afternoon on paper.[1]
What is the last date for the NIFT 2027 form?
16 November 2026. Until 21 November 2026 you can still apply with a late fee of Rs 5,000 on top of the normal fee.[1]
What is the age limit for NIFT B.Des.?
You must be under 24 on 1 August 2027, or under 29 if you are SC, ST or a person with a disability. The Masters programmes have no age limit.[1]
Is Maths compulsory for NIFT?
For B.F.Tech., yes: class 12 with Mathematics, or an engineering diploma. B.Des. accepts any stream.[1]
Is there negative marking in NIFT?
Yes. Each wrong answer costs 0.25 marks, and a blank costs nothing.[1]
What is the Situation Test in NIFT?
It's the second stage for B.Des. You build a 3D model from materials handed to you and write a short note in English about your idea. It's marked out of 100 and counts for 20% of the final merit.[1]
Is there an interview for NIFT B.Des.?
No. Regular B.Des. candidates take the Situation Test, not an interview. Interviews are for the Masters programmes and lateral entry.[1]
Can class 12 students apply for NIFT 2027?
Yes. If your result isn't out by seat allocation, admission is provisional and you must submit the result by 30 September 2027.[2]
In which language is the NIFT exam?
GAT is in Hindi and English, and you can answer in either. The Situation Test write-up must be in English.[1]
Connected pages
- Part of pathway · PathwayAfter Class 12 Arts (Humanities)What Class 12 Arts (Humanities) opens up: BA through CUET (UG), five-year law through CLAT, CA Foundation from any stream, and B.Planning if you have Maths.
- Part of pathway · PathwayAfter Class 12 Science (PCM)What Physics, Chemistry and Maths in Class 12 open up: B.Tech, B.Arch and B.Planning through JEE Main, B.Sc through CUET (UG), and the rules for each.
- Related · PathwayAfter Class 12 CommerceAfter Class 12 Commerce: CA Foundation and its four-month rule, B.Com and BBA through CUET (UG), law through CLAT, and B.Planning with Maths.
- Related · ExamNATAHow NATA is set and scored, who can sit it, the Class 12 rule for B.Arch admission and how scores are used, from the Council of Architecture's 2026 brochure.
- Related · PathwayPolytechnic diploma after Class 10AICTE's rules for a 3-year engineering diploma straight after Class 10, the exit certificates along the way, and lateral entry into the second year of B.Tech.
Official and partner links
- Official bodyNIFTEE 2027 on the NTA website
- RelatedNIFT admissions (official website)
Sources
- Information Bulletin NIFTEE 2027 (released 16 October 2026), National Testing Agency. Printed pages 4-5 (dates), 11-15 (programmes, section 2.2 age, qualifications), 18-23 (sections 3.2-3.6, paper structure, CAT, Situation Test), 27-28, 30, 32, 35, 43 (Annexure II), 46, 54; ties at section 11.4. Accessed 2 November 2026.
- NIFT Admission Prospectus 2027, National Institute of Fashion Technology. PDF pages 53 and 63-67 (age, provisional admission, compartment, reservation, certificates, domicile seats). Accessed 22 October 2026.
- Public Notice: Inviting Online Applications for NIFTEE 2027 (16 October 2026), National Testing Agency. Programmes in Stage 1, 100 exam cities, CBT and PBT. Accessed 2 November 2026.
Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us through the corrections page. Updated 22 October 2026.