NID Exam 2026: B.Des & M.Des Prelims on December 21, 2025
Swati Kumar20 Dec, 2025
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NID Exam Date 2026: The NID DAT Exams 2026 for B.Des and M.Des will be held on December 21, 2025. The NID DAT Admit Card 2026 for the Prelims was released on December 11, 2025, and is available for download on the official NID website. Candidates must carry a printed copy of the Admit Card to the test centre, as entry without it will not be allowed.
The B.Des program at NID focuses on developing creativity, design thinking, and practical skills in areas such as product design, communication design, and interaction design. The entrance exam will be conducted across various NID campuses, and candidates are advised to arrive on time with all necessary documents. Remember, the NID DAT 2026 exam is scheduled for December 21, 2025.
NID Exam 2026 Overview
NID, officially known as the NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT), is a national-level entrance exam conducted in two phases: Prelims and Mains. NID Prelims 2026 will include the CAT (Creative Ability Test) and GAT (General Ability Test) sections, while the Mains phase will consist of a studio test and a personal interview. The table below provides an overview of the major components and structure of NID Exam 2026.
NID Exam Date 2026 (NID DAT Prelims & Mains Schedule)
Many candidates ask, ‘When is the NID Exam 2026?’ As per the official schedule, the NID DAT Prelims will be held on 21 December 2025, while the NID DAT Mains is scheduled for April 2026. The table below provides a quick overview of the complete NID 2026 exam timeline
NID Application Process 2026
The NID 2026 application process was conducted entirely online through the official website admissions.nid.edu. Candidates were able to apply for the BDes and MDes programs by completing the registration and online form, uploading documents, selecting the exam city, and paying the required fee. The application window has now closed, with the last date for submission being 01 December 2025. No further applications are being accepted.
NID Application Fees 2026
NID application fee 2026 varies according to the candidate’s category. The payment must be done in online mode, either through debit/credit/or UPI payment system. There will also be a penalty for late payment. Check out the following table to know about the NID application fees 2026 across various categories.
NID BDes Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates need to meet the following NID exam 2026 eligibility criteria before applying.
NID Exam Pattern 2026
NID exam pattern 2026 outlines the important aspects of the NID exam 2026. The exam will be conducted in two stages, i.e., Prelims and Mains. NID BDes Prelims constitute 40% in the selection process, while Mains has 60% weightage. NID prelims include CAT and GAT sections, each designed to evaluate different aspects of a candidate’s design aptitude and creativity. NID mains include a Studio Test and a Personal Interview. For a better understanding of the NID BDes Prelims Exam pattern 2026, you can refer to the following table.
NID Exam 2026 Syllabus
The authorities do not release the official NID exam syllabus. However, for the NID exam 2026, candidates can check the following table for some important topics selected based on previous year papers. The topics evaluate candidates’ creativity, design aptitude, general knowledge, and problem-solving skills.
NID Admit Card 2026
NID admit card 2026 for BDes Prelims will be released tentatively in December 2025 on the official website at admissions.nid.edu. The NID DAT Mains will be available in April 2026 for BDes Admission. Candidates can download their admit cards using their NID login credentials from the official website. It is mandatory to carry the printed admit card along with a valid photo ID to the exam centre.
NID Exam Result 2026
NID exam result 2026 for BDes prelims is expected to be out in April 2026, while the DAT Mains and final results should be announced in May 2026. Candidates can download their results by logging into the official NID admission portal. The result will be in the form of a scorecard carrying details of candidates’ qualifying status and sectional marks. Those shortlisted will proceed to counselling and seat allotment, with selection based on combined performance in both Prelims and Mains.
NID Counselling and Seat Allotment 2026
The NID Counselling and Seat Allotment 2026, which is expected to begin in late May 2026, is conducted online. It is based on candidates' merit rank in DAT Mains, category, and campus preferences. During counselling, candidates must submit required documents, choose their preferred NID campus, and pay the seat acceptance fee within the stipulated deadline. Provisional offer letters are released for each round, and the process continues until all seats are allotted.