NID DAT Exam 2025: Check Dates, Application Form, Eligibility, Syllabus, Cutoff, and Admission

The registrations for the NID DAT exam have begun on the official website of NID - nid.org.in, and the candidates can apply for the B. Des or M. Des programs online by filling out the NID Application Form 2025. The applications for the NID DAT exam 2025 began on 3rd September 2024, and the last date to apply for the exam is set for 3rd December 2024, today. Candidates willing to apply for this prestigious design examination need to pay an application and exam fee of INR 3000 to complete the NID application form. The National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad has also announced the exam dates for both the B. Des and M. Des courses. The exam will be conducted in 22 cities across India.

The NID exam will be conducted in 2 stages for each course. The first set is the prelims exam, and those who qualify the prelim exam will then be eligible to appear for the NID Mains exam. The NID prelim exam date for B. Des and M. Des course is 5th January 2025 and the exam will be conducted in offline mode as a pen and paper based test (PBT). Candidates willing to apply for the exam, must check the NID Eligibility Criteria. Only those candidates who fulfill the eligibility criteria will be entitled to appear for the exam. Read further on this page to know all about the NID entrance exam including the NID application form, NID eligibility criteria, NID exam dates, NID syllabus, NID exam pattern, and more.

What is the NID Exam?

The full form of NID DAT exam is the NID Design Aptitude Test. It is a national level exam conducted annually for admission to the B. Des and M. Des programs offered by the participating institutes. The NID exam is conducted in 2 stages - Prelims and Mains. The final result of the NID exam will be prepared using both the DAT prelims and the DAT mains exam. Currently, the B.Des course has 425 seats, while the M.Des course offers 347 seats. B.Des is available at the following FIVE campuses - NID Ahmedabad, NID Andhra Pradesh, NID Haryana, NID Madhya Pradesh, and NID Assam. Meanwhile, the M.Des program is offered at THREE campuses - NID Ahmedabad, NID Gandhinagar, and NID Bengaluru.

NID Exam Key Highlights

Candidates can check the key highlights of the NID exam in this section. The table presented below will help the candidates get a better understanding of the exam.

NID Exam Dates 2025

The NID registration is currently ongoing and the last date to register is 3rd December. Candidates are advised to go through the NID exam dates below and apply accordingly.

NID Eligibility Criteria

The NID eligibility criteria refers to the minimum qualifications, nationality, and the age limit required to appear for the NID DAT exam. Only those candidates who fulfill the eligibility criteria will be eligible to sit for the exam. Candidates are therefore advised to carefully check the NID exam eligibility criteria before filling out the application form for the exam. The detailed eligibility criteria for the NID 2025 exam is presented below.

NID Application Form

The NID registration process began on 3rd September 2024, and the last date to fill out the application is 3rd December 2024. Candidates willing to apply for the exam must fill out the form before the deadline. The application for NID consists of a few simple steps, which are listed below.

• Visit the official website for NID - nid.org.in
• Click on the registration/sign up link on the homepage, and you will be re-directed to a new page
• Enter the details like Name, Phone Number, Email ID, and other details as requested
• Click on "Signup" and get registered. The confirmation email will be sent to your registered email ID
• Confirm and verify the details, and login with the credentials
• Start filling out the NID Application form including your personal details, contact details, educational qualifications, and more
• Next, upload the required documents like photograph and signature in the prescribed format
• In the last step, pay the requisite NID application fees and complete the application form
• Submit and download the application form. Candidates are advised to take a printout of the form for future use

NID Application Form Documents Required

Candidates must upload the below mentioned documents in the form. Check the list of documnets w.r.t each category separately.

NID Application Fees

The NID application fees for the different categories has been listed below. Candidates must pay the application fee online using the debit/credit card, net banking, or any other UPI payment method. Check the application fees tabulated below.

NID Admit Card

The NID admit card is released separately for the DAT prelims and DAT mains exam. The NID admit card is an important document to be carried to the exam hall, failing which the candidates will not be allowed to sit for the exam. The admit card contains important details like the candidates' name, registration number, exam time and venue, and more. The admit card for NID DAT prelims will be released on 24th December 2024, and can be downloaded till the exam day - 5th January 2025.

How to Download the NID admit card?

To download the NID admit card, the candidates need to follow a few simple steps listed below.

• Visit the official website of NID
• Locate the admit card download link and click on it
• login using your registered email and password
• The NID admit card will be displayed on the screen
• Download and take a printout of the NID admit card for future use. Candidates are advised to take at least 2 copies of the NID admit card.

The NID DAT mains admit card will be released separately for the B. Des and M . Des courses, and the exam will also be conducted on separate dates. The NID mains  admit card will be released after the DAT prelims results are announced.

NID Exam Pattern 2025

The NID exam pattern refers to the marking scheme, duration of the exam, number of questions, and the type of questions that are asked in the exam. The exam pattern is different for the DAT prelims and the DAT mains exam, and also differs for each course. Candidates are advised to check the NID Exam Pattern tabulated below for reference.

NID DAT Prelims Exam Pattern

NID DAT Mains Exam Pattern or Studio Test (B. Des)

The DAT Mains for the B.Des will comprise a Studio Test, whereas for the M.Des it will also include a Personal Interview.

NID DAT Exam Syllabus

The NID exam syllabus is different for B.Des and M.Des courses and differs for prelims and mains. Candidates are advised to thoroughly go through the syllabus and prepare accordingly for the exam. The syllabus for each stage and each course has been presented below in a tabular form.

NID Syllabus for B.Des

NID Syllabus for M.Des

Important Instructions for DAT Mains

Candidates are advised to keep the following instructions in mind while preparing for the NID DAT Exam, especially the DAT Mains exam.

• Candidates will be included in the final NID DAT 2024 merit list only if they take both the DAT Prelims and DAT Mains.
• The weightage for DAT Prelims and DAT Mains will be announced before the declaration of NID DAT 2024 (Final) Results.
• Requests for rescheduling the Studio Test will not be entertained
• Admit cards will be issued separately for the Studio Test and Online Interview.
• If the candidate fails to appear in the online interview, admit cards will not be generated for the Studio Test.
• On the day of the Studio Test, the candidate must bring with them a hard copy of the admit card and a valid photo ID proof.
• Simply appearing in DAT Mains does not guarantee admission.

DAT Mains Components

The DAT Mains test for the M.Des program has two test components:

• Studio Test
• Personal Interview

However, DAT Mains for the B.Des program has only one test component: Studio Test. 

Statement of Purpose and Portfolio Review for DAT Mains

Candidates who get shortlisted for DAT Mains will have to upload a Statement of Purpose (SoP) and Portfolio during the given window. The below mentioned pointers must be kept in mind when preparing the SoP.

• The specific time/window for uploading SoPs and Portfolio will be intimated to the candidate by the National Institute of Design through the registered email ID/ result page.
• The candidate has to upload SoPs and Portfolios separately for each discipline they are shortlisted for.
• Format of the SoP - The Statement of Purpose should not contain more than 100 words for each question. The SoP should be uploaded as a single file (maximum size - 2 MB).
• Format of the Portfolio - The candidate has to upload a digital copy of their Portfolio in a single file (maximum size - 10 MB).

NID Exam Preparation Tips

The National Institute of Design (NID) are among the top design institutes in India. Candidates appearing for this prestigious NID exam must be well prepared for the exam. However, preparing for the exam can be overwhelming and challenging for the students given that the exam is conducted in two stages. Given below are a few strategic preparation tips which will aid the candidates in preparing for the exam.

• Go through the NID DAT 2025 syllabus (or previous years' question papers) and understand the types of questions asked, difficulty level, and topics covered.
• Refer to the official exam pattern
• Make a study timetable. It is likely that are in the middle of your exam preparation. In that case take note of the topics you have covered, the topics that remain, and how much time you will need to complete the syllabus.
• Start solving sample papers and previous years' question papers. You can take out the questions from the topics you have just completed and solve them. The more NID DAT sample papers you solve, the better you will get. 
• In the days leading up to the exam, you can take a few mock tests to align your body clock and make last-minute adjustments to your preparation, if need be.
• Since the NID DAT exam will test your drawing and creative abilities, you must practice sketching and work on your creative abilities. 
• Make sure you use the best NID DAT study material for exam preparation.

NID DAT Reference Books and Study Material

Candidates can refer to the following books and study material to prepare for the upcoming NID DAT exam.

NID Exam Answer Key 2025

The answer key is also made available by the National Institute of Design (NID) in two stages:

• Provisional Answer Key
• Final Answer Key

The right responses to every question on the NID admission exam are provided in the answer key. It is crucial to remember that the answer key only contains the right answers, not the solutions to the problems. Students preparing for the entrance exam can greatly benefit from the NID answer key. It may provide students with the information and comprehension they require to do well on the test.

NID Results 2025

the NID 2025 result for the B.Des course prelims exam will be declared on 1st April 2025, while the M.Des results will be declared on 17th Feb 2025. The results are declared online, and the candidates can login using their credentials to check the results. Earlier, the DAT Prelims results for the B.Des program were announced on April 4, 2024. DAT Prelims results for the M.Des program were declared on February 16, 2024. 

The DAT Prelims scorecard contains details like the sectional and overall scores and the qualifying status. Candidates who qualify in prelims have to appear in DAT Mains.

How to check NID DAT 2025 (Prelims) Result?

To check the NID prelims results 2025 the candidates need to follow the below steps.

• Visit the NID admission portal
• Click on the result link
• You will be redirected to a log-in page
• Enter your email ID and date of birth
• On log-in, the DAT Mains result will be displayed on the screen.
• Download and take a printout of the results.

Re-check of NID DAT result

Candidates are also allowed to apply for re-check DAT Mains results. The fee for submitting recheck requests for DAT Prelims was INR 2000. It is to be noted that the DAT Prelims re-check will be restricted to:

• Whether all the answers have been marked.
• Whether there has been any mistake in the totalling of marks for each question in Part II of the answer booklet and transferring the marks correctly onto the first cover page of the answer booklet.

Shortlisting of candidates for DAT Mains

Candidates were shortlisted for DAT Mains based on their scores in DAT Prelims. Candidates should note that the National Institute of Design will release the category-wise cut-off marks for DAT Prelims. 

FINAL result of NID DAT

The FINAL result will be prepared by considering the performance of the candidate in DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. This means if the candidate hasn't qualified DAT Prelims or doesn't appear in DAT Mains, he or she will not be included in DAT Mains results. Further, only such candidates who qualify DAT Mains will be eligible to participate in NID DAT 2025 counselling.

Weightage for the NID DAT final results 

The final results of NIFT will be prepared by giving weightage to DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. 

Weightage for the B.Des Program

Weightage for the NID DAT final results - M.Des Program 

NID 2025 Exam Centers

NID Entrance Exam 2025 will be conducted at various exam centres across India. The table below shows the list of exam cities.

NID Admission Process for 2025

The NID admission process for all three courses - B.Des, M.Des, and PhD is more or less similar to each other. The NID participating institutes will offer admission to these courses and the admission is based on the NID DAT merit ranks. Candidates can check an overview of the NID admission process below.

• Fill out the Application Form - Eligible candidates have to duly fill out the form and submit it before the last date. Use only genuine and verifiable information for filling out the form. Note that all information will be checked at the time of NID DAT counseling and seat allotment. If any discrepancy is found, the candidate may be disqualified.
• Download Admit Card - On the day of the exam, the candidate must bring with them the admit card and a valid photo ID proof. The admit card will carry details like the date and time of the exam, roll number, exam center address, and exam-day guidelines. Admit cards will be released separately for DAT Prelims and DAT Mains.
• Appear in DAT Prelims - DAT Prelims will be conducted offline as a paper-and-pen(pencil) exam. The full details of the DAT Prelims exam pattern will be outlined in the admit card.  
• Check DAT Prelims Result - The results for DAT Prelims can be checked by entering one's email address, date of birth, and roll number/application number. DAT Prelims scores will be used to shortlist candidates for DAT Mains. 
• Download DAT Mains Admit Card - All registered candidates will be issued admit cards that have to be downloaded online. After downloading the admit card, take a printout of the admit card.
• Appear for NID DAT Mains - DAT Mains will comprise a Studio Test; M.Des candidates will also have to appear in an online interview round. In the studio test for NID admissions, aspirants are given hands-on practical assignments, which they need to complete within the stipulated time.
• Check NID DAT final Result - DAT Prelims and NID DAT Mains performance are considered to prepare the FINAL results. Note that the final result or merit rank will be considered for the admission or seat-allotment process.

NID Admission Highlights

Candidates can check the key highlights for admission to the bachelors, masters, and the GDPD programs briefed below.

NID DAT Counselling 2025

The National Institute of Design (NID) conducts the counselling for NID DAT separately for the M.Des and B.Des courses. Candidates who qualify in the NID DAT exam will be eligible to participate in the online counselling process. B.Des candidates have to submit campus preferences as part of the counseling registration process; however, M.Des candidates aren't required to submit preferences.

The allotment of seats to the B.Des program will be based on NID DAT 2025 merit rank and campus preference opted by the candidate. Candidates who are allotted seats have to pay a seat acceptance fee of INR. 30,000.  

The 1st-semester tuition fee is INR 2,13,500 for admission to NID participating colleges; the total fee includes a non-refundable token fee of INR 30,000 and convenience charges.

Important Notes

• If the candidate fails to make the payment within the given deadline, his or her seat allotment will be allocated to the candidate next in the order of merit. 
• Apart from the NID participating colleges, scores of the NID 2025 will also be used by other institutes for admission purposes. Take, for example, the World University of Design (WUD) will consider NID merit ranks for filling some of its UG and PG seats.

NID Cutoff 2025 (Expected)

Predicting the qualifying marks for NID DAT Prelims 2025 can be tricky because the National Institute of Design (NID) hasn't released them yet. Typically, they spill the details around mid-February. To keep in the loop, check the official NID website regularly. While candidates eagerly await the official word, we can make an educated guess based on past patterns, reliable sources, and an analysis of previous NID DAT cutoffs. Estimating the precise cutoff score for NID DAT 2025 is a challenge, considering several factors including the below.

• Total number of applicants: Higher applicant numbers may lead to elevated cutoffs.
• Difficulty level of the exam: A tough exam might result in a lower cutoff to accommodate deserving candidates.
• Seat availability: Limited seats in a sought-after program could increase the cutoff.
• Performance of the test-takers: Exceptional performance has the potential to raise the cutoff. Keep an eye on these factors for a better understanding of the expected cutoff score.

NID DAT B.Des Expected Cutoff

 NID DAT M.Des Expected Cutoff

NID DAT Previous Years' Cut Off

Check out the previous years cut off for NID DAT exam.

NID DAT 2023 Cut Off Scores

NID Exam 2025 Reservation Policy

The National Institute of Design follows the reservation norms for all courses. The category-wise reservation of seats for all courses as per the NID Reservation policy is as tabulated below:

Persons with disabilities (PwD) will be given a 5% horizontal reservation of seats from the parent category in each program, cutting across all sections, i.e. SC, ST, OBC (Non-Creamy only), and General category. 

NID Reservation for Overseas Category

There is a provision for a 15% reservation of supernumerary seats in B. Des and M. Des programs for the overseas category. If you belong to the NRI category (Non-Resident of India), you must apply as an Indian Citizen.

NID Courses Offered 2025

Candidates can secure admission to B.Des and M.Des courses offered by NID campuses through the NID 2025 entrance exam. The various B.Des and M.Des specializations offered at the participating colleges are given below.

NID Participating Colleges

The seven NID campuses accepting NID entrance exam scores/ranks for admission include the following.

NID Exam Seat Matrix 2025

Check out the seat matrix for National Institute of Design listed below.

NID DAT Mains B.Des Seats Matrix 2025

NID DAT Mains M.Des Seats Matrix 2025

NID DAT Exam Analysis 2025

The exam analysis for the NID DAT 2025 (Prelims) exam will be updated here once the exam is over. The DAT Prelims exam analysis will cover key points like the overall and sectional difficulty level of the exam, the types of questions asked, whether questions were asked as per the syllabus, and the expected cut-off. If there are any technical or other issues during the exam, it will also be covered in the analysis. 

NID DAT 2024 (Prelims) - Exam Analysis

Read the DAT Prelims exam analysis from the previous edition below. 

• Part A had many GK questions 
• 1 question was on perspective drawing, 1 question on storyboard, and 1 on problem-solving
• The paper was lengthy, according to one student
• Compared to previous editions, many students this year's paper to be easier
• A projection-based question on cubes was asked
• Cut-off as per some students could go up to around 90

NID DAT 2024 - Sectional and Overall Difficulty Level

NID Contact Information

Candidates can contact the NID exam authorities if required and necessary via the contact information provided below.

Email: info@nid.ac.in 

Administration Office: 08-632-377-201 

Director's Office: 26629 523/525 

Direct Telephone Line: 2660 5241 

India Design Council: 2662 3082