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Updated By Intajur Rahaman on 19 Sep, 2025 13:04
The NID DAT counselling process 2026 is a multi-step process through which seats are allotted to candidates who seek admission in the B.Des and M.Des programs offered by NID. Qualified candidates will have to register themselves online, fill out campus preferences (for B.Des only), and participate in multiple rounds of seat allotment based on merit rank. The successful candidates will be offered seats upon which they shall have to make a confirmation fee payment. The dates and other details regarding each step will be announced SOON!
Predict your Percentile based on your NID DAT performance
Predict RankThe NID DAT 2026 counselling will be started in May 2026 by the National Institute of Design. The counselling will be done through the online mode, and it will be open for only those aspirants who will qualify for the NID DAT 2026 exam. The candidates qualifying for B.Des will have to register themselves and have to fill out campus choices. It should be kept in mind that the campus choice is not to be filled by the M.Des candidates. The seats will be allotted to the B.Des programme as per the merit rank of candidates in the NID DAT 2026 merit list and preferences for campuses. On the other hand, the allotment for the M.Des program will strictly be done based on the merit rank secured by candidates in the exam. After a seat is allotted to the candidate, the candidate has to deposit the fee for the first semester to confirm the seat. The confirmation of seat fee is INR 30,000 for Indian students and INR 75,000 for overseas students with additional bank charges/convenience charges as applicable. Thereafter, the seat will be lost/forfeited and offered to the next eligible candidate based on merit if the above-said fee is not deposited within the stipulated time.
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To stay informed and avoid missing important events, candidates must stay updated on the NID DAT Counselling 2026 schedule. Please consult the table below for specific details regarding the NID DAT counselling process 2026 dates.
Events | B.Des Dates | M.Des Dates |
|---|---|---|
NID DAT 2026 Exam Date (Mains) | TBA | TBA |
NID DAT 2026 Mains Result | TBA | TBA |
Rechecking Request for DAT Mains 2026 | TBA | TBA |
Submission of Campus Preferences | TBA | TBA |
| Seat Allotment | TBA | TBA |
| Provisional Offer Letter | TBA | TBA |
NID DAT 2026 counselling is the process for admission to the National Institute of Design's 425 B.Des seats. Those who clear the preliminary exam qualify for the main examination. Reserved category candidates have a slight relaxation in cutoff marks. Both prelims and mains qualified applicants will be invited for NID DAT counselling 2026, held offline at the NID Ahmedabad campus. If a candidate fails to complete payment on time, the seat goes to the next merit-listed candidate. Admission depends on the merit list, category, and seat availability. Missing the counselling forfeits the seat, which goes to the next eligible candidate in the corresponding category.
The National Institute of Design will determine seat allocation based on the following factors:
Candidates receiving seat allocations must fulfil two requirements:
If a candidate is shortlisted for two disciplines:
If a candidate is eligible for both disciplines but shortlisted for preference 02:
For NID DAT 2026 seat confirmation fees for the M.Des program, candidates must pay the following tuition fees to confirm their seats:
Upon qualifying for the NID DAT 2026 exam, candidates need to express their campus preferences by accessing their results. The Results portal will guide candidates to submit their preferences in priority order. Edits to campus preferences can be made before the specified deadline. It's crucial to note that selecting preferences is mandatory. Failure to submit preferences will result in disqualification, and the candidate will not be considered for admission to the B.Des program. In such cases, any vacant seat will be offered to the next candidate in the order of merit.
Eligible Participants in NID M.Des SPOT Admission 2026 are:
Ineligible Participants in NID M.Des SPOT Admission 2026 are:
Here's a simplified breakdown of the NID DAT 2026 counselling process:
To take part in NID DAT 2026 counselling, candidates need to have successfully cleared the NID DAT 2026 exam. You can verify your qualifying status by logging into the NID DAT 2026 result portal.
For B.Des candidates, indicating campus preferences is essential. Entries should be prioritized, and it's crucial to note that failure to make selections might result in disqualification. Campus choices should consider seat availability and the NID DAT 2026 merit rank. Notably, M.Des candidates are not obligated to submit campus preferences.
Seats will be allotted based on seat availability, applicant merit rank, campus preferences, and category. Once a seat is allocated, candidates must confirm it by:
Note: The non-refundable seat-confirmation fee is INR 30,000 (plus applicable convenience fees) for General, Gen EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, and PwD candidates, and INR 75,000 (plus applicable convenience fees) for Overseas candidates.
Uploaded documents undergo scrutiny to ensure alignment with the information provided during online registration. Discrepancies, if detected, may lead to disqualification.
Upon successful document verification, candidates receive Provisional Offer Letters of Admission. Subsequent payment details, payable directly to NIDs, will be communicated to the candidate.
The NID DAT 2026 counselling process happens shortly after the announcement of the final NID DAT 2026 Result. Interested candidates can participate in the seat acceptance process to secure admission to the institute. The NID DAT counselling occurs once the three stages of the selection process are finished:
To complete the NID DAT 2026 Counseling Process, shortlisted candidates must attend the counselling session in person at the chosen NID Campus. They must present original documents and pay the admission fees to confirm their admission. Shortlisted candidates must complete the admission process by the deadline set by the conducting body.
The National Institute of Design announces the NID DAT results for the M.Des programs and the B.Des program. Candidates who passed the DAT Prelims must now appear for the DAT Mains. The final NID DAT 2026 results will be determined by considering scores from both DAT Prelims and DAT Mains.
Candidates were selected for DAT Mains based on their DAT Prelims 2026 scores.
Statement of Purpose (SoP) | Portfolio Review | |
|---|---|---|
Word Limit | Answer each question in no more than 100 words. Keep your responses clear, concise, and original. Ensure your answers are easy to read and completely free of plagiarism. | - |
File type | ||
Maximum Size | 2 MB | 10 MB |
The NID DAT Seat Reservation is different in each NID campus. Check out the campus-wise and course-wise seat reservation of NID DAT 2026 below:
Given below is the reservation for the B.Des programme.
Institute | Total Seats | GEN-EWS (10%) | OBC-NCL (27%) | Scheduled Caste (15%) | Scheduled Tribe (7.5%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NID Ahmedabad | 125 | 13 | 34 | 19 | 9 |
NID Andhra Pradesh | 75 | 8 | 20 | 11 | 6 |
NID Haryana | 75 | 8 | 20 | 11 | 6 |
NID Madhya Pradesh | 75 | 8 | 20 | 11 | 6 |
NID Assam | 75 | 8 | 20 | 11 | 6 |
Total | 525 | 45 | 114 | 63 | 33 |
Note: Of all seats across various categories, such as Open, GEN-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC and ST categories, 5% of seats are kept aside for the PwD category candidates.
Check out the M.Des reservation at NID below.
Disciplines/Categories | GEN-EWS (10%) | OBC-NCL (27%) | Scheduled Caste (15%) | Scheduled Tribe (7.5%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Disciplines with 19 seats each | 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
Disciplines with 12 seats each | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Note: Of all seats across various categories, such as Open, GEN-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, and ST categories, 5% of seats are kept aside for the PwD category candidates.
The NID DAT 2026 Seat intake for various courses have been captured in the tables below:
The seat intake for the B.Des programme at different NID campuses are as follows.
Discipline | NID DAT Ahmedabad | NID Andhra Pradesh | NID DAT Assam | NID Madhya Pradesh | NID Haryana |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Animation Film Design | 19 Seats | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Exhibition Design | 13 Seats | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Film & Video Communication | 13 Seats | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Graphic Design | 19 Seats | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Ceramic & Glass Design | 13 Seats | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Furniture & Interior Design | 13 Seats | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Product Design | 19 Seats | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Textile Design | 19 Seats | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Communication Design | N/A | 25 Seats | 25 Seats | 25 Seats | 25 Seats |
Industrial Design | N/A | 25 Seats | 25 Seats | 25 Seats | 25 Seats |
Textile & Apparel Design | N/A | 25 Seats | 25 Seats | 25 Seats | 25 Seats |
Here is the seat intake of various disciplines and campuses of NID.
Discipline | Campus Name | Seat Intake |
|---|---|---|
Animation Film Design | NID Ahmedabad | 19 Seats |
Ceramic and Glass Design | 12 Seats | |
Furniture & Interior Design | 19 Seats | |
Film & Video Communication | 19 Seats | |
Graphic Design | 19 Seats | |
Product Design | 19 Seats | |
Textile Design | 19 Seats | |
Apparel Design | NID Gandhinagar | 19 Seats |
Lifestyle Accessory Design | 19 Seats | |
Strategic Design Management | 19 Seats | |
New Media Design | 19 Seats | |
Photography Design | 19 Seats | |
Toy & Game Design | 12 Seats | |
Transportation & Automobile Design | 19 Seats | |
Design for Retail Experience | NID Bengaluru | 19 Seats |
Digital Game Design | 19 Seats | |
Information Design | 19 Seats | |
Interaction Design | 19 Seats | |
Universal Design | 19 Seats |
Admission to the National Institute of Design (NID) through the NID DAT counselling process 2026 will be based on the candidate's merit rank, category, and the availability of seats. Candidates who fail to attend the NID DAT counselling process 2026 with the required documents on the scheduled dates will lose their allotted seats. The NID will then allot those seats to the next qualified candidates in the order of merit within their respective categories. Here is the expected campus-wise NID DAT 2026 cutoff:
Institute | Open | Gen - EWS | OBC - NCL | SC | ST | PwD | Overseas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NID Ahmedabad | 96.84 | 65.96 | 79.41 | 65.27 | 63.49 | 52.16 | 65.48 |
NID Andhra Pradesh | 94.17 | NE | 71.72 | 53.33 | 50.51 | 47.98 | NA |
NID Haryana | 91.15 | NE | 65.82 | 46.12 | 47.91 | 46.33 | NA |
NID Madhya Pradesh | 88.16 | NE | 60.95 | 50.17 | 46.19 | NE | NA |
NID Assam | 87.10 | NE | 57.17 | 45.98 | NE | NE | NA |
Open | EWS | OBC-NCL | SC/ST | PwD | Overseas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
65 | 65 | 55 | 45 | 45 | 65 |
Want to know more about NID DAT
The waiting list in NID DAT counselling serves a vital role in filling vacant seats and accommodating candidates who might have missed out initially. Its functions include acting as a backup to ensure all NID campus seats are filled, providing opportunities to candidates initially not selected due to seat limitations or high competition, and offering flexibility for NID authorities in managing admissions and optimizing seat allocation.
Although the specific guidelines are pending for the portfolio submission during NID DAT 2024 counselling, previous years’ patterns suggest the following expectations. The portfolio should be a digital PDF file, not exceeding 10MB. It should feature 10-15 exemplary pieces that highlight your design prowess, spanning various design disciplines even if you have a specific program preference. Include a diverse range of projects, such as sketches, illustrations, 3D models, photographs, and videos. Additionally, provide process documentation, showcasing your design thinking with sketches, prototypes, and iterations. Ensure clarity in annotations, high-quality images, and an organized layout with consistent font and formatting.
Unfortunately, missing your NID DAT 2026 counselling session can have significant consequences for your admission chances:
- Loss of Seat Allocation
- Limited Options
- Delay in Admission
- Impact on Future Applications
Absolutely, you have the option to select a particular NID campus during the counselling for NID DAT 2026. Yet, the campus you are assigned will be determined by your ranking in the entrance exam and the availability of seats in the preferred campus and program you choose.
The specific documents needed for NID DAT 2026 counselling could vary slightly based on the campus and program. Nonetheless, a general list of documents you might be asked for includes:
- NID DAT Admit Card
- NID DAT Scorecard
- Class 10th Mark Sheet (original and photocopy)
- Class 12th Mark Sheet (original and photocopy)
- Entrance Exam Scorecard (if applicable)
- Caste Certificate (if applicable)
- Disability Certificate (if applicable)
Yes, you must report to campus to participate in the NID DAT counselling procedure. Document verification, seat assignment, and fee payment are all part of the counselling process. All of these procedures must be carried out in person at the specified counselling facility. Candidates who fail to report to campus for the counselling process will have their seats forfeited.
No, you will not get your NID DAT provisional admission letter by mail. Only preliminary admission letters are emailed by the NID. This is done to ensure that candidates receive their letters as soon as possible. If you do not have access to email, you can get a hard copy of your provisional acceptance letter from the NID admissions office. Please keep in mind that this may cause your entry to be delayed.
Your provisional admission letter for the NID DAT will be sent to you via email. Following the completion of the seat allocation procedure, the NID will distribute provisional admission letters to those candidates who have been assigned seats. The email will provide instructions on how to accept the offer and pay the applicable fees. You should contact the NID admissions office if you do not get your provisional admission letter within a few days of the seat allotment process.
If an applicant fails to appear for the NID DAT counselling process with the required documentation, they will forfeit their assigned place. This implies they will be denied admission to the NID programme. The unfilled seat will subsequently be assigned to the next qualifying candidate in the order of merit within the corresponding category by the NID. It should be noted that the NID is highly stringent regarding document verification. Candidates are recommended to carefully review the list of essential papers and bring all relevant documents to the counselling centre.
The documents that must be uploaded to participate in the NID DAT counselling are Date of Birth Certificate, Marksheet of Class 12, Degree Marksheet (for admission to M. Des.), Marksheet of Class 10. OBC NCL/SC/ST category candidates have to submit valid category certificates. The first and the last page of Passport and of Equivalence certificate should be uploaded by the Overseas category candidates.
No, you are not eligible to participate in the NID DAT counselling process if you did not pass the NID DAT exam. Only applicants who completed the prelims and mains examinations and scored over the cutoff marks are eligible for the counselling session. You can, however, still prepare for the NID DAT exam next year to be considered for the counselling procedure. To help you prepare for the exam, there are several materials accessible online and in libraries. NID DAT counselling sessions are also available in various cities across India.
The NID DAT counselling process typically involves the following steps:
- Registration
- Document Verification
- Seat Allotment
- Fee Payment
- Reporting to the Allotted College
Candidates who qualify for the NID DAT 2026 exam will be eligible to participate in the counselling process. This includes candidates who have passed the prelims and mains exams and have scored above the cutoff marks. Reserved category candidates may get some relaxation in the cutoff scores as per the rules of the National Institute of Design (NID).
The NID DAT selection procedure is divided into three steps. The Prelims are a written test meant to assess applicants' design ability, observation abilities, and critical thinking capabilities. Second, the Mains stage consists of a two-part evaluation, beginning with a studio test to examine applicants' design proficiency and originality, followed by an interview to assess their motivation, communication skills, and general appropriateness for the NID programme. Finally, the process culminates in the development of the Final Merit List, which is decided by applicants' performance in both the Prelims and Mains exams. Admission to the NID programme is determined by a candidate's position on the final merit list.
The NID DAT counselling process is typically conducted in May for the B.Des program and in April for the M.Des program. However, the exact dates may vary from year to year. Candidates are advised to check the NID website regularly for updates on the counselling schedule.
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