NIFT 2026 Application Phase Ends; Admit Card and Exam Updates Awaited

The official application window for the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) 2026 entrance cycle has officially closed as of late January Candidates are now entering the waiting period for the National Testing Agency to release official hall tickets and city intimation slips. The upcoming entrance examination remains scheduled for February 8, 2026, across various centers nationwide. Aspirants are advised to monitor the official portal for real-time updates regarding the download links for their exam documentation.

The registration process for the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) 2026 entrance examination has officially concluded. Candidates who sought admission into undergraduate and postgraduate design programs have completed their submissions through the National Testing Agency (NTA) portal. Following the final extension of the application deadline, which allowed students to register with a late fee until mid-January, the focus has now shifted toward the upcoming examination cycle.

• The NTA has finalized the list of registered candidates for the 2026 session.
• Correction windows for rectifying personal and academic details in the application forms have also been closed.
• The institute reported a significant number of applicants this year, potentially influenced by the reduced application fee structure introduced for this academic batch.
• Candidates are no longer permitted to submit new applications or modify existing ones as the database is now being processed for hall ticket generation.

Anticipation for NIFT 2026 Admit Cards and Exam Centers

With the application phase over, the NTA is expected to release the City Intimation Slip and the official Admit Card shortly. As per the current schedule for 30 January 2026, the transition toward the examination phase is underway. The admit card is a mandatory document that contains vital information, including the specific venue of the exam center, reporting time, and candidate roll number.

• The NIFT City Intimation Slip usually precedes the admit card to help outstation students plan their travel.
• The entrance examination is scheduled to be conducted across 102 cities nationwide on February 8, 2026.
• Valid Government ID remains a requirement that must match the details on the NIFT admit card at the time of entry.
• Technical support helplines remain active for candidates who may encounter issues with document retrieval from the portal.

Final Preparations for the February 8 Entrance Examination

The upcoming entrance test is a multi-stage process involving the Creative Ability Test (CAT) and the General Ability Test (GAT). Aspirants for the Bachelor of Design (B.Des) and Master of Design (M.Des) programs are preparing for both sections, while technology and management aspirants focus primarily on the GAT. The GAT serves as a standardized test for communication, quantitative, and analytical abilities, whereas the CAT evaluates the intuitive and design-oriented skills of the candidate.

• The GAT will be administered as a computer-based test in a proctored environment.
• The CAT remains a traditional pen-and-paper exam to assess sketching and visualization skills.
• Post-exam activities, including the release of answer keys and the Situation Test for B.Des candidates, are slated for the following months.
• NIFT campuses across India are readying their facilities to act as coordination points for the national-level event.

Conclusion

The closure of the NIFT 2026 application phase marks the transition from the registration stage to the competitive examination phase. The period of revision continues as the timeline approaches the release of official hall tickets. With the exam date set for early February, the National Testing Agency and NIFT are ensuring the readiness of infrastructure across various centers. The successful completion of this written stage will determine the progression of candidates toward the subsequent rounds of the admission process.