The design admission season is in full swing as NIFT opens its late registration window while NID prepares for M.Des prelims results. Candidates can still apply for various design programs through March across multiple private and government institutes. Stay updated on the upcoming examination schedules and counseling phases for NIFT, NID, and other premier design colleges.

The landscape of creative education in India is currently buzzing as the design-selection process for the 2026 academic session enters a pivotal three-month window. The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) has just transitioned into its correction phase after a high-stakes late registration period. Simultaneously, the National Institute of Design (NID) is moving toward the next stage of its portfolio-evaluation cycle. This period from January to March serves as the final frontier for aspirants to secure their spots in some of the country's most prestigious design laboratories.

NIFT 2026: Late Registration and Correction Phase

The National Testing Agency (NTA), which manages the NIFT-admissions, has updated its timeline to accommodate last-minute applicants.

• Late Fee Window: The opportunity to register with a late fee of ₹5,000 concluded yesterday, January 19, 2026, marking the end of the primary design-selection registration.
• Correction Window: Starting today, January 20, a two-day correction window is active for candidates to rectify errors in their submitted forms via the official NTA website.
• Examination Date: The NIFT General Ability Test (GAT) and Creative Ability Test (CAT) are scheduled to be conducted on February 8, 2026, in a hybrid computer-based and paper-based format.
• PhD and Artisan Deadlines: For those targeting specialized categories, the registration for PhD and Artisan category NIFT-admissions remains open until February 28, 2026.

NID and NTA Design Assessment Milestones

While NIFT prepares for its written tests, NID is already deep into the DAT-prelims results preparation following the December 2025 examinations.

• M.Des Results: The preliminary results for the Master of Design programs are expected to be declared on February 17, 2026, initiating the portfolio-evaluation for the second stage.
• B.Des Timeline: Undergraduate aspirants will have to wait until April 7, 2026, for their prelims results, though the preparation for the Studio Test begins much earlier.
• Mains Phase: The NID DAT Mains for M.Des candidates, including the Studio Test and Personal Interview, is tentatively scheduled to start in the first week of March 2026.
• Rechecking Window: A brief 24-hour window for requesting a recheck of DAT-prelims scores will be provided immediately following the result declarations in February and April.

Opportunities Beyond NID and NIFT

The January-March window also sees several private and specialized design-selection portals remaining active for the 2026 intake.

• Portfolio Readiness: Most private institutes use this time to conduct portfolio-evaluation webinars to help students prepare for the April and May interview rounds.
• Subsidized Options: State-run institutes like FDDI and NIIFT will be opening their design-selection forms in late February, offering more affordable alternatives for fashion and footwear design.
• Scholarship Deadlines: Many institutions offer "early bird" scholarships for applications submitted before the end of February, encouraging students to finalize their NIFT-admissions and private college preferences early.

Conclusion

As the 2026 design-selection season intensifies, the months of January through March are the most critical for administrative compliance and final exam preparation. Whether it is the upcoming NIFT-admissions test on February 8 or the anticipated DAT-prelims results in mid-February, students must remain vigilant in monitoring official portals. The transition from written aptitude to portfolio-evaluation requires a shift in focus from logic to creative execution. With many private deadlines falling in March, this quarter is truly the "make-or-break" period for every design hopeful in the 2026 cohort.