NID DAT 2026 Mains Admit Cards Expected Ahead of March Studio Tests

The National Institute of Design (NID) is preparing to release the DAT Mains admit cards following the declaration of the M.Des Prelims results. Candidates for the Master of Design (M.Des) can expect their hall tickets by the last week of February 2026 for the upcoming Studio Tests. The Bachelor of Design (B.Des) Mains admit cards are tentatively scheduled for release in the second week of April. Aspirants must download their credentials from the official admissions portal to participate in the final selection rounds.

The National Institute of Design (NID) is moving into a critical transition period as the academic calendar for the 2026-27 session advances today, February 13, 2026. Following the highly anticipated release of the M.Des Prelims results on February 12, the focus has shifted squarely to the issuance of the mains hall tickets. Shortlisted candidates are currently preparing for the second stage of the design selection process, which involves a hands-on studio test and personal interviews. According to the official NID Admissions portal, these admit cards are essential for entry into the high-pressure evaluation rounds scheduled to begin in March.

Transition to the M.Des Studio Test and Interview Phase

With the postgraduate prelims results now finalized, the NID administrative cell is streamlining the logistics for the Master of Design (mains) examination. This phase is designed to evaluate the physical dexterity and creative disposition of the aspirants through a practical medium.

• Hall Ticket Issuance: The admissions portal is expected to activate the download link for the M.Des mains hall tickets by the last week of February 2026. This allows candidates roughly ten days of lead time before the first scheduled tests.
• Component Evaluation: The studio test will assess material handling and creative problem-solving, while the personal interview will focus on the candidate's portfolio and design philosophy.
• Venue Allocation: Unlike the prelims, the mains are held at specific NID campuses, such as Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Gandhinagar. The exact venue and slot details will be printed on the admit cards.
• Mandatory Documentation: Candidates must carry a printed copy of their hall ticket along with an original photo ID. Failure to produce these documents will result in immediate disqualification from the studio environment.

B.Des Timeline and Preparatory Milestones

While the M.Des process is currently in its peak administrative phase, the Bachelor of Design (B.Des) candidates have a longer waiting period. Their path to the mains is contingent upon the prelims results scheduled for release in early April.

• Result Declaration: The B.Des Prelims results are strictly scheduled for April 7, 2026. Only those who clear the category-wise cut-offs will be eligible for the next round of admit cards.
• Mains Schedule: The B.Des studio tests are tentatively planned for the first week of May 2026. These tests are conducted on a single day and carry significant weightage in the final merit calculation.
• Weightage Distribution: For the 2026-27 session, the final selection for B.Des is expected to weigh the mains at 60%, making the upcoming studio performance the most decisive factor for admission.
• Instructional Guidelines: Detailed instructions for the B.Des phase will be released on the official NID notices page, specifying the materials allowed inside the examination hall.

NID DAT 2026: Mains and Result Timeline

Conclusion

The upcoming issuance of the NID DAT mains admit cards in late February represents a major milestone in the 2026-27 design journey. For M.Des aspirants, the next few weeks are the most critical, leading directly into the high-pressure studio environment that defines the NID pedagogical approach. As the institute finalizes the venue arrangements and biometric verification protocols, candidates are encouraged to maintain a steady focus on their portfolio development. The transparency of this digital workflow ensures that merit remains the primary driver for entry into India's premier design school. For further technical details on the evaluation criteria, please refer to the NID Admission Handbook.

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