NID DAT 2026 Mains Stage Timeline Active for Studio Tests and Interviews in March
The National Institute of Design has officially activated the Stage 2 timeline for NID DAT 2026 Mains. M.Des studio tests and interviews are scheduled to begin in March, while B.Des candidates will follow in April. A major update for the 2026 cycle confirms that final merit will rely solely on Mains performance. Shortlisted aspirants must now prepare for physical evaluation rounds across various campuses.
The admission cycle for the National Institute of Design (NID) has reached its most critical juncture with the activation of the DAT Mains timeline. Following the conclusion of the Prelims in late 2025, the official NID admissions portal has confirmed that the physical evaluation rounds are set to commence. For the 2026 academic session, the institute has implemented significant structural changes, placing a higher emphasis on hands-on creative evaluation compared to previous years.
Official Schedule for M.Des and B.Des Mains
The NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT) Mains consists of a specialized studio test and personal interviews. For Master of Design (M.Des) candidates, the prelims results are due by February 17, which will immediately lead to the issuance of admit cards for the March session. Bachelor of Design (B.Des) candidates follow a different track, with their results scheduled for April 7, shifting their physical tests into late April and early May.
- M.Des Key Dates: The Mains examinations, including studio tests and interviews, are slated to occur between early March and the end of April 2026.
- B.Des Key Dates: Undergraduate aspirants will participate in their Mains phase during the first week of May 2026.
- Campus Locations: Tests will be conducted at primary hubs including NID Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Bengaluru.
Core Components of the Studio Test Round
The studio test is designed to assess skills that a pen-and-paper exam cannot measure, such as material handling, 3D modeling, and sensory observation. In the 2026 cycle, the format for B.Des has been updated to include a "Studio Sensitivity Test" and an "In-Person Sensitivity Test." These rounds observe the candidate's ability to solve problems under time constraints while demonstrating an understanding of design aesthetics.
- Material Handling: Candidates use various provided materials to create models that address specific environmental or functional prompts.
- Personal Interviews: For M.Des, the interview now holds a substantial 60% weightage, focusing on the candidate's portfolio and discipline-specific thinking.
- Observation Tasks: These involve sensory evaluation where aspirants must document or react to visual and auditory stimuli.
| Admission Milestone | Target Category | Scheduled Date (2026) |
| M.Des Prelims Result | PG Candidates | February 17 |
| M.Des Mains Admit Card | PG Candidates | Late February |
| M.Des Studio Tests/Interviews | PG Candidates | March - April |
| B.Des Prelims Result | UG Candidates | April 7 |
| B.Des Studio Tests | UG Candidates | May (First Week) |
Final Selection and New Weightage Norms
A major shift in the NID 2026 admission policy is the elimination of Prelims marks from the final merit calculation. The DAT Prelims now serves exclusively as a screening gateway to shortlist a limited number of candidates for the Mains. For B.Des, the final merit is derived 100% from the Mains performance, while M.Des uses a split between the studio test (40%) and the interview (60%).
- Shortlisting Ratio: The institute has restricted the number of candidates for the Mains to approximately 1.5 times the number of available seats per category for B.Des.
- Tie-Breaking Rules: In the event of equal total scores, specific internal criteria based on studio test sub-scores will be applied to determine the final rank.
- Result Declaration: The final consolidated results for both programs are expected to be published by the third week of May 2026.
Conclusion
The activation of the NID DAT 2026 Mains timeline provides a definitive structure for the final phase of design admissions in India. With M.Des rounds beginning in March and B.Des following in April, the National Institute of Design continues to prioritize practical excellence over theoretical aptitude. Candidates can track their specific interview slots and download hall tickets through the official portal as the university concludes its preliminary evaluation phase.