The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Entrance Examination 2026 will be conducted on 8 February 2026 by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The examination will be held in multiple sessions for different programmes and will include both Computer-Based Test (CBT) and Pen-and-Paper Based Test (PBT) components. Candidates appearing for the exam must strictly follow the reporting time, document requirements, and examination hall guidelines to avoid disqualification.
Mode of NIFT 2026 Examination by Test Component
The NIFT 2026 written examination consists of two distinct papers, depending on the programme applied for.
- General Ability Test (GAT): Conducted in CBT mode
- Creative Ability Test (CAT): Conducted in Pen and Paper mode
While some programmes require candidates to appear for both tests, others require only the GAT paper.
NIFT 2026 Course-wise Exam Timings and Test Schedule
The programme-wise examination schedule for NIFT 2026 is outlined below. Candidates must report to the exam centre as per the session mentioned on their admit card.
NIFT 2026 Exam Timings (Programme-wise)
Entry to the exam centre will be closed 30 minutes before the start of the examination.
Documents Required on NIFT 2026 Exam Day
Candidates must carry mandatory documents for verification at the exam centre. Entry will be permitted only after successful verification. Required documents include:
- NIFT 2026 admit card (all pages printed as instructed)
- One valid original photo identity proof
- Two recent passport-size photographs (same as application form)
Biometric verification of candidates will be conducted at the test centre.
Acceptable Photo ID Proofs for NIFT 2026
Candidates may carry any one of the following original ID proofs:
- Aadhaar Card / E-Aadhaar (with photograph)
- PAN Card
- Passport
- Voter ID
- Driving Licence
- College Identity Card with photograph
- Bank Passbook or Ration Card with photograph
Photocopies or expired IDs will not be accepted.
Items Prohibited Inside NIFT 2026 Exam Centre
To maintain exam integrity, NTA has prohibited the following items inside the examination hall:
- Mobile phones and electronic gadgets
- Calculators, smart watches, cameras
- Bags, purses, printed or written material
- Eatables (packed or loose), except permitted medical items
- Metallic objects or electronic accessories
Smoking, chewing tobacco, or spitting inside the centre is strictly prohibited.
Important Exam-Day Instructions for NIFT 2026 Candidates
Candidates must reach the exam centre well before the reporting time mentioned on the admit card. Once seated, candidates should not change their allotted room or seat under any circumstances. For CAT sessions, candidates will be provided a physical question booklet inside the exam hall. Rough work must be done only on sheets provided and deposited in the designated drop box after the exam. Negative marking applies to the GAT paper, where 25% marks will be deducted for incorrect answers. There is no negative marking in CAT.
Official Website for NIFT 2026 Exam Updates
All official notifications related to NIFT 2026, including exam instructions, answer key display, and result updates, will be available on the official NTA portal: exams.nta.ac.in/NIFT. Candidates are advised to rely only on official updates to avoid misinformation.