Exam guideNID DAT 2027

Crack NID DAT.

The way into B.Des at the National Institutes of Design.

  • Prelims20 Dec 2026
  • StagesPrelims · Mains
  • ModePen and paper · studio
75-day crash course All NID courses

The stages

Clear Prelims. Then prove it in Mains.

Stage 1 · DAT Prelims

3-hour paper

  • Design aptitudeCreativity, visualisation, problem-solving.
  • ObservationDetail and analytical thinking.
  • ReasoningPatterns and decisions.

Stage 2 · DAT Mains

Studio + interview

  • Studio testHands-on tasks with materials.
  • SketchingDrawing, perspective, expression.
  • InterviewHow you think and explain.

Key facts

What to know first.

Registration
Closes 30 Nov 2026.
Admit card
From 10 Dec 2026.
Mains
Dates not announced yet. Only for those shortlisted.
Fee
₹3,000 (General, EWS, OBC-NCL). ₹2,000 female, ₹1,500 SC/ST, ₹500 PwD and third gender.
Competition
15,451 wrote B.Des Prelims for 2025-26. 1,904 made Mains.
Good to know
Clearing Prelims is not admission. Mains decides it.

Confirm every date on admissions.nid.edu.

Campuses

Seven NIDs, one test.

  • NID AhmedabadNID Ahmedabad
  • NID GandhinagarNID Gandhinagar
  • NID BengaluruNID Bengaluru
  • NID Andhra PradeshNID Andhra Pradesh
  • NID Haryana, KurukshetraNID HaryanaKurukshetra
  • NID Madhya Pradesh, BhopalNID Madhya PradeshBhopal
  • NID Assam, JorhatNID AssamJorhat

NID mentors

Taught by NID Ahmedabad students.

All mentors
  • AtharvaAtharvaNID Ahmedabad
  • AnshikaAnshikaNID Ahmedabad
  • UjjwalUjjwalNID Ahmedabad
  • AayushAayushNID Ahmedabad
  • PiyushaPiyushaNID Ahmedabad

Prepare with us

Pick how you prepare.

All NID courses

Prelims is on 20 December. Start now.

The 75-day crash course starts 3 November.

See plans Book a free call