The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) has extended the last date to submit the online application form for admissions, the Ministry of Textiles announced on Tuesday. Interested candidates can now apply on the official website @nift.ac.in until 13 January 2026.
NIFT has begun the admission process for the 2026-27 academic batch for its undergraduate and postgraduate programs in fashion design, fashion management, and fashion technology. To help more students apply, the institute has also reduced the application fee across all categories. According to the official statement, applications submitted between 14 and 16 January 2026 will be accepted with a late fee.
The entrance examination will be conducted on 8 February 2026 by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The test will be held in Computer-Based Test (CBT) and pen-and-paper modes across 102 cities in India.
For this admission cycle, the application fee has been lowered from INR 3000 to INR 2000 for candidates from the General, OBC (NCL) and EWS categories. For SC, ST and PwD candidates, the fee has been reduced from INR 1500 to INR 500.
Established in 1986, NIFT is India’s leading institute for fashion education, playing a key role in providing skilled professionals to the textile and apparel industry. The institute currently operates 19 campuses across the country, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Gandhinagar, Patna, Varanasi, Srinagar and other major cities.
NIFT 2026 Registration: Important Dates
| Event | Dates |
| Start of Online Application | Ongoing |
| Last Date to Apply (Without Late Fee) | 13 January 2026 |
| Application With Late Fee | 14 to 16 January 2026 |
| NIFT Entrance Exam Date | 8 February 2026 |
| Mode of examination | CBT and Pen-Paper |
Eligibility Criteria For NIFT Admission 2026
The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) has also outlined the eligibility criteria for candidates applying to its undergraduate and postgraduate programs for the 2026-27 academic session. Candidates appearing in their respective qualifying examinations are also eligible to apply, subject to meeting the requirements at the time of admission. NIFT clarified that eligibility conditions may vary slightly depending on the course and candidates are advised to check the official admission brochure for detailed, course-specific requirements.
- For undergraduate courses, applicants must have passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination from a recognized board.
- For postgraduate programs, applicants are required to hold a relevant bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
NIFT 2026 Registration: How to Apply
- Step 1: Go to the official website https://www.nift.ac.in/admission and click on the admission link for the 2026-27 session.
- Step 2: Create a new account by entering basic details such as name, email ID and mobile number.
- Step 3: Log in using the registered credentials and complete the application form with personal, academic and contact details.
- Step 4: Upload scanned copies of your photograph, signature and other required certificates in the prescribed format.
- Step 5: Choose the preferred exam city from the available list.
- Step 6: Pay the application fee online using the available mode of payment.
- Step 7: Review all the details carefully and submit the application form.
- Step 8: After successful submission, download and print the confirmation page for future reference.
NIFT 2026 Exam Pattern
The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) has announced the exam pattern for its 2026-27 entrance test, which will be conducted on 8 February 2026, in both Computer-Based Test (CBT) and pen-and-paper modes. The entrance exam is structured to evaluate a candidate’s creativity, aptitude, and general knowledge and comprises multiple sections depending on the course applied for.
For undergraduate programs in design, the test includes sections on Quantitative Ability, Communication Ability, Analytical Ability, General Knowledge & Current Affairs, followed by a Creative Ability Test (CAT) and Situation Test.
For postgraduate courses and management programs, the exam focuses on General Ability, Quantitative & Analytical Skills and Subject-Specific Knowledge.
