The National Institute of Design (NID) has officially declared the NID DAT 2026 Prelims result for admission to the Master of Design (MDes) programmes. Candidates who qualified in the preliminary examination are now eligible to appear for the NID DAT 2026 Mains, which is scheduled to be conducted in March 2026.

About NID DAT 2026

The Design Aptitude Test (DAT) is a national-level entrance examination conducted by NID for admission to its undergraduate and postgraduate design programmes offered across multiple NID campuses in India.

The admission process for MDes consists of two stages:

1. DAT Prelims

2. DAT Mains

Only candidates who clear the prelims stage are shortlisted for the mains examination.

NID DAT 2026 Mains Exam Details

• Exam Month: March 2026

• For: Qualified MDes candidates

• Exam Components:

  • Studio Test

  • Personal Interview

The DAT Mains evaluates candidates on creativity, design thinking, problem-solving ability, material handling, and conceptual clarity through practical and interactive assessment methods.

Rechecking Window Open

NID has also opened the rechecking facility for the DAT 2026 Prelims result. Candidates who wish to apply for rechecking can submit their requests until February 14, 2026.
It is important to note that:

• Rechecking is limited to verification of marks calculation

• Re-evaluation of answers is not permitted

Participating Institutes

Admissions through NID DAT 2026 will be offered across various NID campuses, including:

• NID Ahmedabad

• NID Bengaluru

• NID Gandhinagar

• NID Andhra Pradesh

• NID Madhya Pradesh

• NID Haryana

These institutes offer MDes programmes in diverse design disciplines such as Industrial Design, Communication Design, Textile Design, Animation, and New Media Design.

What’s Next for Candidates

Shortlisted candidates must:

• Download their DAT Mains admit card when released

• Prepare for studio-based and interview rounds

• Keep track of further announcements related to final merit list and seat allotment

Final Admission

The final selection for MDes admission will be based on:

• Performance in DAT Prelims

• Performance in DAT Mains (Studio Test + Interview)

• Category-wise merit ranking and seat availability