NID Cut Off 2027 (Expected): Category & Campus-Wise Cut Off Details

The NID DAT cut-off is the closing rank/score of the last candidate admitted to each NID campus and category.

In the official NID 2026 cut-off (latest), the B.Des Open seat closed at rank 47 / score 67.28 at NID Ahmedabad (the most competitive campus), with other campuses admitting up to rank ~200–587.

Since 2026, NID Prelims is qualifier-only (0% weightage) - the cut-off that decides admission is based on Mains (Studio Test + Sensitivity/Interview). For 2027, expect similar campus-wise trends.

Discover the fundamentals of NID Cut Off Marks: Discover necessary insights and trends for navigating the difficult admissions process and securing a spot. A must-read for all NID 2027 candidates!

Check NID 2026 DAT Results Official Link Here

Candidates must meet the NID cut off marks to be eligible for admission into the top NID colleges in India.

What is NID Cut off 2027 Marks? 

The NID DAT cut off marks 2027 are the minimum qualifying scores set by the National Institute of Design (NID) that candidates must achieve in the DAT Prelims to be shortlisted for the DAT Mains. Similarly, after Mains, a final cut off is released for admission into B.Des and M.Des programs.

Candidates who score valid marks in the exam will be eligible for admission into the institute. 

NID 2027 cut off vary every year and depend on:

• Number of applicants
• Exam difficulty level
• Seat availability at different NID campuses
• Category of the candidate (General, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD)

Download free Study Material for NID 2027 by CreativeEdge

NID DAT 2027 Cut Off - Category-Wise (Expected)

Category	Good Score Range in Prelims (Out of 100)	Expected Shortlisting Range (for Mains)	Remarks
General	50-60	Top 1.5× total seats	Similar to 2026 due to sudden change in exam pattern
EWS	53-58	Top 1.5× seats	Will depend on total applications received
OBC-NCL	48-56	Top 1.5× seats	Similar to 2026 due to lower overall cutoff expectations
SC	35-45	Top 1.5× seats	Similar to 2026 due to lower overall cutoff expectations
ST	30-40	Top 1.5× seats	Likely to remain close to 2026 trends
PwD	30-40	Top 1.5× seats	Minor increase expected (Will also depend on number of applicants)

Note:

These NID cut off data (for both B.Des and M.Des) is based on previous year trends and competition levels.

Actual numbers are expected to change based on the 2027 NID exam pattern (not officially released yet).

These are qualifying cut offs, not the final admission cut offs. As per updated NID exam pattern, final selection will depend on Mains (Studio Test + Interview) scores.

The Cut Off for NID 2027 will be published on the institute's official website.

How the NEW NID 2027 Exam Pattern Might Affect the Cut Off

If the NID 2027 exam follows the same pattern change introduced in 2026, you can expect the following impact on cut offs:

Change Introduced	Impact on Cut Off
No GAT paper only CAT drawing questions	Subjective section is comparatively low scoring. No direct scoring potential due to no MCQs on reasoning, GK, etc.
Prelims score not added to final merit	Lower Prelims shortlisting cut off. Due to increased level of difficulty and increased competition as only 1.5× seats will qualify for Mains
Mains carries 100% weightage	More pressure on scoring exceptionally in Studio Test & Interview
Tighter shortlisting (1.5× seats)	Fewer students qualify → increased competition per seat
Increased awareness and applicants	Marginal cut off rise, especially in General and OBC categories

Expected Outcome:
Candidates will have to score higher in Prelims just to get shortlisted for Mains, but the final admission cut off will depend purely on Mains performance.

Know more: NID Fee Structure for Different Categories

Download 10 Most Asked NID Drawing Questions with Solution Tips

NID DAT Prelims Cut Off vs NID DAT Admission Cut Off - What is the Difference?

Many aspirants searching for the NID 2027 cut off often confuse the NID Prelims cut off with the final NID admissions cut off. However, these two cut-offs serve very different purposes in the NID admission process and should not be interpreted in the same way.

The NID Prelims cut off is used only to shortlist candidates for DAT Mains, while the NID admissions cut off is applied after DAT Mains to determine final seat allotment across NID campuses. Understanding this distinction is crucial for setting the right expectations after each stage of the exam.

NID Prelims Cut Off vs NID Admissions Cut Off (Comparison Table)

Parameter	NID Prelims Cut Off	NID Admissions Cut Off
Stage Applied	After DAT Prelims	After DAT Mains
Purpose	Shortlisting candidates for DAT Mains	Final admission and seat allotment
Based On	Performance in DAT Prelims only	Mains performance as per final merit criteria (0% contribution of Prelims score, as of 2026)
Role in Final Admission	No role in final admission. Only used as qualifier for DAT Mains.	Directly determines admission
Weightage in Final Result	No weightage in final merit	Full and decisive
Nature of Cut Off	Qualifying / screening cut off	Final competitive cut off
Variation Across Campuses	Same shortlisting logic across campuses	Varies significantly by campus and category
Category-wise Difference	Yes (Open, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD)	Yes (more pronounced due to limited seats)
Competition Level	Moderate (1.5 times total NID seats will be shortlisted)	Very high (limited seats available)
What It Means for Aspirants	You are eligible to appear for DAT Mains (Studio Test)	You are eligible for admission to an NID campus

Why NID Admissions Cut Off Is Always Higher Than Prelims Cut Off

1. The NID Prelims cut off is designed to filter candidates for the next round, not to finalize admissions.

2. The NID admissions cut off reflects:

• Limited seat availability
• Campus preference
• Category-wise reservation
• Performance in Studio Test and Interview

As a result, many candidates who clear the NID Prelims cut off may still fall short of the final NID admission cut off.

How Aspirants Should Use This Information

• Clearing the NID Prelims cut off means you should immediately shift focus to DAT Mains preparation.
• Meeting or exceeding the expected NID admissions cut off is what ultimately secures a seat.
• Always evaluate your performance relative to both cut-offs, not just Prelims qualification.

Also Check: Year-wise NID Exam Analysis

NID DAT Cut Off - Difficulty Level Trends (2022 - 2025)

Year	Prelims Difficulty	Cut Off Movement	Key Reason
2026	Moderate (but lengthy)	Lower than 2025	Stark unexpected changes in exam pattern
2025	Moderate	Slightly higher	Steady competition and easier GK section
2024	Moderate-Difficult	Dropped slightly	Tricky CAT section
2023	Moderate	Stable	Balanced paper
2022	Easy-Moderate	Highest in recent years	Easier paper; more attempts correct

How to Use the Expected NID Cut Off Data for 2027 Preparation

1. Set Your Target:

Aim at least 10-12 marks above last year’s cut off to ensure shortlisting.

2. Focus on CAT (drawing & design thinking)

The Prelims is now CAT-only. Practice observation, sketching and idea generation, and use past papers to see how drawing prompts recur.

3. Practice Past Papers:

Understand how scoring areas (GK, reasoning, design awareness) repeat every year.

4. Simulate Prelims Under Exam Pressure:

Since the 2027 shortlist will be tighter, every mark matters.

5. Strengthen Studio Skills:

Remember: in 2027, Mains = 100% weight for final admission (most probably continuing the 2026 new pattern change)

NID DAT 2027 - Important Dates 

Event	Tentative Date
NID DAT Prelims	December 2026 - January 2027
NID DAT Prelims Result	B.Des - April 2027 M.Des - February 2027
NID DAT Mains Exam Date	M.Des: March - April 2027 B.Des: April - May 2027
NID Final Merit List	May-June 2027

For design aspirants aiming for NID 2027, every extra mark in Prelims could be the deciding factor between making it to the Mains, or missing out.

NID DAT 2027 Exam [Quick Overview]

The NID DAT 2027 will be conducted under the new pattern (expected), where:

• DAT Prelims scores will not be included in the final merit list.
• Only candidates 1.5× the number of total seats will be shortlisted for the DAT Mains (Studio Test + Interview).

Generally, the NID 2027 cut off is released after the declaration of the NID DAT Result. Students will be shortlisted for the DAT mains exam based on the category-wise merit list.

For B.Des:

While preparing the NID B.Des Cut Off 2027 list, 0% weightage will be given to NID DAT prelims, only the score of NID DAT Mains exam will be considered for ranking.

DAT Prelims	Studio Sensitivity Test	In-Person Sensitivity Test
0%	60%	40%

For M.Des:

For the M.Des program also, 0% weightage of prelims for final selection.  

DAT Prelims	Studio Test	Interviews
0%	40%	60%

Check: NID Ahmedabad

Download Original NID Previous Year Question Papers (with Answer Keys)

NID DAT Cut-Off 2027: Marks Relaxation for Reserved Category 

Check out the table below to know the percentage of relaxation provided to the reserved category:

Categories	OBC-NCL	SC	ST	PwD
Relaxation	5-10% less than a Cutoff score of the General Category	15-20% less than a Cutoff score of the General Category	20-30% less than a Cutoff score of the General Category	30-35% less than a Cut-off score of the General Category

NOTE: This data includes approximate numbers based on expert analysis of previous year NID cut off trends and may or may not change for the upcoming 2027 exam cycle. Remember, cut-off depends on several factors such as exam difficulty level of a given year, number of candidates appearing for the exam in that year, etc. 

Know more: NID Marking Scheme

NID DAT Cut Off 2026

B.Des - Rank & Score of the Last Candidate Admitted

Campus	Open Open Rank	Open Score	GEN-EWS Category Rank	GEN-EWS Score	OBC-NCL Category Rank	OBC-NCL Score	SC Category Rank	SC Score	ST Category Rank	ST Score	PwD Rank	PwD Score	Overseas Rank	Overseas Score
NID Ahmedabad	47	67.28	16	58.22	43	57.43	26	56.82	11	55.53	7	54.89	22	54.57
NID Andhra Pradesh	587	39.78	49	46.89	112	48.03	79	38.64	35	40.32	28	39.78	54	43.72
NID Assam	371	50.32	56	44.43	135	43.75	82	34.32	39	38.72	NA	NA	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
NID Madhya Pradesh	202	57.39	29	54.39	101	50.03	54	46.14	28	45.25	14	50.28	56	43.64
NID Haryana	240	55.78	44	48.68	102	49.75	67	42.72	29	44.57	27	40.50	72	31.68

Source: NID B.Des Admissions 2026-27, Rank & Score of the Last Candidate Allotted a Seat (as on 12 August 2026).

What this tells 2027 aspirants:

NID Ahmedabad is by far the most competitive. Its Open seat closed at AIR 47 / score 67.28. The newer campuses admit much deeper- MP and Haryana around rank 200-240, Assam 371, and Andhra Pradesh all the way to AIR 587 / score 39.78.

So an Open rank inside ~50 targets Ahmedabad, while a rank in the 200-600 range keeps a newer campus realistic. Reserved-category closing ranks extend later - check your specific column.

M.Des - Rank & Score of the Last Candidate Admitted

M.Des Admissions 2026–27: Rank and Score of the Last Candidate Allotted a Seat (as on 17 July 2026)

Discipline	Open Rank	Open Score	GEN-EWS Rank	GEN-EWS Score	OBC-NCL Rank	OBC-NCL Score	SC Rank	SC Score	ST Rank	ST Score	PwD Rank	PwD Score	Overseas Rank	Overseas Score
Animation Film Design	10	70.83	NE	NE	6	60.40	4	52.00	2	57.10	1	51.43	1	64.73
Ceramic & Glass Design	8	45.68	NE	NE	3	40.75	1	43.00	NE	NE	NE	NE	NA	NA
Furniture & Interior Design	18	48.18	NE	NE	6	42.23	2	44.60	2	42.75	NE	NE	NA	NA
Film & Video Communication	11	60.85	NE	NE	9	42.68	6	44.33	1	55.48	NE	NE	NA	NA
Graphic Design	9	65.10	3	52.55	9	41.15	5	53.58	1	60.28	1	58.03	1	62.48
Product Design	8	57.13	2	51.85	7	43.60	5	51.10	1	44.80	2	40.95	NA	NA
Textile Design	9	70.30	NE	NE	9	51.68	3	38.00	1	56.53	1	60.73	NA	NA
Apparel Design	14	54.70	2	50.93	13	44.60	9	36.45	2	39.98	NA	NA	NA	NA
Lifestyle Accessory Design	9	74.50	1	61.30	9	44.83	3	71.13	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
New Media Design	13	48.88	NE	NE	5	40.03	3	45.53	NA	NA	NE	NE	NA	NA
Photography Design	15	50.63	NE	NE	5	43.90	NE	NE	NE	NE	NA	NA	NA	NA
Strategic Design Management	8	76.28	3	49.70	14	44.30	4	46.30	1	72.65	1	51.35	NA	NA
Transportation & Automobile Design	12	56.75	2	51.88	4	40.58	4	37.55	1	55.75	NE	NE	NA	NA
Toy & Game Design	5	65.55	NA	NA	3	43.40	3	49.58	1	52.50	NA	NA	NA	NA
Digital Game Design	8	59.53	2	53.60	6	43.13	3	35.65	NE	NE	NA	NA	NA	NA
Design for Retail Experience	10	76.30	2	50.75	6	62.88	5	63.53	1	72.38	1	56.80	NA	NA
Information Design	11	61.88	2	53.28	10	44.53	4	44.68	1	58.98	NE	NE	NA	NA
Interaction Design	11	67.78	2	49.23	8	44.13	3	58.58	1	53.80	NE	NE	NA	NA
Universal Design	19	45.25	NE	NE	7	40.33	6	36.88	1	42.08	NE	NE	NA	NA

Note: NE = No Eligible Candidate; NA = No Applicant.

NID DAT Cut Off 2025

NID B.Des Admissions 2025 - Score of Last Candidate Allotted a Seat

Applicants must check the NID 2025 cut off for B.Des data shared in the table below: 

Institutes	NID B.Des Cut Off Score
NID Ahmedabad	Open: 59.60  Gen EWS: 50.90 OBC NCL: 53.60 SC: 51.70 ST: 47.80 PwD: 40.60
NID Andhra Pradesh	Open: 53.50 Gen EWS:  45.60 OBC NCL: 48.20 SC: 45.50 ST: 38.60 PwD: NE
NID Haryana	Open: 54.30 Gen EWS: 45.90 OBC NCL: 49.00 SC: 46.60 ST: 41.20 PwD: 40.00
NID Madhya Pradesh	Open: 54.20 Gen EWS: 45.90 OBC NCL: 49.30 SC: 48.20 ST: 42.80 PwD: NE
NID Assam	Open: 51.80 Gen EWS: 45 OBC NCL: 47.40 SC: 44.00 PwD: 40.00

Check: NID Gandhinagar

Download Complete NID Colleges Comparison Chart PDF

NID M.Des Admissions 2025 - Category-wise Rank & Score of Last Candidate Allotted a Seat

The NID 2025 cut off for M.Des is provided below for candidates reference: 

Discipline	OPEN Rank	OPEN Score	GEN-EWS Rank	GEN-EWS Score	OBC-NCL Rank	OBC-NCL Score	SC Rank	SC Score	ST Rank	ST Score	PwD Rank	PwD Score
Animation Film Design	12	55.10	NE	NE	6	46.65	5	46.30	1	52.15	NE	NE
Ceramic & Glass Design	6	58.10	NA	NA	4	49.95	3	50.50	NE	NE	NA	NA
Furniture & Interior Design	10	55.90	2	50.25	7	47.45	4	44.85	2	50.40	NA	NA
Film & Video Communication	10	67.35	2	54.20	7	62.65	6	56.35	1	63.45	NA	NA
Graphic Design	8	62.25	NE	NE	9	53.90	4	55.65	1	59.80	1	51.20
Product Design	13	57.60	NE	NE	15	46.80	3	50.70	1	46.05	NE	NE
Textile Design	8	59.25	NE	NE	5	47.20	6	40.20	1	48.40	NA	NA
Apparel Design	9	54.15	NE	NE	6	47.95	3	40.65	1	43.35	NA	NA
Lifestyle Accessory Design	10	59.30	NE	NE	9	48.60	7	43.95	2	46.25	NA	NA
New Media Design	8	57.70	NE	NE	8	46.55	4	43.00	1	52.50	NA	NA
Photography Design	16	50.15	NE	NE	1	46.50	5	43.50	NA	NA	NA	NA
Strategic Design Management	11	61.40	1	50.50	7	45.15	4	43.90	2	55.25	NA	NA
Transportation & Automobile Design	9	56.35	NE	NE	5	47.25	4	45.35	NE	NE	NA	NA
Toy & Game Design	6	72.95	NA	NA	6	48.70	2	45.40	NA	NA	NA	NA
Digital Game Design	7	66.65	2	60.00	6	54.85	5	52.70	1	53.15	1	42.15
Design for Retail Experience	7	59.30	NE	NE	8	47.60	3	55.10	NA	NA	1	44.95
Information Design	10	63.50	3	52.10	8	49.95	3	53.45	NE	NE	NA	NA
Interaction Design	11	57.50	NE	NE	7	50.35	5	52.80	1	41.80	NE	NE
Universal Design	14	60.55	2	57.00	11	48.80	5	51.25	1	46.55	NE	NE

Know more: NID Ahmedabad Courses 

Previous Year NID DAT Cut Off - Past 5 Years (UG)

We have complied with the previous year's NID cut off and rank to help you understand the trend. Refer to the below tables for the NID last year cut-offs.

NID 2024 - B.Des Cut-Off (Last Admitted Candidate Rank & Score)

NID Campus	Last Admitted Rank	Score
NID Ahmedabad	43	-
NID Andhra Pradesh	233	59.00
NID Haryana	181	61.60
NID Madhya Pradesh	196	61.30
NID Assam	255	60.30

Step-by-step Guide to Ace NID 2027 in First Attempt!

NID DAT Cut off 2023 (Campus Wise) 

Check out the table below to know the category-wise and college-wise cut-off for NID Exam 2023

Institutes	OPEN	GEN-EWS	OBC-NCL	SC	ST	PWD	Overseas
NID Ahmedabad	65.8	57.4	60.7	58.8	52.8	49.4	51.2
NID Andhra Pradesh	62.2	50.4	55.9	54.1	45.9	41.7	NA
NID Assam	60.3	50	55.1	50.9	45.2	NA	NA
NID Madhya Pradesh	61.3	51.2	56.1	52.8	46	40.6	50
NID Haryana	61.6	52.2	56.7	54.7	45.8	43.3	NE

Know more: Life at NID Vijayawada

NID DAT Cut off Ranks 2023 

Institutes	OPEN	GEN-EWS	OBC-NCL	SC	ST	PWD	Overseas
NID Ahmedabad	47	15	39	21	12	7	20
NID Andhra Pradesh	154	49	117	57	41	21	NA
NID Assam	255	53	139	90	48	NA	NA
NID Madhya Pradesh	196	44	115	70	40	40.6	25
NID Haryana	181	36	103	49	44	43.3	NE

Below is the expected cut-off for various NID courses offered by the institute:

Category	NID Minimum Qualifying Criteria
Open	50
EWS	50
OBC-NCL	45
SC	40
ST	40
PwD	40
Overseas	50

NID DAT Cut-Off 2022

Category	Approximate Cut off of NID
GEN	61.75 - 64
OBC-NCL	51-53.5
SC	46

NID DAT Cut-Off 2021 

Check out the table below to know the category-wise cut-off marks and rank for the B.Des course at NID:

Category	NID Cut off 2021 Prelims Cutoff for B. Des (Score)	NID DAT Prelims Cutoff for B. Des (Rank)
General	64.00	375
General-EWS	40.25	155
OBC-NCL	52.50	323
SC	48.75	224
ST	13.50	125
PwD	18.50	43
Overseas	35.00	81

Also read: NID Ahmedabad Hostel Fee

NID DAT Cut-Off 2021 (Campus-wise)

Check out the table below to know the category-wise and college-wise cut-off for NID DAT Exam:

Institute	NID Cut off Category
	Open	General EWS	OBC-NCL	SC	ST	PwD	Overseas
NID Ahmedabad Cut Off 2021	97.35	63.59	81.80	75.63	42.97	40.15	54.67
NID Andhra Pradesh Cutoff 2021	93.26	56.39	71.89	55.82	43.72	Not Eligible	No Applicant
NID Haryana Cutoff 2021	88.71	60.89	61.41	45.45	40.38	Not Eligible	No Applicant
NID Madhya Pradesh Cutoff 2021	89.80	53.28	62.85	52.48	Not Eligible	Not Eligible	51.96
NID Assam Cutoff 2021	86.87	Not Eligible	55.47	43.95	Not Eligible	Not Eligible	No Applicant

Practice with: NID Mock Test Series by Creative Edge

NID DAT Cut-off 2020 

Go through the table below to know the category-wise cut-off marks of NID DAT 2020 for the B.Des program:

Program	NID Cut off 2020 - Open	OBC-NCL	SC	ST	PwD	Supernumerary
Bachelor of Design, Ahmedabad	96.21	82.11	83.40	79.41	55.26	51.86
Graduate Diploma Program in Design, Bhopal	81.27	63.38	58.68	40.86	NE/NA	--
Graduate Diploma Program in Design, Vijayawada	88.40	71.42	60.35	47.99	NE/NA	--
Graduate Diploma Program in Design, Kurukshetra	85.82	61.79	62.77	50.27	NE/NA	--
Graduate Diploma Program in Design, Jorhat	70.58	59.29	42.30	43.44	NE/NA	--

NID DAT Cut-Off 2019 

The table below shows the Cut off of NID exam 2019 for B.Des/GDPD courses:

Programs/Category	General Category	OBC-NCL Category	SC Category	ST Category	PH (horizontal-all categories)
(excluding PH)	(excluding PH)	(excluding PH)	(excluding PH)	(excluding PH)	-
Bachelor of Design (B. Des)	55.76	51.63	50.04	50.23	46.76

NID DAT Cut-Off 2018 

The National Institute of Design has released the cut-off for the NID DAT exam on the official website.

Check out the table below to know the category-wise cut-off marks for the B.Des program:

Programme/ Category	General	General –PH	OBC-NCL	OBC-NCL-PH	SC	SC-PH	ST
Bachelor of Design (B.Des)	59.65	51.75	52.70	40.55	50.10	31.25	47.45

Refer: Important questions for NID General Aptitude Test

Test Your NID Prep Status - Attempt NID Mocks Today!

Previous Year NID DAT Cut-Off (PG)

We have compiled the previous year's cut-off for the postgraduate courses.

NID 2024 M.Des Cut-Off

The specific cut-off scores for M.Des programs have not been detailed in available sources. They are generally released at the time of seat allotment.

Category	NID DAT 2023 Prelims Cut Off (Score)
General	61.75 - 64
EWS	59.25 - 61.5
OBC-NCL	51 – 53.5
SC	46
ST	43
PwD	50.5
Overseas	55

Also check: LIfe at NID Bangalore

NID DAT Cut-Off 2020 (M.Des)

The table below shows the category-wise cut-off marks for the National Institute of Design entrance exam:

M.Des: Discipline/Category	General	OBC-NCL	PH	SC	ST
Animation Film Design	66.10	54.60	30.80	59.20	55.90
Apparel Design	57.40	45.60	50.00	49.20	50.00
Ceramic & Glass Design	54.60	38.30	No Applicant	44.50	No Applicant
Design for Retail Experience	62.00	48.60	30.60	53.10	49.70
Digital Game Design	61.40	38.60	37.10	43.90	42.80
Film & Video Communication	61.80	47.20	32.70	47.80	48.60
Furniture Design	61.20	51.00	53.50	54.10	48.40
Graphic Design	69.70	60.00	36.90	57.60	60.30
Information Design	67.50	57.90	35.50	45.50	47.80
Interaction Design	67.50	57.90	35.50	58.60	58.10
Lifestyle Accessory Design	60.00	49.20	39.50	50.80	50.90
New Media Design	60.00	31.10	52.40	46.50	36.30
Photography Design	58.70	42.00	32.70	49.50	50.30
Product Design	70.00	62.80	42.50	61.50	57.00
Strategic Design Management	63.80	49.60	30.60	54.80	57.40
Textile Design	58.40	46.20	25.00	45.90	50.00
Toy and Game Design	57.00	29.70	No Applicant	37.50	52.30
Transportation & Automobile Design	66.40	60.60	40.50	60.80	51.60
Universal Design	61.30	52.00	52.10	37.50	44.60

Also Check: NID Exam Syllabus

NID DAT Cut-off 2019 (M.Des)

Check out the table below to know the NID DAT Cut off 2019 for the M.Des program:

M.Des: Discipline/Category	General	General – PH	OBC – NCL	OBC-NCL-PH	SC
Animation Film Design	59.85	No Applicant	53.65	25.3	53.85
Apparel Design	50.8	27.2	46.8	No Applicant	42.25
Ceramic & Glass Design	48.85	No Applicant	18.2	No Applicant	45.15
Design for Retail Experience	55.25	27.2	52.3	No Applicant	46.2
Digital Game Design	48.7	No Applicant	35.85	No Applicant	44.05
Film & Video Communication	54.8	No Applicant	47.6	No Applicant	50.3
Furniture Design	58.45	57.45	50.3	No Applicant	45.4
Graphic Design	62.4	38.6	59.15	25.3	58.05
Information Design	59.15	35.05	47.15	No Applicant	46.5
Interaction Design	62.05	35.05	54	44.85	57
Lifestyle Accessory Design	55.45	45.15	46.8	No Applicant	41.35
New Media Design	58.7	No Applicant	34.6	No Applicant	46
Photography Design	52.6	No Applicant	40.35	24.95	45.7
Product Design	64.9	38.6	59.15	No Applicant	58.1
Strategic Design Management	60.7	No Applicant	52.45	No Applicant	52.7
Textile Design	53.05	34.2	43.5	No Applicant	42.1
Toy and Game Design	48.6	No Applicant	45.3	No Applicant	30.25
Transportation & Automobile Design	61.35	No Applicant	56.75	No Applicant	56.3
Universal Design	58.5	40.1	49.85	No Applicant	44.65

Know more: Short tricks to crack the NID interview on the first attempt

NID DAT Cut-Off 2018 (M.Des)

Go through the table below to know the NID Cut-off 2018 for the M.Des program:

M.Des: Discipline/Category	General	OBC-NCL	PwD	Supernumerary	SC	ST
Animation Film Design	62.82	57.15	48.50	No Applicant	Non-eligible candidate	61.65
Apparel Design	53.60	50.00	40.15	No Applicant	44.38	50.33
Ceramic & Glass Design	55.23	51.00	Non-eligible candidate	No Applicant	47.38	50.75
Design for Retail Experience	62.23	56.15	No Applicant	No Applicant	54.50	55.45
Digital Game Design	63.58	57.88	No Applicant	No Applicant	55.93	54.35
Film & Video Communication	60.03	54.45	Non-eligible candidate	56.25	52.45	Non-eligible candidate
Furniture Design	58.98	54.60	50.73	No Applicant	56.08	47.48
Graphic Design	60.70	57.08	53.98	No Applicant	48.95	Non-eligible candidate
Information Design	66.18	62.43	Non-eligible candidate	Non-eligible candidate	57.85	Non-eligible candidate
Interaction Design	58.88	53.15	Non-eligible candidate	49.30	51.93	51.08
Lifestyle Accessory Design	61.70	56.18	No Applicant	50.30	51.85	54.10
New Media Design	54.90	52.18	No Applicant	No Applicant	48.43	47.10
Photography Design	53.95	Non-eligible candidate	46.95	No Applicant	50.03	46.90
Product Design	66.23	60.98	55.45	No Applicant	60.18	57.65
Strategic Design Management	58.55	56.20	47.50	No Applicant	53.68	55.40
Textile Design	57.25	52.55	Non-eligible candidate	54.35	51.85	54.78
Toy and Game Design	59.00	53.95	No Applicant	No Applicant	55.75	Non-eligible candidate
Transportation & Automobile Design	66.58	61.95	59.90	55.53	58.70	Non-eligible candidate
Universal Design	62.03	60.48	No Applicant	No Applicant	51.23	56.23

Refer: Important creative ability questions for the NID exam

Attend NID Sketching Class by Experts

Understanding the NID Admission Process 2026

The NID admission process is rigorous, designed to identify candidates with a strong creative aptitude and the potential to excel in the design domain. It encompasses:

1. NID DAT Prelims: A written test assessing the candidate's design aptitude, creativity, and visual skills.
2. NID DAT Mains: Candidates shortlisted from the prelims undergo a series of practical tests, including hands-on design tasks, to evaluate their problem-solving and creative execution abilities.
3. Personal Interview: A panel of experts interacts with the candidates to understand their motivation, passion for design, and readiness for the design industry.

Impact of NID Exam Analysis on Cut Off for NID 2026 Exam 

The NID 2026 Cut Off Marks are significantly influenced by the evolving patterns and difficulty levels observed in the Design Aptitude Test (DAT) conducted by the National Institute of Design. A concise analysis of these trends is crucial for aspirants to understand how to better prepare and what to expect in terms of cut-off marks.

Insights from NID DAT Analysis

• Creativity and Problem-Solving: The DAT Prelims and Mains focus on assessing candidates' creativity, problem-solving skills, and general awareness. Practicing with the NID Previous Year Question Paper helps candidates understand this emphasis on innovative thinking and practical application, which in turn impacts cut-off trends, as higher scores are likely required in these areas.
• Objective and Subjective Balance: The Prelims test both general knowledge and creative execution, while the Mains emphasize hands-on design tasks. Success in these areas suggests a need for a balanced preparation strategy focusing on both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Conclusion

In the official NID 2026 cut-off, the B.Des Open seat closed at 67.28 (AIR 47) at Ahmedabad, with other campuses admitting well below that - so a "one number" cut-off is misleading; it's campus- and category-specific.

Since Prelims is now 0% weightage, your Mains performance sets your rank. For 2027, use these 2026 figures as your benchmark, aim above your target campus's closing score, and remember the seat is won in the Studio Test and interview.

Prepare with CreativEdge NID coaching and past-year papers.