NID Syllabus 2026: Download Subjects-wise Syllabus and Important Topics here

Summary: The NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT) is a crucial step for aspiring designers. Understanding the NID syllabus 2026 is crucial for excelling in the exam. Let's delve into the NID 2026 Syllabus for both the Mains and Prelims exams.

Aspirants aiming to secure admission to the National Institute of Design (NID) must tackle the Design Aptitude Test (DAT).

The NID exam is known for its rigorous testing and comprehensive syllabus, which assesses candidates in various aspects of design, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

To succeed in the NID Entrance Exam, a clear understanding of the syllabus and exam pattern is required. In this article, we provide a detailed overview of the NID syllabus 2026, providing valuable insights and important information to help aspiring designers in their preparation journey. 

Download Free Study Material for NID Exam 2026 by CreativeEdge

NID Syllabus 2026 and Exam Pattern

The NID exam is conducted in 2 stages for both NID B.Des and M.Des programs. 

• NID DAT Prelims. 
• NID DAT Mains. 

The NID entrance exam syllabus varies between the prelims and the main exams.

Download Complete Subject-wise NID Syllabus PDF + Preparation Tracker

There are two sections included in the NID DAT Prelims exam, i.e.,

• Creative Ability Test (CAT) 
• General Aptitude Test (GAT) 

The NID DAT Prelims exam pattern is given below -

Particulars	Description
Exam Duration	3 hours
Mode of exam	Offline, pen & paper Exam
Maximum Questions	26
Type of Question	3 hours
Mode of exam	Offline
Maximum Marks	100
Type of Question	Objective and Subjective type question
Language	English

Know more: NID Exam Fee Structure

In the Mains exam, there will be a - 

• Studio test and 
• Personal interview

The NID DAT Mains exam pattern is given below -

Particulars	Description
Duration of the exam	3 hours
Maximum Marks	100
Language of the exam	English

You will be shortlisted for the final merit list upon qualifying for both stages. Before preparing, check the NID Exam syllabus for B.Des and NID M.Des entrance exam.

Also read: NID Exam Analysis

NID Syllabus 2026 For B.Des & M.Des

The National Institute of Design does not officially prescribe the NID exam syllabus. However, we have curated the NID entrance exam syllabus with the help of experts, which provides essential topics that need to be studied for the examination. 

The National Institute of Design (NID) entrance exam, the NID DAT syllabus is a holistic test that assesses your creative skills, design aptitude, and general knowledge. The NID 2026 syllabus for the exam is broad, but it can be divided into the following categories:

Category	Description
Drawing fundamentals	Tests your basic drawing skills, such as perspective, shading, texture, and composition.
Design Theory	Tests your understanding of basic design theory, including the elements and principles of design, colour theory, typography, and graphic design basics.
Creativity and Problem-Solving	Assesses your creative thinking and problem-solving skills. You should be able to develop original and innovative solutions to design challenges.
General Knowledge	Encompassing various topics, including science and technology, current affairs, and social and cultural matters.

Here, we have broken down the above NID subjects description into CAT (Creative Ability Test) & GAT (General Aptitude Test) topics which our expert recommends to cover for your preparation.

In addition to the above-mentioned categories, the NID exam also tests your knowledge of the role of design in society, the different types of design, the design process, and the importance of research and experimentation.

You should also be ready to exhibit your creative skills through portfolios and interviews.

A portfolio lets you display your finest work and gives the admissions committee a clearer understanding of your creative style and capabilities.

The interview offers a chance to discuss your design interests and objectives and gain insight into NID and its programs.

Practice with: NID Mock Tests Series 2026  

NID Syllabus 2026 for B.Des

• The B. Des prelims exam is conducted for 100 marks, out of which the marks for objective and subjective are divided.
• The total time duration of the exam is 3 hours.

Check: NID Eligibility Criteria

The table below shows the NID entrance exam syllabus for the B.Des & GDPD NID DAT Prelims exam.

NID Prelims Syllabus for CAT - BDes
Design Outline	Colour Terminology	Inspiration & Design Development
Elements & Principles Of Design	Design Theory	Mood, Theme & Colour Inter-relationship
Geometrical Form	Colour, Pattern & Texture	Innovation in Design
Principles of Composition Lettering	Optical Illusion	Understanding Light & Shade
Form & Function	Colour Psychology & Optical Illusions	Design Awareness
Drawing Fundamentals	Creative thinking & writing	Picture Analysis
Visual Logic	Good Design vs Bad Design	Theme Development
Use of Measurements, Scale & Proportions	Developing Themes & Colour Associations	Foreshortening & Perspective
3D Visualisation	Inspiration & Creativity	Ornaments & Motifs
Memory Drawing	Usage of Colour in Compositions	Expression & Emotion
Exercises on imagination	Lateral Thinking	Story Pictures
Graphics & Pictograms	Imagination & Doodling	Presentation Techniques

Also check: List of NID Courses

NID B.Des Prelims Syllabus for GAT

NID B.Des Syllabus for GAT
Ratio & Proportion, Percentage	Direction Sense	Reading Comprehension (Passages)
Profit & Loss, Interest	Series Completion	Error Detection
Averages, Speed, Time & Distance	Seating Arrangement	Statement Conclusion
Mixture And Allegation, Work & Time	Arithmetic Reasoning	Para Jumble
Numbers System	Clocks And Calendar	Cloze Test
Area, Volume & Surface Area	Blood Relations	Synonyms/Antonyms
Permutations & Combinations, Probability	Character Puzzle	Singular/Plural
Sets, Relations & Functions	Venn Diagrams	Painter & Paintings
Quadratic Equations And Complex Numbers	Series, Paper Folding, Grouping Of Images	Indian Textile Craft
Determinants And Matrices	Analogy, Mirror Images, Pattern Completion, Paper Cutting	Current Affairs
Permutations & Combinations, Probability, Statistics	Dot Situation, Cube And Dice,	World Heritage Sites
Musicians & Instruments	Figure Matrix,	Indian Geography

In addition to the above-mentioned categories, the NID DAT also tests your knowledge of the role of design in society, the different types of design, the design process, and the importance of research and experimentation.

Also check: How to download NID Admit card

For better preparations, refer to the NID 2026 syllabus pdf for every campus, for example, the NID Ahmedabad syllabus / NID Ahmedabad entrance exam syllabus, and start your preparations. 

NID B.Des Entrance Exam Syllabus 2026 For Studio Test

• This is the second stage of the NID DAT Exam.
• The studio test includes different formats of questions like Drawing, Sketching, and Model Making.

NID Syllabus 2026 for B.Des DAT Mains 

NID DAT Syllabus 2026 (Mains) for B.Des Programs
Model Making	Doodling	Portfolio making
How to Evolve Ideas	Audio – Visual Exercises	Material Manipulation
Material manipulation	Evolving ideas	Body language and how it is important

NID may or may not ask for a portfolio in the NID DAT Mains round. However, you should also be ready to exhibit your creative skills through portfolios and interviews. A portfolio lets you display your finest work and gives the admissions committee a clearer understanding of your creative style and capabilities. 

The interview offers a chance to discuss your design interests and objectives and gain insight into NID and its programs. 

As per the new exam pattern, following is the weightage distribution for both the stages.

NID MDes. DAT Prelims	NID MDes. DAT Mains - 100%
0% (only a qualifier for mains)	Studio Test 60%	Interview 40%

Only those candidates who have appeared for all the tests in both the stages will be considered eligible for merit list. 

NOTE: B.Des programs are offered in 5 NID campuses in India – Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Vijaywada, Johrat & Kurukshetra. 

Crack the NID 2026 Studio Test with Our Ultimate Prep Kit

NID DAT M.Des Exam 2026: 

Like B.Des/ undergraduate program, the M.Des./ postgraduate program entrance examination also includes prelims and mains.  

The NID DAT M.Des Prelims examination includes: 

• Design Aptitude Test 
• Discipline-Specific Test 

The M.Des DAT Prelims paper will evaluate candidate on the Design Aptitude. This is a paper-and-pencil, pen test conducted at the same time on the same day across all test centres. The questions asked may involve text and visuals. 

The NID Previous Year question paper comes in English language ONLY. 

The M.Des Candidates can choose one or two disciplines for the exam. Depending on the choice of disciplines, the exam time varies for the candidates. 

Check: How to Solve Simple Interest Problems for NID

NID Entrance Exam Syllabus 2026 for M.Des

As mentioned above, the postgraduate program entrance examination includes prelims and mains. 

The NID MDes Prelims examination includes:

• Design Aptitude Test
• Discipline-Specific Test 
• General Aptitude Test 

Learn more: How is Life at NID?

The NID M.Des Mains examination includes:

• Studio test
• Personal interview

Refer: NID Interview Questions with Answers

Look at the table below to learn the NID M.Des entrance exam syllabus for the prelims exam.

NID Mains CAT Syllabus – MDes.
Design Outline	Colour Terminology	Inspiration & Design Development
Elements & Principles Of Design	Design Theory	Mood, Theme & Colour Inter-relationship
Geometrical Form	Colour, Pattern & Texture	Innovation in Design
Principles of Composition Lettering	Optical Illusion	Understanding Light & Shade
Form & Function	Colour Psychology & Optical Illusions	Design Awareness
Drawing Fundamentals	Creative thinking & writing	Picture Analysis
Visual Logic	Good Design vs Bad Design	Theme Development
Use of Measurements, Scale & Proportions	Developing Themes & Colour Associations	Foreshortening & Perspective
3D Visualisation	Inspiration & Creativity	Ornaments & Motifs
Memory Drawing	Usage of Colour in Compositions	Expression & Emotion
Exercises on imagination	Lateral Thinking	Story Pictures
Graphics & Pictograms	Imagination & Doodling	Presentation Techniques

Practising NID Entrance Exam Sample Paper will help you understand the difficulty level and type of questions asked on these topics. 

NID Exam Syllabus for M.Des Prelims GAT 2026

NID Prelims GAT Syllabus - MDes
Ratio & Proportion, Percentage	Direction Sense	Reading Comprehension (Passages)
Profit & Loss, Interest	Series Completion	Error Detection
Averages, Speed, Time & Distance	Seating Arrangement	Statement Conclusion
Mixture And Allegation, Work & Time	Arithmetic Reasoning	Para Jumble
Numbers System	Clocks And Calendar	Cloze Test
Area, Volume & Surface Area	Blood Relations	Synonyms/Antonyms
Permutations & Combinations, Probability	Character Puzzle	Singular/Plural
Sets, Relations & Functions	Venn Diagrams	Painter & Paintings
Quadratic Equations And Complex Numbers	Series, Paper Folding, Grouping Of Images	Indian Textile Craft
Determinants And Matrices	Analogy, Mirror Images, Pattern Completion, Paper Cutting	Current Affairs
Permutations & Combinations, Probability, Statistics	Dot Situation, Cube And Dice,	World Heritage Sites
Musicians & Instruments	Figure Matrix,	Indian Geography

Kickstart NID Prep with Our Bestselling Online Courses

NID Entrance Exam Syllabus for DAT Mains 2026 (for M.Des)

The table below shows the topics to study for the Studio Test of the M.Des program. You can follow the expert Preparation Tips for NID to score good marks in the studio test. 

The NID exam syllabus is as follows:

NID Mains Syllabus for MDes
Model Making	Doodling	How to evolve ideas
Audio – Visual Exercises	Material Manipulation	Creative Thinking

Weightages of NID M.Des DAT Prelims & Mains for Final Result as per the new NID exam pattern for 2026:

NID MDes. DAT Prelims	NID MDes. DAT Mains - 100%
0% (only a qualifier for mains)	Studio Test 40%	Interview 60%

Only those candidates who have appeared for all the tests in both the stages will be considered eligible for merit list. 

MDes. Programs are offered in 3 NID Campuses – Ahmedabad, Bangalore & Gandhinagar. 

Learn more: How to prepare for NID Studio Test 2026?

Best Books for NID Syllabus Preparation 2026

To enhance exam preparation, you must make sure to refer to the right books that are as per the latest NID entrance exam syllabus.

Here is the list of best NID Preparation Books recommended by toppers and experts for better NID syllabus 2026 preparations and results.

Book Name	Author
NID Past Year Papers (Solved)	Creative Edge
NID Sample Papers (as per latest exam pattern)	Creative Edge

Past Year Paper Book for NID 2026:

• Includes 11 years of fully solved original past year papers (2015-2025).
• Step-by-step QR-based video solutions for CAT drawing questions by expert design mentors.
• Curated by Creative Edge faculty with over 29 years of experience in design entrance prep and real exam analysis.
• Comes with last 5 year papers exam trend analysis.

Sample Papers Book for NID 2026

• 15 sample papers based on the latest NID DAT Pattern.
• 5-year topic-wise weightage analysis
• 3 full-length mocks with video solutions
• Extensive practice with 400+ questions
• Learn key concepts through detailed explanations

Use CreativEdge NID Free Resources for Effective Preparation

FREE NID Study Material Name	Link
NID Study Material for Drawing	Click Here
NID Study Material for Drawing	Click Here
NID Study Material for Quantitative Aptitude	Click Here
NID Study Material for Verbal Reasoning	Click Here
NID Study Material for Non-verbal Reasoning	Click Here
NID Study Material for Verbal Ability	Click Here
NID Study Material for General Awaraness	Click Here
NID Study Material for UCEED Aptitude	Click Here

Conclusion

The NID syllabus 2026 is an invaluable resource for students seeking to expand their knowledge, refine their design skills, and obtain excellent entrance exam scores. 

Its emphasis on design theory, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving allows students to explore their creative potential and enhance their design skills.

Refer: Design Thinking Awareness Questions and Answers PDF