NID 2025 Eligibility Criteria – Age, Qualification, Attempts & Reservation

Before applying for the NID National Institute of Design Entrance Exam for the 2025-26 academic year, it is important to check the age criteria set by the National Institute of Design. For the Bachelor of Design program, candidates in the General Category and General EWS Category must be born on or after July 1, 2004. This implies an upper age limit of 21 years as of July 1, 2025. For Indian Nationals belonging to the Other Backward Class - Non-Creamy Layer, Scheduled Caste, and Scheduled Tribe categories, an age relaxation is provided, requiring candidates to be born on or after July 1, 2001, effectively extending the upper age limit by three years. Candidates from the Persons with Disabilities category receive a further relaxation, with eligibility for those born on or after July 1, 1999, signifying a five-year relaxation. For the Master of Design program, General Category and General EWS Category candidates must be born on or after July 1, 1993. This sets an upper age limit of 32 years as of July 1, 2025. Reserved category candidates (OBC-NCL, SC, ST) for M.Des must be born on or after July 1, 1990, benefiting from a three-year age relaxation. PwD candidates for M.Des must be born on or after July 1, 1988, which translates to a five-year relaxation. Knowing the age rules in advance ensures applicants apply within the permitted criteria and make full use of any relaxation benefits.

The NID National Institute of Design Entrance Exam for the 2025-26 academic year offers relaxations for candidates belonging to specific reserved categories, aligning with the guidelines issued by the National Institute of Design and the Government of India. These benefits may include reserved seats, extended age limits, and potentially reduced qualifying marks or application fees. Specifically, seat reservations are allocated as follows: 10% for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), 27% for Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL), 15% for Scheduled Caste (SC), and 7.5% for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates. Additionally, a 5% horizontal reservation is provided for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) across all categories. To avail these benefits, candidates must possess valid and up-to-date category certificates issued by a competent authority, confirming their status as per government norms. These certificates must be presented during the registration process and for final verification during admission and counseling. Candidates are also considered for admission under the open category based on their merit, even if they apply under a reserved category. By understanding and following the specified protocol, eligible candidates can make full use of the category-based benefits available for the NID Design Aptitude Test.

The NID National Institute of Design Entrance Exam for the 2025-26 academic year is open to Indian citizens and valid Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) or Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card holders as per National Institute of Design rules. As NID DAT is a national-level examination for admission to premier design institutes across India, there are no specific state-level domicile requirements. Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) holding an Indian passport are required to apply as Indian nationals. Foreign applicants, holding citizenship of any country other than India, can apply exclusively under the Overseas (Supernumerary) category. The National Institute of Design reserves 15% supernumerary seats for these overseas candidates in both its B.Des and M.Des programs. Foreign nationals must possess a valid, unexpired passport at the time of application. It is important to note that overseas candidates cannot avail of age relaxation, scribe facilities, or apply under the EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, or ST reserved categories. Furthermore, they are subject to a different fee structure. Successful foreign applicants are required to obtain a student visa for the entire duration of their chosen program at NID before the commencement of the course. By understanding these rules early, candidates can ensure they meet the required nationality or domicile conditions before applying for the NID Design Aptitude Test.

Before preparing for the NID National Institute of Design Entrance Exam for the 2025-26 academic year, it is essential to know if there is a cap on the number of attempts. The National Institute of Design, the conducting body, generally permits candidates to appear for the NID Design Aptitude Test multiple times. There is no explicit maximum limit on the number of attempts for the NID DAT, provided that the candidate continues to meet the age and educational eligibility criteria for the specific academic year they are applying for. Unlike some other national-level examinations, NID DAT does not impose restrictions on the number of times a candidate can attempt the exam. The NID Design Aptitude Test is conducted once every year. Being aware of the absence of attempt limits helps aspirants plan their preparation strategy effectively, focusing on readiness rather than exhausting limited chances prematurely.

No specific restrictions, provided age and qualification criteria are met for the respective program.