The NIFT cutoff 2026 is the minimum rank you need to secure admission to a NIFT campus and programme. It is released by the National Institute of Fashion Technology as campus-wise opening and closing ranks after each counselling round and seat allotment rounds in June-July 2026.

The cutoff is released separately for each campus, course, category, and counselling round, including the spot round.

  • You can check the official cutoff on the counselling portal nift.admissions.nic.in under the OR-CR (Opening Rank - Closing Rank).
  • For top campuses like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, the General category B.Des Fashion Design closing rank stayed under 150 in 2025.
  • OBC, SC, ST, EWS, and PwD students get relaxed (higher numerical) closing ranks than the General category.
  • NIFT 2026 expected ranks around 300–950 (OBC), 600–1600 (SC), 1000–1800 (ST), 300–1000 (EWS), and PwD as per norms.

There is no single NIFT cutoff number - each campus-course-category combination has its own closing rank.

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NIFT Cutoff 2026

Key Summary

  • NIFT releases cutoffs as campus-wise opening and closing ranks, not a single qualifying mark.
  • The 2026 cutoff is expected during counselling in June-July 2026, after the final result.
  • A rank under 150 gave strong chances at top campuses for popular courses in 2025.
  • Cutoffs depend on applicants, exam difficulty, seats, category, and campus demand.
  • There are three regular counselling rounds plus a spot round, with separate cutoffs each round.

What is the NIFT Cutoff 2026?

The NIFT cutoff 2026 is the closing rank at which admission shuts for a specific campus, course, and category. If your rank is equal to or better than the closing rank, you can secure that seat. The cutoff is released after the final result, during the counselling and seat allotment process.

NIFT will publish the 2026 cutoff campus-wise and category-wise on nift.admissions.nic.in. The cutoff comes out for both UG and PG programmes.

  • You should expect separate closing ranks for each counselling round, including the spot round.
  • Only students who meet the closing rank in a round are offered a seat in that round.
  • Since the 2026 cutoff is not out yet, you should study the previous year data below.
  • It helps you estimate your admission chances at your preferred campus and course.

NIFT Cutoff 2026: Campus Wise

NIFT admits students to 18 campuses across India. Each campus has its own closing rank for every course and category.

The NIFT 2026 B.Des Fashion Design cutoff data shows a clear hierarchy across campuses based on demand and prestige.

  • NIFT Delhi (~90–120) and NIFT Mumbai (~130–210) remain the most competitive campuses, requiring top ranks for admission.
  • Mid-tier campuses like Bengaluru, Gandhinagar, Chennai, and Hyderabad (~250–700) show moderate competition.
  • Kolkata (~226–900) offers slightly wider admission flexibility depending on counselling rounds.
NIFT Campus Course Expected General Closing Rank 2026
NIFT Delhi B.Des Fashion Design ~90-120
NIFT Mumbai B.Des Fashion Design ~130-210
NIFT Bengaluru B.Des Fashion Design ~250-510
NIFT Gandhinagar B.Des Fashion Design ~150-475
NIFT Chennai B.Des Fashion Design ~250-600
NIFT Hyderabad B.Des Fashion Design ~300-700
NIFT Kolkata B.Des Fashion Design ~226-900
NIFT Bhopal B.Des Fashion Design ~500-1700
NIFT Patna B.Des Fashion Design ~1000-2500
NIFT Raebareli B.Des Fashion Design ~1500-3000
NIFT Kannur B.Des Fashion Design ~1400-3000
NIFT Shillong B.Des Fashion Design ~1800-3500
NIFT Cutoff 2026: Campus Wise

NIFT Cutoff 2026: Category Wise

The NIFT 2026 category-wise cutoff data for B.Des Fashion Design highlights a clear variation in competition levels across reservation categories.

  • For the General/UR category, the closing rank is extremely competitive at ~90–120, showing that top ranks are essential for admission into premier NIFT campuses.
  • In comparison, the EWS category (~300–1000) and OBC-NCL category (~400–950) show moderately relaxed cutoffs.
  • The SC category (~600–1600), while the ST category (~1000–1800) offers comparatively wider admission opportunities.
Category Expected Closing Rank 2026 Closing Rank 2025
General / UR ~90-120 ~92
EWS ~300-1000 ~317
OBC-NCL ~400-950 ~944
SC ~600-1600 ~1593
ST ~1000-1800 To be announced
PwD Relaxed as per norms To be announced
NIFT Cutoff 2026: Category Wise

NIFT Cutoff 2026: Course Wise

Fashion Communication and Fashion Design are the most competitive B.Des courses, closing under rank 120 at NIFT Delhi.

The NIFT 2026 course-wise cutoff data shows that competition varies significantly across programs.

  • B.Des Fashion Communication (~60–110) and B.Des Fashion Design (~90–120) are the most competitive courses, mainly due to high demand at top campuses.
  • Courses like Accessory Design (~100–250) and Knitwear Design (~250–550) fall in the mid-competitive range.
  • Textile Design (~300–600) and Leather Design (~600–1500) are relatively easier to secure.
Course Level Expected General Closing Rank 2026
B.Des Fashion Design UG ~90-120
B.Des Fashion Communication UG ~60-110
B.Des Accessory Design UG ~100-250
B.Des Textile Design UG ~300-600
B.Des Knitwear Design UG ~250-550
B.Des Leather Design UG ~600-1500
B.FTech Apparel Production UG ~150-400
M.Des (Master of Design) PG ~1-50
M.FTech (Master of Fashion Technology) PG ~1-40
MFM (Master of Fashion Management) PG ~1-60

NIFT Marks vs Rank 2026

The NIFT Marks vs Rank shows the relationship between the marks you score in the NIFT entrance exam and the rank you get.

  • A NIFT score of 75 or above usually places you within the top 150 ranks, enough for top campuses and popular courses.
  • A score around 55 to 64 corresponds to a rank near 500 to 1000.
  • At a rank of about 2000, expect a score band of roughly 55 to 60.

These figures are approximate, not official percentiles.

NIFT Score (approx) Expected Rank Band Performance Level
75 and above 1 - 150 Excellent (top campuses)
65 - 74 151 - 500 Very good (mid-tier campuses)
55 - 64 501 - 1000 Good (popular courses, mid campuses)
45 - 54 1001 - 4000 Average (newer campuses)
Below 45 4000 and above Reserved category or spot round chances

NIFT Previous Year Cutoff Trends (2025-2022)

The General category closing rank for NIFT Delhi Fashion Design has stayed tight, between roughly 90 and 120 over the last four years. This shows steady, high competition for the top campus. Reserved category ranks are higher in number, giving more room to those students.

Year Campus Course General Closing Rank OBC-NCL Closing Rank
2025 NIFT Delhi B.Des Fashion Design ~92 ~944
2024 NIFT Delhi B.Des Fashion Design ~104 ~480 (approx)
2023 NIFT Delhi B.Des Fashion Design ~112 ~470 (approx)
2022 NIFT Delhi B.Des Fashion Design ~120 (approx) ~500 (approx)
NIFT Previous Year Cutoff Trends (2025-2022)

NIFT Delhi vs NIFT Mumbai Cutoff (2025-2022)

Studying past cutoffs is the best way to predict the 2026 closing ranks.

  • The General category closing rank for Fashion Design has slowly tightened at both Delhi and Mumbai over four years.
  • NIFT Delhi has moved from roughly 120 to under 100. This points to steady or rising competition.
  • You should expect the 2026 General cutoff to stay in a similar competitive band.
  • Reserved category cutoffs have stayed broadly stable. They give SC, ST, and OBC students consistent admission chances at top campuses year after year.
Year NIFT Delhi (Fashion Design) NIFT Mumbai (Fashion Design)
2025 ~92 ~141
2024 ~104 ~150 (approx)
2023 ~112 ~191
2022 ~120 (approx) ~200 (approx)

Factors Affecting NIFT Cutoff

The NIFT cutoff is not fixed. It changes every year based on several factors. Understanding these helps you set a realistic target rank.

Factor How It Affects the Cutoff
Number of applicants More applicants push the cutoff higher
Exam difficulty level An easier paper raises the cutoff
Number of seats available More seats lower the cutoff
Previous year cutoff trends Strong predictor of the current year
Category and reservation SC, ST, OBC, PwD ranks are relaxed
Campus demand Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru carry the lowest ranks
Course popularity Fashion Design and Fashion Communication are most competitive
Counselling round Closing ranks shift round to round

The single biggest driver of the NIFT cutoff is campus and course demand. A popular course at a top campus closes at a very low rank. The same course at a newer campus closes at a much higher rank. You can use this to spread your campus choices wisely during counselling.

Admission After NIFT Cutoff: Counselling Process

Clearing the cutoff is the first step. Admission is confirmed only through the NIFT counselling process. It is conducted in a centralised online mode for all campuses. The steps below explain how it works.

  1. Register on the counselling portal nift.admissions.nic.in using your application number and date of birth.
  2. Pay the counselling registration fee online, around INR 5,000.
  3. Fill your campus and course preferences in order of priority.
  4. Wait for the round-wise seat allotment based on your rank and choices.
  5. Check the closing rank (cutoff) for your allotted seat in that round.
  6. Accept the seat and pay the seat acceptance fee within the deadline.
  7. Complete document verification and report online for your campus.

There are three regular counselling rounds followed by a spot round to fill any vacant seats. If you miss the cutoff in one round, you are considered in the next round. Make sure you fill all your choices to maximise your chances. Spot round seats are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

NIFT Cutoff 2026: FAQs

Ques. When will the NIFT 2026 cutoff be released?

Ans. The NIFT 2026 cutoff is expected during counselling in July 2026. It comes out after the final result and after each seat allotment round. You can check it on nift.admissions.nic.in.

Ques. How is the NIFT cutoff calculated?

Ans. The cutoff is based on your entrance exam rank, your category, the campus and course demand, and the available seats. It is set as the lowest rank admitted in each round.

Ques. What rank do I need for NIFT Delhi B.Des Fashion Design?

Ans. For the General category, you should aim for a rank under 120. In 2025, the closing rank was around 92. Reserved category students get higher closing ranks.

Ques. Is the NIFT cutoff the same every year?

Ans. No. The cutoff changes every year. It depends on the number of applicants, exam difficulty, seat count, and campus demand. Past trends are only a guide.

Ques. What happens if my rank is below the cutoff?

Ans. You will not get that seat in that round. You stay eligible for the next round and the spot round. Filling all your campus and course choices improves your chances.

Ques. What is the NIFT cutoff for OBC and SC students?

Ans. Reserved category cutoffs are relaxed. In 2025, the OBC closing rank for Delhi Fashion Design was around 944 and the SC closing rank was around 1593. These ranks are higher than General.

Ques. How many marks are needed to clear the NIFT cutoff?

Ans. A score of 75 or above usually puts you in the top 150 ranks. A score of 55 to 64 maps to a rank of around 500 to 1000. NIFT does not release a fixed qualifying mark.

Ques. Can I get NIFT admission without clearing the cutoff?

Ans. No. You must meet the closing rank for your chosen campus, course, and category. If you do not, you can try the next round, a different campus, or the spot round.

Ques. Where is the official NIFT cutoff published?

Ans. The official cutoff is published on the counselling portal nift.admissions.nic.in. Look under the eServices section and click the OR-CR tab to view and download the PDF.

Ques. Does the NIFT cutoff change from round to round?

Ans. Yes. Each counselling round has its own closing rank. Later rounds often have higher closing ranks as more seats are filled and students upgrade or withdraw.

Ques. What is the difference between opening rank and closing rank?

Ans. The opening rank is the best rank admitted to a seat. The closing rank is the lowest rank admitted. Your rank must be equal to or better than the closing rank to qualify.