General category students need to get a NIFT rank between 95 to 100 to enhance their chances of admission to India’s premier fashion institute, NIFT Delhi. While, for the reserved category candidates, the ideal NIFT rank lies between 1000-2000.
To get into NIFT Delhi, you must get a rank of 200 or below. However, the required rank also depends on the program and campus chosen by you. A rank below 200 is generally required for top courses such as Fashion Design or Fashion Communication. While, for Textile Design or Leather Design, a rank between 300 to 500 shall be ideal.
You are advised to have a detailed understanding of the NIFT marking scheme, the chapter-wise weightage, and the ideal NIFT rank that one must score to get into the desired colleges. Securing a NIFT rank within 100 can significantly boost your chances of admission to India’s premier fashion institute, NIFT Delhi.
For reserved categories, ranks up to 500 or higher may be enough depending on the program. The details on what is a good rank to apply at NIFT Delhi have been shared below.
What is a Good Rank to Apply at NIFT Delhi For UG Programs?
NIFT Delhi is the first campus and always remains a favorite for the ones wishing to pursue a design course. Because of its status and restricted capacity, it is one of the centers with the most stringent cut-offs among all the NIFT campuses. Below is a breakdown of rank requirements for undergraduate programs.
Rank Breakdown for NIFT B.Des
The NIFT rank breakdown for all categories of the BDes program offered by NIFT Delhi has been shared below:

Rank Breakdown for NIFT B.F.Tech
The NIFT rank breakdown for all categories of the BFTech program offered by NIFT Delhi has been shared below:
|
Program |
General Category Rank |
OBC Category Rank |
SC Category Rank |
ST Category Rank |
|
Apparel Production |
134 - 169 |
578 - 627 |
1058 - 1203 |
2287 - 2840 |
What are the Factors Affecting NIFT Delhi 2026 Rankings?
Certain parameters define what is considered a good score for NIFT Delhi. These include:
- Program Popularity: Highly competitive programs such as Fashion Design and Fashion Communication have stricter cut-offs because more students are interested in these courses.
- Reservation Policies: The ones belonging to OBC, SC, ST, or PwD categories benefit from relaxed cut-offs, but competition in these categories is intense.
- Seat Availability: NIFT Delhi has a limited intake for each program, and therefore, the cut-off rank is also high.
- Annual Trends: Yearly rank requirements are determined by the difficulty level of the exam, the number of applicants, and the candidates’ overall performance.
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Tips to Achieve a Good Score for NIFT Delhi 2026
1. Excel in CAT and GAT: Take practice sessions frequently to develop thinking and problem-solving abilities. Solutions to previous years’ question papers should be studied to understand the pattern and level of the GAT.
2. Situation Test Preparation: Educate yourself on current and effective material handling practices, and conduct drills with mock material handling to improve your performance.
3. Perform Consistently: The final NIFT score is the total of your results in all stages of the competition. Hence, try to do well in every stage.
4. Set Realistic Goals: It is recommended to check the past NIFT 2026 cutoff trends to know the rank that is needed for your program and your category.
Why It Is Important to Get a Good Rank to Apply at NIFT Delhi?
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High-Quality Education: NIFT Delhi has all the necessary facilities, an approved syllabus, and well-qualified faculty members. Education here provides a chance to be informed on the current trends in the fashion and design industry.
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Impressive Placement Opportunities: Most of the top retail and fashion companies, like Myntra, Reliance, and H&M, prefer to recruit from NIFT Delhi and provide good salary packages to the students.
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Prestige and Networking: NIFT Delhi, being the first campus, has provided its students with the best opportunities to engage with the industry, the alumni, and the peer group.
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What is NIFT Delhi Admission Process 2026?
Passing a single exam is not all that it takes to get into NIFT Delhi. It is a process that is stepped up to judge you on various parameters. Here is a breakdown of the NIFT 2026 admission process:
1. Written Test
- General Ability Test (GAT): This test measures numerical aptitude, analytical thinking, general knowledge, and understanding of written English. It is a very important tool for admission to both undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
- Creative Ability Test (CAT): The CAT is mainly designed to measure creativity and design thinking and is important for evaluating candidates for Bachelor of Design (B.Des) courses. It is a test of a candidate’s ability to observe, be creative, and show artistic skills.
2. Situation Test
This is a test for B.Des aspirants to check their material handling and innovative abilities. This is one of the most important phases that contribute to ranking.
3. Group Discussion and Personal Interview
For some postgraduate programs, such as Master of Fashion Management (M.F.M.) and Master of Fashion Technology (M.F.Tech.), you are required to undergo group discussions and interviews. These stages assess communication skills, subject knowledge, interpersonal abilities, and team spirit.
Lastly, depending on your program of interest and category, a good rank to apply at NIFT Delhi is essential. In some of the competitive examinations, the general category students have to struggle to get a rank under a hundred, while the reserved category students can prepare for ranks up to 500 or above.
If you desire to get admission and desire to be successful, then you should plan and work towards it and should also consider all the factors that are involved in the process and also should use resources like GetMyUni; then there are high chances that you will be successful in getting the admission.
Quick Facts
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Aim for rank below 200 for top NIFT Delhi courses. -
Ranks 300-500 are good for Textile/Leather Design. -
Reserved categories may get in with ranks up to 500+. -
NIFT Delhi has strict cut-offs due to its status and limited capacity.