NU DET 2026 Cutoff for SC and ST Categories: Merit List II Qualifying Marks and Previous Year Comparison

NU DET 2026 cutoff for SC and ST categories in Merit List II is expected to be in the range of 50–70 out of 200 marks, based on 2025 admission trends and reserved-category relaxation norms applicable to B.Des admissions at Nirma University, Ahmedabad.

The Nirma University Design Entrance Test (NU DET) 2026 is conducted for admission to 80 B.Des seats at the Institute of Design — split equally between Product and Interaction Design and Communication Design. SC and ST students receive a lower qualifying cutoff compared to General category students. Merit List II targets seats that remain vacant after Merit List I is processed, giving reserved-category students a second opportunity to secure a seat.

• NU DET 2026 is held for 80 B.Des seats across two specialisations at Nirma University.
• The exam carries 200 total marks — Part A (design aptitude, 120 min) and Part B (drawing and visualisation, 60 min).
• Final merit is calculated as 60% NU DET score + 40% Situation Test and Personal Interview.
• SC and ST students are expected to receive a 10–15 mark relaxation in qualifying cutoff compared to the General category.
• UCEED score holders receive a 10% bonus on the composite score, which can improve merit rank within the reserved-category pool.
• Merit List II is released after first-round seat confirmations close and vacancies are identified.

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What is NU DET Merit List II?

Nirma University releases Merit List II for B.Des admissions after the first round of seat allotment closes. Students who did not receive a seat in Merit List I, or whose reserved seats became vacant because shortlisted students did not confirm admission, are considered for Merit List II. The second merit list fills remaining SC, ST, and open-category vacancies before the academic year begins.

For SC and ST students, Merit List II is especially important. If reserved seats go unfilled in Merit List I — due to a limited number of qualified applicants — Nirma University reallocates those vacancies in Merit List II with a fresh list of eligible students. The cutoff for Merit List II may be equal to or marginally lower than Merit List I, depending on how many reserved seats remain.

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Expected SC and ST Cutoff for NU DET 2026

Nirma University does not pre-publish a single cutoff score — the qualifying threshold emerges from the merit list after all students are ranked. Based on 2025 admission trends, the expected qualifying score ranges for SC and ST students across both merit lists are provided below. All figures are indicative and should be treated as estimates.

SC and ST students are ranked within their own reserved-category pools. The final composite score — not just the written exam score — determines merit list position. The Situation Test and Personal Interview component (40% weightage) can significantly shift a student’s final rank, which means a student scoring near the lower end of the expected cutoff range can still make the merit list with a strong performance in the assessment round.

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Previous Year NU DET SC and ST Cutoff Comparison

Nirma University publishes merit lists rather than a standalone category-wise cutoff table. The qualifying score bands below are indicative estimates derived from available admission trend data across recent NU DET cycles. A gradual upward trend in General category cutoffs is observed year-on-year, while SC and ST cutoffs have remained relatively stable given the fixed 80-seat intake.

All figures are indicative estimates based on available trend data. The 2026 expected cutoff assumes a similar applicant pool size and exam difficulty level as 2025. Actual cutoffs are announced by Nirma University through the official B.Des admission portal after each merit list is published.

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How NU DET 2026 Cutoff is Calculated

The NU DET cutoff is not a standalone written-exam score — it is the minimum composite score required to secure a seat in a given merit list. The composite score blends entrance exam performance with a personal assessment round.

Only students who clear the written exam cutoff receive call letters for the Situation Test and Personal Interview. Students using UCEED scores in place of NU DET scores receive an additional 10% bonus on the composite score — SC and ST students with a strong UCEED result should consider this route as the bonus can significantly improve their final merit rank within the reserved-category pool.

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Factors Affecting NU DET 2026 SC and ST Cutoff

Several year-specific variables influence where the SC and ST category cutoffs settle after each merit list is released. Knowing these factors helps you gauge whether actual cutoffs will trend higher or lower than the expected ranges.

• Number of SC and ST applicants: A larger applicant pool increases competition within the reserved-category pool and pushes cutoffs higher; fewer applicants can bring them down.
• Reserved seats for SC and ST: The seats earmarked for each category limit how far down the merit list Nirma University extends admission offers.
• NU DET 2026 paper difficulty: A tougher exam leads to lower raw scores across all students, which can compress the cutoff band for SC and ST categories.
• UCEED applicant ratio: SC and ST students using UCEED scores (with the 10% bonus) compete in the same reserved pool — a strong UCEED cohort can raise the effective composite cutoff.
• Seat confirmation rate after Merit List I: If more SC or ST students decline their Merit List I seats, Merit List II cutoffs drop further to fill those vacancies.

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