NIFT 2026 Round 1 cutoff for OBC, SC, ST, EWS and PwD students is expected to follow 2025 trends, with closing ranks ranging from under 100 for General category at NIFT Delhi B.Des Fashion Design to over 1,500 for ST students at newer campuses.
After Round 1 seat allotment on June 26, 2026, students can check category-wise closing ranks on the official portal to assess their admission chances and plan for Round 2. NIFT allots seats across 16 campuses under the Central Government reservation policy. OBC-NCL students get 27% of seats, SC students 15%, ST students 7.5%, EWS students 10% (horizontal, from the unreserved quota), and PwD students 5% (horizontal within each vertical category).
- Round 1 allotment result date: June 26, 2026, available at nift.admissions.nic.in.
- OBC-NCL closing ranks are typically 2–3 times higher (more relaxed) than the General category closing rank for the same program and campus.
- SC and ST students see significantly higher closing rank numbers, especially at less-preferred campuses.
- PwD reservation is horizontal — closing ranks for PwD are evaluated within sub-categories (e.g., OBC-PwD, SC-PwD) separately from the main category list.
- EWS students must hold a certificate issued on or after April 1, 2026, with family income below ₹8 lakh per annum.
| Direct Link to NIFT 2026 Round 1 Seat Allotment Result (OUT) nift.admissions.nic.in |
NIFT 2026 Reservation Breakdown by Category
NIFT follows the Central Government’s reservation policy. Knowing the seat share for each category helps students estimate how competitive their pool is before the closing rank is published.
| Category | Reservation (%) | Reservation Type | Key Eligibility Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 50.5% | Vertical | Open to all |
| OBC-NCL | 27% | Vertical | Valid OBC-NCL certificate (non-creamy layer) |
| SC | 15% | Vertical | Scheduled Caste certificate |
| ST | 7.5% | Vertical | Scheduled Tribe certificate |
| EWS | 10% | Horizontal (from UR seats) | Family income below ₹8 lakh/year; EWS certificate required |
| PwD | 5% | Horizontal (within each vertical category) | Disability ≥ 40%; valid PwD certificate required |
OBC-NCL students must submit a certificate issued in the current financial year that explicitly states “non-creamy layer.” EWS certificates must carry a date of April 1, 2026 or later. Certificates that fail document verification result in seat cancellation.
Expected NIFT 2026 Round 1 Closing Ranks: Campus-Wise
The table below lists expected closing ranks based on NIFT 2025 Round 1 trends. Actual 2026 ranks will be published on nift.admissions.nic.in after allotment. Year-on-year variation is typically 5–10%.
| Campus | Program | General | OBC-NCL | SC | ST | EWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIFT Delhi | B.Des – Fashion Design | ~50 | ~130 | ~280 | ~550 | ~75 |
| NIFT Mumbai | B.Des – Fashion Design | ~85 | ~200 | ~420 | ~800 | ~110 |
| NIFT Bengaluru | B.Des – Fashion Design | ~110 | ~250 | ~500 | ~950 | ~145 |
| NIFT Chennai | B.Des – Fashion Design | ~130 | ~290 | ~560 | ~1050 | ~165 |
| NIFT Kolkata | B.Des – Fashion Design | ~140 | ~310 | ~590 | ~1100 | ~180 |
| NIFT Hyderabad | B.Des – Fashion Design | ~160 | ~350 | ~640 | ~1200 | ~200 |
| NIFT Gandhinagar | B.Des – Fashion Design | ~200 | ~430 | ~750 | ~1350 | ~250 |
| NIFT Delhi | B.FTech | ~220 | ~460 | ~780 | ~1400 | ~270 |
| NIFT Mumbai | B.FTech | ~320 | ~620 | ~950 | ~1650 | ~390 |
| NIFT Kangra / Srinagar | B.Des – Fashion Design | ~550 | ~1000 | ~1500 | ~2200 | ~650 |
All ranks above are expected figures based on 2025 closing rank trends and labelled accordingly. PwD sub-category closing ranks are published separately and are generally higher in number (more relaxed) than the figures shown for each category above.
Program-Wise Expected Cutoff at NIFT Delhi
Within the same campus, competition varies significantly by specialisation. Fashion Design and Textile Design at NIFT Delhi consistently have the tightest closing ranks, while niche programs like Leather Design see comparatively relaxed cutoffs across all categories.
| Program (NIFT Delhi) | General | OBC-NCL | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.Des – Fashion Design | ~50 | ~130 | ~280 | ~550 |
| B.Des – Textile Design | ~70 | ~160 | ~320 | ~640 |
| B.Des – Fashion Communication | ~90 | ~200 | ~390 | ~760 |
| B.Des – Accessory Design | ~100 | ~220 | ~420 | ~810 |
| B.Des – Knitwear Design | ~130 | ~280 | ~510 | ~950 |
| B.Des – Leather Design | ~180 | ~370 | ~650 | ~1150 |
| B.FTech | ~220 | ~460 | ~780 | ~1400 |
| M.Des | ~30 | ~70 | ~140 | ~280 |
M.Des cutoffs are tighter in absolute rank numbers because the total seat intake is much smaller. For PwD students, a separate merit list is prepared within each category; your rank is compared only against PwD applicants in your own category (e.g., OBC-PwD vs OBC-PwD).
Factors Affecting NIFT 2026 Round 1 Cutoff
Understanding what drives the closing rank each year helps reserved-category students anticipate whether 2026 cutoffs will tighten or relax relative to 2025.
- Total registered applicants: NIFT 2026 received over 60,000 registrations. A larger applicant pool compresses ranks, especially at high-demand campuses and programs.
- Seat intake changes: Any increase or decrease in seats at a campus directly shifts the closing rank for all categories. Check the official seat matrix after allotment for confirmed figures.
- CAT and GAT score distribution: A higher overall scoring cohort compresses the rank distribution, pushing cutoffs tighter for every category.
- Choice filling patterns: Campuses like NIFT Delhi and Mumbai attract heavy preference, compressing their cutoffs. Newer campuses such as Kangra, Srinagar, and Kannur consistently see more relaxed closing ranks because fewer students rank them highly.
- Round 1 withdrawals: Seats vacated when allotted students decline or fail document verification are moved to Round 2, which can slightly ease Round 2 closing ranks across categories.
- Certificate validity failures: OBC-NCL and EWS certificate rejections at the verification stage free up reserved seats, altering the final allotment pattern for subsequent rounds.
NIFT 2026 Round 1 Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the expected NIFT 2026 Round 1 cutoff for OBC students at NIFT Delhi B.Des Fashion Design?
Ans. Based on 2025 trends, the expected Round 1 closing rank for OBC-NCL students in B.Des Fashion Design at NIFT Delhi is around 130. Actual 2026 figures will be published on nift.admissions.nic.in on June 26, 2026.
Ques. How are closing ranks different for SC and ST students compared to General category?
Ans. SC and ST students are allotted seats from their respective reserved quota and their closing ranks are higher in number, meaning the admission threshold is more relaxed. For NIFT Delhi B.Des Fashion Design, the General closing rank is expected around 50, the SC closing rank around 280, and the ST closing rank around 550 based on 2025 data.
Ques. Is the NIFT 2026 cutoff the same across all campuses for a given category?
Ans. No. Cutoffs vary significantly by campus. NIFT Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru have the tightest closing ranks due to higher demand. Campuses like Kangra, Srinagar, and Kannur tend to have more relaxed closing ranks across all categories because fewer students fill them as top choices.
Ques. How does PwD reservation work in NIFT 2026 seat allotment?
Ans. PwD reservation is horizontal at 5% and operates within each vertical category. A PwD student competes only against other PwD applicants in the same category — for example, OBC-PwD ranks are evaluated separately from General-PwD ranks. Closing ranks for PwD sub-categories are published alongside the main allotment result on the official portal.
Ques. Can an EWS student also use OBC or SC reservation?
Ans. No. EWS reservation is exclusively for students from the unreserved (General) category whose family income is below ₹8 lakh per annum. Students already eligible for SC, ST, or OBC reservation must apply under those categories and cannot claim EWS benefit simultaneously.
Ques. Where can students check NIFT 2026 Round 1 category-wise closing ranks?
Ans. NIFT publishes the Round 1 allotment result and category-wise closing ranks on the official admissions portal at nift.admissions.nic.in. Students must log in using their application number and password to download the allotment letter and view closing rank data.
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