NIFT 2026 Round 2 seat allotment for OBC-NCL, SC, ST and EWS categories is expected to be released in July 2026 at nift.admissions.nic.in, opening up seats vacated after Round 1 reporting.

Round 2 of NIFT 2026 counselling is a critical opportunity for students from reserved categories who did not receive a seat in Round 1 or want to upgrade to a preferred campus or program. Seats that go unfilled in Round 1 — due to non-acceptance or non-reporting — are redistributed in Round 2. Closing ranks in Round 2 are typically 5 to 15 percent more relaxed than Round 1 across OBC-NCL, SC, ST and EWS categories, giving eligible students a second chance at top campuses such as New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.

  • NIFT 2026 Round 2 seat allotment result is available at nift.admissions.nic.in.
  • Students who did not receive a seat in Round 1 or did not accept their Round 1 allotment are eligible for Round 2.
  • Based on 2025 trends, OBC-NCL students with ranks up to 210 may secure B.Des Fashion Design at the New Delhi campus in Round 2.
  • SC students with ranks up to 480 can expect allotment for B.Des Fashion Design at the Delhi campus in Round 2.
  • ST students with ranks up to 920 stand a strong chance for B.Des Fashion Design at the New Delhi campus in Round 2.
  • EWS students with ranks up to 165 may secure B.Des Fashion Design at the Delhi campus in Round 2.
  • The seat acceptance fee must be paid within the specified deadline after Round 2 allotment to confirm admission.

What is NIFT 2026 Round 2 Seat Allotment

NIFT 2026 Round 2 seat allotment is the second phase of counselling conducted by the National Institute of Fashion Technology. After Round 1 results are published, some students do not pay the seat acceptance fee or withdraw from the process. The seats released through non-acceptance are pooled and offered to the next eligible students on the merit list in Round 2. For OBC-NCL, SC, ST and EWS students, Round 2 represents a meaningful second opportunity to secure admission to a preferred campus or program.

Students who accepted a Round 1 seat can still participate in Round 2 to try for an upgrade. However, participating in Round 2 automatically cancels the Round 1 allotment, so this decision should be made with care. Students who received no allotment in Round 1 are automatically considered for Round 2 based on their saved preferences and category-wise merit rank. Key factors affecting Round 2 closing ranks include the total number of vacated seats, student demand for specific campus-program combinations and the category-wise distribution of remaining seats.


B.Des Expected Cutoff Ranks for OBC-NCL, SC, ST and EWS in Round 2

The table below lists expected Round 2 closing ranks for B.Des programs at major NIFT campuses across all four reserved categories. All figures are based on 2025 counselling trends and should be treated as indicative estimates only. A closing rank of 210 for OBC-NCL means students with an OBC-NCL rank of 210 or better may receive an allotment for that campus-program combination.

Campus Program OBC-NCL (Expected) SC (Expected) ST (Expected) EWS (Expected)
New Delhi Fashion Design 210 480 920 165
New Delhi Communication Design 180 420 850 140
New Delhi Textile Design 260 560 1080 200
New Delhi Knitwear Design 290 620 1200 225
Mumbai Fashion Design 290 620 1200 220
Mumbai Communication Design 250 550 1060 195
Bengaluru Fashion Design 320 680 1320 250
Chennai Fashion Design 350 740 1450 270
Hyderabad Fashion Design 340 720 1400 265
Kolkata Fashion Design 310 660 1280 240

The New Delhi campus is the most competitive across all reserved categories, recording the lowest closing ranks for both B.Des Fashion Design and Communication Design. OBC-NCL and EWS students with ranks above 300 should explore campuses such as Chennai, Hyderabad and Bhopal for stronger allotment prospects in Round 2.


B.FTech Expected Cutoff Ranks for OBC-NCL, SC, ST and EWS in Round 2

B.FTech (Apparel Production) programs at NIFT are less competitive than B.Des and record comparatively higher closing ranks, meaning students with a wider rank range can secure admission. The expected Round 2 closing ranks based on 2025 trends are listed below:

Campus Program OBC-NCL (Expected) SC (Expected) ST (Expected) EWS (Expected)
New Delhi Apparel Production 380 780 1500 295
Mumbai Apparel Production 420 860 1650 325
Bengaluru Apparel Production 450 920 1800 350
Chennai Apparel Production 480 980 1920 375
Hyderabad Apparel Production 470 960 1880 365

ST category students with ranks beyond 1500 may still find B.FTech seats available at campuses outside the metro cities in Round 2, particularly at newer NIFT campuses where demand is comparatively lower.


How to Check NIFT 2026 Round 2 Seat Allotment

Once NIFT 2026 Round 2 seat allotment is released on the official portal, follow these steps to check your status and confirm the seat:

  1. Visit the official NIFT admissions portal at nift.admissions.nic.in.
  2. Click on the Round 2 Seat Allotment link displayed on the homepage.
  3. Log in using your NIFT 2026 application number and password from the original registration.
  4. Your allotment details — including allotted campus, program and category seat — will appear on screen.
  5. Download and print the Round 2 allotment letter for use during campus reporting.
  6. Pay the seat acceptance fee online within the deadline shown on the allotment portal to secure your admission.

Students who do not pay the seat acceptance fee within the Round 2 deadline will forfeit their allotted seat and lose eligibility for any further NIFT 2026 counselling rounds. Log in promptly after the allotment is announced and complete the payment in one session to avoid technical delays.


Documents Required for Seat Acceptance and Reporting

After completing online seat acceptance for NIFT 2026 Round 2, you must report to your allotted campus with the following documents for physical verification:

Document Details
NIFT 2026 Admit Card Printout of the original admit card used during the entrance exam
Round 2 Seat Allotment Letter Downloaded from the official portal after allotment
Class 10 Certificate and Marksheet Original and one self-attested photocopy
Class 12 Certificate and Marksheet Original and one self-attested photocopy
Category Certificate OBC-NCL / SC / ST / EWS certificate issued by the competent authority; OBC-NCL certificate must not be older than one financial year
Passport-size Photographs Six recent photographs with a white background
Fee Payment Receipt Printed receipt of the online seat acceptance fee payment
Aadhaar Card or Government Photo ID Original government-issued photo identity proof

OBC-NCL students must ensure the caste certificate is in the central government format and was issued within the current financial year. EWS students must carry a valid income and asset certificate issued by the competent authority for the current assessment year.

NIFT 2026 Round 2 Seat Allotment FAQs

Ques. When will NIFT 2026 Round 2 seat allotment be released?

Ans. NIFT 2026 Round 2 seat allotment is expected to be released in July 2026 on the official portal nift.admissions.nic.in. The exact date will be announced by NIFT after the Round 1 reporting period ends.

Ques. Can OBC-NCL, SC, ST and EWS students upgrade their allotment in Round 2?

Ans. Yes. Students who accepted a Round 1 seat can participate in Round 2 to try for an upgrade to a better campus or program. However, participating in Round 2 automatically cancels the Round 1 allotment, so this decision should be made with full awareness of the risk involved.

Ques. What is the expected OBC-NCL closing rank for B.Des Fashion Design at Delhi in Round 2?

Ans. Based on 2025 counselling trends, the expected OBC-NCL closing rank for B.Des Fashion Design at the New Delhi campus in NIFT 2026 Round 2 is approximately 210. These are indicative figures and actual cutoffs may differ based on seat availability and demand in 2026.

Ques. What documents do SC and ST students need for NIFT 2026 campus reporting?

Ans. SC and ST students must bring their original caste certificate issued by the competent authority, NIFT 2026 Round 2 allotment letter, Class 10 and Class 12 marksheets, original admit card, six recent passport-size photographs and a valid government-issued photo ID for campus reporting.

Ques. What happens if I miss the Round 2 seat acceptance deadline?

Ans. If you do not pay the seat acceptance fee within the Round 2 deadline, your allotted seat will be cancelled and you will lose eligibility for any further rounds of NIFT 2026 counselling. There is no provision for late fee payment.

Ques. Is there a Round 3 or spot round after NIFT 2026 Round 2?

Ans. NIFT may conduct a special or spot round after Round 2 if seats remain vacant. This is not confirmed for every academic year. Students should regularly check the official NIFT admissions portal at nift.admissions.nic.in for any official announcement regarding additional rounds.