NIFT 2026 SC and ST Category Cutoff: Expected Closing Ranks in Round 1

NIFT 2026 SC category closing rank in Round 1 allotment is expected to range from approximately 1550 to 6000 (overall merit rank) depending on the campus and program, while ST category closing ranks are expected between 1300 to 5000, based on NIFT 2024 and 2025 allotment data.

NIFT Round 1 seat allotment 2026 is scheduled for release on June 28, 2026 at the official admissions portal. SC students compete for 15% reserved seats and ST students for 7.5% reserved seats across all 18 NIFT campuses and programs. The closing rank in NIFT allotment is the overall merit rank of the last student from that category who received a seat in a specific program and campus in a given round.

• NIFT reserves 15% seats for SC and 7.5% for ST students in all B.Des and B.FTech programs.
• In NIFT 2025, the SC closing rank for B.Des Fashion Design at NIFT Delhi was 1593 (overall merit rank) in Round 1.
• ST category closing ranks vary by campus — top campuses like Delhi and Mumbai see lower rank numbers, while newer campuses see higher numbers.
• Students with overall merit ranks above the closing rank for their preferred campus-program-category combination will not receive an allotment in Round 1.
• Unfilled SC and ST seats from Round 1 carry forward to Round 2, potentially relaxing the cutoff for remaining students.

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NIFT 2026 SC and ST Cutoff — What the Rank Means

The NIFT cutoff is published as the Opening and Closing Rank (OR-CR) for each combination of campus, program, and category. The closing rank is the overall merit rank of the last student allotted a seat in that specific slot. It is not a category-specific rank — a student ranked 1593 overall who belongs to SC received the last available SC seat for that program at that campus because they outranked all other SC applicants competing for those seats.

A lower closing rank number means higher competition — only students ranked very high on the overall merit list could secure a seat. A higher closing rank number means more students could be accommodated as competition within that reserved pool was lower. You can check the official OR-CR data for every campus, program, and category at nift.admissions.nic.in after Round 1 allotment is published.

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Expected B.Des SC and ST Closing Ranks (Campus-wise)

The table below gives the expected NIFT 2026 Round 1 closing ranks for SC and ST students in B.Des Fashion Design — the most sought-after program — across major campuses. All rank figures are overall merit ranks and are based on NIFT 2024 and 2025 allotment trends.

All figures are expected closing ranks based on NIFT 2024 and 2025 allotment trends. Actual NIFT 2026 Round 1 cutoffs will be available on nift.admissions.nic.in after allotment on June 28, 2026.

For other B.Des specialisations at the same campuses, the expected SC and ST closing ranks compared to Fashion Design are:

• B.Des Textile Design: Typically 10–20% higher rank numbers than Fashion Design at the same campus, meaning slightly less competition.
• B.Des Fashion Communication: Closing ranks broadly comparable to Fashion Design at top campuses.
• B.Des Knitwear Design and Accessory Design: Generally 20–30% higher closing rank numbers, indicating lower competition for SC and ST students.
• B.Des Leather Design: Offered at NIFT Delhi only; SC and ST closing ranks there tend to be among the tightest across all design disciplines at that campus.

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Expected B.FTech SC and ST Closing Ranks

B.FTech (Bachelor of Fashion Technology) is a four-year technical program with a separate merit list based on GAT scores alone — no Situation Test is involved. The SC and ST closing ranks for B.FTech are typically higher overall rank numbers than for B.Des because the GAT-only merit list ranks a larger and different set of applicants.

B.FTech SC and ST closing ranks are based on general estimates from NIFT 2024 and 2025 allotment data and are subject to revision. Official figures for all categories will be available at nift.admissions.nic.in after June 28, 2026.

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NIFT 2025 SC Actual Cutoff (Reference Data)

The table below lists confirmed NIFT 2025 Round 1 closing ranks across select campuses and categories, which form the primary basis for 2026 projections. All ranks are overall merit ranks.

For 2026, SC and ST closing ranks are expected to shift by 5–10% from 2025 figures, consistent with the year-on-year variation observed between NIFT 2023 and 2024 allotments. Official NIFT 2026 OR-CR data for all categories, programs, and campuses will be published on nift.admissions.nic.in in the eServices section after each allotment round.

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Factors Affecting NIFT 2026 SC and ST Cutoff

The actual closing rank for SC and ST in NIFT 2026 Round 1 depends on several variables that shift each cycle:

• Number of SC and ST applicants: A rise in reserved-category test-takers increases competition and brings the closing rank number down (tighter cutoff).
• NIFT 2026 seat matrix: If total seats increase, more students are accommodated and the closing rank number rises (easier cutoff).
• Difficulty of NIFT 2026 CAT and GAT: A tougher exam spreads overall scores, which can slightly relax cutoffs across categories.
• Round 1 acceptance rate: If allotted students accept and pay fees promptly, fewer seats spill over to Round 2 and Round 1 cutoffs hold firm.
• Campus preference trends: Increased demand for a specific city or campus among SC or ST students raises competition within that reserved pool, pushing the closing rank lower.
• Choice filling strategy: Students who fill more campus-program preferences improve their allotment odds without changing the cutoff itself — a wider choice list increases the probability of receiving a seat even if your first preference is not allotted.

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