NID DAT Previous Year Question Paper

This exam requires smart preparation, a deep understanding of the exam pattern, as well as consistent practice. One great strategy to prepare in an effective manner is solving the NID DAT previous year question paper​ at SelfStudys. It will help you understand the exam format, question types, difficulty level, etc., quite easily. 

On our platform, you will find a wide collection of NID DAT PYQs in PDF format so that you can prepare yourself anytime, anywhere. The paper covers both Prelims and Mains questions so that you can get familiar with every aspect of the exam. You must know that we provide only B.Des. past papers for free on the platform. 

Overview Of The NID- Design Aptitude Test

In this section, we have mentioned the important information related to this examination. You should go through it to understand this exam more clearly. 

ASPECT	DESCRIPTION
Full Name of the Examination	NID DAT- National Institute of Design- Design Aptitude Test
Examination Conducting Authority	The National Institute of Design
Level of the Examination	National level
Examination Frequency	Once a year
Stages of the Examination	Two stages Prelims Mains
Mode of the Examination	Prelims: Pen and Paper-Based Test Mains: Multiple formats (studio set up)
Medium of the Examination	English
Duration of the Examination	3 hours

NID DAT PYQs Available For Several Years

For a better practice during your preparation journey, you can explore the year-wise NID DAT previous year papers​. When you engage with these questions, you can understand the different trends in the papers and create different approaches to solving problems. Here are the links to these year-wise papers for easy and quick usage. 

Sr	NID DAT Year Wise Question Papers
1	NID DAT 2025 Question Papers
2	NID DAT 2024 Question Papers
3	NID DAT 2023 Question Papers
4	NID DAT 2022 Question Papers
5	NID DAT 2021 Question Papers
6	NID DAT 2020 Question Papers
7	NID DAT 2019 Question Papers
8	NID DAT 2018 Question Papers
10	NID DAT 2017 Question Papers
11	NID DAT 2016 Question Papers

Solutions Added In The NID DAT Previous Year Papers

At SelfStudys, you will get the NID DAT previous year question papers with solutions PDF​, accessible completely free of cost. After hours of analysis, our experts prepare the solutions to each question. They are further accompanied by detailed explanations with which you can understand the reasoning behind the answer. We advise you to first solve the questions of each PYP by yourself and then have a look at these solutions to find your strong and weaker areas. Then, you can work on these areas accordingly and enhance your required skills. 

Eligibility Criteria For The National Institute of Design- Design Aptitude Test (Bachelor of Design)

If you want to apply for the Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) through the NID- Design Aptitude Test, you need to fulfill the criteria given below. 

Age limit: 

• Indian Nationals in General or General EWS category: 20 years or less than 20 years old. 

• Indian Nationals in the Reserved category (Other Backward Class- Non-Creamy Layer, Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe: 23 years or less than 23 years old. 

• Indian Nationals in PwD Reserved category: 26 years or less than 26 years old. 

• Foreign Nationals in Overseas (Supernumerary) category: 20 years or less than 20 years old.

Educational qualification:

• Applications are open for those who have passed or will appear for the higher secondary (10+2) qualifying examination in the same academic year. It can be in any stream (Science, Arts, Commerce, Humanities, etc.) from any recognized board of education like CBSE, IB, ICSE, or equivalent. 

• Examinations that are considered equivalent to these are as follows:

  • Final exam of the 10+2 system under a Central or State board recognized by the Association of Indian Universities.

  • Intermediate or two-year pre-university exam under a board or university recognized by the Association of Indian Universities.

  • Final exam of the two-year course of the Joint Services Wing of the National Defence Academy. 

  • Senior Secondary School exam under the National Institute of Open Schooling, with a minimum of five subjects. 

  • Any public school, board, or university exam completed in India or in any foreign country is considered equivalent to the 10+2 system by the Association of Indian Universities.

  • H.S.C. vocational examination. 

  • General Certificate of Education (GCE) exam at the Advanced level taken in London, Cambridge, or Sri Lanka.

  • AICTE-approved three-year full-time diploma after class 10th offered by the Board of Technical Education of any state in India or Union Territories, as mentioned by the All India Council for Technical Education. 

Overseas Category (Supernumerary) candidates:

• If you are a foreign citizen holding citizenship of a country other than the Republic of India, then you can apply for this examination under the Overseas (Supernumerary) category. 

• In addition to the seats that are available for the B.Des. program, an extra 15% supernumerary seats are available for Overseas category candidates. The seats are as under:

PROGRAM	NUMBER OF SUPERNUMERARY SEATS
Bachelor of Design, NID Ahmedabad	19
Bachelor of Design, NID Andhra Pradesh	11*
Bachelor of Design, NID Haryana	11
Bachelor of Design, NID Madhya Pradesh	11

Category-Wise Reservation of Seats

In accordance with the guidelines of the Government of India, these are the prescribed number of seats that are reserved for each of the categories:

Institute	Total No. of Seats	GEN-EWS (10%)	OBC-NCL (27%)	Scheduled Caste (15%)	Scheduled Tribe (7.5%)
NID Ahmedabad	125	13	34	19	9
NID Andhra Pradesh	75	8	20	11	6
NID Haryana	75	8	20	11	6
NID Madhya Pradesh	75	8	20	11	6
NID Assam	75	8	20	11	6

Process To Download The NID DAT Previous Year Question Papers With Solutions PDF From Our Website

By reading and following the steps that are given below, you can easily download the NID DAT previous year question papers PDF​ from our educational website. 

• To visit our website, you have to search for SelfStudys on a browser. There, a ‘Navigation’ tab will be displayed, and you need to click on it on the homepage. 

 

• On the menu, you should scroll down and select the ‘UG’ section. 

 

• In this section, you will see different undergraduate exams. Here, you can easily choose the icon of the NID DAT previous year question paper. 

 

• Then, you can have a look at all the year-wise NID DAT previous year question paper PDF downloads​ and select the one that you want to solve. 

 

• Finally, you can view the NID DAT PYQs in HD quality and start solving them. 

Note: For completing the NID DAT previous year papers​ downloading process, do a Google Log In or Sign Up at SelfStudys. 

Important Topics Included In The NID DAT Previous Year Question Papers PDF

Below is a table that will help you understand the topics that are a part of the NID DAT previous year question papers with solutions PDF​.

NID DAT PRELIMS
Section	Topics	Sub-Topics
Visualization and Spatial Ability	2D and 3D visualization Spatial reasoning	Isometric drawings Mirror images Puzzles involving shapes and spaces Transformation of shapes
Observation and Design Sensitivity	Visual logic Interpretation skills Design-based observation	Identify design flaws Visual sequencing Improving product usability
Environmental and Social Awareness	Indian culture and heritage Environment and sustainability Social issues	History of Indian design Environmental impact Contemporary social problems in the design context
Analytical and Logical Reasoning	Pattern recognition Logical links Series completion	Blood relations Number series Analogies and deduction
Language and Creativity	Comprehension Grammar usage Creative writing	Sentence correction Vocabulary Short storytelling with visuals or words
Design Thinking and Problem Solving	Real-world design challenges User-centric thinking	Simple product redesign Problem identification and visual solutions
Drawing and Sketching Skills	Concept development Product or scene drawing	Freehand sketching Perspective drawing Scene illustration with storytelling
NID DAT MAINS
Studio Test	Hands-on material work Drawing and sketching Model making	Doodling Clay/3D modeling Problem-solving through design Creative representation of a concept
Portfolio Review	Personal design portfolio presentation	Original artworks Sketches, digital art Academic and personal design projects
Personal Interview	Communication and expression Passion for design Understanding of design principles	Self-introduction Explanation of thought process Justification of portfolio work Awareness of design disciplines

Why Solve The NID DAT Previous Year Question Paper PDF Download​?

For a good preparation strategy, solving the NID DAT previous year question papers PDF​ is quite important. Here are some reasons that explain why you should prioritize them in your study routine.

• Regular practice of the NID DAT previous year question paper PDF download​ helps you gain exposure to the actual structure as well as the flow of the exam. It makes you familiar with the types of questions in both Prelims and Mains. You can also understand the changes or trends in any question type over the recent years. 

• Time is a very critical factor in both stages of the exam. In some questions, you need to make detailed sketches, and others require quick conceptual thinking. With the help of the NID DAT previous year question paper​, you can allocate your time smartly across the sections and reduce overthinking. 

• By analyzing multiple NID DAT PYQs or NID DAT mock tests, you will be able to notice design principles, themes, etc. that are asked frequently. Then, you can prepare yourself in a smart way and focus on the high-weightage areas. 

• When you solve the NID DAT previous year papers​ with a timer, you can train your brain to stay focused under pressure. It will also help you in reducing exam-day nervousness and uncertainty. 

• Every aspirant has different strengths. Whereas some are great at drawing, others are good at logic or ideation. With the analysis of the NID DAT previous year question papers with solutions PDF​, you will be able to discover where you need more practice. Then, you can make changes in your revision plan and focus on your weaknesses. 

Intake Capacity Of Candidates At Different National Institutes Of Design

There are around 5 National Institutes of Design across the country where you can take admission after clearing the NID- Design Aptitude Test. Below are the details about the number of seats that are available in different NIDs for the Bachelor of Design course. 

Bachelor of Design at NID Ahmedabad

This program is offered in the following areas of specialization:

Discipline	Number of seats
Faculty of Communication Design
Animation Film Design	19
Exhibition Design	13
Film and Video Communication	13
Graphic Design	19
Faculty of Industrial Design
Ceramic and Glass Design	13
Furniture and Interior Design	13
Product Design	19
Faculty of Textile, Apparel, Lifestyle, and Accessory Design
Textile Design	19

Note: You need to attend a mandatory Design Foundation study of a two-semester duration if you are selected in any of the B.Des. programs at NID Ahmedabad. Allotment of a discipline is based on your merit and preference once you have completed the requirements of the Design Foundation Studies. 

Bachelor of Design at NID Andhra Pradesh 

B.Des. is offered in the specializations mentioned below:

Discipline	Number of seats
Communication Design	25
Industrial Design	25
Textile and Apparel Design	25

Note: You will be required to attend a mandatory foundation program for a one-year duration after being selected for the B.Des. program at NID Andhra Pradesh. 

Bachelor of Design at NID Madhya Pradesh

The four-year B.Des. program is offered in the following areas of specialization:

Discipline	Number of seats
Communication Design	25+ Supernumerary seats
Industrial Design	25+ Supernumerary seats
Textile and Apparel Design	25+ Supernumerary seats

Note: The total intake of students is 86, including the (4+4+3) overseas candidates. This will be further divided on the basis of discipline preference and merit. 

Bachelor of Design at NID Haryana 

The program is offered in these areas of specialization:

Discipline	Number of seats
Communication Design	25
Industrial Design	25
Textile and Apparel Design	25

Note: The B.Des. program starts with a two-semester rigorous foundation program and is followed by six semesters of specialized courses. 

Bachelor of Design at NID Assam

A full-time four-year Bachelor's of Design program at NID Assam is offered in the following streams:

Discipline	Number of seats
Communication Design	25
Industrial Design	25
Textile and Apparel Design	25

Tips To Improve Your Performance Using The NID DAT Previous Year Question Paper

Solving the NID DAT previous year question papers PDF​ is just not enough. You need to use them in a strategic manner to improve your creative as well as analytical performance. Below are some ways in which you can benefit from every paper.

• You have to set a timer and attempt the NID DAT previous year question paper PDF download​ without any break in a quiet space. You should follow the official time limits for Prelims and Mains formats. Also, to replicate the exam reality, you should use only permitted tools like pencils, sheets, etc. By doing so, you will be able to build your mental stamina, time discipline, stress-handling ability, and so on.

• After every attempt at the NID DAT previous year question paper​, you should note down your accuracy, sketch quality, time taken per question, and confidence level. You need to track your performance question-wise as well as skill-wise over time, because it will help you pinpoint your weaker areas effectively.

• For every question in the NID DAT PYQs, you must ask why this was asked, what concept or skill is being tested, and what could have been a more efficient response? Then, you should compare answers with the sample answers that are available on our platform. This analysis will turn your practice into insight and give you a proper mindset.

• You should break the NID DAT previous year papers​ into smaller parts. In this, you can give 30 minutes for sketching, 20 minutes for logic questions, and 10 minutes for review. This will help you build speed without compromising on quality and allow you to focus on one skill at a time.

• It is advised that you begin with the most recent NID DAT previous year question papers with solutions PDF​ and move backward. Then, you should try again to start from the oldest paper and move forward. This will provide you with different insights, like new papers will reflect current trends, and older ones will help build foundational concepts.

Conclusion

The NID DAT previous year question papers PDF​ is the most reliable guide for exam success. They reveal the structure of the exam, expose you to real question formats, as well as allow you to refine your time management, problem-solving skills, creativity, etc. By solving them on a regular basis, you not only become familiar with the types of challenges you will face but also gain the confidence to handle them properly.