Eligibility
NID DAT Age Limit and Reservation
NID follows the Government of India reservation policy for Indian nationals, with age relaxation for reserved categories and supernumerary seats for overseas candidates.
Reservation of Seats
Category | Reservation |
|---|---|
Scheduled Castes (SC) | 15% |
Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 7.5% |
Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) | 27% |
General – Economically Weaker Sections (GEN-EWS) | 10% |
Persons with Disability (PwD) | 5% (horizontal) |
Age Relaxation
Programme | General / EWS | OBC-NCL / SC / ST | PwD |
|---|---|---|---|
UG (Integrated M.Des / B.Des) | Born on/after 1 July 2006 | 1 July 2003 | 1 July 2001 |
M.Des (most disciplines) | Born on/after 1 July 1995 | 1 July 1992 | 1 July 1990 |
De-reservation
Unfilled OBC-NCL seats are de-reserved and offered to Open category candidates in order of merit.
As per the handbook, unfilled EWS, SC, ST and Overseas seats are not reallocated.
Key Takeaways
SC 15%, ST 7.5%, OBC-NCL 27%, EWS 10%, PwD 5%.
Reserved categories get 3 years (OBC-NCL/SC/ST) or 5 years (PwD) age relaxation.
Only unfilled OBC-NCL seats move to Open.
Pro Tip: Keep your category certificate in NID’s prescribed format (available on the admissions portal). There is a one-time window to correct the category certificate after Prelims.
Source: NID Admissions Handbooks 2027-28 (Sections on Eligibility and Reservation of Seats)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the reservation for OBC in NID?
27% of seats for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates.
Do reserved categories get age relaxation in NID DAT?
Yes. OBC-NCL, SC and ST candidates get 3 years and PwD candidates 5 years of relaxation.
What happens to unfilled OBC seats at NID?
They are de-reserved and offered to Open category candidates by merit.