About Footwear Design and Development Institute All India Selection Test (FDDI AIST)
FDDI AIST (Footwear Design and Development Institute All India Selection Test) is FDDI's entrance examination for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in footwear, fashion, leather and lifestyle design, and retail and fashion merchandise. FDDI is an Institute of National Importance. Its official site has published the 2026-27 admission prospectus and AIST calendar; as checked on 11 October 2026, no 2027 AIST schedule was published. The dates below therefore distinguish the completed 2026 cycle from dates yet to be announced for 2027.
| Exam detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full form | Footwear Design and Development Institute All India Selection Test |
| Conducting body | Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) |
| Admission programmes | B.Des and BBA programmes; M.Des and MBA programmes, as listed in the relevant admission prospectus |
| Official admission information | FDDI Admission Process |
| Official application portal | FDDI Admissions portal |
| Latest published cycle | 2026-27; AIST was held on 10 May 2026 |
| Next AIST dates | 2027 dates not announced on the official pages reviewed as of 11 October 2026 |
| Test mode and language | Paper-based written examination; English or Hindi |
| Application fee for 2026 | Rs. 600 for General/OBC (Non-Creamy)/EWS and Rs. 300 for SC/ST/PwD; online payment. A late fee applied to late 2026 applications. |
Programmes covered
The 2026 prospectus covers B.Des specialisations including Footwear Design and Production, Fashion Design, and Leather, Lifestyle and Product Design; BBA in Retail and Fashion Merchandise; M.Des programmes; and MBA in Retail and Fashion Merchandise. Programme availability can vary by campus and academic year. Check the current programme and seat-structure notice before applying. Legacy FDDI AIST content also lists historic course names such as Leather Goods and Accessories Design; use the current prospectus for the latest programme title.
Eligibility
For 2026-27 B.Des/BBA admission, FDDI accepted 10+2 in any stream from a recognised board, an equivalent examination recognised by the Association of Indian Universities, or the National Open School examination with at least five subjects. The bachelor's age limit was 25 years as of 1 July 2026. Applicants awaiting qualifying results could apply provisionally, subject to producing results and proof as set out in the current prospectus; the 2026 deadline for submitting the result was 30 September 2026.
For the 2026-27 M.Des and MBA programmes, the published criterion was a bachelor's degree in any discipline from an institute or university recognised by law in India; the prospectus specified no age limit for master's programmes. M.Des Footwear Design and Production may offer a bridge programme to candidates without a design background. These are cycle-specific summaries, not a substitute for programme-specific eligibility, reservation and document rules in the next prospectus.
Application fee and registration
FDDI's 2026 application instructions listed a non-refundable online application fee of Rs. 600 for General/OBC (Non-Creamy)/GEN-EWS applicants and Rs. 300 for SC/ST/PwD applicants. The 2026 guidelines also provided a late-application window through 30 April with an additional fee of Rs. 800 or Rs. 400 respectively. Bank or transaction charges could apply. Fees and category labels may change; confirm the amount and payment terms in the live application before paying. Apply only through the official FDDI admissions portal.
AIST pattern and marking scheme
The official FDDI examination-process page publishes separate 2026 section tables for bachelor's and master's programmes. B.Des candidates attempt sections A, B, C and D; BBA candidates attempt A, C, D and E. M.Des/MBA candidates attempt the postgraduate A-D pattern. The official aggregate table lists 126 questions and 200 marks across the bachelor's A-E sections; the postgraduate A-D table lists 175 questions and 200 marks. The public pattern table does not specify a test duration or negative-marking rule, so candidates should check their current admit card and prospectus rather than assume either.
| Programme/test sections | Section and description | Questions | Marks per question | Maximum marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor A-E aggregate | A: Analytical Ability | 25 | 1 | 25 |
| Bachelor A-E aggregate | B: Design Aptitude Test | 1 | 50 | 50 |
| Bachelor A-E aggregate | C: General Awareness | 35 | 1 | 35 |
| Bachelor A-E aggregate | D: Comprehension (25), Grammar/Usage etc. (15) | 40 | 1 | 40 |
| Bachelor A-E aggregate | E: Business Aptitude Test | 25 | 2 | 50 |
| Master A-D aggregate | A: Analytical Ability | 25 | 2 | 50 |
| Master A-D aggregate | B: English Comprehension and Grammar | 50 | 1 | 50 |
| Master A-D aggregate | C: General Knowledge and Current Affairs | 50 | 1 | 50 |
| Master A-D aggregate | D: Management Aptitude Test and Design Aptitude Test | 50 | 1 | 50 |
FDDI's published instructions describe the written examination as bilingual (English/Hindi) and paper-based. The exam assesses aptitude relevant to the selected programme. Exam centres, reporting instructions, question format and any revised marking rules are announced by FDDI for the relevant cycle.
Results, merit and admission
FDDI publishes merit and counselling updates on its official website and admissions portal. Selection and seat allocation depend on the applicable programme, campus, rank, category, available seats, eligibility and document verification. The 2026 prospectus also allowed consideration of specified valid national-level entrance-exam scores under its published mapping and admission rules; any exemption or score mapping must be confirmed in the current cycle's notice. An AIST score is not a guarantee of admission or a permanent qualification valid for later years.
Legacy IndCareer coverage includes an overview, application-form, admit-card and result page. This exam entry retains those historic routes through redirects while using FDDI's 2026 prospectus for current verified facts. Information verified on 11 October 2026; no 2027 dates were found in the reviewed official material.
Official references: Admission Process and 2026 calendar · Examination Process and marking scheme · Eligibility Criteria · How to Apply and application fee · Admission Guidelines 2026 · Prospectus 2026-27.