The seats reserved for SC / ST / Physically Handicapped Candidates (PHP) / Foreign Nationals / SAARC / NRI, in each programme are as under:

• SC   - 15%
• ST   - 7.5%
• OBC - 27%
• Physically Handicapped (with 40% or more disability) - 3% Horizontal reservation for physically handicapped candidates cutting across all sections i.e. SCs, STs, OBCs Non-Creamy and General category. Centres and programmes will be allotted on rotation, at the discretion of NIFT.
• Foreign Nationals/SAARC/NRI - 15% (supernumerary)
• State Domiciles - 20% (supernumerary)

The qualifying candidates need to meet the eligibility and admission requirements of NIFT.

Category once filled up in the application form will not be changed at any stage.

Requirements of each category are as follows:

Candidates applying under this reserved quota will have to produce a Caste/Tribe certificate from the Competent Authorities of the respective States/Union Territories/ National Commission of Tribes.

OBC Candidates

Candidates applying under this quota would have to satisfy the caste and creamy layer requirement details. National Commission for Backward Class (NCBC) website may be seen for reference:

1. http://www.ncbc.nic.in/backward-classes/index.html
2. http://www.ncbc.nic.in/html/creamylayer.html

Candidates seeking admission under physically handicapped quota must produce a Disability Certificate at the time of counselling issued by the Medical Board attached with the Vocational Rehabilitation Centre (VRC) working under the Ministry of Labour, Govt. of India. To prevent disappointment, candidates are advised to have themselves examined by VRC especially under following cases:

Visual Impairment (VH)	:	Visual acuity less than 6/60 or 20/200 (Snellen) with correcting lens(Blind by one eye are not eligible)
Hearing Imapairment(HH)	:	Hearing loss of 60db or more, in both ears.
Mild Mental Retardation	:	Mild Mental Retardation - IQ between 51 to 70 only.

(See list of VRC on NIFT Prospectus page 54 - Annexure I)

NIFT reserves the right to disqualify the candidature in case of inability of the candidate to perform for a particular programme.

Note

1. The required certificate (s) for reserved categories / classes will be essential at the time of the counselling / admission and no provisional admission shall be granted for want of caste/category certificate from the local competent authority. Further, the caste/category certificate has to be in the name of candidate himself/ herself and not in favour of respective parents/ guardians.
2. In case of married women applying to any course under reserved category, she has to produce the caste certificate in her own name. Certificate in the name of husband / mother/ father is not acceptable.

Foreign Nationals / SAARC / NRI

Fifteen percent (15%) of total seats on supernumerary basis in each discipline in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Gandhinagar and Raibareli are reserved for admission of Foreign Nationals whether residing in India or abroad, applicants from SAARC countries and Non Resident Indian as specified in the Income Tax Act, 1961. The admission to NIFT programmes for foreign nationals / SAARC / NRI candidates will be based only on the written examination. The written examination of the candidates applying under this category is normally conducted in the premises of the Indian Embassy /Mission of the respective country subject to issue of NOC from the Indian Embassy /Mission of that country failing which candidate has to appear in India for written examination.

The candidates selected under this quota will be required to pay Rs.4,10,000/- as Fee for each academic year consisting of two semesters and would need to obtain a valid residential permit or student visa for the prescribed duration of the programme. Procedure for applying under foreign nationals/SAARC/ NRI category:

Candidates seeking admission under this category should apply in the prescribed Application Form which should be duly filled in and accompanied by the following documents :

1. An attested copy of the relevant pages of the passport containing details of the applicant.
2. An attested copy of proof of status of NRI/SAARC/ foreign national.
3. A Demand Draft of US$ 100 in favour of NIFT, New Delhi payable at New Delhi.
4. In case Degree/certificate has been obtained from some University /Board of any other country then an equivalence certificate must be obtained from Association of Indian Universities (AIU) New Delhi prior to admission.
5. The medium of instruction in NIFT is English and all aspirants applying to NIFT must posses working of English language.

Any NRI seat remaining vacant will lapse and not be converted to any other category.

STATE DOMICILES PREFERENTIAL SEATS

Twenty percent (20%),i.e 06 supernumerary seats in addition to 30 seats will be offered for admission as State Domiciles Preferential Seats for admission at the NIFT Centres at Patna, Kangra, Bhopal, Kannur, Shillong, Jodhpur and Bhubaneswar on submission of a Domicile certificate issued to the student or either of their parents by the competent local authority under the State Rules, which has been issued within 5 years prior to the date of admission.

NOTE: A Domicile Certificate shall be accepted by NIFT only if it is issued within 5 years of the date of Application Form of the concerned student by an authority prescribed under the relevant State enactment. In case of absence of any State law, a Domicile Certificate issued only by the Collector or the District Magistrate of the local area of residence of the student/parent only shall be accepted by NIFT.

There would be no dilution of NIFT admission policy in terms of merit and no separate list under this category will be released. Only candidates who are residents/ domiciles of the State where such NIFT Centre exist would be allowed to opt for this preference. The domicile of a student in a particular state shall not be applicable in any other Centre of NIFT.

The seats provided for reservation of SCs / STs/ OBCs (non creamy layer)/ Physically Handicapped Persons, i.e. 49% reservation shall be included in the domicile seats to the extent that they are occupied by persons falling in the reserved category exercising their domicile preference.

Any Domicile seat remaining vacant will lapse and not be converted to any other category/Centre.