Mansi Jain: Meet the NIFT topper caught between two dream colleges, NIFT Delhi or IIT‑Bombay
Mansi Jain
, the
NIFT 2025
All India Rank 1 holder from East Delhi, finds herself at a major crossroads. While topping India's premier fashion entrance exam would seal the deal for many, Mansi is still weighing her options — thanks to another remarkable feat: securing AIR 10 in CEED 2025, which has opened the doors to a Master's in Design from IIT Bombay.
Speaking to
ET.com
, the Bachelor of Fine Arts graduate shared her preparation journey, academic background, and the unique position she now finds herself in.
'For many, fashion isn't the first career choice,' Mansi said. 'But for me, it was a natural progression. I come from a fine arts background and always knew I wanted to pursue design seriously.' She revealed that she dedicated 2–3 hours daily to sketching practice, used tools like ChatGPT for design aptitude, and focused heavily on creative problem-solving over current affairs.
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Despite her clear passion for fashion, Mansi remains undecided about which institution to pick. 'I will attend the
NIFT counselling session
first. Then i will see which branch i am getting then i will decide'.
Mansi's strategy involved leveraging her strengths. 'I didn't spend too much time on GK. My focus was on developing my creative thinking through my blog and by observing other artists' work,' she said.
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When asked what kept her going through the intense preparation phase, she credited her art background. 'Studying fine arts meant I was constantly sketching. It never felt like an extra burden,' she said.
Her message to future aspirants is simple but powerful: 'Stay confident and don't lose your potential. Your mindset matters as much as your preparation.'
With 19 departments and highly sought-after campuses like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru,
NIFT
presents an attractive proposition. But so does IIT Bombay, widely regarded as India's top design school.
As Mansi weighs her options, the design world watches closely to see where the country's top fashion mind will head next.
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