diff --git a/templates/question_table_view.html b/templates/question_table_view.html
index a3663b6a..885f7cf8 100644
--- a/templates/question_table_view.html
+++ b/templates/question_table_view.html
@@ -1,10 +1,7 @@
-
 {% extends app_name|add:'/base.html' %}
 
 {% load crispy_forms_tags %}
 {% load render_table from django_tables2 %}
-{% block css %}
-{% endblock %}
 
 {% block content %}
 
@@ -39,45 +36,34 @@
         </div>
     </div>
 
-        <!-- Floating filter bar (fixed at bottom) -->
-    <style>
-        .floating-filter {
-            position: fixed;
-            left: 0;
-            right: 0;
-            bottom: 0;
-            z-index: 1030;
-            background: var(--bs-body-bg);
-            border-top: 1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.12);
-            padding: 0.5rem 0.75rem;
-        }
-        .floating-filter .filter-body {
-            max-height: 50vh;
-            overflow-y: auto;
-        }
-        .floating-filter .filter-toggle {
-            position: fixed;
-            right: 1rem;
-            bottom: 1rem;
-            z-index: 1040;
-        }
-        /* minibar/tab styling - small visible handle so panel isn't fully hidden */
-        .bottom-filter-minibar {
-            position: fixed;
-            right: 1rem;
-            bottom: 1rem;
-            z-index: 1045;
-            background: transparent;
-        }
-        .bottom-filter-minibar .btn { box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.15); }
-    </style>
 
-            <!-- Minibar: small visible strip when panel is collapsed -->
+
+                                                <!-- Minibar: small visible strip when panel is collapsed -->
     <div id="bottom-filter-minibar" class="bottom-filter-minibar">
-        <button class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-primary" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#bottom-filter-body" aria-controls="bottom-filter-body">Filters</button>
+        <div class="position-relative">
+            <button class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-primary" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#bottom-filter-body" aria-controls="#bottom-filter-body">
+                <i class="bi bi-funnel-fill"></i>&nbsp;Filters
+            </button>
+                                                {# show active filters count if available via GET params #}
+                                                {% comment %} Compute active filters count (excluding 'page') using supported template tags {% endcomment %}
+            {% with request.GET|length as param_count %}
+                {% if param_count > 0 %}
+                    {% if request.GET.page %}
+                        {% with param_count|add:"-1" as active_count %}
+                                                                {# active_count may be a string; only show badge when not zero #}
+                            {% if active_count != "0" %}
+                                <span class="badge bg-primary filter-count-badge">{{ active_count }}</span>
+                            {% endif %}
+                        {% endwith %}
+                    {% else %}
+                        <span class="badge bg-primary filter-count-badge">{{ param_count }}</span>
+                    {% endif %}
+                {% endif %}
+            {% endwith %}
+        </div>
     </div>
 
-    <button class="btn btn-primary filter-toggle d-md-none" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#bottom-filter-body" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="bottom-filter-body">Filters</button>
+    <button class="btn btn-primary filter-toggle d-md-none" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#bottom-filter-body" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="#bottom-filter-body">Filters</button>
 
     <div class="floating-filter shadow-lg">
         <div id="bottom-filter-body" class="collapse">
@@ -89,28 +75,33 @@
                     </div>
                 </div>
 
-                <!-- filter body collapsible so minibar stays visible -->
+                                                    <!-- filter body collapsible so minibar stays visible -->
                 <div class="filter-body mt-2">
                     <form action="" method="get">
-                        <div class="row g-2">
+                        <div class="row g-3">
                             {% for field in filter.form.visible_fields %}
                                 <div class="col-12 col-sm-6 col-md-4 col-lg-3">
-                                    <div class="form-group">
-                                        {{ field.label_tag }}
-                                        {{ field }}
+                                    <div class="filter-card">
+                                        <div class="form-group mb-1">
+                                            {{ field.label_tag }}
+                                        </div>
+                                        <div class="form-group mb-1">
+                                            {{ field }}
+                                        </div>
                                         {% if field.errors %}
                                             <div class="invalid-feedback d-block">{{ field.errors|striptags }}</div>
                                         {% endif %}
                                         {% if field.help_text %}
-                                            <small class="form-text text-muted">{{ field.help_text }}</small>
+                                            <div class="filter-help">{{ field.help_text }}</div>
                                         {% endif %}
                                     </div>
                                 </div>
                             {% endfor %}
                         </div>
-                        <div class="mt-2 d-flex gap-2">
-                            <button class="btn btn-primary btn-sm" type="submit">Apply</button>
-                            <a class="btn btn-secondary btn-sm" href="?">Reset</a>
+                        <div class="mt-3 d-flex gap-2 filter-actions">
+                            <button class="btn btn-primary btn-sm" type="submit"><i class="bi bi-search"></i>&nbsp;Apply</button>
+                            <a class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm" href="?"><i class="bi bi-arrow-counterclockwise"></i>&nbsp;Reset</a>
+                            <button class="btn btn-light btn-sm" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#bottom-filter-body">Close</button>
                         </div>
                     </form>
                 </div>
@@ -118,4 +109,101 @@
         </div>
     </div>
 
-{% endblock %}
\ No newline at end of file
+                                                <!-- Floating filter bar (fixed at bottom) -->
+    <style>
+        .floating-filter {
+            position: fixed;
+            left: 0;
+            right: 0;
+            bottom: 0;
+            z-index: 1030;
+            background: var(--bs-body-bg);
+            border-top: 1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);
+            padding: 0.5rem 0.75rem 1rem 0.75rem;
+        }
+        .floating-filter .filter-body {
+            max-height: 50vh;
+            overflow-y: auto;
+            padding-top: .5rem;
+        }
+        .floating-filter .filter-toggle {
+            position: fixed;
+            right: 1rem;
+            bottom: 1rem;
+            z-index: 1040;
+        }
+                                            /* minibar/tab styling - small visible handle so panel isn't fully hidden */
+        .bottom-filter-minibar {
+            position: fixed;
+            right: 1rem;
+            bottom: 1rem;
+            z-index: 1045;
+            background: transparent;
+        }
+        .bottom-filter-minibar .btn { box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.12); }
+
+                                            /* pretty filter cards */
+        .filter-card {
+            background: var(--bs-white);
+            border: 1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.04);
+            border-radius: .5rem;
+            padding: .5rem;
+            height: 100%;
+        }
+        .filter-card .form-group { margin-bottom: 0; }
+        .filter-card label { font-weight: 600; font-size: .9rem; }
+        .filter-help { font-size: .8rem; color: #6c757d; }
+        .filter-actions { padding-top: .5rem; }
+
+                                            /* active filter count badge on minibar */
+        .filter-count-badge {
+            position: absolute;
+            top: -6px;
+            right: -6px;
+        }
+
+                                            /* Dark mode overrides */
+        @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
+            .floating-filter {
+                background: #0f1720; /* near-black */
+                color: #e6eef6;
+                border-top-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.06);
+            }
+            .bottom-filter-minibar .btn {
+                background: rgba(255,255,255,0.02);
+                color: #e6eef6;
+                border-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.06);
+            }
+            .filter-card {
+                background: #0b1220;
+                border-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.04);
+                color: #e6eef6;
+            }
+                                                /* target common form-control/form-select/select/textarea so native selects and bootstrap styles
+                                                   are overridden for dark theme inside filter cards */
+            .filter-card .form-control,
+            .filter-card .form-select,
+            .filter-card input,
+            .filter-card select,
+            .filter-card textarea {
+                background: #07101a !important;
+                color: #f1f5f9 !important;
+                border-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.06) !important;
+            }
+                                                /* options in native multi-selects */
+            .filter-card select option,
+            .filter-card .form-select option {
+                background: #07101a !important;
+                color: #f1f5f9 !important;
+            }
+                                                /* placeholder color */
+            .filter-card .form-control::placeholder { color: rgba(255,255,255,0.5) !important; }
+            .filter-help { color: #9fb0c7; }
+            .badge.bg-primary.filter-count-badge { background: #0d6efd; color: #fff; }
+            .btn-outline-secondary { color: #e6eef6; border-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.06); }
+            .btn-light { background: #111827; color: #e6eef6; border-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.04); }
+            .filter-card label { color: #e6eef6; }
+        }
+    </style>
+{% endblock %}
+    
\ No newline at end of file