JoSAA Counselling 2026 process has started officially. Now that the results for JEE Advanced 2026 were declared on June 1, 2026, while the JEE Main 2026 ranks were out on April 20, 2026, the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) has launched the online registration and choice-filling process from June 2, 2026.
JoSAA is the single platform through which seats are allotted across IITs, IISc, NITs, IIEST, IIITs (Triple-I-Ts), and other Government-Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs) for the academic year 2026–27. If you are a JEE qualifier aiming for a seat in any of these institutes, everything you need from registration to reporting runs through the official JoSAA portal at josaa.nic.in.
The entire process is 100% online. There are no offline modes, no spot rounds for IITs/IISc, and no exceptions to deadlines. Given how much is at stake, understanding the complete process from dates, eligibility, fees, options, and rules before you sit down to fill your choices can make a significant difference to the seat you ultimately get.
This guide covers everything you need to know about JoSAA Counselling 2026, based on the official Business Rules and Schedule published by JoSAA.
JoSAA Counselling 2026 Quick Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Joint Seat Allocation Authority Counselling 2026 |
| Conducting Body | JoSAA 2026 (JAB + CSAB) |
| Official Website | josaa.nic.in |
| Applicable Exams | JEE (Advanced) 2026, JEE (Main) 2026 |
| Institutes Covered | IITs, IISc, NITs, IIEST, IIITs, Other GFTIs |
| Registration Dates | June 2, 2026 – June 11, 2026 |
| Number of Rounds | 5 (Rounds 1–4 + Final Round 5 for IITs/IISc) |
| Seat Acceptance Fee | Rs.15,000 (SC/ST/PwD) |
| Mode | Fully Online |
JoSAA Counselling 2026 Important Dates
Here is the complete round-wise schedule for JoSAA Counselling 2026:
| Event | Date | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| JEE Main 2026 Rank Declaration | 20 April 2026 | 10:00 AM |
| JEE Advanced 2026 Result Announcement | 01 June 2026 | 10:00 AM |
| JoSAA Registration & Choice Filling Starts | 02 June 2026 | 5:00 PM |
| Mock Seat Allocation 1 | 08 June 2026 | 2:00 PM |
| Mock Seat Allocation 2 | 10 June 2026 | 1:00 PM |
| Last Date for Registration & Choice Filling | 11 June 2026 | 5:00 PM |
| Data Reconciliation & Verification | 12 June 2026 | |
JoSAA Counselling 2026 Round-Wise Schedule
| Round | Activity | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Seat Allotment Result | 13 June 2026 | 10:00 AM |
| Round 1 | Online Reporting, Fee Payment & Document Upload | 13 June – 26 June 2026 | Till 5:00 PM |
| Round 1 | Last Date for Fee Payment | 26 June 2026 | 5:00 PM |
| Round 1 | Fee Payment Issue Resolution | 29 June 2026 | 1:00 PM |
| Round 2 | Seat Allotment Result | 30 June 2026 | 5:00 PM |
| Round 2 | Online Reporting & Fee Payment | 30 June – 03 July 2026 | Till 5:00 PM |
| Round 2 | Last Date for Fee Payment | 03 July 2026 | 5:00 PM |
| Round 2 | Withdrawal Window | 01 July – 03 July 2026 | Till 5:00 PM |
| Round 3 | Seat Allotment Result | 06 July 2026 | 5:00 PM |
| Round 3 | Online Reporting & Fee Payment | 06 July – 08 July 2026 | Till 5:00 PM |
| Round 3 | Last Date for Fee Payment | 08 July 2026 | 5:00 PM |
| Round 3 | Withdrawal Window | 07 July – 08 July 2026 | Till 5:00 PM |
| Round 4 | Seat Allotment Result | 10 July 2026 | 5:00 PM |
| Round 4 | Online Reporting & Fee Payment | 10 July – 13 July 2026 | Till 5:00 PM |
| Round 4 | Last Date for Fee Payment | 13 July 2026 | 5:00 PM |
| Round 4 | Withdrawal Window | 11 July – 14 July 2026 | Till 5:00 PM |
JoSAA 2026 Final Round Schedule for IITs/IISc
| Activity | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Round 5 Seat Allotment (Final Round for IITs/IISc) | 16 July 2026 | 5:00 PM |
| Online Reporting & Fee Payment | 16 July – 20 July 2026 | Till 5:00 PM |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 20 July 2026 | 5:00 PM |
| Fee Payment Issue Resolution & Query Response | 21 July 2026 | 5:00 PM |
NIT+ System Schedule (CSAB Related)
| Activity | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Withdrawal of Seat | 16 July – 20 July 2026 | Till 5:00 PM |
| Withdrawal Query Response | 17 July – 21 July 2026 | Till 5:00 PM |
| Partial Admission Fee (PAF) Payment | 22 July – 24 July 2026 | Till 5:00 PM |
Note: Candidates allotted seats in NIT+ institutes must pay the Partial Admission Fee (PAF) through the CSAB portal after JoSAA counselling completion.
Participating Institutes in JoSAA Counselling 2026
JoSAA counselling includes admission into some of the top engineering institutes of India. The participating institutes are divided into multiple categories depending on the admission process and qualifying examination.
Institutes Participating Through JEE Advanced
The following institutes accept admission through JEE Advanced 2026:
- Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc Bangalore)
Only candidates qualified in JEE Advanced are eligible for these institutes.
Institutes Participating Through JEE Main
The following institutes participate through JEE Main 2026:
- National Institutes of Technology (NITs)
- Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs)
- Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST)
- Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs)
JoSAA Counselling 2026 Eligibility Criteria
To participate in JoSAA 2026 seat allocation, a candidate must meet at least one of the following criteria:
JoSAA Counselling 2026 Eligibility Criteria
| Eligibility Category | Requirements |
|---|---|
| For IITs & IISc – Regular Academic Programs | Candidate must qualify JEE Advanced 2026 and satisfy the Class XII performance requirements. |
| For IITs – Preparatory Courses | Candidate must qualify JEE Advanced 2026 for preparatory courses and satisfy the required Class XII performance criteria. |
| For NITs, IIEST, IIITs & Other GFTIs (B.E./B.Tech.) | Candidate must secure a rank in JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 and satisfy the Class XII performance requirement |
| For B.Arch Programs | Candidate must secure a rank in JEE Main 2026 Paper IIA (B.Arch.) and meet the required performance criteria. |
| For B.Plan Programs | Candidate must secure a rank in JEE Main 2026 Paper IIB (B.Plan.) and satisfy the required eligibility conditions. |
| Category-Wise Eligibility | Candidates are assigned category tags such as GEN, GEN-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, and PwD based on valid certificates and category status. |
| OBC-NCL / EWS Certificate Rule | Candidates failing to produce valid category certificates during verification may be treated under the GEN category for seat allocation. |
| PwD Eligibility | PwD candidates must provide valid disability certificates during document verification to retain PwD reservation benefits. |
| State Code of Eligibility (For NIT+ System) | State code is determined by the state from which the candidate first appeared in Class XII examination, not by residence or domicile. |
| Home State vs Other State Eligibility | State code determines eligibility for Home State and Other State quota seats in NITs and NIT+ institutes. |
| Foreign National Candidates | Foreign nationals can participate for IIT/IISc admission through Foreign tag supernumerary seats but are not eligible for NIT+ System seats through JoSAA. |
| Document Verification Requirement | All candidates must produce valid certificates and documents during online verification to confirm eligibility and category claims. |
JoSAA Counselling 2026 Registration
JoSAA 2026 registration and choice filling began on June 2, 2026 and is closing on June 11, 2026. Here’s what you need to do:
Step 1 – Login to JoSAA Portal
Candidates have to log in to the official website, josaa.nic.in with their credentials. If candidates appeared in JEE Main 2026, they can log in with their JEE Main 2026 application number and password.
If the candidate is a foreign national or OCI/PIO card holder who has not applied for JEE Main 2026, then the candidate can login with their JEE Advanced 2026 Direct Registration login id and password.
Step 2 – Register and Fill Choices
After logging in, complete the registration form and then add your preferred academic programs in order of preference. You can select any number of programs across IITs, IISc, NITs, IIITs, IIEST, and GFTIs, but remember only ONE seat will be allocated regardless of how many choices you list.
Order your choices carefully. The system allocates the highest possible choice based on your rank, category, and seat availability.
Step 3 – Check Mock Allocations
There will be two rounds of mock seat allocations in order to give candidates a rough idea about their choice of branch and institute.
- Mock Round 1: will be released on June 8, 2026 based on the choices saved on or before June 7, 8:00 PM IST.
- Mock Round 2: will be released on June 10, 2026 based on the choices saved on or before June 9, 5:00 PM IST.
Use these rounds to get a general idea of where you stand and to make final changes to your choice list.
Step 4 – Lock Your Choices
You must lock your choices before June 11, 2026 at 5:00 PM. If you do not lock manually, the system auto-locks the last saved choices at the deadline. After locking, you cannot add, delete, or reorder choices.
Important: Choice filling is completely free. You do not pay anything at the registration stage.
JoSAA Counselling 2026 Fees
Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF)
Seat Acceptance Fee must be paid when a candidate accepts an allotted seat for the first time. It is paid only once, regardless of how many rounds the candidate is allotted seats in.
| Category | Seat Acceptance Fee |
|---|---|
| SC, ST, GEN-PwD, GEN-EWS-PwD, OBC-NCL-PwD, SC-PwD, ST-PwD | Rs.15,000 |
| All Other Candidates | Rs.30,000 |
It includes JoSAA processing charges of 5,000. The balance (10,000 or 25,000 accordingly) is adjusted in the admission fee charged by the institute.
Pre-payment facility: You may choose to pre-pay SAF from 2-June-2026 (start of choice filling) to the choice locking date of 11-June-2026. If you are not allotted with any seat, your full pre-paid amount will be returned. JoSAA advises to pay the SAF through this mode to prevent possible payment failure at the time of closing choice filling.
Refund policy: SAF is generally non-refundable. However:
- If you successfully withdraw from the process, 7,000 will be deducted and remaining will be refunded.
- If your seat is cancelled, because of eligibility criterion or document problems, 5,000 will be deducted and remaining will be refunded.
Partial Admission Fee (PAF) – NIT+ System Only
At the end of Round 5, candidates with a provisionally allotted seat in the NIT+ System must pay the Partial Admission Fee.
| Category | Partial Admission Fee |
|---|---|
| SC, ST, GEN-PwD, GEN-EWS-PwD, OBC-NCL-PwD, SC-PwD, ST-PwD | Rs.20,000 |
| All Other Candidates | Rs.45,000 |
PAF is adjusted against the institute’s total admission fee. Non-payment of PAF within the deadline is treated as rejection of the seat, and the seat acceptance fee is refunded after deducting Rs.7,000.
Payment Modes
You can pay through:
- Debit card, Credit card, UPI, Net Banking
- SBI e-Challan (for cash payment at any SBI branch)
- Grahak Seva Kendra (CSC Digital Seva Kendra) under SBIePay
JoSAA Counselling 2026 Seat Allocation Process
JoSAA 2026 has five rounds of seat allocation in total. Round 5 is the final round for IITs and IISc. The NIT+ System participates through all five rounds, followed by CSAB special rounds thereafter.
How allocation works:
Each candidate is allocated the highest possible preference from their choice list based on:
- Category tag (GEN, GEN-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD variants)
- Rank in the applicable rank list(s)
- Order of preference in the choice list
- Seat availability across program sections
If you are eligible for multiple rank lists (e.g., CRL and OBC-NCL), the system considers all applicable program sections and allocates the best possible seat across them.
Online Reporting (Accepting a Seat):
Once the seat is allocated to the student, all four steps of Online Reporting has to be completed on or before the stipulated last date:
- Acceptance of allocated seat with one of Freeze, Float, Slide (read about these options below).
- Uploading all the required documents to the online portal.
- Payment of the Seat Acceptance Fee.
- Responding to any query raised by the reporting officer concerning document verification.
Failure to adhere to any of the steps within the given deadline results in the rejection of the allocated seat and will bar the student from further rounds of counseling. This action is not reversible.
Document Verification: Documents are verified only after fee payment. JoSAA strongly advises paying the fee on the first day of the round and not on the last day, so there is time to respond to any queries raised.
Freeze, Float, and Slide Options Explained
When accepting a seat, every candidate must choose one of three options that determines their participation in subsequent rounds:
Freeze You are happy with the allotted seat. You do not wish to be considered for any higher-preference program in later rounds. Your seat is confirmed subject to document verification. Once you choose Freeze, you cannot change this in any subsequent round under any circumstances.
Float You accept the current seat but want to be considered for any higher-preference academic program in any institute in subsequent rounds. If a better seat becomes available, it automatically replaces your current one, you do not need to cancel your earlier seat. If no better seat is available, you continue with the current one.
Slide You accept the current seat but want to be considered for a higher-preference program within the same institute only in subsequent rounds. This is useful if you are okay with the institute but want a different branch.
Critical points to keep in mind:
- Float and Slide are not available in Round 5 (the last round).
- You can change from Float to Slide or Freeze, and from Slide to Freeze, in any round except the last.
- Once you receive a higher-preference seat through Float or Slide, if you then reject or cancel that seat, you lose all seat allocation eligibility. You will not be able to participate further in JoSAA 2026.
- Do NOT manually cancel your earlier seat if you receive a new allocation through Float/Slide, it is automatically replaced.
JoSAA Counselling 2026 Document Requirements
The following documents are typically required for upload during Online Reporting (exact list as per the JoSAA 2026 portal):
- Class X certificate (for date of birth proof)
- Class XII (or equivalent) mark sheet and passing certificate
- JEE (Main) 2026 Admit Card (for NIT+ System candidates)
- JEE (Advanced) 2026 Admit Card (for IIT/IISc candidates)
- Category certificate (OBC-NCL / SC / ST / GEN-EWS / DS), as applicable in the prescribed format
- PwD certificate or valid UDID card (if applicable)
- Passport-size photograph
- Signature
Important document rules:
- If a category certificate is found invalid, the category tag is downgraded (e.g., OBC-NCL to GEN). This can cancel your allotted seat if it was in a reserved category.
- Documents uploaded must be consistent with what was submitted at JEE (Main) / JEE (Advanced) registration. Any mismatch due to forgery leads to admission cancellation and debarment.
- Pre-upload of documents is optional during the registration window (June 2–11) but strongly recommended.
PwD Physical Verification (IITs/IISc only): Candidates without a valid UDID card indicating disability must appear physically at an IIT/IISc for PwD verification. Even UDID card holders may be called for physical verification if online verification fails.
JoSAA Counselling 2026 Cutoff
JoSAA does not publish a single cutoff rank. Instead, seat allocation is driven by closing ranks, the rank of the last candidate to receive a seat in a given program, category, and round which are made publicly available after each round.
For IITs and IISc, the qualifying marks in JEE Advanced 2026 required for inclusion in rank lists are:
| Rank List | Minimum % in Each Subject | Minimum Aggregate % |
|---|---|---|
| Common Rank List (CRL) | 10.0% | 35.0% |
| GEN-EWS | 9.0% | 31.5% |
| OBC-NCL | 9.0% | 31.5% |
| SC | 5.0% | 17.5% |
| ST | 5.0% | 17.5% |
| CRL-PwD | 5.0% | 17.5% |
| GEN-EWS-PwD | 5.0% | 17.5% |
| OBC-NCL-PwD | 5.0% | 17.5% |
| SC-PwD | 5.0% | 17.5% |
| ST-PwD | 5.0% | 17.5% |
| Preparatory Course Rank Lists | 2.5% | 8.75% |
For NIT+ System, cutoffs are based on JEE (Main) 2026 rank lists prepared by the JEE Apex Board across Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech.), Paper IIA (B.Arch.), and Paper IIB (B.Plan.).
The actual program-wise and category-wise closing ranks vary by institute and are published by JoSAA after each round. You can check previous years’ cutoffs on the JoSAA portal as a rough reference, though actual cutoffs change each year.
Withdrawal and Exit from JoSAA 2026
Withdrawal
A candidate who has accepted a seat can withdraw from the process. For IIT/IISc seats, withdrawal is available from Round 2 up to the end of Round 4 (i.e., until July 14, 2026 at 17:00 IST). For NIT+ System seats, withdrawal is available through the final round of online seat allocation.
After withdrawal, the candidate’s seat is cancelled and made available to other candidates. The withdrawing candidate is excluded from all remaining rounds. The SAF is refunded after deducting Rs.7,000 as withdrawal processing charges.
Withdrawal process:
- Log in to the JoSAA portal and submit a signed declaration form.
- An OTP is sent to your registered mobile and email for confirmation.
- A reporting officer verifies the request, may raise a query, and then approves or rejects it.
- If rejected, you can resubmit with proper documentation before the deadline.
Exit
If you have not yet accepted a seat (i.e., you have not completed Online Reporting), you can choose to formally Exit from the seat allocation process. After Exit, you will not be considered in any further round. This is irreversible and confirmed via OTP.
JoSAA Counselling 2026 for NIT+ System
NIT+ System refers to NITs, IIEST Shibpur, IIITs (Triple-I-Ts), and Other GFTIs. Key differences from IIT/IISc allocation:
- Seat allocation is based on JEE Main 2026 ranks, not JEE Advanced.
- Home State and Other State quotas apply. The state code of eligibility is the state where you first appeared for Class XII.
- Foreign nationals are NOT eligible for NIT+ System seats through JoSAA.
- After Round 5, candidates with allotted NIT+ seats must pay the Partial Admission Fee (PAF) by July 24, 2026.
- Physical reporting at institutes is done after CSAB Special Rounds. Check csab.nic.in for the physical reporting schedule.
- CSAB Special Rounds (for vacant seats, if any) are conducted separately and are not part of JoSAA. Details are available at csab.nic.in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When does JoSAA Counselling 2026 registration start?
A. Registration and choice filling opens on June 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM IST and closes on June 11, 2026 at 5:00 PM IST.
Q. How many rounds are there in JoSAA 2026?
A. There are 5 rounds in total. Rounds 1 through 4 are open to all participating institutes. Round 5 is the final round for IITs and IISc. The NIT+ System continues through all 5 rounds, after which CSAB conducts special rounds for remaining vacant seats.
Q. Is JoSAA registration free?
A. Yes, choice filling and registration on the JoSAA portal are completely free. Fees are charged only when you accept an allotted seat (Seat Acceptance Fee) or, for NIT+ candidates, the Partial Admission Fee after Round 5.
Q. What is the Seat Acceptance Fee for JoSAA 2026?
A. The Seat Acceptance Fee is Rs.15,000 for candidates with SC, ST, or PwD category tags and Rs.30,000 for all others. It includes Rs.5,000 as JoSAA processing charges, and the balance is adjusted against the institute’s admission fee.
Q. What happens if I don't pay the Seat Acceptance Fee on time?
A. Non-payment within the round’s deadline is treated as rejection of the seat. Your allotted seat is cancelled and you are excluded from all remaining JoSAA 2026 rounds. This cannot be reversed. Pay on the first day of the round, not the last.
Q. Can I change my choices after locking?
A. No. Once locked, choices cannot be edited. However, before the June 11 deadline, you can unlock your choices using an OTP sent to your registered mobile and email, make edits, and re-lock. After the deadline, no changes are possible.
Q. What is the difference between Freeze, Float, and Slide?
A. Freeze means you are satisfied with your seat and do not wish to participate in further rounds. Float means you want a better option in any institute in subsequent rounds. Slide means you want a better branch within the same institute in subsequent rounds.
Q. If my OBC-NCL certificate is found invalid during document verification, what happens?
A. Your category tag is changed to GEN. If your allotted seat was in the OBC-NCL category, it gets cancelled and you are reconsidered as a GEN candidate in subsequent rounds, provided you meet other eligibility conditions. If your seat was allotted in the OPEN (GEN) category and your OBC-NCL certificate is invalid, your seat remains confirmed.
Rajesh Mishra is an admission counsellor and the founder of GLN Admission Advice Pvt. Ltd. with more than 16 years of experience in student counselling and admission guidance. He has worked with thousands of students and parents seeking clarity in complex admission processes across India.
His guidance approach is practical, transparent, and strategy focused. Rajesh Mishra helps families understand counselling systems, admission rules, and college selection in simple language so they can make informed decisions.
Through GLN Admission Advice, he provides guidance for Medical, AYUSH, Engineering, MBA, PGDM, and Law admissions, and regularly shares content to help students understand counselling procedures, cutoff trends, and common mistakes during admission counselling.
Rajesh Mishra is an admission counsellor and the founder of GLN Admission Advice Pvt. Ltd. with more than 16 years of experience in student counselling and admission guidance. He has worked with thousands of students and parents seeking clarity in complex admission processes across India.
His guidance approach is practical, transparent, and strategy focused. Rajesh Mishra helps families understand counselling systems, admission rules, and college selection in simple language so they can make informed decisions.
Through GLN Admission Advice, he provides guidance for Medical, AYUSH, Engineering, MBA, PGDM, and Law admissions, and regularly shares content to help students understand counselling procedures, cutoff trends, and common mistakes during admission counselling.