JoSAA 2026 – Best Time to Fill and Lock Choices

The Choice Filling Window: Timeline & Key Dates

JoSAA 2026 choice filling runs alongside registration, giving candidates approximately 5–7 days to research, fill, and refine their choices before locking. For 2026, the key dates are:

Optimal Strategy: Fill Early, Lock Late

The best approach is a three-phase strategy over the 10-day window:

Using Mock Allotment Results to Reorder Choices

Many candidates ignore mock allotments — a significant mistake. Here is how to use them effectively:

• If your mock allotment gives you exactly what you want:

  Check that all choices above it in your list are genuine preferences you would accept if allotted. If any are 'wishful' choices you would not accept, remove or re-rank them.

• If your mock allotment is lower than expected:

  You may have too many highly competitive choices at the top. Add more realistic options between your stretch choices and your backup choices.

• If your mock allotment is significantly higher than expected:

  Great news — but verify by checking the closing ranks. A seat that appears in Mock 1 may not appear in the actual Round 1 due to more competition. Add more stretch choices above it if you want to try for something better.

• Mock 2 is more reliable than Mock 1:

  By Mock 2, more candidates have registered and filled choices, making it a closer approximation of real Round 1 allotments. Weight Mock 2 more heavily in your decision-making.

10-Point Checklist Before Clicking Lock

1. 1Your absolute top preferences (dream choices) are at positions 1–5, regardless of probability.
2. 2Realistic choices based on previous year closing ranks are in the middle of your list (positions 6–40).
3. 3Home state quota NIT/IIIT options are included as safety choices in positions 30–60.
4. 4You have at least one very safe choice near the end (GFTIs, NE NITs) that you would definitely accept.
5. 5You have not duplicated the same institute+branch combination (the portal usually prevents this, but double-check).
6. 6Your category is correctly registered — SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwD as applicable.
7. 7You have reviewed both Mock Allotment 1 and Mock Allotment 2 results before locking.
8. 8You have at least 40 choices filled — ideally 60–80.
9. 9You have checked that no important institute or branch is missing from your list that you wanted to include.
10. 10You are on a stable internet connection and have taken a screenshot of your final list before clicking Lock.

Emergency Situations: What to Do If You Are Offline During the Window

JoSAA grants no exceptions for personal circumstances. If you know you will be traveling, in a remote area, or otherwise offline during part of the choice filling window, plan ahead:

• Fill and save your choices before you leave — even an incomplete list is better than nothing.
• JoSAA is accessible from mobile browsers. A phone with a data connection is sufficient to fill, modify, and lock choices.
• If you have a trusted person (parent, sibling, counsellor), give them your login credentials and walk them through your preferred choice order so they can monitor and lock if you cannot.
• Consider locking your choices before you go offline, even if you have not yet seen Mock Allotment 2. A locked list with 60+ thoughtful choices is much better than missing the deadline entirely.
• If you face a genuine JoSAA server error during locking (not a user error), take a screenshot immediately and email JoSAA helpdesk. There is no guarantee of remedy, but documented server errors have occasionally been addressed.