JEE Counselling Logo
JEE Counselling

2026

JoSAA

College Predictor

IITs · NITs · IIITs · GFTIs

How Many Rounds in JoSAA 2026? – All 5 Rounds Explained

JoSAA 2026 conducts 5 rounds of seat allotment — understand what each round means and how to plan your strategy.

JoSAA 2026 Has 5 Rounds of Seat Allotment

JoSAA 2026 is conducting exactly 5 rounds of seat allotment. Unlike previous years where JoSAA ran 6 rounds, JoSAA 2026 has confirmed 5 rounds with Round 5 (July 16, 2026) as the final round for all institutions — IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. There is no Round 6 in JoSAA 2026. Each round involves the same steps: candidates lock their choices (or modify them within the window), JoSAA runs the allotment algorithm, results are announced, and allotted candidates must pay the seat acceptance fee to remain in the process.

The key choice in each round (except Round 5, the final round) is whether to Freeze, Float, or Slide your allotment. Freezing confirms your seat permanently. Floating keeps you in contention for higher choices across institutes. Sliding keeps you at the same institute but open to better branches.

JoSAA 2026 – All 5 Rounds Confirmed Schedule

Round 1
June 13, 2026
First allotment — largest number of seats distributed
Round 2
June 30, 2026
Upgrades begin — Float candidates may get better seats
Round 3
July 6, 2026
Mid-process round — significant movement possible
Round 4
July 10, 2026
Fewer movements — most upgrades already settled
Round 5
July 16, 2026 (Final)
Final round — all must choose Freeze, reporting follows

* Official confirmed schedule from josaa.nic.in. NIT+ fee payment window: July 22–24.

What To Do In Each Round

Rounds 1–2: Stay Flexible

Unless you have your absolute dream seat, choose Float or Slide in Rounds 1 and 2. The algorithm will try to upgrade you in subsequent rounds. Paying the seat acceptance fee is mandatory to stay in the process — don't skip it.

Rounds 3–4: Evaluate Upgrades

If you have moved to a seat you are happy with, consider Freezing in Round 3–4. If your dream seat is still reachable (within a few hundred ranks of last year's final round cutoff), keep floating. By Round 4, most upgrades have happened.

Round 5: Final Freeze

In Round 5, all candidates are automatically frozen regardless of their choice. This is the final allotment. After Round 5, report to your allotted institute within the specified window for document verification.

Quick Links

Round 1 AllotmentSeat Allotment GuideFreeze Float SlideChoice Filling Guide
JEE Main
JEE Advanced
DASA / NRI

Know which college you can get

Predict IITs, NITs, IIITs & GFTIs · 135+ institutes · JoSAA 2026 data

Predict My College

JoSAA 2027: complete guide

Dates, eligibility, pattern, syllabus, result and counselling in one place.

Open guide

JoSAA 2026 Rounds – FAQs

Common questions about how many rounds JoSAA 2026 has

1
How many rounds does JoSAA 2026 have?
JoSAA 2026 has 5 rounds of seat allotment. Unlike previous years (2023–2025 had 6 rounds), JoSAA 2026 is running 5 rounds with Round 5 (July 16, 2026) being the final round for all institutions — IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. There is no Round 6 in JoSAA 2026. Each round involves choice locking, seat allotment by JoSAA algorithm, fee payment by allotted candidates, and document verification.
2
What happens after Round 5 in JoSAA 2026?
After Round 5 (July 16, 2026), JoSAA 2026 ends. Candidates allotted in Round 5 must report to their allotted institute for document verification and physical reporting. Seats not accepted after Round 5 may go to CSAB (Central Seat Allocation Board) for special rounds. Candidates who did not get any seat in JoSAA 2026 may participate in CSAB special rounds.
3
Can I withdraw from JoSAA after Round 1 and still participate in Round 2?
No. Withdrawal from JoSAA is permanent — once you withdraw, you cannot re-enter. Withdrawal means you forfeit your provisional allotment and your seat acceptance fee (Rs. 35,000 for General/OBC; Rs. 15,000 for SC/ST/PwD) is refunded minus Rs. 5,000 processing fee. If you simply do not pay the seat acceptance fee in a round, you are dropped from subsequent rounds. Always pay the fee to stay in the process.
4
Does Round 5 have the same cutoff as Round 1 in JoSAA 2026?
No. Cutoffs typically change across rounds. In Round 1, cutoffs are generally tighter because many seats are available but uncertainty is high. As rounds progress, vacancies are distributed differently. By Round 5 (final round), closing ranks can be higher (more relaxed) than Round 1 for many programs because unfilled seats accumulate and candidates who withdrew earlier create vacancies.
5
What is the confirmed schedule for JoSAA 2026 all 5 rounds?
Confirmed 2026 schedule: Round 1 results June 13; Round 2 June 30; Round 3 July 6; Round 4 July 10; Round 5 (final) July 16. NIT+ fee payment window: July 22–24. Official schedule at josaa.nic.in.

JEE College Predictor 2026

IITs · NITs · IIITs · GFTIs · 135+ colleges

Predict

Important Links

JEE Main College PredictorIIT College PredictorJoSAA 2026 GuideCollege CutoffsCollege Predictor

Disclaimer

JoSAA 2026 has 5 rounds (confirmed). Official schedule at josaa.nic.in after JEE Advanced 2026 results.