JoSAA Counselling 2026

Complete guide for admissions to IITs, NITs, IIITs & GFTIs through JEE Main & Advanced 2026

118 Institutes50K+ Seats6 Rounds

Important Notice

JoSAA Counselling 2026 schedule will be officially announced after JEE Advanced 2026 results (expected June 2026). The information provided below is based on previous year patterns and official JoSAA guidelines. Candidates must verify exact dates on josaa.nic.in when released.

118

Participating Institutes

50K+

B.Tech Seats

Counselling Rounds

2L+

Seats Allotted

What is JoSAA?

Joint Seat Allocation Authority explained

JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) is a centralized counselling body established to conduct joint seat allocation for admissions to undergraduate engineering programs in 118 participating institutes including 23 IITs, 31 NITs, 26 IIITs, and 38 GFTIs (Government-Funded Technical Institutes).

Established By

Jointly conducted by IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology) for centralized admissions

Admission Basis

JEE Advanced rank for IITs, JEE Main rank for NITs, IIITs & GFTIs

JoSAA ensures transparent and fair seat allocation through a computerized allocation process. Candidates register once, fill choices for all institutes, and are allotted seats based on their rank, category, and preferences. The authority conducts 6 rounds of counselling, allowing candidates to upgrade their seats in subsequent rounds.

Participating Institutes

118 institutes offering 50K+ B.Tech seats

🏛️

23

IITs

Indian Institutes of Technology

🎓

31

NITs

National Institutes of Technology

💻

26

IIITs

Indian Institutes of Information Technology

🏫

38

GFTIs

Govt Funded Technical Institutes

JoSAA Counselling Process

6-step journey from registration to admission

📝

Step 1

Online Registration

Register on josaa.nic.in using JEE Main/Advanced roll number. Provide personal details, contact information, and academic qualifications.

Use JEE Advanced credentials for IIT eligibility. Provide valid phone number and email for all communications.

📋

Step 2

Choice Filling

Fill institutes and courses in order of preference. Select from available academic programs across IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.

Fill maximum choices. Research colleges beforehand. Order preferences wisely as allotment is purely based on your choice order.

🎯

Step 3

Seat Allotment

JoSAA allocates seats based on your rank, category, home state (for NITs), gender, and filled preferences. 6 rounds conducted.

Results declared online. Check allotment status by logging in. Download provisional allotment letter.

✅

Step 4

Seat Acceptance

Pay seat acceptance fee (₹35,000 GEN/₹15,000 SC/ST) and upload documents online. Choose Float/Freeze/Surrender option.

Accept within deadline. Upload self-attested documents. Answer queries about category certificates if any.

🔍

Step 5

Document Verification

Report to designated help centers with original documents for verification. Get documents verified physically.

Carry all original documents. Get verification certificate. Required only once during counselling.

🏛️

Step 6

Report to Institute

Report to the allotted institute with verified documents within specified deadline. Complete admission formalities.

Pay admission fee. Complete enrollment. Start classes as per institute schedule.

Tentative Schedule 2026

Expected timeline based on previous years

Event	Expected Dates
Registration Start	June 10-12, 2026
Choice Filling & Locking	June 12-20, 2026
Round 1 Result	June 23, 2026
Seat Acceptance Round 1	June 23-26, 2026
Rounds 2-6 Results	June 28 - July 22, 2026
Reporting to Institutes	July-August 2026

Seat Acceptance Fee

Fee structure and refund policy

GEN/OBC-NCL/EWS

₹35,000

Adjusted against admission fee
₹32,000 refunded if no admission
₹3,000 processing fee deducted

SC/ST/PwD

₹15,000

Adjusted against admission fee
₹12,000 refunded if no admission
₹3,000 processing fee deducted

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about JoSAA counselling

What is JoSAA and who conducts it?

JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) is a centralized counselling body jointly conducted by IITs for admission to 118 participating institutes including 23 IITs, 31 NITs, 26 IIITs, and 38 GFTIs (Government-Funded Technical Institutes). It allocates seats based on JEE Main and JEE Advanced ranks. The authority ensures fair and transparent seat allocation through a common counselling process.

What is the difference between JoSAA and CSAB counselling?

JoSAA conducts the main counselling for all 118 institutes (IITs, NITs, IIITs, GFTIs) in 6 rounds. CSAB (Central Seat Allocation Board) conducts special counselling after JoSAA for filling vacant seats in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs only. IITs don't participate in CSAB. If you don't get a seat in JoSAA or want to upgrade, you can participate in CSAB special round.

What is the seat acceptance fee for JoSAA 2026?

The seat acceptance fee for JoSAA 2026 is ₹35,000 for General/OBC-NCL/EWS candidates and ₹15,000 for SC/ST/PwD candidates. This fee is adjusted against the admission fee when you join the allotted institute. If you withdraw before the last round or don't get admission, ₹32,000 (for GEN/OBC/EWS) or ₹12,000 (for SC/ST/PwD) is refunded after deducting ₹3,000 as processing fee.

How many rounds are there in JoSAA counselling 2026?

JoSAA counselling 2026 will have 6 rounds of seat allotment. After 6 rounds, if there are vacant seats, a special spot round may be conducted by CSAB for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. Each round has seat allotment result followed by seat acceptance deadline. Candidates can choose Float, Freeze, or Surrender options after each allotment.

Can I participate in JoSAA counselling with only JEE Main rank?

Yes, candidates with only JEE Main rank can participate for admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. However, for IITs, a valid JEE Advanced rank is mandatory. You must qualify JEE Advanced (be in the top 2.5L rankers) to be eligible for IIT seats. JEE Main rank holders can fill choices for all institutes but will only be considered for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.

What documents are required for JoSAA counselling 2026?

Required documents include: (1) Class 10th certificate for DOB proof, (2) Class 12th marksheet and pass certificate, (3) JEE Main 2026 rank card, (4) JEE Advanced 2026 rank card (for IIT aspirants), (5) Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS), (6) PwD certificate if applicable, (7) Passport size photographs, (8) Signature, (9) Proof of seat acceptance fee payment. All documents must be scanned and uploaded in prescribed format.

When will JoSAA counselling 2026 registration start?

JoSAA counselling 2026 registration is expected to start in June 2026, within a week after JEE Advanced 2026 results are declared. The exact schedule will be announced on josaa.nic.in. Registration typically opens for 3-4 days, followed by choice filling window of 7-10 days. Candidates should regularly check the official website and have documents ready in advance.

What are Freeze, Float and Surrender options in JoSAA?

Freeze: Accept the allotted seat and withdraw from further rounds. You're satisfied with this seat. Float: Accept the seat but remain in consideration for better options in subsequent rounds. You can upgrade but won't lose current seat. Surrender: Withdraw completely from counselling. Available only in specific rounds with fee refund (minus ₹3000 processing fee). You can change from Float to Freeze but not Freeze to Float.

How should I fill choices in JoSAA counselling?

Fill choices in order of preference. Research colleges, branches, placements, and fees beforehand. Include all institutes and courses you're willing to join. Don't limit options. Consider college reputation over branch for top IITs. For newer IITs, branch preference matters more. Fill maximum choices (available options) to increase chances. Lock choices before deadline. Check opening/closing ranks for your category from previous years.

What happens if I don't accept my allotted seat?

If you don't accept the allotted seat by paying seat acceptance fee before deadline, your candidature is cancelled and you won't be considered for further rounds of JoSAA counselling. However, you can still participate in CSAB special counselling if eligible. It's crucial to accept seats within deadline even if you want to upgrade - choose Float option instead of not accepting.

Can I change my allotted college in later rounds?

Yes, if you choose 'Float' option, you remain in consideration for better options in subsequent rounds. If you get a better allotment, you can upgrade to the new college. If you choose 'Freeze', you lock the current seat and won't be considered further. You can change from Float to Freeze between rounds but not from Freeze to Float.

What is the fee structure for IITs, NITs, and IIITs?

IIT fees: Approximately ₹2-2.5 lakh per year including tuition, hostel, and other charges. NIT fees: Around ₹1.5-2 lakh per year. IIIT fees: Vary from ₹1.9-3.75 lakh per year (Triple IITs like IIIT Hyderabad, Allahabad, Bangalore have higher fees). GFTI fees: Range from ₹1-2 lakh per year. All institutes offer scholarships like Merit-cum-Means (for income < ₹6 lakh/year) and SC/ST scholarships to help students.

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