JoSAA Counselling 2026: Complete Guide for IITs, NITs, IIITs & GFTIs Admissions

JoSAA Counselling 2026: The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) conducts counselling for admission to IITs, NITs, IIEST, IIITs, and other GFTIs. JEE Advanced ranks are used for IIT admissions, while JEE Main ranks determine seat allotment for NITs, IIITs, IIEST, and CFTIs.

Each JoSAA counselling round includes seat allotment, confirmation by candidates, online reporting at the allotted institute, and fee payment. Remaining vacant seats after all rounds are filled through CSAB counselling.

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All candidates qualifying JEE Advanced 2026 and having a valid JEE Main rank must register for JoSAA counselling to secure admission to UG engineering programs.

The JoSAA 2026 registration opens on June 2, 2026. Complete details on eligibility, application, counselling process, seat matrix, and important dates are available on the official JoSAA website (josaa.nic.in) and JEE Advanced portal (jeeadv.ac.in).

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JoSAA Counselling 2026 Overview

JoSAA Counselling 2026 is the common admission process for students seeking B.Tech seats in top government engineering institutes across India. It brings together the admission procedure for IITs, NITs, IIITs, IIEST Shibpur, and various Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs) under one platform. The seat allocation is done based on performance in JEE Advanced for IITs, while JEE Main ranks are considered for other participating institutes.

A total of 121 institutes, including 23 IITs, 31 NITs, 26 IIITs, IIEST Shibpur, and 40 GFTIs, participate in this process. Eligible students must register on the official JoSAA website to take part in the counseling and secure their preferred seat in any of these institutions.

JoSAA Eligibility Criteria 2026, JEE Main And JEE Advanced Restrictions

To take part in JoSAA Counselling 2026, students must meet a few important conditions. These are different for those who appeared in JEE Main and JEE Advanced.

For JEE Main Qualified Students (For NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs):

• Must pass Class 12 with Physics and Mathematics as main subjects.

• Also need one subject from Chemistry/Biology/Biotech/Technical Vocational.

• General category students must score at least 75% marks or be in the top 20 percentile of their board.

• Reserved category students need 65% marks or the top 20 percentile.

• Must clear JEE Main Cutoff 2026, but clearing the cutoff does not mean guaranteed admission.

For JEE Advanced Qualified Students (For IITs):

• Must be in the top 2,50,000 JEE Main rankers.

• Should meet the JEE Advanced cutoff.

• Must fulfill all eligibility rules of JEE Main too.

For IIT Preparatory Courses (Only SC/ST/PwD):

• Only SC, ST, or PwD category students are allowed.

• Must qualify JEE Advanced.

• Should also check if any course-wise restrictions apply in IITs.

It is important to know that each participating institute may have some extra rules. So, students must visit the official JoSAA website to check those details carefully. Final seat allotment will only happen if all eligibility rules are followed and document verification is completed successfully.

JoSAA Counselling 2026 Important Dates 

Students who wish to take part in JoSAA Seat Allotment 2026 process for IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs should keep track of the important JoSAA Counselling 2026 dates. These dates include registration, mock allotments, seat allotment rounds, and deadlines for fee payment and document uploads. Check out the schedule here:

JoSAA Counseling 2026 Registration & Choice Filling Procedure

JoSAA counseling is the process through which students get seats in IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs after clearing JEE Main or JEE Advanced. It is done completely online. Students have to follow a few important steps to take part in the counseling and get admission to their desired college.

• Step 1: Online Registration: Students need to register on the official JoSAA website using their JEE Main or Advanced roll number and password.

• Step 2:  Choice Filling and Locking: After registration, students must choose their preferred colleges and courses and lock them before the deadline.

• Step 3: Mock Seat Allotment: This shows a rough idea of which seat a student might get. Based on this, students can change their choices if needed.

• Step 4: Seat Allotment Result: JoSAA will announce seat allotments in different rounds. Students can either accept the seat or wait for the next round.

• Step 5: Seat Acceptance Fee Payment: After getting a seat, students have to pay the seat acceptance fee if any and download their allotment letter.

• Step 6: Reporting at Centers: Students must visit the reporting center with their original documents and photocopies for verification.

• Step 7: Final Admission at Institute: Lastly, students must report to the allotted college within the given dates to confirm their admission.

JoSAA Counselling 2026 Participating Institutes

The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) conducts centralized counselling for undergraduate engineering admissions across India. For 2026, a total of 127 institutes are expected to participate in the JoSAA counselling process, covering a range of premier technical institutions. These include:

• 23 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) – admissions based on JEE Advanced ranks
• 31 National Institutes of Technology (NITs) – based on JEE Main performance
• 26 Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) – based on JEE Main scores
• 47 Other Government Funded Technical Institutes (Other‑GFTIs) – also through JEE Main ranks

Seats across these institutes are allotted according to candidates’ JEE Main/JEE Advanced ranks, category, and choices filled during counselling. Aspirants should review the list of participating institutes carefully before beginning their JoSAA 2026 registration and choice filling

JoSAA Seat Matrix 2026

The official JoSAA Seat Matrix 2026 will be released on the official website. Students will be able to check the updated seat matrix to see the available seats in different institutes under JoSAA for this year.

JoSAA Mock Seat Allotment 2026

The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) will announce the 2026 seat allotment dates on its official website, josaa.nic.in. The seat allotment results will be released in multiple rounds, usually six, with each round published separately.

To check their allotment, candidates must log in using their application number and password. Once allotted a seat, candidates are required to pay the seat acceptance fee by the specified deadline to confirm their admission for the JoSAA 2026 exam.

What is JoSAA Mock Allotment?

The mock seat allotment is a preview of how seats might be allotted to candidates based on the choices they submitted. It allows candidates to review and modify their choices ahead of the final seat allotment process.

Candidates are strongly advised to check the mock allotment results and make necessary edits to their preferences before locking them. If the choices are not locked manually by the deadline, the last saved choices will be considered final for the actual seat allotment rounds.

Stay updated with all live developments of JoSAA 2026 counselling, including seat allotments and required documents like the medical certificate.

How to Check JoSAA Seat Allotment 2026

JoSAA will display the seat allotment result through the candidate’s individual login portal.Applicants can check their allotment status by signing in with their JEE Main 2026 application number and JoSAA 2026 password. Seat allocation is done based on the candidate’s JEE Main or JEE Advanced rank, category, and the choices filled during counselling.

If a seat is allotted, candidates are required to download the “Initial Seat Allotment Intimation Slip,” which provides information about the allotted academic program. It is the candidate's responsibility to regularly log in to the JoSAA portal and verify their seat allocation status for each round. No separate notification will be sent regarding seat allocation.

JoSAA 2026 Seat Allotment Confirmation

After a seat is allotted, candidates must confirm their seat and choose one of the following options: Freeze, Slide, or Float, based on their preferences for upcoming rounds of seat allocation.

1. Freeze: Selecting the Freeze option means the candidate is satisfied with the allotted seat and does not wish to participate in any further rounds. The seat will be provisionally confirmed, provided all admission steps are successfully completed. These candidates will not be considered for seat upgrades in the future rounds.
2. Float: The Float option allows candidates to accept the allotted seat while still being open to an upgrade to a higher preferred program in a different institute in later rounds. If no upgrade occurs, the current seat remains secured.
3. Slide: By choosing Slide, the candidate accepts the allotted seat but wishes to be considered for a higher preferred program within the same institute. If a better program becomes available in that institute in later rounds, it will be allotted. Otherwise, the current seat stays confirmed.

JoSAA Counselling Fees 2026: SAF and PAF

To continue with the JoSAA 2026 counselling process and confirm a seat in IITs or the NIT+ system, candidates must pay the applicable fees. The verification of uploaded documents will only begin after successful payment of the fee.

JoSAA seat acceptance fee (SAF) 2026

When a candidate is allotted a seat for the first time, they must pay the Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF) in that round. Not paying the SAF will be considered as declining the allotted seat, and the candidate will become ineligible for all further rounds.

JoSAA SAF Amount Based on Category is given below:

Payment Methods: Candidates can make the payment through UPI, debit card, credit card, net banking, or by using an e-Challan.

JoSAA Partial Admission Fee (PAF) 2026

After the final round of JoSAA counselling, candidates who are allotted seats in the NIT+ system (and haven’t withdrawn or cancelled their seat) must pay the Partial Admission Fee (PAF). If this fee is not paid, the allotted seat will be considered forfeited.

JoSAA PAF Amount Based on Category is given below:

Payment Methods: JoSAA PAF can be paid via Debit Card, Credit Card, UPI, Net Banking, or by using the State Bank of India e-Challan (downloadable from the JoSAA portal for offline payment).

JoSAA 2026 Seat Allotment Letter

Once the uploaded documents are verified and the candidate is found eligible, the respective IITs or NIT+ System institutes will provisionally confirm the allotted seat. The confirmation will be updated on the JoSAA 2026 online portal.

If all requirements are met, a Provisional Seat Allotment Letter will be generated and made available for download on the portal. This letter indicates that the candidate has accepted the offered seat, but final admission is subject to successful certificate verification, joining the allotted institute, and clearing any remaining institute fees.

JoSAA Counselling 2026: Key Documents for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs

Students who get a seat in NITs, IIITs, or GFTIs through JoSAA Counselling 2026 will be asked to present some important documents for verification. These documents prove that the student is eligible for admission and has followed all the rules properly. Here is the list of documents required at the time of document verification:

• Three passport-size photos (same as used in the JEE Main 2026 form)

• Provisional seat allotment letter from JoSAA

• Undertaking by the candidate (as per format provided during counseling)

• Fee payment proof for seat acceptance (downloaded after payment via SBI e-challan or net banking)

• Class 10 mark sheet or any official proof of date of birth

• Class 12 mark sheet and passing certificate

• Valid photo ID (like Aadhar card, school ID, PAN card, etc.)

• Medical certificate in the given format

• Category certificate (only if applying under SC/ST/OBC/EWS categories)

• PwD certificate, if applicable

• OCI certificate or PIO card, if applicable

• Printout of choices filled during JoSAA counseling

List of Documents for IITs:

Students who are allotted a seat in any IIT through JoSAA counselling will need to carry some important documents for the verification process. These documents help in confirming the admission. Here is the list of documents required for admission to IITs:

• Provisional seat allotment letter

• Two passport-size photos (same as uploaded in JEE Advanced 2026 form)

• Undertaking by the candidate (as per JoSAA format)

• Fee payment proof for seat acceptance (via SBI e-challan or internet banking)

• Valid photo ID (like Aadhar card, school ID, PAN card, etc.)

• JEE Advanced 2026 admit card

• Date of birth proof (Class 10 mark sheet)

• Class 12 mark sheet and pass certificate

• Medical certificate in the required format

• Category certificate, if applicable

• PwD certificate, if applicable

• Passport of candidate and parents (for foreign nationals) or OCI/PIO card, if applicable

• Defence Service (DS) certificate, if applicable

• Printout of locked choices filled during JoSAA counselling

It’s important for students to carry both original documents and photocopies. Only after successful verification of all these documents will admission to the allotted institute be confirmed.

JoSAA Counseling 2026: Important Notice for PwD Students

PwD students will have special instructions for physical verification during JoSAA 2026 counseling. They will be allowed extra time and can choose their verification center.

Physical Verification for IITs:

• Verification begins with choice filling and continues through counseling rounds.

• It must be completed by the end of the counseling round when a seat is allotted.

• Students must register on the JoSAA portal and select a date and time for verification.

Physical Verification for NITs and Other Institutes:

• Similar process for NITs and other institutes.

• Verification should be completed by the end of the counseling round when a seat is allotted.

• Registration on the JoSAA portal is required, and students can select the verification date and time.

JEE Advanced 2026 Marks Required for Admission to Top IITs

Here is the list of approximate marks you would need in JEE Advanced 2026 to secure admission into each IIT. These figures are based on past trends and will be updated once official cutoffs are released.