JoSAA Counselling 2026: From Registration to Final Admission – A Complete Guide
Share
The JoSAA Counselling 2026 process is the gateway to admissions in IITs, NITs, IIITs, and Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs). If you have qualified JEE Main 2026 or JEE Advanced 2026, understanding the counselling process is essential to secure your preferred college and branch.
The JoSAA 2026 registration and choice-filling window closes on 11 June 2026. After this deadline, all saved choices will be automatically locked by the system.
What is JoSAA Counselling?
The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) conducts centralized counselling for admission to:
- Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)
- National Institutes of Technology (NITs)
- Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs)
- Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs)
Seat allocation is based on:
- JEE Main Rank
- JEE Advanced Rank
- Category
- Seat Availability
- Candidate Preferences
JoSAA 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration & Choice Filling Start | 2 June 2026 |
| Mock Seat Allotment Round 1 | 8 June 2026 |
| Mock Seat Allotment Round 2 | 10 June 2026 |
| Registration & Choice Filling Ends | 11 June 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Round 1 Seat Allotment | 13 June 2026 |
| Round 2 Seat Allotment | 30 June 2026 |
| Round 3 Seat Allotment | 6 July 2026 |
| Round 4 Seat Allotment | 10 July 2026 |
| Round 5 (Final) Allotment | 16 July 2026 |
Step 1: Registration
Visit the JoSAA portal and log in using your JEE credentials.
- Verify personal details
- Check category information
- Confirm contact details
- Review eligibility status
Step 2: Choice Filling
Choice filling is the most important stage of counselling.
Smart Choice Filling Tips
- Put your dream colleges first.
- Arrange branches according to genuine preference.
- Include ambitious, moderate, and safe options.
- Fill as many choices as possible.
- Review mock allotment results carefully.
Step 3: Choice Locking
Candidates can manually lock their choices before the deadline. If not locked manually, the system automatically locks all saved choices at 5:00 PM on 11 June 2026.
Step 4: Mock Seat Allotment
Benefits of Mock Allotment
- Estimate admission chances
- Improve preference order
- Identify realistic options
- Increase final allotment opportunities
Step 5: Seat Allotment
JoSAA conducts multiple rounds of seat allocation based on rank, category, reservation rules, seat matrix, and candidate preferences.
Step 6: Freeze, Float & Slide Options
Freeze
Accept the allotted seat and exit further counselling rounds.
Float
Accept the seat but remain eligible for higher preferred institutes.
Slide
Accept the institute but seek a better branch within the same institute.
Partial Admission Fee (PAF)
After the final (5th) round of JoSAA 2026, candidates who are allotted a seat in the NIT+ System must pay the Partial Admission Fee (PAF). The PAF is:
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / EWS / OBC-NCL | ₹45,000 |
| SC / ST / PwD | ₹20,000 |
This fee is non-refundable and will be adjusted against the full admission fee charged by the allotted institute. Payment can be made through UPI, net banking, debit card, credit card, or an SBI e-challan.
Documents Required
- JEE Main Admit Card
- JEE Main Score Card
- JEE Advanced Admit Card
- JEE Advanced Rank Card
- Class 10 Certificate
- Class 12 Marksheet
- Class 12 Passing Certificate
- Category Certificate (if applicable)
- EWS Certificate (if applicable)
- PwD Certificate (if applicable)
- Aadhaar Card or Valid Photo ID
- Passport-size Photograph
CSAB Special Rounds
Candidates who do not receive a seat through JoSAA or wish to compete for vacant seats can participate in Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB) Special Rounds for the NIT + system.
Seat Withdrawal: Rules You Must Know
JoSAA 2026 allows seat withdrawal under specific conditions:
- For IITs and IISc: Withdrawal is available from Round 2 up to Round 4. There is no provision to withdraw after the commencement of Round 5 (deadline: July 14, 2026, 5:00 PM IST).
- For NIT+ System: Candidates can withdraw an accepted seat online up to the final round.
To withdraw, log in to the JoSAA portal, submit a duly signed withdrawal form, and confirm via the OTP sent to your registered mobile and email. The withdrawal is final only after the reporting officer accepts it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Can I participate in JoSAA if I only qualified JEE Main and not JEE Advanced?
Yes. JEE Main qualifiers can participate in JoSAA and apply for seats in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. Only IIT seats require a JEE Advanced rank.
Q2. Can I change my choices after locking?
No. Once locked, choices cannot be modified.
Q3. Is there any JoSAA registration fee?
No registration fee is charged initially.
Q4. What is the Partial Admission Fee?
₹45,000 for General/OBC/EWS and ₹20,000 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
Q5. What happens if I do not pay the Seat Acceptance Fee?
Your allotted seat will be cancelled.
Q6. Can I participate in CSAB after JoSAA?
Yes, for vacant NIT, IIIT, and GFTI seats.
Q7. What happens if I miss a round’s deadline?
Missing the confirmation deadline in any round results in the automatic cancellation of your candidature for that round. You may still participate in subsequent rounds, but you lose the allotted seat from the missed round.
Official Resource: JoSAA Schedule 2026
Plan Smart, Secure Your Dream College
JoSAA Counselling 2026 is one of the most important milestones in the engineering admission journey. Complete your registration, choice filling, document verification, and fee payment before the deadline to maximize your chances of getting your dream college and branch.