JoSAA Counselling 2026: Complete Guide to Registration, Schedule, Cutoff & Seat Allotment (Round 1 Out)
JoSAA Counselling 2026 is the centralised seat allocation process conducted by the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) for admissions to 135+ premier engineering institutes – including 23 IITs, 31 NITs, 26 IITs, and 56+ GFTIs – for the academic year 2026-27. Registration opened on June 2, 2026, Round 1 seat allotment was released on June 13, 2026. The entire process runs through 5 rounds, concluding in July 2026.
What is JoSAA Counselling?
JoSAA, which stands for Joint Seat Allocation Authority, is the single centralised platform that manages seat allocation for admission to India’s top government-funded technical institutions. It was set up by the Ministry of Education to ensure a transparent, computerised, and merit- based counselling process for all JEE- qualified candidates.
Through JoSAA counselling, candidates who qualify JEE Main 2026 (for NITs, IIITs, GFTIs) or JEE Advanced 2026 (for IITs and IISc) can apply, with full choices, and get seats in 135+ participating institutes – all through a single login at the official JoSAA website: JoSAA.nic.in.
The Jalsa login allows candidates to register, fill choices, view allotment results, pay the seat acceptance fee, and plot documents at every stage of the counselling process.
JoSAA Counselling 2026 Important Dates
Knowing the Josaa schedule and Josaa counselling important dates is critical. Missing even one deadline can result in the cancellation of your seat. Below is the complete Josaa counselling 2026 schedule:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| JEE Advanced 2026 Result Released | June 1, 2026 |
| JoSAA Registration & Choice Filling Opens | June 2, 2026 |
| Mock Seat Allotment – Round 1 | June 8, 2026 |
| Mock Seat Allotment – Round 2 / Choice Locking | June 10, 2026 |
| Choice Filling Closes | June 11, 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| JoSAA Round 1 Seat Allotment | June 13, 2026 |
| Round 1 Fee Payment Deadline | June 26, 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| JoSAA Round 2 Seat Allotment | June 30, 2026 |
| JoSAA Round 3 Seat Allotment | July 5, 2026 (Tentative) |
| JoSAA Round 4 Seat Allotment | July 10, 2026 |
| Round 4 Withdrawal Window Closes | July 14, 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| JoSAA Round 5 Seat Allotment (Final IIT Round) | July 16, 2026 |
| Round 5 Fee Payment Deadline (IITs/IISc) | July 20, 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| IIT/IISc Process Closes | July 21, 2026 |
| NIT+ Partial Admission Fee Payment Window | July 22 – July 24, 2026 |
| CSAB Special Rounds Begin | After July 24, 2026 |
Note: the Joseph counselling 2026 last date for IIT/IISc seed process is July 21, 2026. NIT+ candidates have an additional window until July 24, 2026 for partial admission fee
When is JoSAA Counselling 2026?
JoSAA Counselling 2026 started on June 2, 2026, the day after JEE Advanced 2026 results were announced. The Josaa counselling 2026 registration date was June 2, 2026, and choice filling remained open until June 11, 2026 at 5:00 PM. The. First round of seat allotment was released on June 13, 2026.
The counselling continues in 5 rounds, with the final Round 5 on July 16, 2026 (last round for IITs). After JoSAA, CSAB Special Round begins for NIT+ seats remaining vacant.
JoSAA 2026 Participating Institutes
JoSAA 2026 covers admission to the following categories of Institutes:
| Institute Type | Number of Institutes | Rank Used |
|---|---|---|
| IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology) | 23 | JEE Advanced 2026 |
| IISc Bangalore | 1 | JEE Advanced 2026 |
| NITs (National Institutes of Technology) | 31 | JEE Main 2026 |
| IIEST Shibpur | 1 | JEE Main 2026 |
| IIITs (Indian Institutes of Info. Technology) | 26 | JEE Main 2026 |
| GFTIs (Govt. Funded Technical Institutes) | 56+ | JEE Main 2026 |
A total of 67,323 seats are available under JoSSA 2026, of which 64, 219 are regular seats and 3,014 are female supernumerary seats.
JoSAA Counselling Eligibility Criteria 2026
There is no separate eligibility form for JoSAA Candidates who qualify JEE Main 2026 or JEE Advanced 2026 are automatically eligible. However, they must meet the following conditions to confirm their seat:
| Criteria | IITs / IISc | NITs / IIITs / GFTIs |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance Exam Required | JEE Advanced 2026 (must be in top 2.5 lakh JEE Main qualifiers) | JEE Main 2026 valid rank |
| Class 12 Minimum Marks | 75% aggregate (65% for SC/ST/PwD) | 75% aggregate (65% for SC/ST/PwD) |
| OR | Top 20 percentile in respective board | Top 20 percentile in respective board |
| Age Limit (General) | Born on or after Oct 1, 2001 | As per JEE Main 2026 norms |
| Age Limit (PwD) | Born on or after Oct 1, 1996 | As per JEE Main 2026 norms |
| Subjects in Class 12 | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics mandatory | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics mandatory |
Can I Sit in JoSAA Without 75 Percent?
No – for admission to IITs and NITs, candidates must have at least 75% aggregate marks in Class 12 (or 65% for SC/ST/PwD candidates.) Alternatively, they must be in the top 20 percentile of their respective State board. This is a mandatory condition and is verified during document verification at the reporting stage. Candidates who do not meet this requirement will not get final admission even after being allotted a seat.
Note: The 75% criteria was in force for JoSAA 2026. Always verify on Josaa.nic.in for any official updates.
How to Apply for JoSAA Counselling 2026
Here is the complete step by step process on how to apply for JoSAA counselling 2026:
- Visit the official JoSAA website: josaa.nic.in
- Click on ‘Candidate Registration / Login’
- Register using your JEE Main / JEE Advanced Roll Number and Date of Birth
- Set a password and complete the registration
- Log in and begin Choice Filling – search, shortlist, and rank academic programs
- Add all institutes and branches you are genuinely willing to join (no penalty for more choices)
- Save choices regularly; use Mock Allotment results (June 8 & 10) to adjust
- Lock choices before June 11, 2026 at 5:00 PM
- Wait for Round 1 seat allotment on June 13, 2026
- After allotment: log in, pay the seat acceptance fee, upload documents, and choose Freeze/Float/Slide
- Attend document verification at the allotted institute to confirm admission
JoSAA Counselling Fee 2026
Are there any fees for JoSAA Counselling?
Yes- while registration and choice filling are free, candidates must pay the seat acceptance fee after being allotted a seat. This fee is a mandatory step; without payment, document verification will not proceed and the seat will be forfeited.
What is the Fee for JoSAA Counselling?
| Category | Seat Acceptance Fee | Refund on Withdrawal |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC-NCL / EWS | Rs. 35,000 | Rs. 32,000 (Rs. 3,000 deducted as processing fee) |
| SC / ST / PwD | Rs. 15,000 | Rs. 12,000 (Rs. 3,000 deducted as processing fee) |
JoSAA Counselling Mock Seat Allotment 2026
Josa conducts two round of mop seat allotment before the actual counselling rounds begin. These are simulated results based on choice filled by candidates and their ranks – and are NOT final allotment.
- Mock Allotment 1: June 8, 2026 at 2:00 PM
- Mock Allotment 2: June 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM (followed by choice locking
Candy test must use the josaa counselling move seat allotment results to review and adjust their choice list before the June 11 locking deadline. After mock rounds, you can edit your choices; once locked, no further changes are allowed.
JoSAA Seat Allotment 2026- Freeze, Float, and Slide Explained
After each round of josaa counselling 2026 seat allotment candidate must choose one of the following options:
| Option | What It Means | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Freeze | Accept current seat and exit upgradation process | When satisfied with current allotment |
| Float | Keep current seat but be considered for higher preference seats | When you want an upgrade but want security |
| Slide | Keep institute but be considered for better branch in same college | When okay with institute but want better branch |
| Exit / Withdraw | Give up seat entirely, exit JoSAA with partial refund | When joining another institution outside JoSAA |
Frequently Asked Questions – JoSAA Counselling 2026
When can I apply for JoSAA counselling in 2026?
JoSAA Counselling 2026 registration opened on June 2, 2026. The last date was June 11, 2026. Round 1 seat allotment results were declared on June 13, 2026.
What is the seat acceptance fee for JoSAA Counselling 2026?
The Josaa counselling fee (seat acceptance fee) is 35,000 for General/OBC – NCL/EWS candidates and 15,000 for SC/ST/PwD candidates. This is adjusted against your admission fee at institute.
Do we have to pay seat acceptance fee in JoSAA?
Yes, it is mandatory to pay the seat acceptance fee after seat allotment. Not paying within the deadline results in permanent cancellation of your JoSAA candidatures for that year.
Is there any fees for JoSAA counselling for registration and choice filling?
No. Registration and choice filling on Josaa.nic.in are completely free. The only mandatory fee is the seat acceptance feel that is paid after allotment.
What time is JoSAA Round 4 release?
JoSAA round 4 result is expected on July 10, 2026. Results are typically released between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM IST on the official JoSAA website.
What is JoSAA counselling mock seat allotment?
Mock allotment is a preview round where Josaa shows you are simulated seat allotment result is on your current field choices. It is not final. Candidates can modified choice outermoke rounds before the final choice looking date.
Where is the josaa login page?
The Josaa login page is available at josaa.nic.in. use your JEE roll number and password to login and access all counselling steps.
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