JOSAA Counselling 2026: Complete Guide, Dates & Process
After JEE Advanced 2026, the next step is JOSAA counselling!
JOSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) is the system that manages seat allotment for IITs, NITs, IIITs and GFTIs. If you gave JEE Advanced, you can get admission in these top engineering colleges through JOSAA counselling.
Note for NEET aspirants: Many medical aspirants also give JEE (as a backup option). If you are also considering JOSAA counselling, this guide is for you.
JOSAA Counselling 2026 — Key Highlights
Detail | Information |
|---|---|
Full Form | Joint Seat Allocation Authority |
Participating Institutes | IITs, NITs, IIITs, GFTIs |
Total Seats | ~45,000+ |
Eligibility | JEE Advanced 2026 Qualified |
Conducting Body | JOSAA (Under MHRD) |
Website | |
Mode | Online |
JOSAA Counselling 2026 Important Dates
Like MCC, JOSAA also has a structured schedule. Here are the expected dates:
Event | Expected Date |
|---|---|
JEE Advanced 2026 Exam | May 2026 |
JEE Advanced 2026 Result | June 2026 |
JOSAA Registration Starts | June 3rd Week |
Choice Filling (Round 1) | June 3rd Week - July 1st Week |
Round 1 Seat Allotment | July 1st Week |
Round 1 Reporting | July 1st - 2nd Week |
Round 2-5 Seat Allotment | July - August (Weekly) |
Round 6 Final Allotment | August 3rd Week |
Reporting Close | August 4th Week |
Institute Round Starts | September |
Note: JOSAA usually conducts 6 rounds of counselling.
JOSAA Counselling Process — Step by Step
Step 1: Registration
You will need to register on the JOSAA website.
Requirements:
- JEE Advanced 2026 roll number
- JEE Main 2026 roll number
- Candidate's personal details
- Category details
Registration Fee:
Category | Fee (Non-Refundable) |
|---|---|
General / OBC | ₹400 |
SC / ST / PwD | ₹200 |
Step 2: Choice Filling
This step will decide your seat. More choices give you a better chance.
How to fill choices:
- **Put IITs first** — Then NITs, then IIITs
- **Decide branch preference** — Computer Science > Electrical > Mechanical > Civil (usually)
- **Add each IIT separately** — IIT Bombay CSE, IIT Delhi CSE, etc.
- **Add choices category wise too** — Fill in both general and reserved categories
- **Fill at least 100-150 choices** — It will be safe
Choice filling tips:
- First **dream options** (top IITs, top branches)
- Then **realistic options** (you may get them at your rank)
- Then **safe options** (lower IITs, NITs, good branches)
Step 3: Seat Allotment
JOSAA does seat allotment in 6 rounds.
Round | Time |
|---|---|
Round 1 | July 1st Week |
Round 2 | July 2nd Week |
Round 3 | July 3rd Week |
Round 4 | July 4th Week |
Round 5 | August 1st Week |
Round 6 | August 3rd Week |
Allotment result:
- Got a seat → Accept it or wait for upgrade
- Did not get a seat → Wait for the next round (you can add new choices)
Step 4: Accept / Float / Freeze
In JOSAA, you have 3 options:
Option | Meaning |
|---|---|
Freeze | Accept the current seat. You will not take part in the next round. |
Float | Accept the current seat, but wait for a better seat. |
Slide | Accept the current seat, but wait for a better branch (same institute). |
What to choose?
- Got a top IIT → **Freeze**
- Got an average college → **Float** (may get upgraded)
- Got a lower preference → **Float** and modify your choices
Step 5: Reporting
After getting a seat, you need to do online reporting and then institute reporting.
Online reporting:
- Log in to the JOSAA portal
- Pay the seat acceptance fee
- Upload documents
Institute reporting:
- Go to the allotted college in person
- Get original documents verified
- Pay fees
- Confirm admission
JOSAA Cutoff 2026 (Expected)
Top IITs Expected Cutoff — CSE Branch
IIT | Expected Closing Rank (General) |
|---|---|
IIT Bombay | 50-70 |
IIT Delhi | 100-150 |
IIT Madras | 200-300 |
IIT Kanpur | 300-400 |
IIT Kharagpur | 500-600 |
IIT Roorkee | 600-800 |
IIT Guwahati | 700-900 |
NITs Expected Cutoff — CSE Branch
NIT | Expected Closing Rank (General) |
|---|---|
NIT Trichy | 5,000 - 7,000 |
NIT Surathkal | 7,000 - 10,000 |
NIT Warangal | 6,000 - 9,000 |
NIT Rourkela | 12,000 - 15,000 |
NIT Calicut | 14,000 - 18,000 |
NIT Durgapur | 18,000 - 22,000 |
JOSAA vs State Counselling
Aspect | JOSAA | State Counselling |
|---|---|---|
Institutes | IITs, NITs, IIITs, GFTIs | State Engineering Colleges |
Cutoff | Higher | Lower |
Fee | Moderate | Lower |
Scope | National | State-specific |
Eligibility | JEE Advanced | JEE Main / State Exam |
NEET vs JEE Aspirants — Dual Track Guidance
Are you considering both medical and engineering? This is a smart move. In any career option, the counselling process follows the same method.
Our team provides guidance for both NEET counselling and JOSAA and engineering counselling.
Book a session with our counsellors — Whether you choose NEET or JEE.
Documents Required for JOSAA Counselling
- Class 10th certificate
- Class 12th certificate (Maths + Physics + Chemistry)
- JEE Main 2026 scorecard
- JEE Advanced 2026 scorecard
- Category certificate (if applicable)
- PwD certificate (if applicable)
- Passport size photos
- Provisional seat allotment letter
- ID proof (Aadhaar/PAN)
Previous Year Seat Matrix
Total seats through JOSAA (previous year):
Institute Category | Seats |
|---|---|
IITs (23) | ~16,000 |
NITs (31) | ~22,000 |
IIITs (26) | ~3,500 |
GFTIs (38) | ~4,000 |
Total | ~45,500 |
Tips for JOSAA Counselling 2026
- **Fill many choices** — Fill at least 100 choices
- **Add NITs + IIITs too** — Do not only target IITs
- **Add category wise choices** — If you are OBC/SC/ST, add choices in the separate column too
- **Do financial planning** — IITs fees ~2-3 lakh/year, NITs ~1.5-2 lakh/year
- **Choose Freeze vs Float wisely** — Freezing is better for the top 3 IITs
- **Do not miss the reporting deadline** — You get 24-48 hours for online reporting
Our Counselling Services for Engineering Aspirants
We are NEET counselling experts, but we also give guidance for JOSAA counselling — especially for students considering both fields.
- **[JOSAA Counsellor](/josaa-counsellor)** — Expert guidance
- **[NEET Counselling](/counselling)** — For medical track
- **[Pricing Plans](/pricing)** — Affordable packages
- **[Live Counselling](/live-counselling)** — Instant support
- **[Helpdesk](/helpdesk)** — Any questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Need Expert Guidance?
JOSAA counselling 2026 is the gateway to India's top engineering colleges. With the right planning, realistic choices, and timely actions, you can get admission in your dream college. Need guidance? Our team is here to help you.