JEE Mains Counselling 2026: JoSAA Process, Dates, Fees and Eligibility

The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) conducts the centralised counselling process for admission into India’s premier engineering institutions, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) and other Government-Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs).

For candidates of the JEE Main 2026, it is critical to understand the key elements of this process such as eligibility criteria, counselling registration and choice-filling, seat allotment rounds, and fee and document-verification requirements. 

While the official timetable for 2026 will be released by JoSAA, based on recent years the process is tentatively expected to begin in the second week of June 2026, shortly after the JEE Mains result announcement, and will span multiple rounds of seat allocation through July. Familiarising yourself with this schedule now will give you a strategic advantage in securing your preferred seat.

What is JEE Main JOSAA Counselling 2026?

JoSAA 2026 is the official counselling and seat-allocation mechanism for students who have qualified in JEE Main 2026 or JEE Advanced 2026. It ensures a transparent and merit-based admission process for nearly 120 participating institutes across India.

• JEE Main rank holders can apply for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.

• JEE Advanced rank holders can apply for IITs through the same JoSAA portal.

The counselling process includes online registration, choice filling, mock seat allocation, seat allotment, document verification, and reporting.

JEE Main JOSAA Counselling Date 2026 (Important Schedule)

The official JEE Main Counselling Date 2026 will be announced by JoSAA shortly after the JEE Main Session 2 results in April 2026. Below is the tentative schedule based on previous years:

Tip: Keep checking the official JoSAA website josaa.nic.in for the final JEE Main Counselling Date 2026 and round-wise updates.

JoSAA Counselling 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must satisfy these key conditions to participate in JoSAA 2026:

• Must have appeared in JEE Main 2026 or JEE Advanced 2026 and secured a valid rank.

• Must have passed Class 12 (10 + 2) or equivalent exam with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.

• For IITs: Valid JEE Advanced 2026 rank is mandatory.

• For NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs: Valid JEE Main 2026 rank is mandatory.

• Candidates must meet the minimum aggregate mark criterion : 75 % (General/OBC/EWS) or 65 % (SC/ST/PwD) or top 20 percentile of their respective board.

JoSAA Counselling Fees 2026: Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF) and Partial Admission Fee (PAF)

To confirm a seat during JoSAA Counselling 2026, every candidate must pay the required Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF). The document verification process begins only after this fee is successfully paid on the official JoSAA portal.

If a candidate fails to pay the SAF within the allotted time, the offered seat will be cancelled, and the candidate becomes ineligible for all subsequent JoSAA rounds.

1. JoSAA Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF) 2026

When a candidate is allotted a seat for the first time during JoSAA 2026, they must pay the Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF) to proceed with admission confirmation.

How to Pay the JoSAA Seat Acceptance Fee:

 Payment can be made online using any of the following methods:

• Debit Card

• Credit Card

• UPI

• Net Banking

• e-Challan (State Bank of India)

Note: Non-payment of the SAF is treated as refusal of the seat, and such candidates cannot participate in the remaining rounds of JoSAA Counselling 2026.

2. JoSAA Partial Admission Fee (PAF) 2026

After the final round of JoSAA 2026, candidates who hold a provisionally allocated seat in any NIT, IIIT, IIEST, or GFTI (NIT+ System) must pay an additional Partial Admission Fee (PAF).

This confirms the candidate’s willingness to retain the seat before the academic session begins.

How to Pay the JoSAA Partial Admission Fee:

 Candidates can pay the PAF using:

• Debit Card / Credit Card / UPI / Net Banking on the JoSAA portal

• e-Challan generated via the JoSAA website for physical payment at SBI branches

Failure to pay the Partial Admission Fee will result in cancellation of the seat, even if the candidate was provisionally allotted earlier.

Step-by-Step JEE Main 2026 JoSAA Counselling Process

1. Step 1: Online Registration: Visit josaa.nic.in and log in using your JEE Main or JEE Advanced 2026 credentials. Confirm your details to complete the registration.

2. Step 2: Choice Filling and Locking:Fill your preferred institutes and engineering branches. You can modify and reorder choices until the locking deadline.

3. Step 3: Mock Seat Allocation: JoSAA conducts two mock seat allocations to help you evaluate your preferences and adjust them before final submission.

4. Step 4: Seat Allotment: Seat allocation depends on rank, category, choices, and availability. You can choose to Freeze, Float, or Slide your allotted seat.

5. Step 5: Fee Payment and Document Verification: Pay the seat acceptance fee online and upload required documents for verification.

6. Step 6 : Reporting to the Allotted Institute: After final confirmation, report to the allotted institute for physical verification and admission formalities.

Participating Institutes in JoSAA Counselling 2026

A total of 121 institutes are expected to participate in JoSAA Counselling 2026, including:

• 23 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)

• 31 National Institutes of Technology (NITs)

• 26 Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs)

• 1 Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST) Shibpur

• 40 Government-Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs)

Each institute offers B.Tech, B.Arch, B.Sc, and dual-degree programmes through JoSAA.

Documents Required During JoSAA Counselling 2026

Prepare the following documents before reporting:

• JEE Main / JEE Advanced 2026 Score Card

• Class 10 and Class 12 Mark Sheets

• Category / Caste Certificate (if applicable)

• Photo ID Proof (Aadhaar, PAN, Passport)

• Seat Allotment Letter from JoSAA

• Payment Receipt for Seat Acceptance Fee

• Recent Passport-Size Photographs

Seat Allotment and Reporting Under JoSAA 2026

• JoSAA conducts six rounds of seat allocation. Candidates may accept, float, or slide their seat based on preference.

• After all rounds, CSAB Special Rounds 2026 will fill any remaining seats in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.

⚠️ If a candidate accepts a seat in JoSAA, they cannot retain it while accepting a new seat under CSAB.

JoSAA 2026 Seat Allotment Confirmation, Freeze, Float, and Slide Options Explained

• Once a candidate is allotted a seat in JoSAA Counselling 2026, they must confirm the seat by accepting it online.

• During this process, candidates have to choose one of three options, ‘Freeze’, ‘Float’, or ‘Slide’, depending on their admission preference.

Understanding these options is very important, as it determines whether you will be considered in the next counselling rounds or not.

1. Freeze Option in JoSAA 2026

• Selecting the “Freeze” option means that the candidate is satisfied with the allotted seat and does not wish to participate in any further rounds of JoSAA Counselling 2026.

• Once a candidate chooses Freeze, they are locked into that seat and cannot upgrade or modify their choice later.

• The admission process for such candidates continues directly with document verification and reporting at the allotted institute.

📌 Key Point: Once “Freeze” is selected, it cannot be changed to Float or Slide in any subsequent round.

2. Float Option in JoSAA 2026

• The “Float” option allows the candidate to accept the current seat while also being considered for a better course or institute in the upcoming JoSAA rounds.

• This option is best for candidates who are happy with their seat for now but are open to moving to a higher-preference course or college as per their choice list.

• The candidate retains the allotted seat unless a better one is offered in later rounds.

📌 Example: If you are allotted Mechanical Engineering at NIT Trichy but prefer Computer Science at the same or a different NIT, choosing Float keeps you in the running for that upgrade.

3. Slide Option in JoSAA 2026

• The “Slide” option applies when a candidate wants to stay in the same institute but aims for a higher-preference course within it.

• Candidates who select Slide are considered for a better branch in the same college during subsequent rounds.

• If no higher-preference course becomes available, they will retain their current allotment.

📌 Example: If you are allotted Electrical Engineering at IIIT Hyderabad but preferred Electronics Engineering in the same IIIT, choose Slide to be considered for that internal branch upgrade.

Important Guidelines for JoSAA 2026 Seat Confirmation

JEE Main JoSAA vs CSAB Counselling 2026

Both JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) and CSAB (Central Seat Allocation Board) play crucial roles in the seat allocation process for engineering admissions through JEE Main and JEE Advanced.

While JoSAA conducts the main counselling rounds for admissions to IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, CSAB organizes special rounds to fill any vacant seats remaining after the completion of JoSAA rounds.

Here’s a detailed comparison to help you understand the difference between the two:

Key Takeaways:

• JoSAA Counselling 2026 is the primary and mandatory round for all top-tier institutes, including IITs.

• CSAB Counselling 2026 acts as a backup opportunity for candidates who either missed JoSAA or couldn’t secure a seat earlier.

• Students should actively participate in both rounds if they want to maximize their chances of securing a preferred branch or institute.

JoSAA 2026 Participating Institutes, Complete List of IITs, NITs, IIITs & GFTIs

The JoSAA Counselling 2026 process will include 121 top engineering institutes across India — including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and several Government-Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs).

Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) Participating in JoSAA 2026

There are 23 IITs participating in JoSAA 2026 Counselling. Admissions to IITs are offered only through JEE Advanced 2026 ranks.

National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and IIEST Shibpur under JoSAA 2026

There are 31 NITs and 1 IIEST (Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur) participating in JoSAA Counselling 2026. Admissions are offered through JEE Main 2026 ranks.

Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) Participating in JoSAA 2026

There are 26 IIITs participating in JoSAA Counselling 2026, offering admissions through JEE Main 2026 ranks.

Government-Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs) under JoSAA 2026

Apart from IITs, NITs, and IIITs, there are 40 GFTIs that participate in JoSAA Counselling 2026.

These include institutes such as:

• Assam University, Silchar

• Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra

• School of Engineering, Tezpur University

• Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology

• Gurukula Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar

• PEC Chandigarh

• Central University of Rajasthan

• North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST)

…and several others across India offering B.Tech, B.Arch, and dual-degree programs through JoSAA.

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