JoSAA 2026 Counselling:Complete Guide to Schedule,Deadlines & Strategy
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JoSAA 2026
IIT Admissions
NIT Admissions
JoSAA 2026 Counselling:
Complete Guide to Schedule,
Deadlines & Strategy
JoSAA 2026 registration opened on June 2, 2026. This guide covers every critical date, round-by-round deadline, and smart choice-filling strategy — so you don’t lose your hard-earned IIT or NIT seat to a missed deadline.
Overview
What is JoSAA 2026?
The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) manages centralised admissions to all 23 IITs, 31 NITs, 26 IIITs, and 33 GFTIs across India — over 50,000 seats in one unified process. Eligibility is based on your JEE Main 2026 rank (for NIT/IIIT/GFTI seats) and JEE Advanced 2026 rank (for IIT/IISc seats).
JEE Main 2026 ranks were announced on April 20, 2026 and JEE Advanced 2026 results on June 1, 2026. The JoSAA counselling portal opened the very next day.
Quick Fact JoSAA 2026 has 5 main rounds of seat allocation. After Round 5, IIT admissions close permanently. NIT+ candidates continue through PAF and CSAB special rounds.
Phase 1
Registration, Choice Filling & Documents (June 2–11)
Everything begins with registration. Missing this window means missing your entire JoSAA 2026 opportunity. Here is what you must do:
- Register on the JoSAA portal from June 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM IST
- Fill your choices — add all desired institute + branch combinations in your preferred order
- Pre-upload documents — category certificate, class 10/12 mark sheets, photo ID, etc.
- Pre-pay the seat acceptance fee to avoid last-minute payment failures
| Date & Time (IST) | Event |
|---|---|
| June 2, 2026 (17:00) | 🟢 Registration & Choice Filling OPENS — Pre-upload and pre-payment also begin |
| June 7, 2026 | AAT Choice Filling opens for qualified Architecture Aptitude Test candidates |
| June 8, 2026 (14:00) | 📊 Mock Seat Allocation 1 — Based on choices filled as of June 7 at 20:00 IST |
| June 10, 2026 (13:00) | 📊 Mock Seat Allocation 2 & Choice Locking Opens |
| June 11, 2026 (17:00) | 🔴 Registration & Choice Filling CLOSES — System auto-locks all choices. Final document/fee deadline. |
| June 12, 2026 | Data Reconciliation (internal validation by JoSAA) |
Strategy
Mock Seat Allocations: What They Are & How to Use Them
Before the actual allotments begin, JoSAA runs two mock seat allocation rounds. These are simulations — not real allotments — that show approximately where you would be placed based on your current choice list and rank.
- Mock 1 (June 8): First look at your predicted allotment based on choices entered by June 7
- Mock 2 (June 10): Second simulation — revise your list based on Mock 1 insight, then check again
Strategy Tip Use mock results to find the “edge” — identify the last college you are realistically getting and ensure colleges you’d happily attend appear just above your cut-off in the list. Don’t remove choices below your safe options; they act as a safety net.
Allotment Schedule
Round-by-Round Allotment Schedule (Rounds 1–5)
Each round follows the same cycle: Seat Allotment → Online Reporting & Document Upload → Fee Payment → Seat Withdrawal/Upgrade Window → Query Resolution. Missing any step means forfeiting the allotted seat.
Round 1
First Allotment
Seat AllotmentJune 13, 2026 (10:00 IST)
Reporting & DocsJune 13 – June 26 (17:00)
Fee DeadlineJune 26, 2026 (17:00)
Query ResolutionJune 29, 2026 (17:00)
ℹ No separate withdrawal window in Round 1. Next allotment auto-considers upgrades.
Round 2
First Upgrade Window
Seat AllotmentJune 30, 2026 (17:00 IST)
Reporting & DocsJune 30 – July 3 (17:00)
Fee DeadlineJuly 3, 2026 (17:00)
Withdrawal WindowJuly 1–3, 2026
Query ResolutionJuly 5, 2026 (17:00)
Round 3
Seat AllotmentJuly 6, 2026 (17:00 IST)
Reporting & DocsJuly 6 – July 8 (17:00)
Fee DeadlineJuly 8, 2026 (17:00)
Withdrawal WindowJuly 7–8, 2026
Query ResolutionJuly 9, 2026 (17:00)
Round 4
Seat AllotmentJuly 10, 2026 (17:00 IST)
Reporting & DocsJuly 10 – July 13 (17:00)
Fee DeadlineJuly 13, 2026 (17:00)
Withdrawal WindowJuly 11–14, 2026
Query ResolutionJuly 15, 2026 (17:00)
Round 5
Final IIT Round 🔒
Seat AllotmentJuly 16, 2026 (17:00 IST)
Reporting & DocsJuly 16 – July 20 (17:00)
Fee DeadlineJuly 20, 2026 (17:00)
NIT+ WithdrawalJuly 16–20, 2026
IIT Final CloseJuly 21, 2026 (17:00)
⚠️ Round 5 is the last chance for IIT/IISc seats. No further rounds after July 21.
Post Round 5
After Round 5: PAF & CSAB Special Rounds
Round 5 closes IIT admissions, but NIT/IIIT/GFTI admissions continue through two additional mechanisms:
1. Partial Admission Fee (PAF)
Candidates retaining a NIT+ seat must pay the Partial Admission Fee (PAF) online between July 22–24, 2026 (deadline: 17:00 IST on July 24). Failure to pay PAF cancels your NIT+ seat.
2. CSAB Special Rounds
After PAF, remaining vacant seats in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs are filled through CSAB special counselling rounds. Visit csab.nic.in for CSAB-specific timelines and institute reporting instructions.
| Step | Date | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| PAF Payment | July 22–24, 2026 | Pay Partial Admission Fee online to retain NIT+ seat |
| CSAB Special Round 1 | Late July 2026 | Check csab.nic.in for exact dates — register for special rounds |
| Institute Reporting | August 2026 | Physical reporting at allotted institute with original documents |
Pro Tips
4 Mistakes That Cost Students Their Seats
Never wait until the final day for choice locking, document upload, or fee payment. JoSAA servers experience extreme load near deadlines.
1
Waiting until the last hour for fee payment
Payment gateway failures, OTP delays, and bank server errors are extremely common during JoSAA peak times. Pre-pay during registration (June 2–11) whenever possible. JoSAA allows grace periods for “Payment Attempts” — but only if you initiated payment before the deadline.
2
Under-filling the choice list
More choices = more security. Students often fill 10–15 choices when they should fill 50–80+. Every extra choice below your dream option serves as a safety net. You will only be allotted the highest preference you qualify for.
3
Ordering choices by prestige instead of preference
Your choice list should reflect what you’d actually accept. Many students blindly order by IIT > NIT > IIIT without considering branch fit or career goals. A less-ranked college with your preferred branch often leads to better outcomes.
4
Not using mock allotments to recalibrate
Mock allotments on June 8 and June 10 give you real data. If Mock 1 shows you getting a seat much lower than expected, you still have time to adjust before the June 11 lock deadline. Don’t ignore this window.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About JoSAA 2026
JoSAA 2026 registration opened on June 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM IST. The registration and choice filling window closes on June 11, 2026 at 5:00 PM IST — the system auto-locks all choices at this time. Do not wait until the last hour.
JoSAA 2026 has 5 main rounds (Round 1 on June 13 through Round 5 ending July 21). Round 5 is the absolute final round for IIT and IISc admissions. For NIT+, two additional steps follow: PAF payment (July 22–24) and CSAB special rounds.
Mock allotments (June 8 and June 10) are simulations only — no seat is reserved or confirmed. They help you see where you’d land based on your current choice list, allowing revision before the June 11 lock deadline. Actual allotments begin with Round 1 on June 13.
Missing the fee payment deadline means forfeiture of your allotted seat. However, if you initiated a payment before the deadline (a “Payment Attempt”), JoSAA provides a grace period for query resolution. This grace period does not apply if you never attempted payment before the cut-off.
No. Round 5 is the conclusive final round for all IIT and IISc admissions. After July 21, 2026 at 5:00 PM IST, IIT seats are permanently closed. There is no spot round or waiting list for IITs.
After Round 5, candidates holding NIT/IIIT/GFTI seats must pay the Partial Admission Fee (PAF) between July 22–24, 2026. This secures your NIT+ seat before institute reporting and CSAB rounds begin. Missing PAF cancels your seat.
There is no upper limit. Counselling experts recommend filling 50 to 100+ choices. Always fill in descending order of preference — from your most desired option at #1 to your minimum acceptable option at the bottom. More choices = more security and better upgrade chances.
Yes. From Round 2 onwards, a Seat Withdrawal / Exit Window is available during each round. In Round 5, only NIT+ candidates can use the withdrawal window (July 16–20). IIT candidates exiting after Round 5 have no re-entry option.