• Updated on 16 Jul, 2026 by Souvik Podder
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JoSAA Counselling 2026 Round 5 seat allotment result has been released on July 16, 2026, on the official website josaa.nic.in. The result was declared at 5:00 PM, and candidates can check their allotment status by logging in using their JEE Main 2026 application number and password. This is the final round of counselling, offering over 70,000 B.Tech seats across 23 IITs, 31 NITs, 26 IIITs, and 50+ GFTIs. The last date to complete the Round 5 seat acceptance process is July 21, 2026. Following the result, candidates allotted a seat must complete online reporting, including seat acceptance fee payment and document upload. CSAB Special Rounds 2026 registration will begin on July 22, 2026, for candidates seeking admission in seats left vacant after JoSAA counselling concludes.
Students should use the JoSAA College Predictor to identify the best colleges and branches they can expect with their rank.
Table of Contents
- JoSAA Counselling 2026: Highlights
- JoSAA Counselling 2026 Schedule
- JoSAA Counselling Eligibility Criteria 2026
- JoSAA Counselling Process 2026
- JoSAA Counselling Seat Acceptance Fee 2026
- Documents Required for JoSAA Counselling 2026
- JoSAA Counselling Cutoff 2026 (Round 1): IIT CSE Opening and Closing Ranks
- JoSAA Counselling Participating Institutes 2026
- JoSAA Counselling 2026 FAQs
JoSAA Counselling 2026: Highlights
JoSAA Counselling is the centralized seat allocation process for admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, based on JEE Main and JEE Advanced scores. It is one of the most consequential steps for engineering aspirants after clearing the JEE exams. The table below covers the key highlights of JoSAA Counselling 2026:
JoSAA Counselling 2026 Schedule
JoSAA has released the complete counselling schedule on the official website. The registration and choice filling process has already concluded, with Round 1 allotment out since June 13. Candidates participating in further rounds must track each deadline carefully, as missing even a single response window results in cancellation of the allotted seat. The complete JoSAA Counselling 2026 Dates are given below:
JoSAA Counselling Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates must meet specific eligibility requirements to participate in JoSAA Counselling 2026. The criteria differ based on the type of institute being applied to. For IITs and IISc, a valid JEE Advanced 2026 score is mandatory. For NITs, IIITs, IIEST, and GFTIs, a valid JEE Main 2026 score is required. The minimum academic eligibility for Class 12 is 75% for General, OBC-NCL, and EWS candidates, or the top 20 percentile in the qualifying board, whichever is lower.
Note on the 75% Criterion from IIT Roorkee (Organising Institute)
For candidates whose Class 12 marks are below 75% (or 65% for SC/ST/PwD), IIT Roorkee has issued the following guidance: candidates may still fill choices and receive a seat allotment based on rank. However, a revised scorecard showing at least 75% (or 65%) must be sent to orgjee@iitr.ac.in by July 15, 2026. Admission to the allotted seat at IIT Roorkee after Round 4 will be confirmed only on receipt of the qualifying scorecard.
JoSAA Counselling Process 2026
The JoSAA 2026 process runs in a structured sequence from registration through to physical reporting at the allotted institute. Each stage has a specific deadline, and missing any step can result in forfeiture of the allotted seat. The key stages of the JoSAA Counselling 2026 process are described below:
Step 1: Registration
Candidates register on the official JoSAA portal using their JEE Main or JEE Advanced credentials. Personal and academic information must be entered accurately during registration, as most details cannot be changed after submission.
Step 2: Choice Filling
Registered candidates select their preferred colleges and courses from the list of participating institutes, arranging them in order of preference. During the JoSAA Choice Filling 2026, candidates can add, remove, or rearrange choices multiple times before the deadline. The final locked set of choices is used for all allotment rounds.
Step 3: Mock Seat Allotment
JoSAA releases two mock allotments before the final choice locking. These are not binding and serve as a preview of likely seat allocation based on the current rank and choices. Candidates are strongly advised to use mock results to refine their preference order before the June 11 lock deadline.
Step 4: Choice Locking
Once satisfied with the preference list, candidates were required to lock their choices before June 11, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Unlocked choices are auto-locked by the system at the deadline. Locked choices cannot be altered for any subsequent round.
Step 5: Seat Allotment Rounds
JoSAA runs six rounds of seat allotment. In each round where a seat is allotted, candidates must choose one of the following options within the response window.
Step 6: Fee Payment and Document Upload
Once a seat is allotted and an option is selected, candidates must pay the seat acceptance fee and upload the required documents within the specified window. Failure to pay the fee results in loss of the allotted seat.
Step 7: Online Reporting and Verification
After fee payment and document upload, JoSAA verifies the submitted documents online. Any query raised by the system must be resolved within the given deadline.
Step 8: Physical Reporting at the Allotted Institute
After the conclusion of all rounds, candidates must physically report to the allotted institute with original documents to complete the admission process. The exact reporting dates are set by each institute individually.
JoSAA Counselling Seat Acceptance Fee 2026
Candidates who receive a seat allotment must pay the seat acceptance fee to confirm their participation in the process. This fee is paid only once across all rounds and is adjusted against the institute's admission fee at the time of final joining. If a candidate withdraws after paying, a portion of the fee is forfeited as a penalty, and the remainder is refunded.
Documents Required for JoSAA Counselling 2026
Candidates do not need to upload documents during registration. However, after JoSAA Seat Allotment 2026, all required documents must be uploaded within the reporting window for online verification. Missing or incorrect documents can lead to cancellation of the allotted seat. The key documents required are listed below:
JoSAA Counselling Cutoff 2026 (Round 1): IIT CSE Opening and Closing Ranks
The JoSAA Round 1 cutoff has been released on josaa.nic.in. The JoSAA Cutoff 2026 refers to the opening and closing ranks for each institute, course, quota, and category combination. The table below shows the Round 1 opening and closing ranks for the Computer Science and Engineering (BTech, 4 Years) program across all IITs for the General category under the All India quota.
JoSAA Counselling Participating Institutes 2026
JoSAA 2026 covers over 120 participating institutes across IITs, NITs, IIITs, IIEST Shibpur, and GFTIs. IISc Bangalore participates for the first time this year, adding four BTech programmes to the pool. The table below shows the number of participating institutes by category.
JoSAA Counselling 2026 FAQs
What is JoSAA Counselling 2026?
JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) Counselling 2026 is the centralized online process for seat allotment to IITs, IISc, NITs, IIITs, IIEST Shibpur, and GFTIs, based on JEE Advanced 2026 and JEE Main 2026 ranks.
How many rounds are there in JoSAA Counselling 2026?
JoSAA 2026 has six rounds of seat allotment. Rounds 1 to 5 cover all IIT, IISc, NIT, IIIT, and GFTI seats. Round 6 is the final round for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs only. IITs and IISc do not participate in Round 6. IIT allottees must freeze in Round 5 or their seat is cancelled.
How many total seats are available in JoSAA 2026?
A total of 67,323 seats are available across all participating institutes in JoSAA 2026. This is 4,470 more than the 2025 total.
How do candidates register for JoSAA Counselling 2026?
Candidates visit josaa.nic.in and click on New Candidate Registration. They enter their JEE Main application number, date of birth, candidate's name, and mother's name, then verify the OTP. After creating a password, they log in, verify personal details and category, and confirm the registration.
What is the seat acceptance fee for JoSAA Counselling 2026?
The seat acceptance fee is INR 35,000 for General, OBC-NCL, and EWS candidates, and INR 15,000 for SC, ST, and PwD candidates. There is no registration fee. The acceptance fee is paid only once and is adjusted against the institute's admission fee at the time of joining.
Can choices be changed after locking in JoSAA 2026?
No. Once choices are locked, they cannot be changed. If a candidate does not lock choices manually before the June 11 deadline, the system auto-locks the last saved choices. Locked choices are used for all six rounds of seat allotment.
What is the difference between Freeze, Float, and Slide in JoSAA?
Freeze means accepting the allotted seat permanently and exiting further rounds. Float means accepting the current seat but remaining open to upgrade to any higher-preference institute or course in the next round. Slide means accepting the seat and seeking an upgrade only within the same institute.
What happens if a candidate does not respond to a JoSAA round?
If no action is taken within the response window for a round, the allotted seat is cancelled and the candidate exits the process. There is no auto-freeze and no extension. Every round requires an active response.
Is IISc Bangalore part of JoSAA 2026?
Yes. IISc Bangalore is participating in JoSAA counselling for the first time in 2026, offering four new BTech programmes. Admission to IISc is based on JEE Advanced 2026 rank.
What is CSAB and when does it begin?
CSAB (Central Seat Allocation Board) conducts supplementary counselling after JoSAA Round 6 for vacant seats at NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. IITs and IISc do not participate. Candidates must register separately at csab.nic.in. CSAB begins after July 24, 2026.
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