How JoSAA counselling and choice filling work

Once you have a JEE rank, how do you turn it into a college seat, and can you accept an offer while waiting for one you prefer? JoSAA counselling connects those decisions. Your choice list tells the system what you want. Online reporting confirms your acceptance. Freeze, Float and Slide determine whether you remain eligible for another allocation.

This guide follows the JoSAA Business Rules dated 1 June 2026 for admission in 2026-27. The JEE (Advanced) 2026 Information Brochure directs candidates to these rules for choice filling and allocation. Where the documents conflict, the JoSAA rules take precedence. These dates and requirements apply to that cycle.

Who takes part

JoSAA covers participating IITs, IISc Bengaluru and the NIT+ system. NIT+ includes NITs, IIEST Shibpur, IIITs and other government-funded technical institutes, including Schools of Planning and Architecture. This common allocation process covers only the programmes under JoSAA. These institutions also have other admission routes.

IIT and IISc allocation uses JEE (Advanced). NIT+ uses the relevant JEE (Main) paper: Paper 1 for B.E./B.Tech., Paper IIA for B.Arch. and Paper IIB for B.Planning. Admission also depends on Class XII requirements and any additional programme conditions.

Registration is a separate step

You must register separately for JoSAA counselling on its official portal, even if you have registered for JEE. Candidates who appeared in JEE (Main) 2026 log in using their Main application number and password. Foreign-national and OCI/PIO candidates who did not register for or appear in Main use their JEE (Advanced) direct-registration credentials.

Registration and choice filling are free. A seat acceptance fee comes later. Before choosing programmes, check the portal's final course list, category-wise seat matrix and eligibility requirements. The Advanced brochure warns that courses and additional requirements can change.

Put choices in the order you actually prefer

A choice is a programme at a particular institute. JoSAA seeks to allot the highest possible choice, taking account of rank, category, preference order, eligible seat quotas, availability and its other rules. Your order shows which programmes you would accept ahead of others.

List all the programmes you are willing to join, and only those programmes, in genuine preference order. An omitted programme cannot be allotted. Even if you qualify through multiple entrance papers, you receive only one seat from your submitted choices. You cannot hold separate IIT and NIT offers through JoSAA while deciding.

Use mocks, then save and lock

There were two mock allocations in 2026, on 8 and 10 June. These show likely allotments based on registered candidates' current preferences, helping them review their lists before final submission. A mock result neither reserves a seat nor guarantees admission. You may still receive a later allotment even if you get no mock seat.

Save choices frequently and lock the list before the deadline. If you do not lock it yourself, the last saved choices are locked automatically at the deadline. Unsaved changes are not recognised; with no saved choices, you will not be considered for any programme.

Before the choice-filling deadline, you can request unlocking on the portal. Validate the request using the OTP sent to your registered mobile and email. After the deadline, you cannot add, delete or reorder choices. Float and Slide operate within that existing list.

An allotment requires a response

JoSAA 2026 had five allocation rounds. Check the portal yourself for results. The rules say no separate allotment notification is sent. After receiving a seat, download the Initial Seat Allotment Intimation Slip and choose an available acceptance option. Upload the required documents, pay the seat acceptance fee and answer any verification queries within the prescribed deadlines.

You can upload documents and pay the fee in advance, but these optional steps alone do not accept a later allotment. Missing required reporting steps or failing to answer a query on time cancels the seat and ends participation in subsequent JoSAA rounds. You must accept and report on the current offer even if you hope for an upgrade.

In 2026, the seat acceptance fee was ₹15,000 for SC, ST and the listed PwD categories, and ₹30,000 for other candidates. It included ₹5,000 in processing charges. The remainder was adjusted against admission fees, leaving the balance of the institute fee to pay. Candidates receiving a Float or Slide upgrade did not pay the seat acceptance fee again.

Freeze, Float and Slide all accept the seat

These options guide what happens after acceptance. Document verification, payment and reporting are still required.

• Freeze means you accept the allotted programme and keep it, subject to successful reporting, without further JoSAA allocations.
• Float means you accept the seat while remaining available for a higher-listed preference at any institute on your choice list. If no upgrade occurs, the accepted seat continues.
• Slide means you accept the seat while remaining available only for a higher-listed programme within the same institute. If no such upgrade occurs, the accepted seat continues.

An upgrade automatically replaces the earlier seat, which you cannot reclaim. Rejecting or cancelling the upgraded seat leaves you without a seat and ends further JoSAA participation. So place a programme higher only if you would choose it over the current offer.

Float and Slide are unavailable when you receive your first choice, and neither is available in the final round. Before the last round, you can change Float to Slide or Freeze, and Slide to Freeze. Slide cannot change to Float under the 2026 rules. Once you choose Freeze, you cannot reverse it in subsequent rounds.

Prepare the right documents

The upload lists differ. For IITs and IISc, the list includes date-of-birth proof, such as a Class X mark sheet or certificate, Aadhaar or birth certificate, and the Class XII mark sheet. NIT+ lists date-of-birth proof, the Class XII mark sheet and certificate, and the JEE (Main) 2026 admit card.

Both lists also include a crossed cheque copy or passbook image with bank details and the prescribed medical certificate. Category, disability or nationality documents are needed where applicable. The NIT+ list is labelled a suggested list, so also check the portal for other items, such as proof of state of eligibility. Use the list for your circumstances and the specified formats.

For OBC-NCL and GEN-EWS candidates, the 2026 rules accepted a certificate issued on or after 1 April 2026. They also accepted a government-issued online-verifiable certificate valid until at least 21 July 2026 for IITs and IISc. For NIT+, this certificate had to be valid until 31 August 2026 or the day of physical reporting, whichever was later. After uploading, monitor the portal and resolve any verification queries by the deadline.

What to keep track of in practice

Keep the preference list, reporting deadlines and remaining admission steps together. NIT+ candidates retaining a seat after Round 5 had to pay an additional, non-refundable Partial Admission Fee: ₹20,000 for SC, ST and the listed PwD categories, and ₹45,000 for others. It was adjusted against institute admission fees; non-payment forfeited the seat.

After receiving a provisional allotment letter, you still need physical document verification, payment of remaining institute fees and completion of institute formalities. NIT+ physical reporting follows CSAB Special Rounds. Those rounds handle NIT+ vacancies separately under CSAB's rules and schedule; there is no JoSAA spot or special round for IITs or IISc. For a future cycle, return to that year's official rules, schedule and institute instructions before acting.