JEE Main 2026 Counselling: Dates, Process, Documents Required, Fees
Latest Update: On 13 June 2026, JoSAA Round 1 Seat Allotment 2026 is out on jossa.nic.in. Candidates can check their allotted colleges (IITs/NITs/IIITs/GFTIs) based on their JEE Advanced and JEE Main 2026 ranks by logging in using their JEE (Main) 2026 application number/login ID and password.
The counselling of JEE Main 2026 by JoSAA commences on June 2, 2026, at 17:00 IST and officially comprises five rounds of seat allocation. Candidates with valid scores in JEE Main 2026 are eligible to apply for the process of counselling to get enrolled into B.Tech, B.Arch, and B.Planning courses at NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.
To be eligible, candidates have to enroll online through the official JoSAA website and enter their choices of institutes and branches during the window of choice-filling open.
Qualified JEE Main 2026 aspirants can opt for admission to participating institutes, and JEE Advanced 2026 rank holders can also be chosen for IIT admission through the identical JoSAA counselling process.
The seat allotment is done according to factors like All India Rank (AIR), category, availability of seats, and filled preferences. Candidates are requested to go through the eligibility criteria listed by JoSAA on the official portal carefully before proceeding.
1.0The JEE Main Counselling 2026 involves three processes
JoSAA: This is the combined counselling for candidates who qualify for both JEE Main 2026 and JEE Advanced 2026. JoSAA alone allot the seats available in 110 engineering institutes, including various IITs, IIITs, NITs, and other GFTIs.
CSAB NEUT: This is the counselling held for extra seats available in the North Eastern states and Union Territories. It is organised by the Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB).
CSAB SFTI: The Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB) conducts this counselling process separately for 18 SFTIs (Self Financing Technical Institutes). The allocation of seats is strictly based on the order of preference given by the applicants based on their JEE Main AIR in Papers I and II, respectively.
2.0JEE Main 2026 Counselling Date: Key Dates
The Joint Seat Allocation Authority has announced the detailed schedule for the JEE Main 2026 counseling process. Candidates who have passed the JEE Main 2026 examination need to undergo the process of JoSAA counselling for admission to all the participating institutes as per their scores in the JEE Main examination. JoSAA will also enable the JEE Advanced ranked candidates' admission to the IITs.
The options filled by candidates during JoSAA 2026 registration will decide the number of seats to which they will be given. Candidates should confirm that they are eligible as per the guidelines provided by JoSAA before proceeding with the counselling process. The deatiled timetable for candidate processing throughout the 2026 joint allocation cycle is given below:
3.0JEE Main Eligibility for Admission to Participating Institutes
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026 for admission to participating institutes. Here are the details:
JEE Main Counselling Eligibility Criteria - NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs
- Admission to B. Tech/B. Arch/Planning courses will be based on the All India Rank (AIR).
- For B. Tech, candidates must score at least 75% in their class 12 examination (65% for SC/ST candidates).
- For B. Arch, candidates must score at least 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, along with 50% in aggregate in the qualifying examination.
- The same criteria apply for admission to other technical universities/institutes participating in the JEE Main Counselling Process 2026 through JoSAA/CSAB.
Other Institutes
- Engineering colleges affiliated with State Universities will have separate rank lists prepared by the states based on their eligibility criteria.
4.0Documents Required for JEE Main Counselling 2026
Upon accepting their allotted seats, candidates must visit JoSAA's designated reporting centers for document verification. Candidates must bring along all the documents listed below:
- Seat allotment letter for JEE Main 2026 issued by JoSAA.
- Three passport-size photographs (same as uploaded during registration).
- Government-issued photo identity card.
- Proof of fee payment for accepting the JEE Main 2026 seat.
- Proof of date of birth.
- JEE Main 2026 Admit Card.
- Class 12 Mark sheet.
- Scorecard for JEE Main 2026.
- Relevant category certificate, if applicable.
5.0JEE Main 2026 Counselling Process
Two mock rounds will be conducted before the announcement of JoSAA counselling 2026 dates to clarify the counselling process for candidates.
The counselling process includes several steps: registration, selection of colleges and courses, fee payment, and choice-locking. A detailed description of each step in the JEE Main 2026 counselling process is provided below.
Registration for JEE Main Counselling
- Visit the official website of JoSAA, which is designated for JEE Main Counselling.
- Log in using the roll number provided for the JEE Main exam.
- Fill out the registration form by providing accurate personal information.
- Carefully read and accept the instructions provided on the registration page.
- Click on "Declaration" to confirm your agreement with the terms and conditions.
- Submit the registration form after verifying all details.
- After successful submission, review the instructions again and confirm your registration by clicking the respective button.
Online Choice Filling and Locking
- Following successful registration, candidates are required to fill in their choices for institutes and courses online.
- They must specify their preferred institute type, name, and academic program.
- Once the choices are entered, candidates must proceed to the "Choice filling and locking" section.
- Here, they should carefully select and rank their choices of colleges and courses per their preferences.
- After finalizing their choices, candidates must save them by clicking the "Save" button.
- It is crucial to exercise caution while locking choices, as changes cannot be made after submission.
JoSAA 2026 Seat Allotment
- JoSAA seat allotment is conducted based on various factors, including category, All India Rank (AIR) in the JEE Main 2026 rank list, reservation norms, choice filling, and seat availability.
- Candidates receive their seat allotment results through the official JoSAA portal.
- Upon receiving the seat allotment, candidates are notified via SMS and/or email.
- For future reference, they must download the seat allotment letter from the JoSAA portal.
Fee Payment and Seat Acceptance
- Candidates who have been allotted seats must proceed with the fee payment process to confirm their acceptance of the allotted seat.
- The fee payment for JEE Main Counselling 2026 can be completed online using a Credit/Debit Card or Net Banking.
- Upon successful payment, candidates are advised to download the fee payment slip as proof of payment, which will be required during subsequent counselling.
- After payment, candidates will receive a provisional admission letter indicating that they have completed this step in the JEE Main counselling process.
Float, Freeze, Slide, or Withdraw Options
Candidates have the flexibility to choose among various options based on their preferences and circumstances:
- Float: Candidates who wish to retain their allotted seat without participating in further rounds of counselling.
- Freeze: Candidates are satisfied with their allotted seat and do not wish to participate in subsequent counselling rounds.
- Slide: Candidates opting to retain the assigned seat while upgrading their program within the same college/institute.
- Withdraw: Candidates who have accepted a seat but later decide to withdraw their acceptance must report to the designated institute before the final round of seat allocation.
Reporting to the Allotted College
The final stage of the counselling process involves candidates reporting to their designated institutes. Students must understand the procedure for this crucial step.
- Candidates must visit the college assigned to them at the specified date and time slot.
- Original certificates and documents must be brought along to fulfill the JEE Main Counselling 2026 admission requirements.
- Candidates must report to the allotted institute within the stipulated time frame and settle any remaining fees.
6.0CSAB Counselling Registration 2026 Application Process
To apply for CSAB Counselling in 2026, candidates must ensure they meet the criteria outlined by CSAB. Here's a summary of the eligibility requirements and the steps to follow for registration:
Eligibility Criteria for CSAB Counselling 2026
- Eligible candidates have passed the JEE Main examination and did not opt for JoSAA Counselling in 2026.
- Individuals offered a seat during any of the six JoSAA Counselling rounds in 2026 can participate in the special rounds organized by CSAB.
- Candidates who have yet to receive a seat offer in any JoSAA Counselling round are qualified to engage in CSAB Counselling.
- Those who have accepted an allocated seat by paying the partial admission fee can apply for CSAB 2026 Counselling.
- Participants who selected the "Not to Participate in Special Round" option during the reporting phase are ineligible for CSAB Counselling.
Steps for CSAB Counselling 2026 Registration
- Begin by visiting the CSAB's official website for the counselling process.
- Use your JEE Main roll number for registration and complete the required personal details.
- Fill out the application, including your gender, nationality, category, and more.
- Upload all necessary documents as per the provided instructions.
- Pay the application fee as indicated and finalize your application by submitting it.
This guide outlines the essential eligibility criteria and application steps to efficiently navigate the CSAB Counselling 2026 process.
7.0JEE Main 2026 Qualifying Cut-off
8.0Participating Institutes in JEE Main Counselling
JEE Main Participating Institutes 2026 - National Institute of Technology (NITs)
The comprehensive list of NITs participating in JEE Main 2026 are listed below:
JEE Main Participating Institutes 2026 - International Institute of Technology (IIITs)
The comprehensive list of IIITs participating in JEE Main 2026 are listed below:
The comprehensive list of GFTIs participating in JEE Main 2026 are listed below:
