JEE Advanced 2026 – Counselling

The counselling process for JEE Advanced 2026 is a crucial phase where qualified candidates are allocated seats in the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other participating institutes based on merit, preference, and reservation policies. This process is managed by the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA), which conducts a transparent, multi-round online counselling system to ensure fair seat distribution.

Overview of JEE Advanced 2026 Counselling

JEE Advanced counselling is conducted for candidates who have successfully qualified the JEE Advanced 2026 exam and wish to secure admission to IITs and other centralized institutes. The counselling process begins shortly after the declaration of JEE Advanced results and involves several steps to complete the admission procedure.

• Organizing Body:Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA)
• Eligibility:Candidates who qualify the JEE Advanced 2026 exam and satisfy academic eligibility criteria (like minimum 75% aggregate in Class 12 or equivalent, with relaxations for reserved categories).
• Institutes Covered:23 IITs, Indian School of Mines (ISM), and other participating technical institutes.
• Number of Counselling Rounds:Typically, 6 rounds of seat allotment are conducted.
• Mode:Completely online through the JoSAA official website – josaa.nic.in.

Detailed Counselling Process

Registration: Eligible candidates must register on the JoSAA portal shortly after the JEE Advanced result announcement. Registration requires details such as JEE Advanced roll number, password, and other credentials.

Choice Filling and Locking: After registration, candidates fill in their preferences for institutes, courses, and branches in order of priority. It is crucial to carefully select and rank choices because seat allocation depends on these locked preferences. Choices must be locked before the deadline.

Mock Allotment: JoSAA conducts a mock seat allotment to give candidates an idea of the possible seat allocation based on their current choices and ranks. Candidates can then modify their choices if needed before final locking.

Seat Allocation Rounds: Multiple seat allotment rounds are conducted. In each round, seats are allotted based on rank, category reservation, and seat availability. Candidates receive allotment letters specifying the institute and course allotted.

Acceptance of Seat and Reporting: Candidates must accept the allotted seat by paying a seat acceptance fee (if applicable) and downloading the allotment letter. Then they must report in person at the respective institute for document verification and admission confirmation.

Freezing, Floating, Sliding Options

• Freeze:Accept the allotted seat and do not participate in further rounds.
• Float:Accept the seat but try for a better seat in subsequent rounds.
• Slide:Accept the seat but try for a better branch in the same institute in subsequent rounds.

Document Verification: At the reporting center, candidates must submit original documents to verify eligibility and category certificates. This is mandatory for confirmation of admission.

Important Documents Required for Counselling

• JEE Advanced Admit Card and Scorecard
• Class 12 Marks Sheet/Certificate
• JEE Main Admit Card and Scorecard
• Valid Photo ID proof (Aadhaar, PAN card, Voter ID, etc.)
• Category certificate (if applicable)
• PwD certificate (if applicable)
• Seat allotment letter
• Passport size photographs
• Receipt of seat acceptance fee payment
• Medical certificate (if required)

Eligibility Criteria for Counselling

Candidates who have qualified JEE Advanced 2026 must have done the following as listed below.

• Cleared the academic eligibility (minimum 75% marks or top 20 percentile in Class 12 board exams).
• Qualified in the JEE Advanced merit list.
• Registered on the JoSAA portal and filled their choices timely.
• Candidates not meeting these criteria will not be considered for seat allocation.

Key Points to Remember

• Counselling is centralized and applies to all IITs and other participating institutes.
• Seat allocation happens strictly based on ranks, preferences, and reservation norms.
• Candidates should be cautious while filling and locking choices, as these affect the final allotment.
• Reporting at the allotted institute and document verification are mandatory for final admission.
• Candidates can participate in multiple rounds but must understand the rules of freezing, floating, and sliding carefully.
• Failure to report or pay the necessary fees in time may lead to forfeiture of the seat.

Click Here For JEE Advanced 2026 Result

FAQs

Q1. When does the JEE Advanced 2026 counselling process start?

Ans. The counselling process for JEE Advanced 2026 is expected to begin shortly after the result declaration, generally in the first or second week of June 2026, through the JoSAA online portal.

Q2. Who conducts the JEE Advanced 2026 counselling?

Ans. The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) is responsible for conducting the counselling and seat allocation for JEE Advanced qualified candidates for admission to IITs and other participating institutes.

Q3. How many rounds of seat allotment will be conducted in JEE Advanced counselling?

Ans. Typically, JoSAA conducts six rounds of seat allotment to provide multiple opportunities for candidates to secure their preferred seats based on their ranks and choice priorities.

Q4. What documents are required during the counselling and admission process?

Ans. Candidates should carry their JEE Advanced admit card and scorecard, Class 12 marksheet, category certificate (if applicable), ID proof (Aadhaar, PAN), seat allotment letter, passport-size photographs, and proof of seat acceptance fee payment for document verification.

Q5. What does it mean to freeze, float, or slide a seat during counselling?

Ans. Freeze means the candidate accepts the allotted seat and opts out of further rounds. Float means accepting the seat but still competing for a better seat in subsequent rounds. Slide means accepting the seat but trying for a better branch within the same institute.