JEE Main Counselling 2026: JoSAA Dates (Soon), Process & Eligibility

JEE Main Counselling 2026: Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) will begin the JEE Main Counselling 2026 process in June 2026. The centralized admission procedure allows students to apply for admission to 23 IITs, 31 NITs, 26 IIITs, and more than 40 Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs). The National Testing Agency (NTA) has successfully completed the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 exams, which took place on February 1 2026. The Session 1 results is out and available to the public on February 16 2026.. The registration period for Session 2 is currently active and will end on March 2 2026.

The National Testing Agency will release the JEE Main result 2026 out. Earlier, the exam result was expected to be announced on February 12, 2026. However, now, the JEE Main exam result 2026 is out on February 16, 2026. The agency has not specified any reason for this as of now.

JEE Main counselling process operates through JoSAA multiple steps which control the entire procedure. The system enables fair admission to technical institutes throughout India based on academic merit. Candidates must complete all procedure steps to maintain their qualifications. The entire procedure happens through an online process.

1. Online Registration: Candidates must register on the official JoSAA website (josaa.nic.in). The system requires JEE Main 2026 login credentials to access the platform. The basic details verification process requires all details to be checked during this step.

2. Choice Filling and Locking: Applicants select institutes and branches based on preference. Candidates have unlimited options to choose from. The choice locking process requires candidates to finish their selected options before the specified time. The system automatically locks all choices which users leave unlocked.

3. Mock Seat Allocation: JoSAA releases mock allotments before the final rounds. This process enables candidates to estimate their seat assignments. The process enables them to change their chosen options to achieve improved outcomes.

4. Seat Allotment Results: JoSAA conducts six rounds of seat allocation. The results are available to users through online publication. The system assigns seats to candidates according to their rank and preference.

5. Online Reporting and Fee Payment: Allotted candidates need to make Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF) payment. The verification process requires documents to be uploaded by users. The seat will be canceled if payment is not completed.

6. Physical Reporting: The final admission process needs candidates to report physically to their designated institute. The process begins after JoSAA completes its last round together with CSAB rounds. The institute conducts verification for all original documents.

JEE Main 2026 exam date is important for all aspirants. The NTA adheres to a strict timeline. Session 1 is already complete as of February 9, 2026. Candidates are now focusing on Session 1 results and Session 2 registration. Below are the complete JEE Main & JoSAA 2026 Schedule: 

Note: The dates for JoSAA are projected based on the JEE Advanced 2026 schedule.

The seat matrix determines the total number of available seats across all categories. The seat count for 2026 will reach more than 62000 seats. The organization has established additional seats which allow female candidates to improve their gender diversity representation.

Participating Institutes Count (2026)

Estimated Seat Distribution (Based on 2025 Data)

The following table provides an approximate breakdown of seats. Official 2026 data will be released by JoSAA in June.

Note: The "General" column includes Open Category seats. EWS seats are approximately 10% of the total intake.

Reservation Criteria 2026

Government of India norms dictate the reservation percentages. These apply to the course-wise intake in each institute.

JoSAA 2026 eligibility requirements operate with strict enforcement. Academic requirements plus examination standards must be fulfilled by candidates. Candidates need to fulfill these requirements for seat distribution purposes.

1. Qualifying Examination: Candidates must have passed Class 12 or equivalent in 2025 or 2026. Physics and Mathematics are compulsory subjects. Chemistry, Biotechnology, Biology, or Technical Vocational subjects are required as the third subject.

2. JEE Main Rank: A valid JEE Main 2026 rank is essential. This applies to B.E./B.Tech, B.Arch, and B.Planning courses. Candidates seeking IIT admission must qualify for JEE Advanced 2026.

3. The 75% Criteria: Candidates must secure at least 75% marks in Class 12. The minimum requirement for SC/ST/PwD candidates stands at 65%. The top 20 percentile achievement in the respective board serves as an acceptable alternative. This applies to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.

4. State of Eligibility: State code of eligibility is determined by the Class 12 school location. It is not based on the candidate's residence. This impacts home state quota allocations in NITs.

5. Age Limit: JoSAA does not impose any age restrictions for participation. Age requirements exist at certain institutes according to their particular regulations. Candidates should verify individual institute rules.

Candidates must be prepared for the financial requirements of JEE Main counselling. The fees are divided into Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF) and Partial Admission Fee (PAF).

Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF)

Paid when a seat is allotted for the first time.

Partial Admission Fee (PAF)

Paid after the final round of JoSAA (Round 6) to confirm admission before physical reporting.

Note: The SAF and PAF are adjusted against the first semester tuition fee of the allotted institute. The ₹5,000 processing fee is non-refundable.

Below is the list of documents required for the JEE Main Counselling: 

JEE Main Cut off 2026  will be influenced by the difficulty of the exam and the total number of candidates. The following data highlights the expected competitiveness based on previous year trends (2025).

Computer Science Engineering (CSE) Cutoff Trends (General Category)

Mechanical Engineering Cutoff Trends (General Category)

Note: These are Common Rank List (CRL) ranks. Category ranks for OBC/SC/ST will differ significantly.

CSAB special rounds are conducted by the Central Seat Allocation Board after JoSAA rounds end. 

Purpose of CSAB: CSAB exists to allocate empty seats at NITs IIITs and GFTIs because IITs do not take part in CSAB special rounds.

Eligibility for CSAB: 

• Candidates with a valid JEE Main 2026 rank. 

• Candidates who did not register for JoSAA. 

• Candidates who participated in JoSAA but got no seat. 

• Candidates who were allotted seats but withdrew. 

• Candidates who wish to upgrade their JoSAA seat will keep their current seat.

CSAB Process: 

1. Everybody needs to complete fresh registration because it serves as a requirement. Previous JoSAA registration does not carry over. 

2. Participants need to pay their participation fee before they can proceed further. 

3. Fresh choices must be filled. Old JoSAA choices are null and void. 

4. The process will have two seat allotment rounds which are typical for such events.

CSAB NEUT: CSAB NEUT provides dedicated counselling services for North Eastern states and Union Territories. It covers seats reserved for states lacking engineering colleges. 

CSAB Supernumerary: CSAB Supernumerary restricts its activities to specific Union Territories. It allocates supernumerary seats in specific NITs.

CSAB Participation Fee

• Type 1 (Did not pay SAF in JoSAA): ₹37,000 (Gen) / ₹17,000 (SC/ST). 

• Type 2 (Paid SAF in JoSAA): Only ₹5,000 processing fee. 

Strategic Tip for CSAB

The CSAB cutoffs experience substantial reductions when compared to JoSAA cutoffs. The JoSAA seat closing Ranks at 40 000 will remain accessible until Rank 60 000 for specific GFTIs and NITs which operate under CSAB rules. Candidates who have received lower ranks derive substantial advantages from CSAB. Candidates who want to get into their preferred institutes should study the JEE Main Counselling 2026 process and follow the document requirements while adhering to the schedule. Users need to visit both josaa.nic.in and csab.nic.in to verify the latest official information.