JoSAA 2026 Counselling: Seat matrix released, capacity increased to 67,323
JoSAA counselling begins today for admissions to IITs, NITs, IIITs and other government-funded technical institutes following the announcement of JEE Advanced 2026 results. Check the full schedule, direct link, counselling process and seat allocation details here.
The road to India's most prestigious engineering institutes enters its next crucial phase as JoSAA counselling 2026 begins following the announcement of JEE Advanced results.
Eligible candidates can now register and fill their choices for admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs and other leading government-funded technical institutes across the country.
JOSAA SEAT MATRIX
| Institute | Total seats (2026) | Total seats (2025) | Change in the number of seats |
| Indian Institute of Technology(s) | 18,951 | 18,160 | 791 |
| National Institute of Technology(s) | 25,162 | 24,525 | 637 |
| Indian Institute of Information Technology(s) | 11,518 | 9,940 | 1578 |
| Government Funded Technical Institutes | 11,692 | 10,228 | 1464 |
| Total | 67,323 | 62,853 | 4470 |
WHO TOPPED JEE ADVANCED 2026?
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee announced the JEE Advanced 2026 results on Sunday. Shubham Kumar from the IIT Delhi zone secured All India Rank (AIR) 1 with 330 marks, while Kabeer Chhillar, also from the IIT Delhi zone, claimed AIR 2 with 329 marks.
Out of 1,87,389 registered candidates, 1,79,694 appeared for both examination papers. A total of 56,880 candidates qualified, including 10,107 female candidates.
WHAT IS JOSAA, AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) conducts the centralised admission process for more than 120 premier technical institutions across India. These include:
- 23 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)
- 31 National Institutes of Technology (NITs)
- 26 Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs)
- Several Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs)
Admissions to IITs are based on JEE Advanced ranks, while admissions to NITs, IIITs and GFTIs are carried out using JEE Main ranks.
HOW TO APPLY FOR JOSAA 2026 COUNSELLING?
Candidates can apply for JoSAA 2026 counselling by visiting the official portal and logging in using their JEE Main 2026 or JEE Advanced 2026 credentials. After registration, they must fill in their preferred institute-programme choices, arrange them in order of preference and lock the final selections before the deadline.
Candidates are advised to review their choices carefully, as these will be considered during the seat allotment process.
WHAT IS THE LAST DATE TO APPLY FOR JOSAA 2026?
The JoSAA 2026 registration and choice-filling process will remain open until June 11, 2026, at 5 pm IST.
Candidates must complete their registration on the official JoSAA portal, fill in their preferred institute-programme combinations and lock their choices before the deadline. If choices are not locked manually, they will be automatically locked by the system after the choice-filling window closes.
WHAT IS THE ADMISSION PROCESS?
Through the JoSAA portal, candidates will:
1. Register for counselling.
2. Fill in and arrange institute programme preferences.
3. Lock their choices.
4. Participate in seat allotment rounds.
5. Complete online reporting and admission formalities after seat allocation.
HOW MANY SEAT ALLOTMENT ROUNDS WILL BE HELD?
According to the official schedule, JoSAA 2026 will conduct five rounds of seat allocation. The counselling and admission process is expected to continue for nearly seven weeks.
DIRECT LINK TO CHECK FULL SCHEDULE
WHAT ABOUT AAT 2026?
Registration for the Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT) 2026, required for admission to BArch programmes at select IITs, opened on June 1 and is being conducted alongside the JoSAA counselling process.
The start of JoSAA counselling marks the next crucial step for thousands of engineering aspirants seeking admission to India's most prestigious technical institutions.
Candidates are advised to carefully evaluate their options, complete registration on time, and stay updated with the counselling schedule to maximize their chances of securing a seat in their preferred institute and programme.