JoSAA Schedule 2026, Seat Allotment & Required Documents

JoSAA Schedule 2026

The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) manages centralised admissions to 118 institutes including IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs). JoSAA 2026 is now underway: JEE Advanced 2026 results were announced on June 1, 2026, and candidate registration opened on June 2, 2026, at 5:00 PM IST.

The JoSAA 2026 process runs across five rounds of seat allocation from June 13 to July 21, 2026, followed by Partial Admission Fee payment for NIT+ system candidates up to July 24, 2026. Every round has an online reporting window during which candidates must pay the seat acceptance fee and upload documents. Missing any deadline results in automatic cancellation of the allotted seat.

JoSAA 2026 Choice Filling Schedule

Choice filling is the single most important step in the JoSAA 2026 process. The order in which you rank institute-programme combinations determines which seat you are allotted. The complete choice filling timeline is as follows:

Registration and Choice Filling Opens: June 2, 2026 at 17:00 IST. Candidates can register on josaa.nic.in and begin filling preferences. Pre-payment of the seat acceptance fee and pre-upload of documents also begins on this date.

AAT-Specific Choice Filling: Candidates who qualify in the Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT) can add B.Arch programme choices from June 7, 2026 onwards, after the AAT result is declared.

Mock Seat Allocation 1: Displayed on June 8, 2026 at 14:00 IST, based on choices submitted by June 7, 2026 at 20:00 IST. This is a simulation only and has no bearing on actual allotment.

Mock Seat Allocation 2: Displayed on June 10, 2026 at 13:00 IST, based on choices submitted by June 9, 2026 at 17:00 IST. Candidates can also begin locking their choices from this date.

Choice Filling Closes: June 11, 2026 at 17:00 IST. The system will auto-lock all choices. Pre-payment of the seat acceptance fee and pre-upload of documents also ends. No changes are possible after this point.

Data Reconciliation: June 12, 2026. JoSAA will verify and validate candidate data before Round 1 seat allocation.

Use both mock allocations to review whether your current preference order reflects your actual priorities. Revise the order before June 11 if needed. Study previous year opening and closing ranks to build a realistic and strategic preference list.

Track your preparation alongside counselling planning with the Cracku JEE Daily Target.

JoSAA 2026 Round-Wise Seat Allotment Schedule

JoSAA 2026 conducts five rounds of seat allocation. Each round has a defined online reporting window during which candidates must pay the seat acceptance fee and upload documents. Additionally, each round (except Round 1) includes a withdrawal window and an extra buffer deadline for candidates whose initial payment transaction failed.

Round 5 is the final round for IITs and IISc. After July 21, 2026, seat allotment for these institutions is closed. NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs under the NIT+ system continue under CSAB 2026; visit csab.nic.in for details on special rounds and institute reporting.

Key points to keep in mind across all rounds:

Fee payment deadline is hard: If you miss the primary fee payment deadline (Column 4), you still have a narrow buffer window to resolve failed transactions (Column 5). This buffer is only for candidates who made a payment attempt, i.e., uploaded documents and clicked Pay but the transaction did not complete.

Withdrawal is irreversible: If you initiate a withdrawal during the withdrawal window, you exit the JoSAA seat allocation process permanently. This cannot be undone.

Float and Slide responses: If you accept a seat and choose Float or Slide (see next section), you remain in contention for an upgraded allotment in subsequent rounds without losing your current seat.

Round 1 has no withdrawal window: Candidates allotted a seat in Round 1 must either accept, freeze, float, or slide. Withdrawal is not available in Round 1.

JoSAA 2026 Freeze, Float, and Slide Options Explained

After seat allotment in any round, every candidate who accepts their seat must choose one of three options during online reporting. This choice determines whether the system considers you for better options in subsequent rounds.

Freeze: You are completely satisfied with the allotted seat. The system will not consider you for any upgrade in further rounds. Your seat is confirmed as-is.

Float: You accept your current seat but want the system to automatically upgrade you to any higher-preference option (different institute or programme) if a seat becomes available in subsequent rounds. If no upgrade is found, your current seat is retained.

Slide: You accept your current seat but want the system to upgrade you only to a better programme within the same institute. You will not be moved to a different institution. If no better programme is available at the same institute, your current seat is retained.

Candidates who do not respond within the round-wise reporting window are treated as having exited the process and forfeit their allotted seat. Freeze, Float, and Slide are only available to candidates who have paid the seat acceptance fee. After Round 5, the seat allotment for IITs and IISc is final regardless of the option chosen.

Also Read: JoSAA vs CSAB Counselling 2026

Documents Required for JoSAA Counselling 2026

All documents must be uploaded in the prescribed format during the online reporting window. Candidates should keep scanned copies ready before Round 1 begins on June 13, 2026.

• Class 10 certificate and mark sheet (for date of birth verification)
• Class 12 certificate and mark sheet
• JEE Main 2026 admit card and scorecard
• JEE Advanced 2026 admit card and rank card (required for IIT and IISc candidates)
• Category certificate (OBC-NCL, SC, ST, or EWS) issued by the competent authority. OBC-NCL certificates must be for the current financial year and must explicitly mention Non-Creamy Layer status.
• PwD certificate from the competent medical authority, if applicable. Physical verification schedule is given in Section XIX of the JoSAA 2026 Business Rules.
• Recent passport-size photograph (as uploaded during JEE registration)
• Scanned signature
• Valid government-issued photo identity proof (Aadhaar card, PAN card, or passport)

Ensure all files are within the JoSAA portal's specified size and format requirements. Uploading blurred or incomplete documents can delay your reporting confirmation and put your seat at risk.

For round-by-round guidance, previous year cutoffs, and intensive JEE practice, explore the Cracku JEE Questions platform to solve high-quality JEE Main and JEE Advanced questions and strengthen your preparation alongside the counselling process.

Also Read: JoSAA IIT 2026 Seat Matrix

JoSAA Schedule 2026: Concliusion

The JoSAA 2026 schedule is crucial for JEE Main and Advanced aspirants seeking admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other GFTIs. Candidates must register promptly, fill and lock choices strategically, and follow the round-wise seat allocation process to secure preferred programs. Understanding Freeze, Float, and Slide options ensures that aspirants can maximise their chances of getting upgraded or improved seats without losing current allotments.

Timely submission of documents, payment of seat acceptance fees, and careful monitoring of deadlines are essential for successful participation in JoSAA 2026. Following previous year cutoff trends and mapping expected ranks with available seats helps candidates create a realistic and optimal preference list. Using tools like Cracku JEE Daily Target alongside counselling planning allows aspirants to prepare efficiently while staying aligned with seat allotment strategies.