The JAM 2026 seat matrix after Round 3 shows all remaining vacant seats across IIT programmes by category before the additional list opens — helping waitlisted students gauge their chances of admission through the final allotment round.
IIT JAM 2026, conducted by IIT Bombay, runs three main rounds of seat allotment through JOAPS (JAM Online Application Processing System). After Round 3 results (June 16, 2026), seats that remain unfilled due to withdrawals, non-reporting, or incomplete document verification are compiled into the post-Round 3 vacant seat matrix. This matrix is the direct input for the additional list — the final opportunity for waitlisted students to secure a seat at any of the participating IITs. Based on JAM 2025 trends, around 8–15% of the approximately 3,000 total seats offered across IITs typically remain vacant after Round 3.
- JAM 2026 is conducted by IIT Bombay for M.Sc. and other post-bachelor programmes at IITs.
- Round 3 seat allotment was released on June 16, 2026; seats vacant after this round feed into the additional list.
- The additional list is expected around July 3, 2026; the seat matrix reflecting post-Round 3 vacancies is published before this on the JOAPS portal.
- Chemistry (CY) has the largest seat intake (~865 seats); Physics (PH) and Mathematics (MA) follow with ~700 and ~500 seats respectively.
- SC, ST, and EWS seats that remain vacant after Round 3 cannot be transferred to other categories — they are offered only within the same category in the additional list.
- Students already registered on JOAPS with a valid JAM 2026 rank are automatically considered for the additional list — no separate application is needed.
JAM 2026 Counselling Round 3 Overview
JAM 2026 counselling is managed entirely online through JOAPS. The three main rounds follow a fixed sequence — each round re-allocates seats freed up by students who withdraw, fail to pay, or do not complete document verification from the previous round.
- Round 1 (May 25, 2026): First seat allotment based on JAM 2026 scores and programme preferences submitted at JOAPS registration.
- Round 2 (June 8, 2026): Seats vacated by non-acceptance or withdrawal after Round 1 are reallocated to the next eligible students on the merit list.
- Round 3 (June 16, 2026): Final main-round allotment. Students who do not pay the seat booking fee or submit documents release seats that flow into the post-Round 3 vacant pool.
After Round 3, the official seat matrix published on JOAPS reflects exactly how many seats in each programme and category remain unfilled. Only the seats shown as vacant in this matrix are available through the additional list — no new seats are created at this stage.
Programme-wise Seat Matrix After Round 3
The table below lists expected vacant seats by programme after Round 3 of JAM 2026, based on JAM 2025 trends and approximate total seat intake. Confirmed programme-wise figures for 2026 will be published on jam2026.iitb.ac.in after Round 3 results are processed.
| Programme (Paper Code) | Key IITs Offering | Total Seats (Approx.) | Expected Vacant After Round 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemistry (CY) | IIT Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, Roorkee, Guwahati, Hyderabad, (BHU) Varanasi, Patna, Indore and others | 865 | 65–115 |
| Physics (PH) | IIT Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, Roorkee, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, (BHU) Varanasi and others | 700 | 55–90 |
| Mathematics (MA) | IIT Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, Roorkee, Guwahati, Hyderabad and others | 500 | 35–65 |
| Geology (GG) | IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee, IIT (BHU) Varanasi | 200 | 15–35 |
| Mathematical Statistics (MS) | IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Bombay | 120 | 8–18 |
| Economics (EN) | IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, IIT Roorkee | 100 | 6–15 |
| Biotechnology (BT) | IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Roorkee | 114 | 8–18 |
| Biological Sciences (BL) | IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IIT Ropar | 70 | 5–12 |
All vacancy figures are estimated based on JAM 2025 trends. Actual JAM 2026 data will be published on JOAPS once Round 3 processing is complete. Chemistry has the largest seat pool across IITs and accounts for the highest absolute number of post-Round 3 vacancies.
Category-wise Vacant Seats After Round 3
All IIT seats under JAM 2026 are distributed across five reservation categories as per Government of India norms. Post-Round 3 vacancies are tracked separately within each category — seats in one category cannot be transferred to or filled by students from another category at any stage.
| Category | Reservation Share | Typical Vacancy Rate After Round 3 | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (GEN / OPEN) | ~50.5% (unreserved) | 8–12% | Highest seat count; vacancy depth depends on merit-list length |
| EWS (Economically Weaker Section) | 10% | 10–18% | Vacancies arise when EWS-qualified students decline allotments or do not report |
| OBC-NCL | 27% | 5–10% | Strong demand typically results in lower vacancy relative to other reserved categories |
| SC (Scheduled Caste) | 15% | 10–20% | Unfilled SC seats remain within the SC quota; not converted to GEN even if vacant after additional list |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | 7.5% | 15–25% | Highest vacancy rate among all categories; ST seats are strictly non-transferable |
PwD (Persons with Disability) horizontal reservation amounts to 5% within each of the above categories. Vacant PwD seats within a category are first offered to PwD students on the waitlist before the remaining vacancies feed into the broader additional list pool for that category.
How JAM 2026 Additional List Works
The additional list is the final stage of JAM 2026 counselling. It uses vacant seats from the post-Round 3 matrix and is the last chance for waitlisted students to secure admission at an IIT through JAM 2026.
- No Separate Application Needed: All students registered on JOAPS with a valid JAM 2026 rank and no confirmed seat after Round 3 are automatically considered. JOAPS processes allotments based on merit rank, category, and programme preferences already on record.
- Seat Offer via JOAPS: If a seat matching your preferences and category is available, JOAPS displays the allotment in your account. Log in regularly around the additional list date to check your status.
- Acceptance Window: Students offered a seat must accept it and pay the seat booking fee within 2–3 days. Missing this deadline means losing the seat permanently — there are no further rounds.
- Document Reporting at the IIT: After accepting the seat, you must report physically to the allotted IIT with original certificates and documents by the date the institute specifies. Failure to report cancels the allotment.
- No Upgrades Available: The additional list does not offer any upgrade to higher-preference programmes. The seat allotted is final; JOAPS does not process preference-based upgrades at this stage.
Seats that remain vacant even after the additional list are returned to the institute. IITs do not conduct spot-round or walk-in admissions for JAM-based programmes.
Key Dates After JAM 2026 Round 3
The table below lists the expected schedule for post-Round 3 events. For confirmed dates, check the official schedule at jam2026.iitb.ac.in/ImpDates.html regularly.
| Event | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| Round 3 Seat Allotment Result | June 16, 2026 |
| Seat Booking Fee Deadline for Round 3 Allotment | June 18–20, 2026 (expected) |
| Post-Round 3 Seat Matrix Published on JOAPS | June 27–30, 2026 (expected) |
| Additional List Announcement | July 3, 2026 (expected) |
| Seat Acceptance Window for Additional List | July 3–5, 2026 (2–3 day window, expected) |
| Physical Reporting at Allotted IIT | July 2026 (as per IIT schedule) |
| Programme Commencement | Late July / August 2026 |
JAM 2026 Seat Matrix After Round 3 FAQs
Ques. When will the JAM 2026 seat matrix after Round 3 be published?
Ans. The seat matrix reflecting vacant seats after Round 3 (June 16, 2026) is expected on the JOAPS portal between June 27 and June 30, 2026. Log in at jam2026.iitb.ac.in to view the updated matrix for your category and preferred programme.
Ques. Do I need to apply separately for the JAM 2026 additional list?
Ans. No. The additional list is generated automatically by JOAPS. If you are registered on JOAPS with a valid JAM 2026 rank and have not been allotted a seat after Round 3, JOAPS includes you without any separate application. Keep checking your JOAPS login from July 3, 2026, onward.
Ques. Which category typically has the most vacant seats after Round 3 in JAM counselling?
Ans. Based on JAM 2025 trends, the ST category sees the highest vacancy rate after Round 3 (around 15–25%), followed by SC and EWS. GEN and OBC-NCL seats tend to fill up more completely through the three main rounds due to larger applicant pools in those categories.
Ques. Which JAM 2026 programme has the most vacant seats after Round 3?
Ans. Chemistry (CY) is expected to have the highest absolute number of vacant seats because it has the largest intake of any JAM paper (approximately 865 seats). Physics (PH) also accounts for significant vacancies due to its ~700-seat pool spread across many IITs, including those at newer locations.
Ques. What happens if I miss the acceptance deadline for the JAM 2026 additional list?
Ans. If you do not accept the allotment and pay the seat booking fee within the 2–3 day window, your seat is released back to the institute. There are no further rounds after the additional list, so you forfeit the opportunity for admission through JAM 2026 counselling.
Ques. Can vacant SC or ST seats be offered to General category students in the JAM 2026 additional list?
Ans. No. Government of India reservation policy does not permit the conversion of SC, ST, or EWS seats to any other category. Seats in these categories that remain vacant even after the additional list are returned to the institute without being reallocated to students from other categories.
Ques. How many total seats are there in JAM 2026 and how many may be vacant after Round 3?
Ans. JAM 2026 offers approximately 3,000 seats across 22–23 IITs spanning eight test papers (CY, PH, MA, GG, MS, EN, BT, BL). Based on JAM 2025 trends, around 200–370 of these seats may remain vacant after Round 3 across all programmes and categories combined, depending on student acceptance and reporting rates in each round.
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