HPCET 2026 Round 1 seat matrix covers approximately 3,500 to 4,000 seats across government and private engineering colleges in Himachal Pradesh, with 8 government institutes contributing around 1,200 seats.
Himachal Pradesh Technical University (HIMTU) publishes the official seat matrix on its counselling portal alongside the counselling schedule. The HPCET 2026 counselling schedule was released on July 10, 2026. The seat matrix is the basis for choice filling — students rank their preferred college-branch combinations and seats are allotted based on merit and availability. Round 1 seat allotment for HPCET 2026 is expected in July 2026. The matrix is updated after each round to reflect vacancies from non-reporting students.
- Expected total seats: 3,500 to 4,000 across all participating institutes
- Government engineering colleges: 8 institutes contributing approximately 1,200 seats
- HP State Quota: 85% of total seats; All India Quota: 15% of total seats
- Largest branch by seat count: Computer Science Engineering (CSE) with 1,200+ seats
- Official portal: himtu.ac.in and counselling-hptu.hp.gov.in
| Direct Link to HPCET 2026 Seat Matrix and Counselling Portal (OUT) |
Government College-Wise HPCET 2026 Seat Matrix
Eight government engineering colleges participate in HPCET 2026 counselling. The seat distribution below is based on 2025 trends. GEC Hamirpur offers the highest number of seats at 300 across five branches and is the most competitive government college under HPCET. Students with ranks in the top 1,000 typically secure government college seats in CSE or ECE.
| College | CSE | ECE | Civil | Mechanical | Electrical | Total Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEC Hamirpur | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 300 |
| GEC Nahan | 60 | – | 60 | 60 | – | 180 |
| GEC Bilaspur | 60 | – | 60 | – | – | 120 |
| GEC Chamba | 60 | – | 60 | – | – | 120 |
| GEC Dharamshala | 60 | 60 | – | – | – | 120 |
| GEC Rampur | 60 | – | – | 60 | – | 120 |
| GEC Solan | 60 | 60 | – | – | – | 120 |
| GEC Nagrota Bagwan | 60 | – | 60 | – | – | 120 |
| Total (Govt. Institutes) | 480 | 180 | 300 | 180 | 60 | 1,200 |
Branch-Wise Seat Distribution for HPCET 2026
Across all participating government and private colleges, CSE accounts for the largest share of HPCET 2026 seats with over 1,200 seats. Students aiming for CSE face the steepest competition while Electrical Engineering offers comparatively fewer seats. The table below shows the expected branch-wise total seat count based on 2025 data.
| Branch | Expected Total Seats (All Institutes) |
|---|---|
| Computer Science Engineering (CSE) | 1,200+ |
| Civil Engineering | 850+ |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) | 600+ |
| Mechanical Engineering | 550+ |
| Electrical Engineering | 300+ |
Private Colleges Participating in HPCET 2026
Private engineering colleges contribute the majority of total HPCET 2026 seats and offer students a wider range of college-branch combinations spread across multiple districts in Himachal Pradesh. The table lists key private colleges participating in HPCET 2026 counselling.
| Private College | Location |
|---|---|
| Green Hills Engineering College | Solan |
| Himachal Institute of Engineering and Technology | Shahpur |
| Himalayan Institute of Engineering and Technology | Kala Amb |
| KC Educational Group | Una |
| TR Abhilashi Memorial Institute of Engineering | Chamba |
| Vaishno College of Engineering | Kangra |
| LR Engineering and Technology | Hamirpur |
The complete and updated list of participating private institutes will be published by HIMTU on the official counselling portal before Round 1 choice filling opens.
Category-Wise Seat Reservation in HPCET 2026
85% of all HPCET 2026 seats are allocated under Himachal Pradesh State Quota and the remaining 15% fall under All India Quota. Students from other states can only compete for All India Quota seats. Within the HP State Quota the reservation policy is as follows:
| Category | Reservation Percentage |
|---|---|
| General (Unreserved) | 45% |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 22% |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL) | 18% |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 10% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 5% |
| PwD (horizontal reservation) | 3% (across all categories) |
| Ex-Servicemen (horizontal reservation) | 1% (across all categories) |
Horizontal reservations for PwD and Ex-Servicemen apply across all vertical categories. Students must submit valid category certificates during the document verification stage to claim reserved seats in HPCET 2026 counselling.
How to Check HPCET 2026 Seat Matrix Online
HIMTU publishes the HPCET 2026 seat matrix on its official counselling portal. Follow these steps to access the Round 1 seat matrix:
- Go to the official HIMTU website at himtu.ac.in.
- Click the HPCET Counselling 2026 link on the homepage or under the Admissions section.
- You will be directed to the HPTU counselling portal at counselling-hptu.hp.gov.in.
- Log in using your HPCET 2026 application number and password.
- Navigate to the Seat Matrix tab on the student dashboard.
- Filter by institute type (government or private) or by branch to view available seats.
- Download the official seat matrix PDF for reference during choice filling.
Students can also access the seat matrix without logging in via the public link on the counselling portal homepage. The seat matrix is updated after each counselling round to reflect seats vacated by non-reporting students or those upgraded to a better choice.
HPCET 2026 Seat Matrix FAQs
Ques. How many total seats are available through HPCET 2026?
Ans. HPCET 2026 is expected to offer 3,500 to 4,000 seats across government and private engineering colleges in Himachal Pradesh. The confirmed seat count will be published by HIMTU on the official counselling portal at counselling-hptu.hp.gov.in.
Ques. How many government colleges participate in HPCET 2026 counselling?
Ans. Eight government engineering colleges participate in HPCET 2026 counselling. GEC Hamirpur offers the highest number of seats at 300 across five branches and is typically the most competitive among government institutes.
Ques. Which branch has the most seats under HPCET 2026?
Ans. Computer Science Engineering (CSE) has the highest seat count in HPCET 2026 with over 1,200 seats across all participating colleges. It is also the most popular and competitive branch with closing ranks generally lower than other branches.
Ques. What is the HP State Quota and All India Quota split for HPCET 2026?
Ans. 85% of HPCET 2026 seats fall under HP State Quota and 15% under All India Quota. Within the state quota: General 45%, SC 22%, OBC-NCL 18%, EWS 10% and ST 5%. PwD (3%) and Ex-Servicemen (1%) are horizontal reservations applied across all categories.
Ques. When will HPCET 2026 Round 1 seat allotment be released?
Ans. HPCET 2026 Round 1 seat allotment is expected in July 2026. Students should log in to the HPTU counselling portal at counselling-hptu.hp.gov.in with their registration credentials to check their allotment status once released.
Ques. Where can I download the official HPCET 2026 seat matrix PDF?
Ans. The official HPCET 2026 seat matrix PDF is available on himtu.ac.in under the Admissions section and on the counselling portal at counselling-hptu.hp.gov.in. Students can download it before or after logging in to the portal.
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