The JEE Main 2026 seat allotment will be conducted by the JoSAA through multiple counselling rounds in late June/July. Seat allotment will be done based on the JEE Main/Advanced Ranks for IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.
- JEE Main seat matrix (seat availability) 2026 is expected to be as it was in 2025. There will be around 45000 seats available in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs in 2026.
- NITs will have around 24000 seats, IIITs will have 10000 seats open, and GFTIs will have 11000 seats available.
- Allotment of seats will be done based on your JEE Main/Advanced Ranks, home state, and your reservation category (Gen, OBC NCL- 27%, ST - 15%, SC - 7.5%, EWS - 10%).
- JoSAA might conduct 6 or more rounds this year.
| Check JoSAA website for seat matrix and counselling (2025) - Click Here |
According to 2025 data, around 15,39,000 students registered for the JEE Main 2025 exam in both sessions, and 14.5 lakh appeared, showing an above 95% attendance rate. Around 20% of the total seats allotted by JoSAA were for female candidates.
Also Read:
What is JEE Main 2026 Seat Allotment Process?
JEE Main 2026 seat allotment is an online process, which will be conducted by the JoSAA to facilitate admissions into NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. The seat allotment is done on the basis of JEE Main rank, availability of seats (seat matrix), chosen colleges, and category.
The central seat allocation board (CSAB) might conduct special rounds (as in 2025) to fill up all the left-out seats and give opportunities to missed out students in the later period after official counselling rounds. Candidates must log in to the JoSAA portal to check their allotment status.
JEE Main 2026 Total Seats Intake
Seats will be allotted based on the JoSAA seat matrix, which will be released before the counselling process starts. Generally its released after the second session 2 of the JEE Main exam. JEE Main seat matrix (seat availability) 2026 is expected to be around 45000 seats available in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs in 2026.
- NITs will have around 24000 seats, IIITs will have 10000 seats, and GFTIs will have 11000 seats available.
- IITs are also expected to offer 18000 seats.
This year's expected seat matrix shows slight growth over previous years due to the expansion of seats in some IITs/NITs/IIITs, etc.
| Institute Type | General (~50%) | OBC (NCL) 27% | SC 15% | ST 7.5% | EWS 10% | PwD (5%)* | Total Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NITs | 12,000 – 12,500 | 6,480 – 6,750 | 3,600 – 3,750 | 1,800 – 1,875 | 2,400 – 2,500 | Horizontal | 24,000 – 25,000 |
| IIITs | 4,500 – 5,000 | 2,430 – 2,700 | 1,350 – 1,500 | 675 – 750 | 900 – 1,000 | Horizontal | 9,000 – 10,000 |
| GFTIs | 5,000 – 5,500 | 2,700 – 2,970 | 1,500 – 1,650 | 750 – 825 | 1,000 – 1,100 | Horizontal | 10,000 – 11,000 |
| Total (Approx.) | 22,500 – 24,000 | 12,150 – 12,960 | 6,450 – 6,900 | 3,225 – 3,450 | 4,500 – 4,800 | 5% | 45,000 – 48,000 |
Also Check:
Ques. What is JoSAA 2026?
Ans. Joint Seat Allotment Authority (JoSAA) is responsible for the joint seat allocation process for academic programs provided by IITs/NITs/IIITs/GFTIs, etc for the academic year 2026-27. JoSAA has representatives from JAB 2026 and CSAB 2026.
JEE Main 2026 Seat allotment process
JoSAA conducts a very streamlined process for the allotment of seats. Seats are allotted across multiple rounds based on your JEE Main 2026 rank, category, and choices. JoSAA follows the step-by-step process: -
- Registration & Login on JoSAA Portal with JEE Main application number and password.
- Choice filling by selecting the preferred colleges with branches from available options.
- Mock allotments for giving students an idea about the allocation process based on their choice and ranks.
- Seat Allotment: Check your allotment status online for each round.
- Seat acceptance will have 3 options: -
- Freeze the allocated seat and stop further upgrades.
- Float the seat for trying to get a better college/branch.
- Slide the seat for a better branch in the same institution.
- FEE payment for seat acceptance and document upload (JEE main score, category certificates).
- Reporting at the allocated college for final document verification.
Check: JoSAA Seat Matrix
Ques. Which institutes participate in JoSAA 2026?
Ans. Candidates who qualify for IIESTs/IITs/NITs/GFTIs for the academic session 2026-27 will participate in JoSAA 2026.
JEE Main 2026 Expected seat allotment date
Based on the previous years’ practices by JoSAA, the first round of seat allotment results will be declared in the fourth week of June 2026. Subsequent rounds (till the 6th round) for allotment will continue into next month (July). Reporting and fee payments will be done shortly after each round, thus leading to the final admissions by late July or August.
| Event | Expected Timeline (2026) |
|---|---|
| JoSAA Registration & Choice Filling | June 2026 |
| Mock Seat Allotment – Round 1 | Mid-June 2026 (3rd week) |
| Mock Seat Allotment – Round 2 | Mid-June 2026 (3rd week) |
| Seat Allotment – Round 1 | Late June 2026 (4th week) |
| Subsequent Seat Allotment Rounds | July 2026 |
| Reporting, Document Verification & Fee Payment | After each round (July 2026) |
| Final Reporting & Admission Closure | July – August 2026 |
Note: - Candidates are advised to check the official website of JoSAA and JEE Main from time to time during the allotment process.
Ques. What is the role of mock seat allocation?
Ans. There are two mock seat allocations on June 9 and 11, 2025 (see Annexure 3). It would help candidates to evaluate likely allotments based on the current preferences of registered candidates.
Total seats allotted by JoSAA in 2025
In the table below, the total seat breakdown is given. You are advised to check the category-wise number of total seats allotted in the year 2025 to have a better understanding of the seat allotment data and process.
| Category / Seat Pool | Seats |
|---|---|
| OPEN | 24,800 |
| OPEN-PwD | 1,217 |
| GEN-EWS | 5,944 |
| GEN-EWS-PwD | 279 |
| SC | 8,864 |
| SC-PwD | 462 |
| ST | 4,972 |
| ST-PwD | 220 |
| OBC-NCL | 15,314 |
| OBC-NCL-PwD | 781 |
| Total Seats (includes Female Supernumerary) | 62,853 |
| Program-Total Seat Capacity | 59,543 |
| Female Supernumerary Seats | 3,310 |
Ques. What rank lists are used for seat allocation?
Ans. Seat allocation in IITs is based on JEE (Advanced) 2025 rank, and in NIT+ system, it is based on JEE (Main) 2025 rank.
Ques. The choice filling deadline is already over. Am I allowed to make any changes in My choice list after the deadline?
Ans. NO. You will not be allowed to edit your choice list after the deadline for choice filling, i.e. you cannot change the order of your choices OR add any more programs in OR delete any program from the choice list after the deadline for choice filling.
JEE Main 2026 Rank vs Allotement
The AIR achieved by you in the JEE Main exam 2026 will have the most impact on the availability of seats for you in the various branches and institutes. Other than AIR, factors like reservation category, home state, and gender will also play a significant role in the determination of the college and branch you will get. Find the table below to better understand the rank and the college relation: -
For General Category Rank vs Top NITs
| JEE Main Rank Range | Institutes Likely Available | Preferred Branches |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 3,000 | Top NITs, Top IIITs, Top GFTIs | Computer Science, Electronics, IT |
| 3,001 – 10,000 | Mid-Top NITs, IIITs | ECE, CSE, Mechanical |
| 10,001 – 25,000 | Mid-level NITs, IIITs, GFTIs | Mechanical, Civil, ECE |
| 25,001 – 50,000 | Lower NITs, IIITs, GFTIs | Civil, Mechanical, Chemical |
| 50,001 – 1,00,000 | Lower-tier NITs, IIITs, GFTIs | Core & specialized branches |
| 1,00,001+ | GFTIs, State & Private Colleges | Branch depends on institute |
For the OBC NCL category
| JEE Main Rank Range | Institutes Likely Available | Preferred Branches |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 4,000 | Top NITs, IIITs | CSE, ECE |
| 4,001 – 15,000 | NITs, IIITs | ECE, Mechanical |
| 15,001 – 40,000 | Lower NITs, IIITs, GFTIs | Mechanical, Civil |
| 40,001 – 80,000 | GFTIs | Core branches |
| 80,001+ | GFTIs, State Colleges | Limited options |
For General EWS category: -
| JEE Main Rank Range | Institutes Likely Available | Preferred Branches |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 5,000 | Top NITs, IIITs | CSE, ECE |
| 5,001 – 15,000 | Mid-level NITs, IIITs | ECE, Mechanical |
| 15,001 – 40,000 | Lower NITs, GFTIs | Civil, Mechanical |
| 40,001+ | GFTIs, State Colleges | Branch varies |
For SC Categories
| JEE Main Rank Range | Institutes Likely Available | Preferred Branches |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 7,500 | Top & Mid NITs, IIITs | CSE, ECE, Mechanical |
| 7,501 – 25,000 | NITs, IIITs, GFTIs | Mechanical, Civil |
| 25,001 – 70,000 | Lower NITs, GFTIs | Most core branches |
| 70,001+ | GFTIs, State Colleges | Wide availability |
For the ST category
| JEE Main Rank Range | Institutes Likely Available | Preferred Branches |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 12,000 | NITs, IIITs, GFTIs | CSE, ECE, Mechanical |
| 12,001 – 40,000 | NITs, GFTIs | Core branches |
| 40,001 – 90,000+ | GFTIs | Most branches available |
Ques. How is a seat allocated to a candidate?
Ans. A seat in the highest possible choice of academic program is allocated considering the candidate's category, position in the respective rank list(s), and the order of preference of selected academic programs, the availability of seats in the eligible seats categories/quotas, and other business rules. The process follows a strict timeline and is online, and computer-operated.
Ques. What happens if multiple candidates have the same rank?
Ans. If there are fewer seats available under a category in a program than the number of candidates with the same category-wise rank seeking admission, all those candidates will be offered seats by creating the requisite number of additional seats.
JEE Main 2026 Document verification and fee submission process after Seat allotment
All the candidates who completed their counselling process properly have to submit the required documents to the reporting centre and online (as specified by JoSAA), wherever necessary: –
Source: Official rules document by JEE NTA (Click here)
All the applicants are required to complete the document verification process and meet the eligibility requirements.
- After arranging all the documents both in soft and hard copies, the candidate is required to go in person to the allotted institute for in-person verification or follow online verification guidelines if provided.
- Your allotted college will confirm your admission eligibility and will guide you throughout the further process.
Also Check: Documents required for counselling
Ques. What happens if I fail to complete the Online Reporting steps?
Ans. Failing to complete ALL steps of "Online Reporting" within the specified timeline of the round in which the seat is allocated will lead to the cancellation of the allocated seat, and the candidate will NOT be able to participate in subsequent JoSAA rounds. This is considered a rejection of the offer, and the candidate forfeits eligibility for admission to any institute through JoSAA 2025.
JEE Main 2026 Fee submission for seat allotment
- All the successful candidates who are allotted seats in the colleges need to submit the admission fee to confirm their admission.
- The required amount ot be paid within a specified time period (as directed by JoSAA) for admission fee is different for different categories: -
| Category | Required Admission Fee |
|---|---|
| General (Including EWS students) | 45,000 |
| SC/ST/PwD/OBC | 20,000 |
| Females | 20,000 |
Also Read: JEE Main 2026 college predictor
FAQs
Ques. What is the state code of eligibility?
Ans. State code of eligibility (applicable to NIT+ system) means the code of the state from where the candidate has first appeared in the Class XII (or equivalent) examination.
Ques. I am a PwD candidate and have a UDID card mentioning temporary disability. Do I need to physically visit the verification centre for PwD status verification?
Ans. No. In case of possession of a valid UDID card, irrespective of temporary or Permanent disability, the PwD status will be verified ONLINE from the uploaded UDID card.
Ques. Can I exit the seat allocation process if I have NOT been allotted a seat?
Ans. Yes, a candidate who has NOT been allotted a seat can EXIT the process (before the last date of Initiation). This also involves logging into the portal, submitting a request, and confirming with OTP. After exiting, the candidate will not be allowed to participate in further JoSAA rounds.
Ques. How many rounds of seat allocation are there?
Ans. There are expected to be around total of six rounds of seat allocation in JoSAA2026. This would be followed by the CSAB Special round for the NIT+ system if needed.
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