UPCET Counselling 2026: Registration, Choice Filling and Round Wise Seat Allotment

UPCET Counselling 2026 is conducted by UPTAC (Uttar Pradesh Technical Admissions Centralised) for admissions to B.Tech, B.Arch, B.Pharm, MBA, MCA, M.Tech, and Lateral Entry programs across government, aided, and private unaided institutions in Uttar Pradesh. The counselling registration window is currently open — it opened on May 25, 2026, and closes on June 15, 2026. Students must register, pay the non-refundable ₹1,000 fee, and lock their choices at the official portal, uptac.samarth.edu.in, before the deadline.

• Counselling body: UPTAC — Uttar Pradesh Technical Admissions Centralised, operating under Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU), Lucknow
• Registration window: May 25 – June 15, 2026 (currently open); registration fee ₹1,000 (non-refundable for all categories)
• Seat confirmation deposit: ₹20,000 for General, OBC-NCL, and EWS students; ₹12,000 for SC, ST, and PwD students
• Counselling covers B.Tech, B.Arch, B.Pharm, MBA, MCA, M.Tech, B.HMCT, and Lateral Entry (B.Tech LE, MCA LE) streams
• Five main allotment rounds plus a spot/special round; upgrade and freeze options available; withdrawal permitted in Rounds 2–4 only
• UP domicile holders compete in the Home State quota; students from outside UP are considered for seats remaining unfilled after all Home State rounds

Apply for UPCET Counselling 2026 — Register at UPTAC Portal

Reservation of Quotas for UPCET Counselling 2026

Seat reservation in UPCET 2026 counselling follows the Uttar Pradesh government reservation policy for higher technical education. Reservation applies within the Home State (UP domicile) quota. Category seats are not converted across rounds — SC, ST, OBC, and EWS seats remain reserved in each round until filled. Students claiming any category benefit must produce valid certificates issued by a competent authority in Uttar Pradesh.

The following horizontal reservations apply across all vertical categories — seats are distributed within each category’s share:

Note: All category certificates (SC / ST / OBC-NCL / EWS / PwD) must be issued by the competent authority in Uttar Pradesh. Certificates from other states are not accepted for claiming UP reservation benefits. OBC-NCL certificates must be dated on or after April 1, 2026, to be valid for UPCET 2026 counselling.

How to Apply for UPCET Counselling 2026?

The UPCET 2026 counselling application is fully online via the UPTAC portal at uptac.samarth.edu.in. Registering for counselling is mandatory — your UPCET rank alone does not guarantee a seat. Complete all five steps below before the June 15, 2026, deadline to be considered for seat allotment.

Step 1: Register on the Official UPTAC Portal

Visit uptac.samarth.edu.in and click on the relevant program-wise counselling link (for example, "B.Tech / B.E. Counselling 2026" or "MBA Counselling 2026"). Click "New Registration" and enter your UPCET 2026 roll number, date of birth, and a valid email address. An OTP is sent to your registered mobile number; verify it to activate your account. After registration, the system generates a unique User ID and a temporary password — change the password immediately and store your credentials safely, as you will need them throughout the counselling process.

Step 2: Pay the Counselling Registration Fee

Log in to the portal and navigate to the fee payment section. The counselling registration fee is ₹1,000 for all categories — General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, and PwD — and is non-refundable under all circumstances. Payment is accepted via net banking, debit card, credit card, or UPI through the integrated payment gateway. After a successful transaction, download and save the payment receipt in PDF format. An incomplete payment — for example, a failed transaction that was debited but not credited to UPTAC — must be resolved immediately through the UPTAC helpdesk (uptac.helpdesk@aktu.ac.in) before proceeding. Without confirmed fee payment, your registration remains incomplete and you will not appear in seat allotment.

Step 3: Fill and Lock Your Choices

After fee payment, click "Choice Filling and Locking" on the dashboard. You will see a searchable list of all participating colleges and available branches, filterable by program, university zone, district, institution type (government / private), and fee range. Add colleges and programs in your order of preference — the first entry in your list is the college you want most. Fill at least 15–20 choices to maximise your chances across all allotment rounds. You can save your list and revisit it multiple times before the June 15, 2026, deadline. When your preference order is finalised, click "Lock Choices" and confirm — your list is then sealed and cannot be edited.

Step 4: Document Verification

After the registration window closes on June 15, 2026, UPTAC schedules the online document verification phase (tentatively June 16–20, 2026). Log in to the portal and upload clear scanned copies of all required documents in the specified format and file-size limit. In select cases, UPTAC may route students to a designated Help Centre for physical verification. Students whose documents are not verified within the stipulated window are excluded from all allotment rounds. Keep every original document organized and ready — do not wait until the final day of the verification window to upload, as portal traffic is typically high near deadlines.

Step 5: Seat Acceptance and Confirmation Deposit

After Round 1 seat allotment (tentatively June 25, 2026), log in to the portal to view your allotted seat. If you wish to accept the seat, pay the seat confirmation deposit — ₹20,000 for General / OBC / EWS students and ₹12,000 for SC / ST / PwD students — within the Round 1 reporting window (June 26–30, 2026). This deposit is adjusted against your first-year tuition fees when you physically join the college. You also choose at this stage whether to Freeze your current seat, opt for an Upgrade (to remain in contention for a higher-preference seat in Round 2), or — from Round 2 onward — Withdraw from counselling. The Upgrade and Withdraw options are explained in full in the dedicated section below.

How to Lock Choices in UPCET Counselling 2026

Choice locking is the step that determines which seat the UPTAC allotment engine assigns you. The engine matches your rank against available seats and assigns the best (highest-ranked in your list) option that is available for your category. Follow the steps below carefully before the June 15, 2026, deadline.

Step 1: Log In to the UPTAC Portal

• Go to uptac.samarth.edu.in and click the counselling link for your program.
• Enter your User ID and password, then complete any CAPTCHA verification shown.

Step 2: Open the Choice Filling Interface

• Click "Choice Filling and Locking" from your dashboard.
• Use the filters — program, university zone, district, institution type, category fees — to browse the list of participating colleges and branches.

Step 3: Build and Order Your Preference List

• Click "Add to My List" next to each college-branch combination you want to include.
• Use the up/down arrow buttons to arrange your selections — place the college and branch you want most at position 1.
• Include choices from different branches, districts, and institution types; a longer, more diverse list protects you if top choices are filled by higher-ranked students.

Step 4: Save and Review

• Click "Save Choices" to preserve your current list without locking it. You can return and edit the order as many times as needed before the deadline.
• Use the "Preview" or "Print" option to review the final ordering and confirm it matches your intent.

Step 5: Lock Your Choices

• When you are satisfied with the final order, click "Lock Choices".
• A confirmation dialog appears — read it carefully, then click "Confirm Lock".
• The portal displays a locked-choice summary. Download or print this summary as proof of your submission.

Once confirmed, your choices are locked and cannot be modified. If you do not click "Confirm Lock" before June 15, 2026, your most recently saved (but unlocked) list will be taken as your final preference by UPTAC — however, explicitly locking is strongly recommended to avoid any ambiguity or technical discrepancy.

UPCET Counselling Documents Required 2026

Prepare all documents listed below in originals as well as clear scanned copies (PDF or JPEG, under 100 KB per file unless UPTAC specifies otherwise). Blurred, cropped, or tampered scans will be rejected during the verification phase, and your allotment may be withheld. Documents with mismatched information (name spelling, date of birth, father’s name) across certificates must be reconciled through an affidavit before submission.

• UPCET 2026 Admit Card
• UPCET 2026 Scorecard / Rank Letter (downloaded from the official NTA or UPTAC portal)
• Class 10 Marksheet and Passing Certificate (serves as date-of-birth and board proof)
• Class 12 Marksheet and Passing Certificate (from the qualifying board)
• Transfer Certificate (TC) from the last institution attended
• Character Certificate from the last institution attended (issued within six months of counselling)
• UP Domicile Certificate — for students who passed the qualifying exam from a UP board, a domicile certificate in their own name; for students from boards outside UP, their parent’s UP domicile certificate
• Caste Certificate — SC/ST/OBC-NCL students must provide a certificate issued by the competent authority in Uttar Pradesh
• OBC Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) Certificate — must be issued on or after April 1, 2026
• EWS Certificate — Income and Asset Certificate issued by SDM or higher authority; must be dated on or after April 1, 2026
• PwD Certificate — issued by a government medical board or Disability Certification Authority
• Rural Weightage Certificate — issued by the SDM or equivalent authority (if claiming this benefit)
• Ex-Servicemen / Freedom Fighter dependency or identity certificate (if claiming horizontal reservation)
• NATA 2026 or JEE Main 2026 Paper 2 Scorecard — B.Arch students only
• Graduation Degree and all semester/year marksheets — MBA and MCA students
• Diploma Marksheets (all semesters) — B.Tech Lateral Entry students
• Recent passport-size photographs — minimum 6 identical copies on a white background (same photo used in the UPCET 2026 application)
• Government-issued photo ID — Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, or Passport
• Gap Certificate — if there is a year gap between the qualifying exam and 2026; sworn affidavit on stamp paper is acceptable
• Migration Certificate — if the qualifying examination board is outside Uttar Pradesh
• Counselling registration fee payment receipt (downloaded from the UPTAC portal)

Note: All category certificates — SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, and PwD — must be issued by Uttar Pradesh government authorities. Certificates from other states are not valid for claiming UP reservation benefits, even for students who are originally from UP but schooled elsewhere.

How Much Money is Needed for UPCET Counselling 2026?

UPCET 2026 counselling involves two separate payments: a non-refundable registration fee paid upfront by all students, and a seat confirmation deposit paid only if you are allotted a seat and choose to accept it. Understanding the refund rules before paying the deposit will help you plan if you decide to withdraw later.

Non-Refundable Fees

The counselling registration fee is payable at the time of registration and is not refunded under any circumstances — irrespective of whether you receive a seat, withdraw, or fail document verification.

Refundable Fees (Seat Confirmation Deposit)

If you are allotted a seat and wish to accept it, you must pay the seat confirmation deposit within the reporting window for that round. This deposit is credited toward your first-year tuition fee when you physically join the college. If you withdraw after accepting a seat, the seat confirmation deposit is refunded minus a ₹1,000 deduction — the net refund is ₹19,000 for General / OBC / EWS students and ₹11,000 for SC / ST / PwD students. If you neither pay the deposit nor report, you lose the allotted seat but no deposit is forfeited since none was paid.

For the Spot / Special Round, a separate participation fee of ₹20,000 applies for all students entering that round. This fee is fully refunded if the student is not allotted any seat in the spot round; the ₹1,000 deduction applies only if the student is allotted a seat and subsequently withdraws.

Refunds are processed directly to the bank account linked during UPTAC registration, typically within 30–45 working days after the counselling cycle concludes. Ensure your bank account details entered during registration are accurate and the account is active.

UPCET 2026 Counselling Round-Wise Seat Allotment

UPTAC conducts seat allotment in five regular rounds plus a spot/special round to maximise seat utilisation. Seats vacated by students who withdraw or do not report in one round are carried forward and made available in the next round. Allotment in every round is based on your UPCET rank, your locked preference order, seat availability in your category, and any applicable reservation quota. Students not allotted a seat in one round automatically remain eligible for the next round — no additional registration is required.

How allotment works: The UPTAC allotment engine processes every registered student’s locked preference list simultaneously. It assigns each student the highest-ranked college-branch combination for which a seat is available in their category, given their rank. Students with better ranks are served first within each category. If your first choice has no available seat for your rank, the engine checks your second choice, then your third, and so on down your locked list.

Spot / Special Round: After Round 5, any seats that remain vacant — because allotted students withdrew or did not report — are pooled for the spot round. Only students who registered for UPCET 2026 counselling but were not allotted any seat across Rounds 1–5 are eligible for the spot round. Allotment in the spot round is final; no upgrade or freeze window follows. A separate ₹20,000 participation fee applies (refundable if no seat is allotted).

Note: The Withdraw option is not available in Round 1 or Round 5 as a portal action. In Round 1, you must either Freeze or Upgrade your seat. In Round 5, choosing not to report within the window is treated as a de facto withdrawal and triggers the refund process for the deposit already paid.

How to Report to Your Allotted College

After accepting your allotted seat and paying the seat confirmation deposit, you must physically report to the college within the reporting window for that round. Failure to report by the deadline results in automatic cancellation of your seat — it is then offered to the next eligible student in the following round. Keep the following steps in mind when reporting.

• Log in to the UPTAC portal and download the Seat Allotment Letter for the round in which you were allotted. Print at least two copies.
• Carry all original documents listed in the Documents Required section, along with at least two sets of self-attested photocopies of each document.
• Report to the college’s Admission Office on any working day within the reporting window — reporting on the first day of the window, not the last, is strongly recommended to avoid last-minute issues.
• The college’s admission committee verifies every original document. If any document is found invalid, inconsistent, or missing, your provisional admission may be withheld until the issue is resolved.
• Pay the remaining first-year fees (tuition, development, examination, hostel if opted) as per the college’s officially published fee schedule. The seat confirmation deposit already paid to UPTAC is adjusted (deducted) from this total at the institution level.
• Sign and submit the anti-ragging undertaking (mandatory under UGC / AICTE guidelines) — both you and a parent or guardian must sign.
• Submit originals of Domicile, Caste, and Category certificates to the college as required; collect a dated acknowledgement receipt for each original submitted.
• Collect your Provisional Admission Letter from the college’s admission office after document verification and fee payment are complete.

Note: If you chose the Upgrade (Float) option after Round 1, 2, 3, or 4, you still hold a seat and must pay the seat confirmation deposit within the reporting window to keep your current allotment and remain eligible for upgrade. Failing to pay the deposit within the window forfeits both your current seat and your upgrade eligibility.

Upgrade, Freeze, and Withdraw: Which Option to Choose?

After each round’s seat allotment, students who have been allotted a seat must select one of the available options within the reporting window. Your choice determines whether you hold or release your current seat and whether you participate in the next round. Choose carefully — some options are irreversible once the reporting window closes.

Key points before choosing an option:

• The Withdraw option is only available as an explicit portal action in Rounds 2, 3, and 4. In Round 1, you must choose Freeze or Upgrade. In Round 5, not reporting within the window is treated as a withdrawal.
• If you select Upgrade and a better choice becomes available in the next round, the system automatically upgrades you. Your previous seat is released to other students. You cannot decline an upgrade once it is processed.
• If you select Upgrade and no better seat is available in the next round, you retain your current allotted seat. Choosing Upgrade carries no downside risk on your current seat.
• If you select Freeze after Round 1 or Round 2, you no longer appear in the allotment engine for subsequent rounds. You must physically report to the Frozen college within the current reporting window.
• If you withdraw after accepting a seat, the seat confirmation deposit is refunded minus ₹1,000 deduction. The remaining amount (₹19,000 or ₹11,000 depending on category) is returned to your bank account after the counselling cycle ends.
• Students not allotted a seat in Rounds 1–5 do not need to choose any option — they automatically qualify for the Spot / Special Round.