JEE Main Counselling 2026: Procedure, Steps to Apply and More

Overview: The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSSA) conducts the JEE Main Counselling and seat allotment processes. The JEE Main 2026 counselling process is ongoing. The JEE Counselling Date for 2026 will be announced along with the 

The JEE Main 2026 counselling and seat allotment process depends on the All India Rank (AIR) obtained by the students in the entrance exam. This counselling procedure follows the completion of the annual JEE Main examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

JEE Counselling is pivotal for candidates aspiring to secure admission into prestigious engineering institutions across India.

In this article, you get to know all about

• The JEE Main Counselling process
• Seat allotment process
• Major Colleges
• And more

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JEE Main Counselling 2026

The JEE Main 2026 counselling process comprises several stages designed to allocate seats based on merit, preferences, and availability, ensuring a fair and transparent admission process.

Students who want to participate in the JEE Main counselling process should note that the JEE main rank is only applicable for admission to NITs (National Institutes of Technology), IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology), and GFTIs (Government-Funded Technical Institutes).

• The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSSA) runs combined counselling and seat allotment procedure for all the IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology), IIITs (Indian Institutes of Information Technology), NITs (National Institutes of Technology), and other centrally funded technical institutes (CFTIs).
• JoSAA conducts for allotting seats to 110 participating institutes, which comprises IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other GFTIs. JoSAA will announce Seat Allotment for rounds 1-6 by opening and closing ranks on the official portal.
• JoSSA is the combined counselling for both JEE Mains and JEE Advanced qualified candidates.
• CSAB SFTI is directed for admission to 18 Self-Funded Technical Institutes.
• CSAB NEUT is directed for seats restrained in AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) approved institutes in India that are not enclosed under CSAB for the North Eastern States & Union Territories (NEUT).

Check Out: JEE Main Paper 2 Study Plan - Points to Remember

Highlights of JEE Main Counselling 2026

Conducting Authority	JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority)
	CSAB(Central Seat Allocation Board) NEUT(North-Eastern states & Union Territories)
	CSAB(Central Seat Allocation Board)SFTI (self-financed technical institutes)
Mode of Counselling	Online
Official website	jeemain.nta.ac.in
Minimum Eligibility	JEE Main Rank
Total Participating Colleges	JoSSA – 110 institutes (IITs, IIITs, GFTIs, AND NITs)
	CSAB NEUT – 213 AICTE institutes
	CSAB SFTI – 18 Self-Funded Technical Institutes

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Check Out: JEE Main Exam Dates

JEE Main 2026 Counselling Dates

The table below shows the list of events for JEE Counselling 2026, and the dates will be announced along with other JEE Main 2026 updates -

Events	Dates
JEE Main 2024 Answer Key Session 1	Feb 2026
JEE Main 2024 Answer Key Challenge Session 1	Feb 2026
JEE Main 2024 Result Session 1	Feb 2026
JEE Main 2024 Answer Key Challenge Session 2	Apr 2026
JEE Main 2024 Answer Key Session 2	Apr 2026
JEE Main 2024 Result Session 2	Apr 2026
JEE Main 2024 Session 2 Paper 2 result	May 2026
JEE Main Counselling Registration 2024	Jun 2026
Round 1 Seat Allotment	Jun 2026
Round 2 Seat Allotment	Jun 2026
Round 3 Seat Allotment	Jul 2026
Round 4 Seat Allotment	Jul 2026
Round 5 Seat Allotment	Jul 2026

JEE Main Counselling 2026 Eligibility Criteria for Admission Process

• Admission to these institutes in B.Tech / B. Arch / B.E. / B. Planning courses will be based on the All India Rank with the requirement that the candidate should have obtained at least 75% in the 12th examination or should have been in the top 20 percentile in 12th.
• The requirement for SC / ST category candidates is 65% in 12th.

JEE Main Eligibility Criteria for Admission to B.Arch

• The requirement for an architecture course (B.Arch) includes passing an examination at the end with 50% in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics and 50% aggregate of the qualifying examination.
• For B. Planning, the candidate should have attained a minimum of 50% marks in Mathematics and 50% in the qualifying examination's aggregate.

Subject combinations mandated in the qualifying examination for entry to B.E. / B.Tech, B.Arch, and B. Planning courses in IITs, NITs, and other CFTIs shall be under:

Course	Required Criteria based on Class 12th / Equivalent qualifying examination
B.E / B.Tech	Passed qualifying examination with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects along with one of the Chemistry / Biotechnology / Biology / Technical Vocational subjects.
B. Arch	Passed qualifying examinations in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry
B. Planning	Passed qualifying examination with Mathematics

JEE Main Eligibility Criteria for Admission to Other Institutions

• Other technical institutions that participate in counselling through CSAB / JoSAA could adopt the abovementioned criteria.
• If a state plans to admit students into engineering colleges affiliated with state universities, the state may prepare a separate rank list based on the guidelines they have set.

Documents Required for JEE Main Counselling 2026

• Document verification will be conducted for all the candidates who are allotted seats.
• The candidate's document verification will be conducted after each round. Any breach of the norms may lead to disqualification of the candidature.
• Candidates should carry original and multiple attested copies during the seat confirmation process.

The table below shows the documents required for the JEE counselling process 2026:

Personal Details	Academic Qualification	Caste/ Physical Disability Certificate
Photo Identity Card	Class 10th Mark sheet	Category (OBC – NCL / SC/ ST) certificate, if applicable
Medical Examination Report	Class 12th Mark sheet	OBC NCL declaration, if required
Proof of Date of Birth	JEE Main Admit Card 2026	PwD Certificate, if applicable
Proof of Seat Acceptance Fee Payment	Provisional Seat Allotment Letter	-
Three passport–size photographs	-	-

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Check Out: JEE Main 2026 Paper 2 Admit Card Dates

JEE Main Counselling Procedure 2026

• Candidates who cannot perform JEE Advanced and have cleared JEE Main are eligible for seats in colleges like NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.
• The candidates who have cleared JEE Main 2026 must register online and choose their preferred college and course.
• Seat allotment will be done online based on the candidate's rank, category, seat availability, and other factors.
• After the seats are allotted, the candidates must report to the allotted institute for document verification and fee payment.

Step 1: Online Registration

• Candidates should visit the official website of the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA), Self-Funded Technical Institutes, or AICTE-approved Institutes, respectively, according to their preferences.
• Login using the JEE Main 2026 Application Number, Password, and Security PIN.
• Click on 'I Agree' after carefully reading all the instructions.
• Fill in the required details in the JoSAA counselling Form.
• Click on Submit after selecting the declaration.
• After verifying all the provided details, click the 'Confirm Registration' button.

Step 2: Online Choice Filling and Locking

• Choose your desired college and program and fill in your choices in the form given by the concerned authority.
• You have filled in the choice according to the order given for the colleges.
• Candidates should choose to change/edit/delete their filled choices.
• After filling in all the choices, candidates must lock and submit.
• Lock the choice before the last date.
• Candidates can do choice locking after each round of JEE Main 2026 counselling.

Check Out: Colleges Taking Admission Through JEE Main Exam

Step 3: Allotment of Seats

The concerned authority allots seats based on the following factors: -

• Candidate's Category (General, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, etc.)
• Availability of the seats in the concerned authority
• Candidate's All India Rank (AIR) in JEE main 2026 rank list.
• Candidate's priority order of choices for academic programs and institutes.

Before making the final seat allocation, two rounds of mock allotment will be directed to the eligible candidates.

Mock Rounds will help candidates understand the seat allotment procedure in detail and allow them to make changes before the counselling round starts.

Step 4: Acceptance of Seats, Fee Payment, and Document Verification

• After allotment of the seats, pay the seat acceptance fee through net banking or E Challan.
• Bring all the documents because they will be verified at the reporting centre.
• A provisional admission letter will be issued after the fee payment and document verification process.

Step 5: Reporting to the Allotted College

• The last and final step of the JEE Main 2026 Counselling process is reporting to the assigned institutes with original certificates and documents on the allotted date and time slot.

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Check Out: JEE Main Eligibility Criteria

Key Takeaways

JEE Main Counselling is a critical gateway for engineering aspirants seeking admission to premier institutions in India.

• By integrating a systematic approach that considers merit, preferences, and availability, the counselling process facilitates a fair and efficient allocation of seats.
• As candidates navigate through the various stages of counselling, they are empowered to make well-informed decisions that align with their academic aspirations and career goals.
• JEE Main Counselling is vital in shaping engineering students' future, ensuring deserving candidates secure placements in institutions that best match their talents and ambitions.
• This process underscores the importance of meritocracy and emphasizes the commitment to excellence within India's education landscape.