Quick answer: JoSAA counselling is the joint online process through which candidates who qualify in JEE Main and JEE Advanced are allotted seats at the IITs, NITs, IIITs and other government-funded technical institutes. In 2023, registration opened on 19 June and seats were allotted over six rounds from 30 June to 26 July. For the current year’s dates, always check the official JoSAA portal, josaa.nic.in.
Current year: where to find the latest JoSAA dates
This article was first published in June 2023 to announce that year’s counselling schedule. The 2023 schedule is kept below as a dated record, but it is not the current timetable.
For reference, the JoSAA 2026 schedule published in the Joint Seat Allocation Authority’s 2026 business rules followed the same pattern, about two weeks earlier than 2023:
- JEE (Advanced) 2026 result: 1 June 2026
- Registration and choice filling: 2 June to 11 June 2026
- Mock seat allocations: 8 June and 10 June 2026
- Round 1 seat allocation: 13 June 2026
- Round 6, the final round for IITs and IISc: 16 July 2026
- Partial admission fee for the NIT+ system: 22 to 24 July 2026, followed by the separate CSAB special rounds
The 2026 counselling ended in July 2026. The schedule for the next cycle is normally published on josaa.nic.in around the time the JEE (Advanced) result is declared. Check the official portal and the business rules for that year before you register; do not rely on dates from previous years.
How JoSAA counselling works
The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) is set up by the Ministry of Education to manage a single, combined admission process for engineering and architecture seats at the participating institutes. Instead of applying to each institute separately, a candidate fills in one ranked list of choices, and seats are allotted round by round based on rank, category and the seats available.
Who can register
- Candidates with a valid JEE (Main) rank can be considered for the NITs, IIITs and other government-funded technical institutes (GFTIs).
- Candidates who have also qualified in JEE (Advanced) can additionally be considered for the IITs.
- Architecture programmes at some IITs need the Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT) as well.
- Other conditions, such as the Class 12 performance criterion, are set out in that year’s JoSAA business rules on the portal.
The steps in order
- Register on josaa.nic.in using your JEE (Main) login details once registration opens.
- Fill in your choices of institute and programme in order of preference. List every option you would genuinely accept, and only those.
- Check the mock allocations. JoSAA displays two mock seat allocations based on the choices filled so far. Use them to review your list.
- Lock your choices before the deadline. Choices that are not locked manually are locked automatically when choice filling closes.
- See your seat allocation in each round. If you are allotted a seat, you choose Freeze (accept this seat), Float (accept, but be considered for a higher choice at any institute) or Slide (accept, but be considered for a higher choice at the same institute). Float and Slide are not available if you get your first choice, or in the final round.
- Complete online reporting by paying the seat acceptance fee, uploading documents and answering any queries within the round’s deadline. If you miss this, the seat is cancelled.
- Withdraw or exit if needed during the windows given in the schedule.
- After the final round, NIT+ system candidates pay the partial admission fee, and further vacant seats are filled through the Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB) special rounds on csab.nic.in.
For preparation advice before the exams themselves, see our guide to the best study materials for JEE, and for options after the results, what to do after JEE Main.
JoSAA 2023 schedule (archive)
The JoSAA 2023 counselling dates were released by the Joint Seat Allocation Authority on josaa.nic.in in June 2023. The JEE (Advanced) 2023 result was declared on 18 June 2023, and registration began the next day. Registration and choice filling closed on 28 June 2023, the Round 1 result came on 30 June 2023 and Round 2 on 6 July 2023. The full timetable as published:
| Event (2023) | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration and choice filling start | 19 June 2023 |
| Registration and choice filling start (for AAT candidates) | 24 June 2023 |
| Display of mock seat allocation 1 | 25 June 2023 |
| Display of mock seat allocation 2 | 27 June 2023 |
| Last date for registration and choice filling | 28 June 2023 |
| Reconciliation of data and verification | 29 June 2023 |
| Seat allocation (Round 1) | 30 June 2023 |
| Online reporting (Round 1) | 30 June to 4 July 2023 |
| Last day to respond to query (Round 1) | 5 July 2023 |
| Seat allocation (Round 2) | 6 July 2023 |
| Online reporting (Round 2) | 6 to 10 July 2023 |
| Withdrawal of seat / exit from process (Round 2) | 7 to 10 July 2023 |
| Last day to respond to query (Round 2) | 11 July 2023 |
| Seat allocation (Round 3) | 12 July 2023 |
| Online reporting (Round 3) | 12 to 14 July 2023 |
| Withdrawal of seat / exit from process (Round 3) | 13 to 14 July 2023 |
| Last day to respond to query (Round 3) | 15 July 2023 |
| Seat allocation (Round 4) | 16 July 2023 |
| Online reporting (Round 4) | 16 to 19 July 2023 |
| Withdrawal of seat / exit from process (Round 4) | 18 to 19 July 2023 |
| Last day to respond to query (Round 4) | 20 July 2023 |
| Seat allocation (Round 5) | 21 July 2023 |
| Online reporting (Round 5) | 21 to 24 July 2023 |
| Withdrawal of seat / exit from process (Round 5, last round for withdrawal or exit) | 21 to 24 July 2023 |
| Last day to respond to query (Round 5) | 25 July 2023 |
| Seat allocation (Round 6, final round for IITs) | 26 July 2023 |
| Online reporting (Round 6) | 26 to 28 July 2023 |
| Withdrawal of seat / exit (Round 6, NIT+ system only) | 26 to 27 July 2023 |
| Online payment of partial admission fee (NIT+ system) | 29 to 31 July 2023 |
How candidates registered in 2023
The 2023 process, as described when this article was first published, followed the same basic steps as today: visit josaa.nic.in, open the registration link, enter the required details, fill in choices, then review and lock them before the deadline.
Frequently asked questions
What is JoSAA counselling?
It is the combined online seat allocation process, run by the Joint Seat Allocation Authority, for admission to the IITs, NITs, IIITs and other government-funded technical institutes on the basis of JEE (Main) and JEE (Advanced) ranks.
How many rounds does JoSAA counselling have?
Both the 2023 and 2026 schedules had six rounds, with Round 6 the final round for the IITs. Check that year’s schedule, as the number can change.
What is the difference between Freeze, Float and Slide?
Freeze means you accept the allotted seat and stop participating in later rounds. Float means you accept it but want to be considered for a higher choice anywhere. Slide means you accept it but want to be considered only for a higher choice at the same institute.
What happens to seats left after JoSAA?
Vacant seats in the NIT+ system (NITs, IIITs and GFTIs) are filled through the CSAB special rounds, details of which are published on csab.nic.in.
When does JoSAA registration usually open?
Registration opens soon after the JEE (Advanced) result: on 19 June in 2023 and on 2 June in 2026. The exact date for each year is announced on josaa.nic.in.
Checked in October 2026 against the JoSAA 2026 schedule of events (business rules, Annexure 3) and the JoSAA 2023 schedule as published by participating institutes. Always confirm current dates on josaa.nic.in before registering or paying any fee.
