Participate in JoSAA Counseling
What to Do ↴
- Register on josaa.nic.in (opens in June).
- Fill and lock choices for NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs based on your JEE Main All India Rank (AIR).
- Participate in five rounds of seat allotment (June-July).
- If allotted a seat, pay the seat acceptance fee (₹35,000 for General, ₹15,000 for SC/ST/PwD) and complete document verification.
Why Choose ↴
JoSAA allocates seats in 31 NITs, 26 IIITs, and 40 CFTIs. Higher ranks can secure seats in lower-tier NITs (e.g., NIT Nagaland, NIT Sikkim) or IIITs (e.g., IIIT Kalyani, IIIT Una) in less competitive branches like Civil, Chemical, or Metallurgy.
CSAB Special Round Counseling
What to Do ↴
- If no seat is allotted in JoSAA, register for CSAB Special Rounds on csab.nic.in (August ).
- Pay the counseling fee (approx. ₹2,000).
- Fill choices for vacant seats in NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs.
- Check results for two rounds, pay the seat acceptance fee (₹37,000 for General/EWS/OBC-NCL, ₹17,000 for SC/ST/PwD), and complete verification.
Why Choose ↴
Fills vacant seats after JoSAA, with cutoffs often extending to ranks above 10,00,000 for some NITs/IIITs. Ideal for securing seats in less popular branches or institutes.
Participate in CSAB NEUT Counseling
What to Do ↴
- Register on csab.nic.in (typically June-July) if you belong to North-Eastern states (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura) or Union Territories (Andaman & Nicobar, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Lakshadweep). Pay the counseling fee (approx. ₹3,000, subject to change).
- Fill choices for seats reserved in AICTE-approved institutes and NITs for NEUT candidates.
- Check seat allotment results, pay the seat acceptance fee, and report to the allotted institute for admission.
Why Choose ↴
Reserves seats for NEUT candidates in institutes like NITs and AICTE-approved colleges (e.g., NERIST Itanagar). Around 740 seats are allocated under NEUT, with relaxed cutoffs for eligible candidates.
Apply for CSAB Supernumerary Counseling
What to Do ↴
-
Register on csab.nic.in (August) if you belong to Union
Territories (Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep,
Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli).
-
Fill choices for supernumerary seats in NIT Calicut, NIT
Durgapur, and SVNIT Surat.
-
Check the single-round seat allotment result, pay the seat
acceptance fee (₹37,000 for
General/EWS/OBC-NCL, ₹17,000 for SC/ST/PwD), and complete
document verification.
Why Choose ↴
Offers supernumerary seats specifically for UT candidates, with higher rank cutoffs. Ideal for securing seats in reputed NITs if you meet the eligibility criteria.
Explore State-Level Counseling
What to Do ↴
- Apply for state-specific counseling that accepts JEE Main ranks (e.g., TNEA for Tamil Nadu, MHT-CET CAP for Maharashtra, REAP for Rajasthan, WBJEE for West Bengal).
- Register on the state's counseling website (e.g., tneaonline.org, cetcell.mahacet.org).
- Pay the counseling fee (₹500-₹2,000, varies by state).
- Fill choices for government and private colleges, participate in seat allotment, and complete admission formalities.
Why Choose ↴
State quota seats (up to 50%) have lower cutoffs for domicile candidates. All India Quota seats in state colleges are accessible for higher JEE Main ranks.
Consider Institute-Specific Counseling
What to Do ↴
- Apply to institutes like IIIT Hyderabad, BIT Mesra, or Thapar University that conduct their own admissions based on JEE Main ranks.
- Visit institute websites (e.g., ugadmissions.iiit.ac.in, bitmesra.ac.in), register, and submit your JEE Main rank.
- Pay the application fee (₹1,000-₹5,000) and follow their seat allotment process.
Why Choose ↴
Offers additional opportunities for reputed institutes with flexible rank requirements. Some institutes may accept higher ranks for specific programs.
Important Tips for Choice Filling
- Select Less Demanding Colleges : Prioritize lower-tier NITs (e.g., NIT Arunachal Pradesh, NIT Meghalaya), IIITs (e.g., IIIT Bhagalpur, IIIT Surat), and CFTIs (e.g., GGU Bilaspur, NIFFT Ranchi) to increase your chances.
- Choose Less Competitive Branches : Opt for branches like Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, or Biotechnology.
- Research Cutoffs : Check previous year's JoSAA and CSAB cutoff ranks on josaa.nic.in and csab.nic.in.
- Category Benefits : Leverage lower cutoff ranks for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwD categories.
- Keep Documents Ready : JEE Main admit card, score card, Class 10/12 mark sheets, category certificate, and photo ID.
- Apply Early : Monitor state and institute-specific counseling deadlines.
- Consider Reattempting JEE Main : Prepare for the next JEE Main session (January/April 2026) for better institutes.
Eligibility ↴
Candidates must meet Class 12 criteria (75% marks for General, 65% for SC/ST, or top 20 percentile in board exams) and have a valid JEE Main rank.
JoSAA and CSAB ↴
All JEE Main rank holders are eligible, with no upper rank limit for counseling.
State Counseling ↴
Domicile candidates benefit from state quota seats; check state-specific eligibility (e.g., residency proof).
Important Dates ( Tentative ) ↴
- JoSAA counseling: June-July.
- CSAB Special Rounds: August.
- State counseling: June-September (varies by state).
- Institute-specific counseling: June-September.
- Verify dates on josaa.nic.in, csab.nic.in, or state/institute websites.
Additional Options ↴
If counseling doesn't yield a seat, explore private colleges (e.g., VIT Vellore, SRM Chennai) via JEE Main ranks or management quota, but compare fees and placements.
Document Checklist ↴
- JEE Main admit card and score card.
- Class 10 and 12 mark sheets.
- Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS, if applicable).
- PwD certificate (if applicable).
- Photo ID proof (Aadhaar, passport, etc.).
- Three passport-size photographs.
- Seat allotment letter and fee payment proof (for JoSAA/CSAB).