JoSAA 2026 counselling guidelines revise OCI quota rules, expand preparatory rank lists; IISc joins

The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) has released the counselling guidelines for the 2026–27 academic session, outlining the admission process for the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), IIITs, IIEST, and other Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs). The counselling process serves as a centralized platform for allocating seats based on candidates' performance in JEE (Advanced) 2026 and JEE (Main) 2026. JoSAA Counselling 2026 Registration Today LIVE

Compared to the 2025-26 admission cycle, the JoSAA 2026-27 guidelines introduce several notable updates. The most significant change is the inclusion of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru in the joint seat allocation process alongside the IITs, leading to revisions in multiple sections of the rulebook.

The new guidelines also provide greater clarity for OCI/PIO (I) candidates by specifying that those who complete Class XII abroad are eligible only for Other State or All India quota seats and not Home State quota seats in the NIT+ System. Another important update relates to preparatory course admissions, with the 2026-27 rules expanding the number of preparatory rank lists from four to seven by adding separate categories for OBC-NCL-PwD, SC-PwD, and ST-PwD candidates.

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The document also adopts the broader term “NIT+ System” more consistently instead of repeatedly listing NITs, IIEST, IIITs, and other GFTIs. Additionally, while the framework for female supernumerary seats remains unchanged, the latest rules provide more detailed explanations on how Female-Only seat pools are distributed across various categories and state quotas, enhancing transparency in the allocation process.

JoSAA Counselling 2026: Important dates

The registration/choice filling for the JoSAA Counselling 2026 will begin today at 5 pm. Candidates can find out more important dates below:

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JoSAA Counselling 2026: Eligibility criteria

Candidates are eligible to participate in the joint seat allocation process if they meet one or more of the prescribed criteria. Students seeking admission to the IITs and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) must have qualified in JEE (Advanced) 2026. Those aspiring for admission to the NIT+ system, including NITs, IIITs, and other Government-Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs), must possess a valid rank in JEE (Main) 2026.

In addition, all candidates are required to satisfy the Class XII (or equivalent) academic performance criteria specified in the JoSAA Business Rules, including the relevant eligibility provisions outlined for IITs, IISc, and the NIT+ system.