How Many Rounds Are There in JEE Advanced Counseling?

Number of Counseling Rounds in JEE Advanced (Through JoSAA)

After successfully qualifying JEE Advanced, the journey to secure a seat in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) continues through a well-structured counseling process known as JoSAA Counseling. One of the most important aspects to understand here is: How many rounds of counseling are conducted and how do they function?

Let’s break it down for complete clarity.

Total Number of Counseling Rounds

The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) conducts:

• 2 Mock Allotment Rounds
• 6 Real Counseling Rounds
• Occasionally, a 7th or spot round, based on vacant seat availability

So, in total:

• 7 actual allotment rounds after JEE Advanced

Counseling Timeline: What Happens in Each Round?

1. Mock Round 1 & 2

• Held before real counseling starts
• Simulates seat allotment based on your current choices and ranks
• Helps you understand your probability of getting a specific course/IIT
• You can modify your choices after these rounds

2. Main Rounds (Round 1 to Round 6)

Real seat allotment happens based on:

• JEE Advanced AIR (for IITs)
• Category (GEN, EWS, OBC, SC, ST, PwD)
• Filled-in preferences
• Seat availability

At the end of each round:

• You either get allotted a seat, or
• Move to the next round automatically if you’re not allotted yet

3. Special Rounds (If Applicable)

• In some years, a 7th round or spot round may be conducted
• Reserved for filling vacant or surrendered seats
• These rounds are optional and announced only if needed

What Happens After Each Round?

You must log in to the JoSAA portal after each round to:

• Check allotment status
• Choose an action:
  • Freeze (accept and don’t change)
  • Float (consider better options in later rounds)
  • Slide (change branch in same IIT, if available)

If a seat is allotted:

• Pay seat acceptance fee
• Upload required documents
• Report online for verification

Failure to complete these steps may result in seat cancellation or exclusion from further rounds.

Why Ranks May Shift in Later Rounds

Several factors cause closing ranks to shift in later rounds:

• Seat withdrawals by candidates
• Students opting for NITs or private colleges
• Candidates choosing to take a drop year

Hence, students who don’t get desired branches in early rounds might still get them in Round 5 or 6.

Final Admission

After all rounds:

• Final allotments are published
• Students report physically at allotted IITs
• Admission is confirmed after document verification