Comprehensive Guide to Eligibility, Reservations & Counselling Rounds

Eligibility Criteria

To participate in JoSAA Counselling 2025, candidates must meet the following eligibility requirements:

1. Qualifying Exam

• • Candidates must have a valid rank in JEE Main 2025 (for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs) or JEE Advanced 2025 (for IITs).

  • For B.Arch programs, candidates must qualify the Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT).

2. Class 12th Requirements

• Candidates must have passed Class 12th (or equivalent) with:
• Physics & Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
• One additional subject from Chemistry, Biotechnology, Biology, or Technical Vocational subjects.
•  Minimum Marks Requirement:
• General Category: 75% aggregate marks or be in the top 20 percentile of their board.
• Reserved Categories (SC/ST/OBC-NCL): 65% aggregate marks or be in the top 20 percentile of their board.

[Top 20 Percentile & 75% Aggregate Criteria for JoSAA Eligibility

Understanding the Eligibility Criteria

For admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs through JoSAA, candidates must meet one of the two criteria:

1. 75% Aggregate Marks in Class 12th (for General/EWS/OBC-NCL candidates) or 65% for SC/ST/PwD candidates.

2. Top 20 Percentile in their respective board examinations.

Top 20 Percentile Cutoff Marks

• The top 20 percentile cutoff varies across different boards.

• If a board does not provide percentile data, candidates must obtain a certificate from their board confirming their percentile ranking.

• If a candidate fails to provide this certificate, CBSE percentile cutoffs are used as a reference.

You can check the latest percentile cutoffs for different boards .

75% Aggregate Marks Criteria

• The 75% aggregate is calculated based on five subjects:

  1. Mathematics

  2. Physics

  3. One of Chemistry/Biology/Biotechnology/Technical Vocational Subject

  4. One Language

  5. Any Other Subject

• There is no minimum marks requirement for individual subjects, only the overall aggregate matters]

3. Nationality & Age Restrictions

1. • JoSAA counselling is primarily for Indian nationals.

   • There is no specific age restriction, but candidates must have completed Class 12th in the qualifying year.

Reservation Policy

JoSAA follows the Government of India’s reservation policy to ensure equitable access to engineering education. The reservation percentages are:

• SC/ST/OBC-NCL candidates must provide valid caste certificates.

• EWS candidates must provide an income certificate.

• PwD candidates must submit medical certificates verifying their disability.

JoSAA 2025 Counselling Process

The JoSAA 2025 counselling process involves multiple steps:

1. Registration & Choice Filling

   • Candidates must register online on the JoSAA portal using their JEE Main/Advanced credentials.

   • They must select their preferred institutes and courses based on their rank and eligibility.

2. Mock Seat Allocation

   • Conducted before final seat allotment to help candidates understand their chances based on choices filled.

3. Seat Allocation Rounds

   • Multiple rounds are conducted based on merit, preferences, and seat availability.

4. Document Verification & Fee Payment

   • Candidates must upload required documents and pay the admission fee.

5. Final Seat Confirmation

   • After successful verification, candidates confirm their allotted seat.

Counselling Rounds & Seat Allocation

JoSAA conducts multiple rounds(6) of counselling to ensure fair seat distribution:

1. Round 1: Initial Seat Allocation

   • Candidates receive their first seat allotment based on their rank and preferences.

   • They can choose to accept, float, or slide their seat.

     [Freeze, Float, and Slide Options in JoSAA Counselling

     During JoSAA counselling, candidates who are allotted a seat have three options to decide how they want to proceed with their admission. These options help students manage their preferences while ensuring they get the best possible seat allocation.

     1. Freeze Option

     • If a candidate is satisfied with the seat allotted to them and does not wish to participate in further rounds, they can choose the Freeze option.

     • This means they accept the seat and will proceed with admission to the allotted institute.

     • Once a candidate selects Freeze, they cannot participate in further rounds of seat allocation.

     2. Float Option

     • If a candidate accepts the allotted seat but wants to be considered for a better seat in subsequent rounds, they can choose the Float option.

     • The candidate will retain their current seat but will be considered for higher preference choices in the next rounds.

     • If a better seat is allotted in the next round, the previous seat is automatically forfeited.

     3. Slide Option

     • If a candidate accepts the allotted seat but wants to be considered for a better course within the same institute, they can choose the Slide option.

     • The candidate will retain their current institute but will be considered for higher preference courses in the next rounds.

• If a better course is allotted in the next round, the previous course is automatically forfeited.]

[JoSAA Seat Allotment Quotas Explained

JoSAA follows a structured seat allotment system to ensure fair distribution of seats across different categories and regions. Here’s a breakdown of the key quotas:

1. All India (AI) Quota

• Applicable to: IITs, IIITs, and GFTIs

• Who qualifies? Candidates from any state in India can apply under this quota.

• Seat Distribution: All seats in IITs and IIITs are allotted under the AI quota, meaning there is no home state advantage for these institutes.

2. Home State (HS) Quota

• Applicable to: NITs and some GFTIs

• Who qualifies? Candidates who have completed their Class 12th from the same state where the NIT or GFTI is located.

• Seat Distribution: 50% of seats in NITs are reserved for Home State candidates.

• Example: If a student from Telangana applies to NIT Warangal, they will be considered under the HS quota.

3. Other State (OS) Quota

• Applicable to: NITs and some GFTIs

• Who qualifies? Candidates from states other than the institute’s location.

• Seat Distribution: 50% of seats in NITs are reserved for Other State candidates.

• Example: If a student from Maharashtra applies to NIT Warangal, they will be considered under the OS quota.

4. GO Quota (Usually Goa Quota)

• Applicable to: NIT Goa

• Who qualifies? Candidates from Goa applying to NIT Goa.

• Seat Distribution: 40% of seats are reserved for Goa candidates, while 10% are reserved for candidates from Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and Lakshadweep.

5. Supernumerary Quotas

These are additional seats created for specific categories:

• Female Supernumerary Quota: Introduced to increase female participation in IITs.

• Foreign National Quota: Reserved for international students applying to IITs.

• Union Territory Quotas: Special quotas for students from Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and other UTs]

Option	What It Means	Further Seat Allocation?
Freeze	Accept the allotted seat and do not participate in further rounds.	❌ No
Float	Accept the seat but wait for a better seat in another institute.	✅ Yes
Slide	Accept the seat but wait for a better course in the same institute.	✅ Yes

1. Round 2-5: Subsequent Seat Allocations

   • Candidates who opted for float or slide are considered for better options.

   • If a candidate does not get their preferred choice in Round 1, they can participate in subsequent rounds.

2. Special Rounds (If Applicable)

   • Conducted for vacant seats after regular rounds.

   • Helps ensure maximum seat utilization.

Important Dates (Tentative)

• Registration & Choice Filling: Will be Started after the JEE Advanced Exam Results..

• Mock Seat Allocation: Conducted before final seat allotment.

• Seat Allocation Rounds: Five rounds expected.

• Final Admission Confirmation: After document verification.

How to Register for JoSAA 2025?

1. Visit the official JoSAA website – JoSAA Portal

2. Click on “Registration for JoSAA Counselling 2025.”

3. Enter JEE Main/Advanced credentials.

4. Fill in preferred choices for institutes and courses.

5. Review and lock choices before the deadline.

6. Participate in seat allocation rounds and complete admission formalities

If any seats vacant after the all Rounds of the JoSAA, there will be CSAB Counselling for the NIT+ System only. Know More