After the results: getting the seat

Counselling is how seats are actually handed out. Miss one step and a good rank can still end with no seat. Here is each system, step by step.

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Which counselling is yours?

JoSAA CSAB Special Rounds MCC counselling for NEET-UG CSAS (UG) for the University of Delhi CLAT counselling UCEED B.Des seat allocation State counselling

How to fill your choices

This works for every system below. It is advice, not a rule.

Put choices strictly in the order you would really prefer to join. The system gives you the highest choice your rank allows; it never asks you again.
Only list places you would actually join. With Float or upgrade, a higher choice replaces your current seat automatically and you usually cannot go back.
Fill many choices. Every system considers you only for what is on your list, even if seats lie empty elsewhere.
Use last year's opening and closing ranks (published by JoSAA, MCC and others) as a rough guide only. Cut-offs move every year.
Keep a mix: a few dream choices at the top, many realistic ones in the middle, and several safe ones at the bottom.
Check each college's fee, bond, hostel and location before listing it, especially deemed and private colleges.
Use mock allotments (JoSAA) or simulated ranks (DU) to adjust your list while choice filling is still open.
Do not wait for the last hour to lock choices or pay. Portals slow down near deadlines. Lock early and download the printout.
Before every round, re-read what each option means in that round. The last round often removes Float, Slide or Upgrade.

JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority)B.Tech, B.Arch and similar seats at IITs, IISc, NITs, IIEST, IIITs and other government-funded technical institutes (GFTIs).

Run by: Joint Seat Allocation Authority, made up of the Joint Admission Board for JEE (Advanced) and the Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB), under the Ministry of Education.
When: Right after the JEE (Advanced) result. In 2026, registration and choice filling ran from 2 June to 11 June, Round 1 came out on 13 June and the last round (Round 5) on 16 July. 2026 had five rounds; 2025 had six.

Step by step

Register on the JoSAA portal
Registration is compulsory even if you only want an IIT. You confirm your gender, state code of eligibility (the state where you first took Class 12) and nationality, and give your contact details. There is no fee to register. You may pay the seat acceptance fee and upload documents in advance at this stage; JoSAA strongly advises doing so to avoid last-minute upload failures.
Fill choices (institute plus programme) in order
List every programme you are willing to join, most wanted first. You will never be offered anything that is not on your list. Only one seat is ever given to you, even if you are eligible through more than one exam.
Watch the two mock allocations
JoSAA runs two mock seat allocations during the choice-filling window (in 2026, from choices saved on 7 June and 9 June). They show what you would likely get from your current list. Use them to reorder or add choices. They are not an allotment.
Lock your choices
Lock before the deadline. If you forget, your last saved list is locked automatically. You can unlock with an OTP and edit only until the choice-filling deadline. After the deadline nothing can be added, removed or reordered.
Seat allocation rounds
In each round you check the portal. JoSAA does not inform you any other way. If a seat is allotted, download the Initial Seat Allotment Intimation Slip.
Online reporting (all three parts, in the same round)
1) Accept the seat and choose Freeze, Float or Slide. 2) Upload documents (if not uploaded earlier). 3) Pay the seat acceptance fee (if not prepaid). Then answer any query the verifying officer raises before that round's deadline. Missing any one part cancels the seat and puts you out of JoSAA.
Report again if you move between systems
If you move from an IIT seat to an NIT+ seat for the first time (or the other way), your documents are checked again by the new system and you must watch for and answer its queries in that round. Moving within the same system does not need fresh reporting.
Pay the Partial Admission Fee (NIT+ seats only)
After the last round, everyone holding an NIT+ system seat must pay the Partial Admission Fee (PAF) on the JoSAA portal by the deadline (22 to 24 July in 2026). Not paying it counts as rejecting the seat.
Report to the institute
Follow the institute's instructions for physical reporting and fee payment. The seat is confirmed by the institute only after its own checks.

After you get a seat: your options

Freeze: You accept this seat and want no further rounds. You keep this seat. Once chosen, Freeze can never be changed.
Float: You accept this seat, but if a higher choice anywhere on your list (any institute) comes up in a later round, you move to it automatically. If nothing better comes, you keep the current seat.
Slide: You accept this seat, but you want to move only to a higher choice within the same institute. If nothing better comes, you keep the current seat.
Changing option: You can move from Float to Slide or Freeze, or from Slide to Freeze, in any round except the last. Float and Slide are not offered if you got your first choice, and are not available in the last round.
Upgrade is automatic and final: If Float or Slide moves you up, the earlier seat is cancelled automatically and you cannot go back to it. If you then reject the new seat, you get no seat at all.
Withdraw: You give up a seat you already accepted and leave JoSAA completely (IITs and NIT+ both). For IIT/IISc seats it is allowed from Round 2 up to the second-last round (till 14 July 2026, 5 pm); for NIT+ seats up to the final round (till 20 July 2026, 5 pm). It needs a signed declaration and an OTP.
Exit: For someone who has not been allotted any seat and wants to stop. Allowed from Round 2 up to the second-last round. After Exit you are out of JoSAA.

Money

Seat acceptance fee (2026): Rs 15,000 for SC, ST and all PwD categories; Rs 30,000 for all others. It includes Rs 5,000 JoSAA processing charges. Paid only once, even if Float or Slide later moves you.
The seat acceptance fee (minus the Rs 5,000 processing charge) is adjusted against the admitting institute's fee.
Refund: the fee is not refundable, except that a valid withdrawal refunds it minus Rs 7,000, and a seat cancelled for ineligibility or unresolved document problems refunds it minus Rs 5,000.
Partial Admission Fee for NIT+ seats (2026): Rs 20,000 for SC, ST and PwD categories; Rs 45,000 for all others. Once paid it is not refundable; it is adjusted against the institute fee. If you do not pay it, you lose the seat and the seat acceptance fee is refunded minus Rs 7,000.
Institute fees and fee waivers are set by each institute, not by JoSAA; check the institute website.

Traps that cost families seats

Not paying the seat acceptance fee, not uploading documents, or not answering a query in time: the seat is cancelled and you cannot take part in later rounds.
Getting a seat and doing nothing, thinking you will wait for a better round: this counts as rejecting the seat and you are out. To wait for better, you must accept and choose Float or Slide.
Filling too few choices: JoSAA only considers programmes on your list. The rules tell candidates to choose ALL programmes they are willing to join.
Putting a programme you would not actually join above one you would: with Float, you move to it automatically and lose the earlier seat.
Choosing Freeze by mistake: it cannot be undone.
Forgetting the Partial Admission Fee after the last round (NIT+ seats): the seat is forfeited.
IIT seats and next year's JEE (Advanced): if you accept an IIT/IISc seat and do not validly withdraw before the last round, you cannot write JEE (Advanced) again. If you are first allotted an IIT seat in the last round and accept it (fee or reporting), you also become ineligible.
Withdrawing from an IIT seat also takes you out of NITs in JoSAA. Withdrawal is from the whole process.
Relying on anyone other than the portal: the rules say JoSAA informs candidates only through the portal, and those who take help from agents do so at their own risk.

Source: JoSAA 2026 Business Rules (1 June 2026)

CSAB Special Rounds (after JoSAA)Seats left vacant in NITs, IIEST, IIITs, SPAs and other GFTIs after JoSAA ends.

Run by: Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB), Ministry of Education. In 2026 headquartered at IIEST Shibpur.
When: After the last JoSAA round, usually late July into August. CSAB 2026 announced two Special Rounds.

Step by step

Register afresh
Fresh registration is compulsory for the Special Rounds, even if you were in JoSAA. Check the eligibility types in the brochure (for example, whether you hold a JoSAA NIT+ seat).
Pay the Special Round Enrolment Fee
Paid at registration. It includes a non-refundable processing fee. If you already paid the JoSAA seat acceptance fee, the balance is adjusted and you pay only the difference.
Fill choices
If you are holding a JoSAA NIT+ seat (by paying the Partial Admission Fee), that seat is treated as your last choice.
Seat allotment and willingness option
Check the portal. After an allotment, choose Freeze, Float, Slide, Surrender or Withdraw, upload documents and pay the second instalment (IAF-II) in time.
Online reporting and document verification
After paying IAF-II you must complete online reporting and document verification, or the seat is cancelled.

After you get a seat: your options

Freeze: Accept the seat and take no further part.
Float: Accept the seat, but move to any higher choice if offered in the next round.
Slide: Accept the seat, but move only to a higher programme in the same institute.
Surrender: Reject this seat but stay in the process for the next round; you will only be considered for choices higher than the surrendered seat. You lose the seat even if it was your JoSAA seat. Not available in the last round.
Withdraw: Reject the seat and leave completely, including any seat held from JoSAA. Allowed only in Special Round I.
No option chosen: You are moved to the next round with Float by default (Freeze if it was your first choice). In the last round, every allotment is treated as Freeze.

Money

Special Round Enrolment Fee (2026): Rs 40,000 for GEN, GEN-EWS and OBC-NCL; Rs 19,000 for SC, ST and PwD. It includes a Special Round Processing Fee of Rs 5,000 that is not refundable and not adjusted against admission fees.
Institute Admission Fee II after allotment (2026): Rs 35,000 for GEN, GEN-EWS and OBC-NCL; Rs 16,000 for SC, ST and PwD. Payable whether you choose Freeze, Float or Slide.
Candidates whose category changed during JoSAA verification pay an extra Rs 15,000 (the difference in JoSAA seat acceptance fee).
Refunds, where allowed, go through deductions of Rs 5,000 (JoSAA processing) and Rs 2,000 (withdrawal), plus another Rs 2,000 in some cases. There is no refund at all in several Special Round II cases, such as not paying IAF-II or not completing reporting.
Fees paid to an IIT during JoSAA are not moved to a CSAB institute; the IIT's own refund rules apply.

Traps that cost families seats

Assuming JoSAA registration carries over: CSAB Special Rounds need fresh registration.
Not paying IAF-II or not completing online reporting in time: the seat is cancelled; in Special Round II there is no refund.
Surrender or Withdraw on a retained JoSAA seat: you lose that seat too.
Using agents: the brochure says CSAB has appointed no external agencies or agents, and there is only one official website, csab.nic.in.

Source: CSAB Special Rounds 2026 Information Brochure (updated 17 July 2026)

MCC counselling for NEET-UGMBBS, BDS and B.Sc. Nursing seats under the 15 per cent All India Quota of government colleges, 100 per cent of seats in deemed universities, central universities (DU, AMU, BHU, Jamia), AIIMS, JIPMER, AFMC and ESIC seats as listed in the bulletin.

Run by: Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
When: In 2026, Round 1 ran from 4 August; Round 2 choice filling was 3 to 9 September; Round 3 choice filling runs to 28 September 2026 with results on 30 September; the online Stray Vacancy Round is scheduled for 12 to 17 October 2026. Always check the latest schedule on mcc.nic.in.

Step by step

Register and pay
Register once on mcc.nic.in, using the same mobile number and email as your NTA registration (OTPs go there). Pay the non-refundable registration fee plus the refundable security deposit. Only after full payment can you fill choices. Registering twice gets you debarred.
Fill and lock choices
There is no limit on the number of choices; list them in order of preference. Lock them within the schedule, or they are locked automatically. Once locked, even MCC cannot unlock them.
Round 1 result
If allotted a seat, decide: Freeze (keep this seat, report physically to the college with originals) or Float (want an upgrade in Round 2; give willingness online, no physical visit). Everyone must upload scanned documents once on the MCC portal. Round 1 has free exit: you can leave the seat without losing the deposit.
Round 2
Fill fresh choices; earlier choices do not carry over, and if you do not fill fresh choices you are not considered in Round 2. If upgraded, you are automatically released from your Round 1 seat and have no claim on it. Not joining a Round 2 seat forfeits your security deposit.
Round 3
Fill fresh choices again. After the Round 3 result, everyone allotted in Round 3, and Float candidates who were not upgraded, must report physically. A Round 3 seat cannot be resigned. Not joining forfeits the deposit and removes you from further rounds.
Online Stray Vacancy Round
For seats still vacant after Round 3 and deemed university seats. MCC and the states share data after Round 3, so anyone holding a seat in either list is removed from the stray round. A stray round seat must be joined; not joining forfeits the deposit.
Joining the college
Report in person with originals. No one else can submit documents for you. The college checks the documents; if they are valid the admission is confirmed, if not it is cancelled.

After you get a seat: your options

Freeze (MCC, new in 2026): You are happy with the seat and do not want an upgrade. You go to the college physically to join.
Float (MCC, new in 2026): You want an upgrade in the next round. You give willingness online and your documents are checked online by the college; no physical visit needed. If upgraded, the old seat is released automatically and you cannot go back.
Free exit (Round 1 only): A Round 1 seat can be left without losing the security deposit, and you stay eligible for Round 2.
Exit with forfeiture (Round 2 onwards): If you are allotted a seat in Round 2 or later and do not join, or resign after joining Round 2, you lose the security deposit. To take part in Round 3 you must pay the deposit again.
Resignation: Allowed online (Float) or at the college (Freeze) within the MCC window, for Round 1 and Round 2 seats only. Round 3 seats cannot be resigned.

Money

AIQ, central universities, AFMC, ESIC, AIIMS, JIPMER and B.Sc. Nursing (2026): non-refundable registration fee Rs 1,000 for UR/EWS and Rs 500 for SC/ST/OBC/PwD; refundable security deposit Rs 10,000 for UR/EWS and Rs 5,000 for SC/ST/OBC/PwD.
Deemed universities (2026): non-refundable registration fee Rs 5,000 and refundable security deposit Rs 2,00,000 for all candidates. If you apply for both, you pay only the higher amount.
The security deposit is refunded only after all rounds are over, and only to the same card or bank account it was paid from. Keep that account open until the refund arrives.
The deposit is forfeited if you do not join a seat allotted in Round 2 or later, or if your admission is cancelled for any reason such as wrong information or missing documents.
College tuition, bond and stipend are set by each college and are not MCC's responsibility; deemed university fees can be very high, so check before listing them.

Traps that cost families seats

Treating Round 2 or Round 3 lightly: from Round 2 a seat you do not join costs you the security deposit (Rs 2,00,000 if you registered for deemed universities).
Joining a Round 3 seat you did not really want: it cannot be resigned, and you cannot take part in any further counselling.
Not filling fresh choices in Round 2 or Round 3: old choices do not carry over.
Listing a deemed or private college without checking its fee and bond.
Paying from a borrowed or unrelated card or account: MCC refunds only to the source account and will not change it.
Filling the form through an agent: the bulletin tells candidates to fill it themselves, and says MCC does not allot any seat on nomination or manually.
Holding a state seat and hoping for the MCC stray round: data sharing removes you.

Source: MCC UG Counselling 2026 Revised Information Bulletin (20 August 2026)

CSAS (UG) for the University of DelhiUndergraduate programmes in Delhi University colleges and departments, admitted on CUET (UG) scores.

Run by: University of Delhi (Common Seat Allocation System).
When: Phase I (applying to DU) opens around CUET time; Phase II (preferences) opens after the CUET (UG) result; allocation rounds follow. The CSAS(UG)-2026 document is dated 26 June 2026. Check the DU admission site for exact dates.

Step by step

Phase I: apply to DU
Fill the CSAS form with personal and academic details, upload documents and pay the one-time application fee. Enter Class 10 and 12 marks carefully; they are used to break ties and wrong entries are not treated as a grievance. Give a bank account of the candidate or an immediate family member; refunds go only there and it cannot be changed later.
Phase II: fill preferences (programme plus college)
Choose as many combinations as you like, in order. Keep saving. At the deadline the last saved list is locked automatically and is used for all rounds.
Simulated ranks
Before Round 1, DU shows tentative simulated ranks on the dashboard. You may reorder, add or delete preferences at this point. They are not a promise of a seat.
Phase III: allocation rounds
Log in and check. If allotted, click Accept before the deadline. Doing nothing counts as declining.
College verification
The college checks your uploaded documents online and approves or rejects. Answer any query on the dashboard in time. Some cases need physical verification of originals when notified.
Pay the admission fee
After approval, pay the college fee online within the time given. Not paying cancels the seat.
Upgrade or Freeze
After the fee is paid, choose Upgrade or Freeze before the round closes.
Later rounds, Mid-Entry and Spot rounds
DU may run more rounds for vacated seats. Mid-Entry lets late applicants join later rounds. Spot rounds, if any, are for those not admitted anywhere; once a spot round is announced, admitted students can neither upgrade nor withdraw.

After you get a seat: your options

Accept: Confirms you want the allotted seat so the college can verify you. Required in the same round; the seat lapses otherwise.
Upgrade: Keep this seat but be considered for higher preferences in later rounds. If upgraded, the old seat is cancelled and the new one is auto-accepted. If the new seat costs more, pay the difference in time or you lose both. You may reorder only the preferences above your current seat.
Freeze: Keep this seat for good. You will never be considered for any upgrade after this.
Neither: If you do nothing after admission, you keep the seat but are not considered for upgrades.
Withdraw: Leave the admission through the dashboard only. You lose eligibility for DU UG admission for the rest of the cycle. Not available once spot rounds start.

Money

CSAS(UG)-2026 application fee (non-refundable): Rs 250 for UR, OBC-NCL and EWS; Rs 100 for SC, ST and PwBD.
Extra non-refundable fee: Rs 100 per ECA or Sports quota applied; Rs 400 for each of BFA, B.A. (Hons.) Music and B.Sc. (PE, HE and S).
Withdrawal fee: Rs 1,000, non-refundable.
Mid-Entry fee: Rs 1,000, non-refundable.
College admission fee varies by college and programme; see the college fee structure before choosing.

Traps that cost families seats

Not clicking Accept in the round: the seat is treated as declined.
Not paying the admission fee in time after approval: the seat is cancelled and you are not considered in later regular rounds.
Ignoring a query on the dashboard: may lead to cancellation.
Missing the differential fee after an upgrade: you lose the new seat and cannot get the old one back.
Choosing Upgrade and assuming a better seat is guaranteed: it is not; you just keep your current seat if nothing better comes.
Sending requests by email, WhatsApp or post: DU does not act on them; everything is done on the dashboard.
Invalid or fake documents at any stage: admission is cancelled, and forgery leads to debarment.

Source: University of Delhi, CSAS(UG)-2026 document (26 June 2026)

CLAT counselling (Consortium of National Law Universities)Five-year integrated UG law programmes (and LL.M.) at the National Law Universities that take CLAT.

Run by: Consortium of National Law Universities (secretariat at NLSIU Bengaluru).
When: For CLAT 2026 (exam in December 2025), counselling registration ran 17 to 27 December 2025; allotment lists came out from 7 January 2026 in five rounds, the last two in May 2026. The Consortium later issued revised dates for the 4th and 5th rounds.

Step by step

Wait for the invitation
Eligible candidates are invited by email, SMS and on their CLAT login, according to rank and each NLU's seat matrix. Log in to check; the Consortium is not responsible for undelivered messages.
Update NLU preferences
Give at least 15 NLU preferences for UG (at least 5 for PG); you may give more. You will be considered only for the NLUs you list. You can change them any number of times until registration closes.
Pay the counselling registration fee
Pay by the registration deadline. No late payment is accepted. Only registered candidates get seats.
Allotment rounds
In each round, if allotted, choose Freeze, Float or Exit within that round and pay the confirmation fee for Freeze or Float. If you are not allotted, wait for the next round.
Pay the balance university fee
Those who Freeze must pay the remaining university fee to the NLU by the date given (in 2026, 24 April for rounds 1 to 3 and 30 May for rounds 4 and 5). Keep documents ready for upload.

After you get a seat: your options

Freeze: Accept this NLU seat and stop. Pay the confirmation fee in that round, then the balance university fee by the given date.
Float: Hold this seat (after paying the confirmation fee) and move up if a higher-preference NLU comes in a later round. Once moved, you cannot go back. Float is available up to the 4th round only; at the end you must Freeze or Exit.
Exit: Leave counselling at any time after registering. If you had chosen Freeze or Float, your seat goes to someone else and the confirmation fee is forfeited.
No option chosen: Treated as "Not Interested": you lose the seat and are removed from all later lists.

Money

Counselling registration fee (CLAT 2026): Rs 30,000 for General category; Rs 20,000 for ST, SC, OBC, BC, EWS and PwD. It is refundable under the rules below.
Full refund of the registration fee if you get no seat by the end of the fifth round, or if you exit without ever choosing Freeze or Float, or if you are first allotted in the fifth round and do not take it.
If you chose Freeze or Float up to round 4 and then exit or do not complete admission: full refund of the registration fee if you exit before 1 pm on 8 May 2026, otherwise Rs 5,000 is deducted.
If found ineligible by the NLU on document checks: Rs 5,000 deducted from the registration fee refund.
Confirmation fee (for Freeze or Float) is non-refundable. It is adjusted against the NLU fee if you join, and forfeited if you exit, fail to pay the NLU fee on time, or are found ineligible. The instructions document does not state the amount; news reports put it at Rs 20,000 for 2026 (secondary source).
If you do not pay the balance university fee by the date, you are treated as having exited: seat and confirmation fee are lost, and Rs 5,000 is deducted from the registration fee refund.

Traps that cost families seats

Giving only the minimum 15 preferences: you are considered only for NLUs you list, even if seats lie empty elsewhere.
Missing the registration fee deadline: no late requests are accepted.
Not choosing any option in a round after an allotment: you lose the seat and are out of all later lists.
Forgetting the balance university fee date months later (April or May): the seat and confirmation fee are lost.
Floating into a higher NLU you do not actually prefer: you cannot return to the earlier NLU.
Paying from an account that is later closed: refunds go only to the account used to pay.

Source: Consortium of NLUs, Instructions for the Admissions Counselling Process, CLAT 2026 (17 December 2025), archived copy

UCEED B.Des seat allocation (IIT Bombay)B.Des seats at IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Indore, IIT Roorkee and IIITDM Jabalpur (2026-27).

Run by: UCEED Office, IIT Bombay.
When: In 2026: result on 6 March; separate B.Des application from 14 March to 10 April; five allotment rounds from 21 April to 3 July.

Step by step

Apply separately for B.Des admission
Passing UCEED is not an application. You must fill the common B.Des application on the IIT Bombay admissions portal, list institutes in order, upload documents and pay the fee. After the closing date, choices cannot be changed.
Allotment rounds
Five rounds. Provisional allotment letters are emailed; you then pay the seat acceptance fee online before the round's deadline.
Join the institute
The admitting institute verifies documents and confirms admission after fees and formalities.

After you get a seat: your options

Freeze (accept): Accept this seat and stop. If you got your first choice, it is Freeze or decline.
Float: Accept this seat but move up if a higher-preference institute is offered later; the earlier seat is forfeited automatically when you move. Float stays active till the payment end date of Round IV.
Decline or not paying: Your application is cancelled and you are not considered in later rounds.
Withdraw: Allowed only in the set windows. No withdrawal after the last round is announced.

Money

B.Des application processing fee (2026): Rs 4,000 for all, non-refundable.
Seat acceptance fee (2026): Rs 60,000 for GEN, EWS and OBC-NCL; Rs 15,000 for SC, ST and PwD. Paid once; adjusted against the institute fee on joining.
Withdrawal by the Round II deadline after paying in Round I or II: refund of Rs 55,000 (GEN/EWS/OBC-NCL) or Rs 10,000 (SC/ST/PwD) after a Rs 5,000 deduction.
Seat acceptance fees paid in Rounds III, IV and V are not refunded.

Traps that cost families seats

Not applying for B.Des admission after the result: there is a separate application window.
Not paying the seat acceptance fee in the round: application cancelled.
Paying in Round III or later and then changing your mind: no refund.
Fraudsters: the brochure warns candidates about people contacting them about allotment and admissions; use only the UCEED website.

Source: UCEED 2026 Information Brochure, IIT Bombay

State counselling (general)State quota seats in government and private colleges: for NEET-UG, the 85 per cent state quota and private colleges under the state; for engineering and other courses, the state's own entrance or JEE (Main) based admission.

Run by: Each state's counselling authority (for medicine usually the Directorate of Medical Education or a state examinations body; for engineering the state's technical education or examination authority). MCC says it cannot guide candidates on state quota.
When: State rounds usually run alongside or just after the central rounds. MCC publishes a combined AIQ and state schedule for NEET-UG each year.

Step by step

Register separately with your state
State counselling is separate from MCC or JoSAA. Registering for one does not register you for the other.
Check domicile and eligibility rules
Each state decides who counts as a resident and what documents prove it. These rules differ a lot from state to state.
Fill choices and follow the state's rounds
Most states run a few rounds, then a mop-up or stray round. Many have their own seat-retain or upgrade options with their own names and deposits.
Watch both calendars at once
If you are in central and state counselling together, decide which seat to keep before each deadline. For NEET-UG, MCC and states share data after Round 3, so a seat held in one list removes you from the other's stray round.

After you get a seat: your options

Varies by state: Options such as accept, retain, upgrade, surrender or mop-up differ by state. Read your state's brochure for the exact meaning and the deposit at stake before choosing.

Money

Registration fees, security deposits and forfeiture rules are set by each state; read the state brochure. Private college fees in most states are fixed by a state fee regulatory committee.

Traps that cost families seats

Assuming the central (MCC or JoSAA) rules apply: deposits, resignation windows and forfeiture differ.
Missing a state deadline while waiting for a central round result, or the other way round.
Holding two seats (central and state) past the last date to leave one: you can lose a deposit or be blocked from a later round.
Missing domicile or category certificates in the state's required format.

Source: MCC UG Counselling 2026 Revised Information Bulletin (on state quota and data sharing)

Documents to keep readyCommon to almost every counselling

Exam admit card and scorecard or rank letter
Class 10 certificate or mark sheet (proof of date of birth), or birth certificate
Class 12 mark sheet and passing certificate
Photo identity proof, such as Aadhaar, PAN, driving licence or passport
Recent passport-size photographs (MCC asks for eight, the same as on the application)
Category certificate if claiming SC, ST, OBC-NCL or EWS, in the Government of India format and issued by the competent authority; OBC-NCL and EWS must be current
PwD certificate or UDID card, if claiming PwD
Domicile or residence certificate, for state quota or home-state seats
Transfer or migration certificate and character certificate (asked by NLUs and many colleges at joining)
OCI or PIO card, or passport, if applicable
Medical certificate (on the JoSAA suggested list; many colleges also ask for one at joining)
Scanned copies of all the above in the required size and format, plus a working bank account in the candidate's or a parent's name; refunds go only to the account used to pay

Red flagsAgents, fake calls and seat offers for money

Anyone who promises a seat for money. MCC says it does not allot any seat on nomination or manually; allotment is only by rank and your locked choices.
Agents who offer to fill your form or choices. MCC tells candidates to fill the form themselves, and JoSAA and CSAB say anyone using an agent does so at their own risk.
Calls, messages or emails claiming to be from the counselling body. JoSAA says it informs candidates only through its portal; UCEED warns about fraudsters calling about allotment.
Websites that look official but are not. Use only the addresses in this guide (josaa.nic.in, csab.nic.in, mcc.nic.in, admission.uod.ac.in, consortiumofnlus.ac.in, uceed.iitb.ac.in).
Requests for your login ID, password or OTP. JoSAA tells candidates to keep login details strictly confidential.
Payment asked outside the official portal. Fees are paid only through the portal or its official e-challan.
"Management quota" or "direct admission" offers for money. Before paying anyone, check with the official counselling authority how that quota is actually filled.

Stuck on a choice?

Tell Raahi your exam, rank, category and state.

Help me fill my choices

Not sure what your rank can get? Check in College Finder.

Sources, checked 27 September 2026

Rules and dates change every year. Confirm each step on the official portal before you pay or lock choices.