As of Round 5 of JoSAA 2026, an estimated 800 to 1,500 IIT seats remain unfilled across 23 IITs — with the final allotment round (Round 6) expected around July 21, 2026 as the last opportunity to secure or upgrade an IIT seat.
JoSAA 2026 counselling is entering its final phase. Students who have not yet received an allotment, or those hoping to upgrade from a newer IIT to an older one, must study the remaining seat matrix carefully before choice-filling closes for the final round. The matrix updates before every round, absorbing seats released by students who withdraw, do not report for document verification, or receive an upgrade. Newer IITs and non-core branches carry the bulk of final-round vacancies.
- JoSAA 2026 covers 23 IITs with approximately 17,500 total seats across all undergraduate programmes.
- Top IITs (Bombay, Delhi, Madras) are almost fully allotted by Round 3; final-round vacancies concentrate at newer IITs.
- SC and ST category seats sometimes remain unfilled at newer IITs — students with those category ranks should update their choices for Round 6.
- The live seat matrix is available on josaa.nic.in before every round; always check before your choice-filling window closes.
| Direct Link to JoSAA 2026 Seat Matrix (Active) |
JoSAA 2026 IIT Seat Matrix — Key Details
The JoSAA seat matrix is the official list of all seats available at IITs (and other participating institutes) for each counselling round. For IITs, seats are allocated strictly on JEE Advanced 2026 category rank. The matrix updates before every round, absorbing seats released by students who withdraw, do not report for document verification, or choose to upgrade to a higher preference.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total IITs Participating | 23 IITs (including IIT ISM Dhanbad) |
| Total IIT Seats (2026 expected) | Approximately 17,500 (based on 2025 JoSAA trends) |
| Total JoSAA 2026 Rounds | 6 rounds |
| Final Round (Round 6) Date | Around July 21, 2026 (expected) |
| Seat Matrix Published On | josaa.nic.in, before every round |
| Seat Categories | OPEN, OBC-NCL, EWS, SC, ST, PwD (horizontal), Female Supernumerary |
IIT-wise Seat Count in JoSAA 2026
The table below lists all 23 IITs with approximate total seat counts, based on 2025 JoSAA seat matrix data. These figures are expected to hold for 2026 with minor variations if new programmes are approved. Check josaa.nic.in for the exact 2026 seat matrix once it is published before Round 1.
| IIT | Approximate Total Seats (based on 2025 data) |
|---|---|
| IIT Kharagpur | 1,419 |
| IIT (ISM) Dhanbad | 1,196 |
| IIT BHU Varanasi | 1,107 |
| IIT Roorkee | 1,085 |
| IIT Bombay | 915 |
| IIT Kanpur | 847 |
| IIT Delhi | 847 |
| IIT Madras | 830 |
| IIT Guwahati | 784 |
| IIT Patna | 507 |
| IIT Hyderabad | 497 |
| IIT Jodhpur | 450 |
| IIT Bhubaneswar | 445 |
| IIT Tirupati | 445 |
| IIT Indore | 380 |
| IIT Gandhinagar | 355 |
| IIT Jammu | 320 |
| IIT Ropar | 310 |
| IIT Mandi | 302 |
| IIT Bhilai | 240 |
| IIT Palakkad | 225 |
| IIT Dharwad | 220 |
| IIT Goa | 185 |
Category-wise IIT Seat Distribution in JoSAA 2026
IIT seats in JoSAA 2026 follow constitutional reservation norms. Female supernumerary seats are additional seats created above the regular intake at each IIT, reserved exclusively for female students to help IITs meet gender inclusion targets. PwD seats are horizontal reservations distributed within each vertical category, not a standalone pool.
| Category | Reservation Share | Approximate IIT Seats (2026 expected) |
|---|---|---|
| OPEN (General) | 40.5% | ~7,000 |
| OBC-NCL | 27% | ~4,700 |
| EWS | 10% | ~1,750 |
| SC | 15% | ~2,600 |
| ST | 7.5% | ~1,300 |
| Female Supernumerary (all categories) | ~20% additional over base intake | ~3,000 extra seats |
| PwD (horizontal) | 5% within each category | Included within the totals above |
All figures above are based on 2025 JoSAA seat matrix trends and are expected to hold for 2026. The confirmed 2026 seat matrix appears on josaa.nic.in before Round 1 opens.
Remaining IIT Seats Before Final Allotment Round
After five rounds of JoSAA 2026, a portion of IIT seats remains unfilled. Based on 2025 JoSAA trends, between 800 and 1,500 IIT seats are expected to carry over into Round 6, the final allotment round. These vacancies arise from students who withdraw, fail to report for document verification, or shift to a higher-preference institute through upgrades in earlier rounds.
The distribution of remaining seats follows a consistent year-on-year pattern:
| IIT Group | Expected Remaining Seats (Final Round) | Typical Branches with Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Older IITs — Bombay, Delhi, Madras, Kanpur, Roorkee | 0 to 10 per IIT | Rare; only isolated PwD or ST seats in niche programmes |
| Mid-tier IITs — Guwahati, Kharagpur, BHU, Hyderabad, Indore | 10 to 50 per IIT | Humanities, Architecture, Dual Degree (non-CS or non-EE) |
| Newer IITs — Jammu, Bhilai, Goa, Palakkad, Dharwad, Tirupati | 50 to 200 per IIT | Civil, Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical Engineering |
| IIT (ISM) Dhanbad | 30 to 80 | Mining Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Geology |
Strategic note for the final round: SC and ST category seats at newer IITs often go unfilled when the eligible rank pool is exhausted. If you hold an SC or ST category rank between 2,000 and 5,000, add newer IIT preferences across core engineering branches before choice-filling closes for Round 6.
How to Check JoSAA 2026 Seat Matrix
The official JoSAA portal publishes the full seat matrix before every round. Follow these steps to view remaining IIT seats by institute and category:
- Go to the official JoSAA portal at josaa.nic.in.
- Click Seat Matrix in the top navigation bar or from the homepage quick links.
- Select the latest round number from the Round dropdown — choose Round 6 for final-round data.
- Under Institute Type, select IIT to filter only IIT seats.
- Choose the specific IIT from the institute list to view its programme-wise seat breakdown.
- Click Submit to see seat type, programme name, and the number of seats available.
- Cross-check the seat count against your JEE Advanced 2026 category rank to gauge admission chances before adding or reordering choices.
The seat matrix refreshes after each round closes. Always check on the day choice-filling opens for the new round to see the most current data before finalising your preference list.
JoSAA 2026 IIT Seat Matrix FAQs
Ques. How many total IIT seats are available in JoSAA 2026?
Ans. Based on 2025 JoSAA data, the total seat count across 23 IITs is approximately 17,500. The exact 2026 seat matrix is published on josaa.nic.in before Round 1 and is the only authoritative source for confirmed figures.
Ques. Which IITs have the most remaining seats in the final allotment round?
Ans. Newer IITs such as IIT Jammu, IIT Bhilai, IIT Goa, IIT Palakkad, IIT Dharwad, and IIT Tirupati typically carry the highest number of vacancies in the final round. Civil, Mechanical, and Chemical Engineering branches at these institutes see the most remaining seats based on 2025 JoSAA trends.
Ques. Can I still get a seat in IIT Bombay or IIT Delhi in the final round?
Ans. It is very unlikely. IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi seats are almost entirely filled by Round 2 or Round 3. A rare PwD seat or a niche programme may remain open, but planning on a final-round seat at these institutes is not advisable unless you already hold a provisional allotment from an earlier round.
Ques. Do SC and ST category seats go unfilled in JoSAA final rounds?
Ans. Yes, SC and ST category seats at newer IITs often remain unfilled in later rounds when the eligible rank pool is exhausted. Students with SC or ST category ranks should check the live seat matrix and add newer IIT preferences before choice-filling closes for Round 6.
Ques. What are female supernumerary seats in the JoSAA 2026 seat matrix?
Ans. Female supernumerary seats are additional seats created above the regular intake at each IIT, exclusively for female students. They represent approximately 20 percent of the base intake per programme and appear in the seat matrix under labels such as OPEN-Female, OBC-NCL-Female, and SC-Female.
Ques. How often is the JoSAA 2026 seat matrix updated?
Ans. The seat matrix is updated before each allotment round, typically every 4 to 6 days during the JoSAA 2026 counselling window. Seats released by withdrawals or non-reporters are added back and appear in the refreshed matrix for the next round.
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