Author : Potential and Concept Group of Education
Frequently Asked Questions on JOSAA
What is JoSAA?
The Ministry of Education [formerly the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD)] has established the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) 2023 to oversee and control the joint seat allocation for admissions to 118 institutes for the academic year 2023–2024. These 38 Other Technical Institutes Funded Fully or Partially by Central or State Government (Other-GFTIs) include 23 IITs, 31 NITs, IIEST Shibpur, 26 IIITs, and 38 Other Technical Institutes. There will be a single platform used for admission to all of these Institutes' academic programmes.
FAQs on JoSAA
- 1. I qualified in JEE (Advanced) 2023 and I am interested in taking admission in one of the IITs. Do I need to register on JoSAA portal?
- Answer: YES. It is mandatory for the candidates to register through the official JoSAA 2023 online portal to be able to obtain seats to be allocated through JoSAA 2023 in any of the IITs, NITs, IIEST, IIITs (Triple-I-Ts) and Other-GFTIs. Please refer to Clause 1 in the JoSAA Business Rules.
- 2. I locked my choices but now I would like to make further changes to my choice list. Is that allowed? If yes, how can I exercise the option?
- Answer: If you wish to edit your choices after locking but before the choice filling deadline, you can do so by first submitting a request to unlock in the online JoSAA portal. Please refer to Clause 40 for detailed procedure to unlock the choices.
- 3. Choice filling deadline is already over. Am I allowed to make any changes in my choice list at this point?
- Answer: NO. You will not be allowed to edit your choice list after the deadline for choice filling, i.e. you cannot change the order of your choices OR add any more course in OR delete any course from the choice list after the deadline for choice filling. Please refer to Clause 40 for detailed guidelines.
- 4. I saved my last filled choice list but I forgot to lock them. Now the choice filling deadline is over and I cannot make any further changes. Will this affect the list of choices that will be considered for allocating a seat to me during the JoSAA?
- Answer: If you do not lock your choices, last saved choices will be locked automatically upon reaching the deadline for choice filling. The automatically locked choice list will be considered for allocating a seat during JoSAA.
- 5. I got allocated a seat in a certain round of JoSAA for the first time but I am not interested in this seat. I would like to wait for further rounds of JoSAA to possibly get a better seat in my preference order. Do I need to do anything in the current round?
- Answer: If you are allocated a seat in a certain round of JoSAA, you need to follow steps for online reporting that include (i) acceptance of the seat, (ii) uploading of documents and (iii) payment of seat acceptance fee. You need to accept the seat and choose an option of Float/Slide if you wish to be considered for a seat of higher preference in any Institute/within the allocated Institute in the subsequent rounds (other than the 6th round). If you fail to complete any of the three steps of online reporting for seat acceptance, your allocated seat will be CANCELLED, and you will no longer be able to participate in the seat allocation process. Please refer to Clause 41 and 42 of JoSAA Business Rules for details of online reporting.
- 6. I was allocated a seat in one of the previous rounds and now I have been allocated another seat of higher preference in my choice list. Can I go back to the seat allotted to me in the previous round?
- Answer: NO. Once you are allocated a seat of higher preference based on your float/slide option, your accepted seat from the earlier round will be automatically cancelled and you cannot get the previously allotted seat. Please refer to Clause 47 & 48 of JoSAA Business Rules for more details.
- 7. I got allocated a seat of my preference in my choice list in a certain round and I am satisfied about the allotted program. I do not want to participate in further rounds of seat allocation. What should I do to keep the allocated seat?
- Answer: If you are satisfied with the allotted seat and do not wish to participate in further rounds of seat allocation, you need to choose the option “Freeze” while accepting the seat and complete all the three steps of online reporting process. Please refer to Clause 48 of JoSAA Business Rules for more details.
- 8. I got allocated and accepted a seat in a certain round. I would like to wait for further rounds of JoSAA to possibly get a better seat in my preference order in any Institute. What option do I need to choose in order to be considered for further rounds of JoSAA?
- Answer: If you have accepted a seat in a certain round and would like to be considered for a seat of higher preference in any Institute, you need to choose the option of ‘Float’. Further, if you are allocated a seat of higher preference in a subsequent round of seat allocation, your earlier accepted seat will be automatically cancelled and you will have to accept the newly allocated seat. If you are not allocated a seat of higher preference in a subsequent round, you will continue in the already accepted seat and you will also be considered for seat allocation in any Institute (based on your preference in the choice list) in the subsequent rounds if you continue with the ‘Float’ option. Please refer to Clause 48 of JoSAA Business Rules for more details.
- 9. I got allocated and accepted a seat in a certain round. I would like to wait for further rounds of JoSAA to possibly get a better seat in my preference order within the same Institute. What option do I need to choose in order to be considered for further rounds of JoSAA?
- Answer: If you have accepted a seat in a certain round and would like to be considered for a seat of higher preference within the same Institute, you need to choose the option of ‘Slide’. Further, if you are allocated a seat of higher preference in a subsequent round of seat allocation, your earlier accepted seat will be automatically cancelled and you will have to accept the newly allocated seat. If you are not allocated a seat of higher preference in a subsequent round, you will continue in the already accepted seat and you will also be considered for seat allocation within the same Institute (based on your preference in the choice list) in the subsequent rounds if you continue with the ‘Slide’ option. Please refer to Clause 48 of JoSAA Business Rules for more details.
- 10. I was allocated a seat in one of the previous rounds and I had chosen the option of Float/Slide for the choice of academic program for subsequent rounds. I do not wish to participate in further rounds of seat allocation. Can I change my option from Float/Slide to Freeze?
- Answer: Except in the last round of seat allocation, you can change your option from float to slide/freeze and slide to freeze in the online portal. Please refer to Clauses 48 to 50 of JoSAA Business Rules for more details.
- 11. I was allocated a seat in one of the previous rounds and I had chosen the option of Freeze for the choice of academic program for subsequent rounds. Can I change my option to Float/Slide in a subsequent round?
- Answer: NO. You cannot change the option to float/slide if you choose the option ‘Freeze’ while accepting the allocated seat. Further, you will not be considered for seat allocation in subsequent rounds (if any) of JoSAA while your accepted seat remains allocated to you. Please refer to Clauses 48 and 52 of JoSAA Business Rules for more details.
- 12. I have been allocated a seat in JoSAA for the first time. I have accepted the seat, uploaded the documents and chosen my willingness, but I have not yet paid my fees for an allocated seat. Will the allocated seat be confirmed to me by the reporting officials?
- Answer: You MUST pay the seat acceptance fee and complete all the steps of the online reporting process in the same round of seat allocation for continuing with the JoSAA process to avail the seat in IITs or NIT+ system. Your allocated seat will be CANCELLED and you will no longer be able to participate in the subsequent rounds of seat allocation process (if any) if you do not complete all the steps of online reporting process including the payment of seat acceptance fee. Please refer to Clauses 42 and 45 of JoSAA Business Rules for more details.
- 13. What happens if I do not complete all the steps of online reporting during a particular round of JoSAA in which I am allocated a seat for the first time?
- Answer: Your allocated seat will be CANCELLED, and you will no longer be able to participate in the subsequent rounds of seat allocation process (if any) if you do not complete all the steps of online reporting process including the payment of seat acceptance fee. Please refer to Clauses 41, 42 & 45 of JoSAA Business Rules for more details.
- 14. I was allocated and confirmed a seat in a certain round in an IIT. I have now been allocated another seat of higher preference in my choice list in another IIT. Do I need to report again online?
- Answer: No, if you have already completed all the steps of online reporting process in a certain round in an IIT reporting centre and you have been allocated another seat of higher preference in your choice list in another IIT, you don’t have to repeat the online reporting process.
- 15. I was allocated and confirmed a seat in a certain round in an Institute of NIT+system. I have now been allocated another seat of higher preference in my choice list in another Institute of NIT+system. Do I need to report again online?
- Answer: No, if you have already completed all the steps of online reporting process in a certain round in reporting centre of NIT+system and you have been allocated another seat of higher preference in your choice list in another Institute of NIT+system, you don’t have to repeat the online reporting process.
- 16. I was allocated and confirmed a seat in an IIT in a certain round. I have now been allocated another seat for the first time in an Institute of NIT+system. Do I need to report again online?
- Answer: YES. You must report online again. If you were allocated and confirmed a seat in an IIT in a certain round and are allocated another seat in an Institute of NIT+system for the first time, your documents and the eligibility criteria will be verified again by the NIT+system. You are advised to check for any queries raised by the admitting Institute of NIT+system by logging into the JoSAA portal and respond to the queries before the last date specified for the given round. Please refer to Clause 47A of JoSAA Business Rules for more details.
- 17. I was allocated and confirmed a seat in an Institute of NIT+system in a certain round. I have now been allocated another seat for the first time in an IIT. Do I need to report again online?
- Answer: YES. You must report online again. If you were allocated and confirmed a seat in an Institute of NIT+system in a certain round and are allocated another seat in an IIT for the first time, your documents and the eligibility criteria will be verified again by the IITs. You are advised to check for any queries raised by the admitting IIT by logging into the JoSAA portal and respond to the queries before the last date specified for the given round. Please refer to Clause 47A of JoSAA Business Rules for more details.
- 18. I was allocated and confirmed a seat in a certain round. I am not interested in joining the allocated academic program. What should I do to be eligible for appearing in JEE (Advanced) in subsequent year?
- Answer: If you were allocated and confirmed a seat in a certain round and you are not interested in joining the allocated academic program, you need to withdraw the seat before the last round of seat allocation to be eligible for appearing in JEE (Advanced) in subsequent year provided you meet all other eligibility criteria for that year. Note that withdrawal of the allocated seat will result in cancellation of the allocated seat, and you will be out of the JoSAA process for any further rounds of seat allocation (if any). You will not be able to withdraw the seat in the final (6th) round of seat allocation. Please refer to Clauses 77-82 of the JoSAA Business Rules for more details.
- 19. I am a JEE (Advanced) 2023 qualified PwD candidate and interested in taking admission in an IIT. What is the procedure for verification of my PwD status?
- Answer: If you are interested in taking admission in an IIT, you are required to visit any of the IITs for physical verification of your PwD status along with the original copy of your PwD certificate. Please visit the online JoSAA portal, book an appointment at any of the IITs by choosing the date and time (FN/AN) and uploading the copy of your PwD certificate for the physical verification. Each JEE (Advanced) 2023 qualified PwD candidate is required to complete this process latest by the end of the counselling round in which they are allocated a seat (if any), failing which the allocated seat shall be cancelled. Please refer to Clause 47B of the JoSAA Business Rules for more details.
- 20. I am a JEE (Advanced) 2023 qualified candidate having less than 40% disability and having difficulty in writing interested in taking admission in an IIT. I have opted for compensatory time and/or scribe. What is the procedure for verification of my disability status?
- Answer: If you are interested in taking admission in an IIT, you are required to visit any of the IITs for physical verification of your “having less than 40% disability and having difficulty in writing” status along with the original copy of your “having less than 40% disability and having difficulty in writing” certificate. Please visit the online JoSAA portal, book an appointment at any of the IITs by choosing the date and time (FN/AN) and uploading the copy of the above mentioned certificate for the physical verification. Each JEE (Advanced) 2023 qualified “having less than 40% disability and having difficulty in writing” candidate is required to complete this process latest by the end of the counselling round in which they are allocated a seat (if any), failing which the allocated seat shall be cancelled. However, candidate “having less than 40% disability and having difficulty in writing” will not be eligible for GEN-PwD, GEN- EWS-PwD, OBC-NCL-PwD, SC-PwD, ST-PwD category seats. Please refer to Clause 47D of the JoSAA Business Rules for more details.
- 21. I am a JEE (Advanced) 2023 qualified candidate “having less than 40% disability and having difficulty in writing” interested in taking admission in an IIT. I did not opt for compensatory time and/or scribe in JEE (Advanced) 2023. What is the procedure for verification of my disability status?
- Answer: If you are a candidate “having less than 40% disability and having difficulty in writing”, but you have not opted for compensatory time and/or scribe in JEE (Advanced) 2023, physical verification is not necessary. Candidate “having less than 40% disability and having difficulty in writing” will not be eligible for GEN-PwD, GEN-EWS-PwD, OBC-NCL-PwD, SC-PwD, ST-PwD category seats.
- 22. I am an OCI/PIO card holder, and I mistakenly entered my nationality as Indian while filling up the forms. Can I change my nationality in JoSAA portal and if I change, what are its implications?
- Answer: You can change the nationality in JoSAA portal from Indian to OCI/PIO card holder. After the change in the nationality status, you are eligible for the seats in IITs under GEN or GEN-PwD category only. If your allocated seat is other than OPEN or OPEN-PwD, then the currently allocated seat will be CANCELLED. Such candidate(s) will be considered for seat allocation in the subsequent round(s) of seat allocation (if any) for IITs under OPEN category of seats provided you (a) produce a proof of valid OCI/PIO card (issued before 04.03.2021), (b) meet all other eligibility criteria for qualifying for JEE (Advanced) 2023 in GEN category or GEN-PwD category. Please refer to Clauses 83B and 84 of the JoSAA Business Rules for more details.
- 23. I am an OCI/PIO card holder, and I mistakenly entered my nationality as Foreigner while filling up the forms. Can I change my nationality in JoSAA portal and if I change, what are its implications?
- Answer: You can change the nationality in JoSAA portal from foreign to OCI/PIO card holder. After the change in the nationality status, you are eligible for the seats in IITs under GEN category only. Your currently allocated seat (if any) will be CANCELLED, and you will be considered for seat allocation in the subsequent round(s) of seat allocation (if any) for IITs under OPEN category of seats, provided you
- (a) produce a proof of valid OCI/PIO card (issued before 04.03.2021)
- (b) meet all other eligibility criteria for qualifying for JEE (Advanced) 2023 in GEN category. Please refer to Clause 83D and 84 of the JoSAA Business Rules for more details.
- 24. I am an Indian citizen, and I mistakenly entered my nationality as an OCI/PIO holder while filling up the forms. Can I change my nationality to Indian in JoSAA portal and if I change, what are its implications?
- Answer: You can change the nationality in JoSAA portal from OCI/PIO card holder to Indian. After the change in the nationality status, you are eligible for the seats in IITs under GEN or GEN-PwD category only. Your currently allocated seat (if any) will be CANCELLED, and you will be considered for seat allocation in the subsequent round(s) of seat allocation (if any) for IITs under OPEN/OPEN-PwD category of seats, provided you
- (a) produce a proof of Indian nationality
- (b) meet all other eligibility criteria for Indian Nationals including satisfying the JEE (Main) 2023 cut-off marks for qualifying for JEE (Advanced) 2023 in GEN/GEN-PwD category. Please refer to Clause 83F and 84 of the JoSAA Business Rules for more details.
- 25. I am an Indian citizen, and I mistakenly entered my nationality as a foreigner while filling up the forms. Can I change my nationality to Indian in JoSAA portal and if I change, what are its implications?
- Answer: You can change the nationality in JoSAA portal from foreign national to Indian. After the change in the nationality status, you are eligible for the seats in IITs under GEN category only. Your currently allocated seat (if any) will be cancelled, and you will be considered for seat allocation in the subsequent round(s) of seat allocation (if any) for IITs under OPEN category of seats, provided you
- (a) produce a proof of Indian nationality,
- (b) meet all other eligibility criteria for Indian Nationals including satisfying the JEE (Main) 2023 cut-off marks for qualifying for JEE (Advanced) 2023 in GEN category. Please refer to Clause 83C and 84 of the JoSAA Business Rules for more details.
- 26. I am a Foreigner, and I mistakenly entered my nationality as Indian or OCI/PIO card holder while filling up the forms. Can I change my nationality in JoSAA portal and if I change, what are its implications?
- Answer: You can change the nationality in JoSAA portal from Indian or OCI/PIO card holder to foreigner. After the change in the nationality status, you are eligible for the seats in IITs under GEN category only. The female candidate will not get the benefit of female supernumerary seats. Your currently allocated seat (if any) will be cancelled. Such candidate(s) will be considered for seat allocation in the subsequent round(s) of seat allocation (if any) based on updated credentials as a Foreign candidate, provided candidate produces a proof of passport/certificate of nationality. Please refer to Clause 83A, 83E and 84 of the JoSAA Business Rules for more details.
- 27. I was NOT allocated a seat during the first 5 Rounds of JoSAA. However, I got allocated a seat in an IIT in the 6th Round of JoSAA. If I do not join the allocated seat, am I eligible for appearing for JEE Advanced next year?
- Answer: If you are allocated a seat in an IIT for the first time in the 6th round of JoSAA, you need to either complete the online reporting process of JoSAA or report to the admitting Institute (including payment of seat acceptance fee) to confirm your seat. If you do not complete the reporting process, you will be eligible for appearing in JEE (Advanced) in the subsequent year provided you meet all other eligibility requirements.
- 28. I was allocated a seat in one of the Rounds from 1st to 5th Round of JoSAA, however, I am not interested in pursuing the allotted branch. If I exit at this stage, will I be automatically considered for NITs?
- Answer: If you are not interested in pursuing the allotted branch, you need to withdraw your seat before the last round of seat allocation. If you withdraw your seat, you will NOT be considered for seat allocation for admission to ANY of the Institutes through JoSAA. Only those candidates who are not allocated a seat can exit from the seat allocation process by online reporting starting from the 2nd round and up to the 5th round of seat allocation.
- 29. Will there be any spot round of seat allocation at any of the IITs after the completion of the 6th round of seat allocation?
- Answer: NO. There will be no spot round of seat allocation at any of the IITs after the completion of the 6th round of seat allocation.