Overview
The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are the most prestigious engineering institutions in India. Every year, more than 10 lakh students compete for roughly 17,000 undergraduate seats across 23 IITs. This guide walks you through every step of the IIT admission process for 2026.
JEE Main is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and serves as the first screening exam for IIT aspirants. You must clear the JEE Main cut-off to become eligible for JEE Advanced.
You need to attempt only 25 questions per subject (20 MCQ + any 5 out of 10 numerical). Total marks: 300. There is a negative marking of -1 for incorrect MCQ answers.
Step 1: Qualify in JEE Main 2026
Step 1: Qualify in JEE Main 2026
JEE Main is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and serves as the first screening exam for IIT aspirants. You must clear the JEE Main cut-off to become eligible for JEE Advanced.
Step 2: Qualify in JEE Advanced 2026
Step 2: Qualify in JEE Advanced 2026
Only the top 2,50,000 JEE Main qualifiers (across all categories) are eligible to sit for JEE Advanced. JEE Advanced is conducted by one of the IITs on a rotational basis.
Step 3: JoSAA Counselling and Seat Allotment
Step 3: JoSAA Counselling and Seat Allotment
The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) manages centralised counselling for IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. Here is how it works:
- Registration: Register on the JoSAA portal with your JEE Advanced rank
- Choice Filling: Fill your preferred IITs, branches, and programmes in order of preference
- Seat Allotment: JoSAA conducts multiple rounds of seat allotment based on rank + preference + category
- Accept and Report: Accept the allotted seat online and report to the allotted IIT with original documents
IIT Fees Structure 2026
IIT Fees Structure 2026
Annual tuition fees at IITs for B.Tech programmes are approximately INR 2-2.5 lakh per year for General/OBC students. SC/ST/PwD students are fully exempted from tuition fees. Total four-year cost including hostel, mess, and other charges ranges from INR 8-10 lakh for General category students.
JEE Main Exam Pattern
You need to attempt only 25 questions per subject (20 MCQ + any 5 out of 10 numerical). Total marks: 300. There is a negative marking of -1 for incorrect MCQ answers.
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|
| Physics | 30 (20 MCQ + 10 Numerical) | 100 |
| Chemistry | 30 (20 MCQ + 10 Numerical) | 100 |
| Mathematics | 30 (20 MCQ + 10 Numerical) | 100 |
JEE Advanced Exam Pattern
JEE Advanced consists of two papers (Paper 1 and Paper 2), each 3 hours long. Both papers are compulsory. Question types include MCQ (single correct), MCQ (multiple correct), numerical value, and matching type.
JoSAA Counselling Rounds
JoSAA typically conducts 5-6 regular rounds plus a special round. In each round you can:
- Freeze: Accept the seat and do not wish to upgrade
- Float: Accept the seat but participate in further rounds for a higher preference
- Slide: Accept the seat but want a different branch in the same institute
Sources and Verification
Information last reviewed on 24 Jun 2026.
Fees, cutoffs, admission steps, placements, and programme details can change. Always cross-check the latest institutional or authority notice before acting.