Quick Summary: JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) choice filling is a key step in the counselling process for admissions to IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other government-funded technical institutes (GFTIs). Registered candidates must list their preferred institutes and courses in order, which JoSAA uses for seat allotment. The JoSAA 2025 choice filling will begin along with registration on June 3 at josaa.nic.in. This article covers useful JoSAA choice filling tips, the complete process, and important things to consider while selecting institutes and branches.
JoSAA Choice Filling 2025: The JoSAA 2025 choice filling will be conducted along with JoSAA registration, which is scheduled to commence on June 3, on the official website (idioms website) josaa.nic.in. After registering on JoSAA, candidates can log in to the counselling portal and begin with their choice filling of colleges and branches.
How to Fill Choices in JoSAA Counselling 2025
The JoSAA 2025 choice filling process is a key step in JoSAA counselling for admission into IITs, NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs. Candidates can select multiple institutes and branches based on their preferences in the process of JoSAA 2025 choice filling. But when everything is offered, it’s natural for people to get confused about the order of things. If you have any confusion in filling choices during JoSAA Counselling or are simply looking for some JoSAA 2025 choice filling tips, follow the guiding principle, i.e., interest, fee, placements, ROI, location, and JEE Main/Advanced Rank.
Do not randomly fill up choices in the JoSAA choice filling 2025 plan. After registering with JoSAA, you need to enter the choices for JoSAA seat allotment. This is a crucial step, as after the choices are locked, they can’t be edited during the JoSAA counselling period. However, before locking, you can edit and rearrange your choices as many times as needed. In this article, you’ll find helpful JoSAA choice filling tips, details about the JoSAA choice filling process, important factors to keep in mind while choosing, and everything you need to know about JoSAA 2025 choice filling.
Read More:
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- JEE Advanced Rank Wise Colleges List – Check Top Colleges Based on Your Rank
- IIT Bombay Cutoff 2025: JEE Advanced Marks & Rank Required for IIT Bombay
What is JoSAA Choice Filling?
To put it in simple words, JoSAA choice filling is the process where students select the institutes and branches they are willing to get admission in with the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA). In this process, candidates who are registered for JoSAA counselling are required to select their choice of desired IITs, NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, as well as their preferred programs/branches. These choices must be listed in the order of preference and should be made smartly. Once the choices are locked, they cannot be changed during the entire JoSAA counselling process. So, it’s advised that students only select those colleges and branches they are genuinely ready to join.
Colleges Participating in JoSAA Counselling 2025
In JoSAA Counselling 2025, 116 colleges and 700-plus branches will be there for the candidates to take admissions. These include:
- 23 IITs
- 26 IIITs
- 32 NITs
- 35 GFTIs
Every college that takes part has a differentiating factor, in terms of its campuses, faculty, or placement history. That is why it becomes necessary to place a reasonable preference order while choosing the colleges and the branches during the JoSAA 2025 choice filling period. This advice may help you plan smartly.
What factors should you consider for JoSAA choice filling?
You need to focus on the following points before freezing your options in JoSAA counselling:
- Your rank/score of JEE Advanced and JEE Main.
- Your gender, category, and whether any sort of quota applies
- The requisite cutoffs of various colleges in order to increase your probability of selection
- Your location or city of choice
- The institute’s campus and facilities (if that’s your thing)
Considering all these points seriously will help you in making good and informed decisions in JoSAA choice filling 2025.
Check Out: JEE Advanced Marks vs Rank 2025 Criteria
JoSAA Choice Filling – Step-by-Step Guide to Fill JoSAA Seat Choices
Here are some simple steps to fill in your JoSAA seat choices correctly:
Step 1: Log in to the JoSAA Portal
Log in with your JEE Main 2025 application number and password on the official JoSAA 2025 portal.
Step 2: Open the Choice Filling Link
After the login, you will have to search for and click the JoSAA choice filling link. You will need to confirm your identity by entering the OTP you receive on your registered phone number.
Step 3: Adding and Arranging the Choices
Once verified, you will see:
- How many selections can you make
- Full list of available institutes and courses
- A search bar to search for specific institutes or categories
Add choices to your list by clicking the “Add” button. On the right side of the screen, selected preferences would be displayed. You can add items in whatever order you want or just (just in case definition) select them randomly and arrange them afterwards.
Beside each option, you have:
- Remove: delete an option from your list
- Up: move a choice up in the preference order
- Down: Move a choice lower
You can shuffle the choices as many times as you desire till the JoSAA choice locking date.
Step 4: Save Your Choices at Regular Intervals
Don’t forget to save the choices made! You can make changes, but if you don’t save them, they will be lost.
Step 5: Lock Your Choices
If you are very confident about the selections and order of admissions, then lock them as per the JoSAA counseling timetable. Remember, you can’t take (take with a grain of salt idiom synonym) your choices back once you’ve locked them in.
Step 6: Print Your List of Choices
Once you are done locking, take a print of your JoSAA choice filling list, save it for reference.
Check Out: List of IIT Colleges and Courses Available Within 5000 to 10,000 Rank in JEE Advanced 2025
JoSAA Choice Filling 2025 – How to Manage & Lock Your Choices
Candidates can also edit and organise their choices of JoSAA 2025 after they have filled in their preferences, before locking. This means you can freely rearrange or remove choices as many times as you like until the official JoSAA choice locking deadline. You can update your preference order by changing the choice numbers, swapping one option with another, or even deleting multiple choices at once using the bulk delete feature. If you wish to keep your list clean and organized as your priority, this will be helpful.
Keep in mind that all the corrections need to be made before the last date as recorded in the JoSAA Schedule. After the Choices are locked, they cannot be changed in any further rounds of JoSAA counselling. Also, keep in mind that your seat allotment in each round of JoSAA counselling will depend on the final choices you filled and locked.
What Happens After JoSAA 2025 Choice Filling is completed?
Once you’ve filled and finalized your choices in the JoSAA 2025 choice filling process, the next important step is seat allotment. Seat allotment results will be uploaded to your JosAA login page. To view the result, you have to log in with your JEE Main 2025 application number and JoSAA 2025 password..
Your JEE Main or JEE Advanced rank, your category, and the choices that you entered during the JoSAA choice filling are considered while allotting a seat.
Understanding the seat allocation and locking options
On receiving the seat allotment, the candidate has to accept the seat and choose from the options below to proceed with the academic program, in subsequent rounds of JoSAA counselling (if any):
- Freeze – to lock the seat and not participate in more rounds
- Slide – in search of a better branch opening in the same institute
- Float – opt for a higher preference in another institute while retaining the existing seat
These preferences will help in the subsequent rounds of joint seat allocations.
| Option | What It Means | Upgradation Allowed | Further Rounds? 🔁 | When to Choose |
| Freeze | You’re locking your seat. No changes, no upgrades. | ❌ No | ❌ No | Choose this if you’re 100% happy with both the college & branch. |
| Slide | You accept the college but want a better branch in the same college. | 🔄 Yes (Same Institute) | ✅ Yes | Pick this if you like the college but want a higher branch. |
| Float | You accept the seat but are open to better options in other colleges. | 🔄 Yes (Any Institute) | ✅ Yes | Ideal if you’re okay with the current seat, but aiming higher. |
JoSAA Choice Filling 2025 Preference Order of Top IITs
To begin with, IITs should be placed at the top of the preference list. A commonly followed order is:
| Preference Order | IIT Name | Established |
| 1 | IIT Bombay | 1958 |
| 2 | IIT Delhi | 1961 |
| 3 | IIT Kanpur | 1959 |
| 4 | IIT Madras | 1959 |
| 5 | IIT Kharagpur | 1951 |
| 6 | IIT Roorkee | 1847 |
| 7 | IIT Guwahati | 1994 |
| 8 | IIT Hyderabad | 2008 |
| 9 | IIT Varanasi (BHU) | 1926 |
| 10 | IIT Indore | 2008 |
| 11 | IIT Gandhinagar | 2008 |
| 12 | IIT Ropar | 2008 |
| 13 | IIT Mandi | 2009 |
| 14 | IIT Bhubaneswar | 2008 |
| 15 | IIT Jodhpur | 2008 |
| 16 | IIT Patna | 2008 |
| 17 | IIT Goa | 2008 |
| 18 | IIT Palakkad | 2015 |
| 19 | IIT Tirupati | 2016 |
| 20 | IIT Bhilai | 2015 |
| 21 | IIT Dharwad | 2015 |
| 22 | IIT Jammu | 2015 |
Check Out: List of Top IIT Colleges in India Based on NIRF Ranking 2025
JoSAA Choice Filling 2025 Top Preferences in NITs
Some NITs are extremely reputed and are usually selected in the following sequence:
| Preference Order | NIT Name | Established |
| 1 | NIT Trichy | 1964 |
| 2 | NIT Surathkal | 1960 |
| 3 | NIT Warangal | 1959 |
| 4 | MNNIT Allahabad | 1961 |
| 5 | NIT Calicut | 1961 |
| 6 | NIT Rourkela | 1961 |
| 7 | MNIT Jaipur | 1963 |
| 8 | VNIT Nagpur | 1960 |
| 9 | NIT Kurukshetra | 1963 |
| 10 | MANIT Bhopal | 1960 |
| 11 | NIT Jalandhar | 1987 |
| 12 | NSUT Delhi (GFTI) | 1983 |
Check Out: List of Top NIT Colleges in India – NIRF 2025 Ranking, Fees, Admission
JoSAA Choice Filling 2025 Order of IIITs
For top-rated branches like CSE and ECE, certain IIITs are often preferred even over some NITs. For example:
| Preference Order | IIIT Name | Established |
| 1 | IIIT Hyderabad | 1998 |
| 2 | IIIT Bangalore | 1999 |
| 3 | IIIT Allahabad | 1999 |
| 4 | IIIT Gwalior | 1997 |
| 5 | IIIT Jabalpur | 2005 |
| 6 | IIIT Lucknow | 2015 |
| 7 | IIIT Pune | 2016 |
| 8 | IIIT Guwahati | 2013 |
| 9 | IIIT Kota | 2013 |
| 10 | IIIT Kancheepuram | 2007 |
| 11 | IIIT Vadodara | 2013 |
JoSAA Choice Filling 2025 Order of GFTI
Many GFTIs offer a limited number of branches or have specific locations. Some notable ones include:
| Preference Order | GFTI Name | Established |
| 1 | BIT Mesra (Top GFTI) | 1955 |
| 2 | Punjab Engineering College (PEC), Chandigarh | 1921 |
| 3 | JNU Delhi (Engineering) | 1969 |
| 4 | University of Hyderabad | 1974 |
| 5 | Assam University | 1994 |
| 6 | Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University | 1999 |
| 7 | Central University of Rajasthan / Haryana | 2009 |
| 8 | Indian Institute of Carpet Technology, Bhadohi | 2001 |
| 9 | School of Planning & Architecture (Architecture only) | 1941 |
10 Smart Tips for JoSAA Choice Filling 2025
Filling choices in JoSAA 2025 counselling is a crucial step. Use these tips to increase your chances of getting the best course and institute:
- Check Your Rank Range: Use JoSAA mock allotments and past opening/closing ranks to understand where you stand and shortlist realistic options.
- Set Preferences Smartly: Always list your choices in strict preference order. Put dream options first, followed by safer backups.
- Use the JoSAA Simulator Tool: Try different college-branch combos with the choice filling tool to explore new possibilities that suit your rank.
- Fill Maximum Choices: The more the better, so fill as many eligible branches and institutes as you can to increase your chance of getting a seat.
- Don’t Depend on One Option: Even if you have a favourite, list alternate branches or colleges as a backup..
- Research Institutes Well: Get a complete view of the above criteria and more: fees, placement, campus life, and NIRF rankings before selecting your list.
- Prioritise Your Interests: If you are certain about a branch, go for it through college. Otherwise, check out some mixes and find what suits you.
- Use State Quotas & Category Benefits: Make the most of your home state (HS) or other state (OS) quota, and know the effect of your reservation category.
- Avoid Copying Others: Create your list based on your own rank, needs, and interests, not on what everyone else is doing.
- Lock Choices on Time: Think through your picks, and lock them before the deadline. No modification is permitted once locking has occurred.
Key Factors to Consider for JoSAA Choice Filling 2025 in JoSAA Counselling 2025
JoSAA Counselling, 2025 is not all about randomly choosing the best institutes, but also about feeling and a smart way of making choices based on your dream, convenience, and chances. Here’s what you need to know:
- Branch vs. Institute: Choose between the reputation of the institute and the branch of your choice. If IITs are your dream, apply for those even with other branches. If you’re aiming for a branch like CS or EE, select NITs/IIITs where it’s likely available at your rank.
- Career Goals: This needs some long-term thinking, i.e., placements/ research/ higher studies. Some universities have stronger startup ecosystems, alumni networks, and global exposure.
- Cutoff Trends: Go through the last 3-4 years JoSAA cut-offs to comprehend the chances for admission in your case. Shortlist affordable ones using mock allotments and choice simulators.
- Use Upgrade Options: Always include your best options at the top, no matter how unrealistic they may seem. With Slide and float, you might find a superior branch or college in later rounds.
- Branch Change Option: Few colleges offer branch change after the first year. You can come in through a less-competitive branch and transfer later (based on performance).
- Consider New-Age Branches: Research AI, Data Science, Chemical, and interdisciplinary branches; the future for these branches is good, and they are usually easy to get through.
- Placements & Internships: Verify average packages, internship percentages, and NIRF rankings. Check on official sites or in alumni feedback for comparisons.
- Location & Comfort: There is no point in pretending that climate differences, language barriers, and distance from home do not play a role in how you feel, as they can affect your performance.
FAQs on JoSAA Choice Filling 2025
Q1: Is the choice filling option available in every JoSAA counselling round?
No, the JoSAA counselling does not have the option for choice filling in every round. Candidates have only a one-time option of filling, editing, and reordering choices during this time.
Q2: When will the JoSAA choice filling start?
According to the schedule, the online registration and choice filling facility would begin from June 3, 2025.
Q: What is the step-by-step process to fill in choices in JoSAA counselling?
To make choices in JoSAA counselling, candidates will have to register and log in to the JoSAA portal first. Thereafter, they will have to go to the choice filling link, authenticate using an OTP, and add and organise the institutes and programmes they wish to take in preference order. Candidates need to lock their choices after they finish filling out so that their choices are submitted within the due date.
Q: How many options can a candidate select during JoSAA choice filling?
There is no restriction on the number of preferred choices that can be made during JoSAA Choice filling.
Q: Is it possible to modify the filled choices in JoSAA after submission?
No, you cannot change your choice options on JoSAA after the final submission and locking of your choices. If you don’t manually lock them by the deadline, the review system does so automatically on your behalf, and that locked list is final.
Q: Will I get the choice filling option again in later JoSAA rounds?
No, you will not be provided a choice filling in the later rounds of JoSAA. Fill & lock your choices only once before the first round of counselling.
Q: What happens if I don’t lock my choices before the JoSAA deadline?
In case you fail to lock your JoSAA choices by the deadline, whatever preferences you saved last will get locked by default.
Q: Can I edit my choice list after submitting it on the JoSAA portal?
No, you can’t make any changes to your choice list on the JoSAA portal once you submit it and before the deadline for choice filling.
Q: What is the purpose of the JoSAA mock seat allotment round?
The JoSAA mock seat allotment round is held so that candidates who have appeared in the JoSAA counselling this year can get an idea about the seat they may get before the final seat allocation.
Q: What is the next step after completing choice filling in JoSAA?
After making choices in JoSAA, the process follows seat allotment. The seat allotment result for JoSAA will be out on the login portal for the candidates.
Q: Is there any difference between saving and locking choices in JoSAA?
Yes, there is a difference between saving and locking choices in JoSAA. With saving, you are saving how your current list looks, so that you can change it later. Locking, on the other hand, is to confirm your selection and to lock them makes them unchangeable, so they can be used for seat allocation.
Q: What does the ‘float’ option mean in JoSAA counselling?
The ‘float’ option in JoSAA counselling is one where candidates can accept a seat but still be able to participate in further rounds of counselling, and they can also be considered for upgradation to their higher preference institute/program.
Q: Where can I check the opening and closing ranks for JoSAA colleges?
For the Opening and Closing ranks of JoSAA colleges, please follow the official website of JoSAA, which is josaa.nic.in. Using the “eServices” tab. From there, click on the option for “OR- CR” (Opening Rank – Closing Rank).
Q: Do I need to register again for Round 2 if I don’t get a seat in Round 1 of JoSAA?
No, you do not have to register again for Round 2 of JoSAA counselling if you were not allotted a seat in Round 1. Once you have applied to JoSAA, your application persists for all other rounds as well.
