Candidates participating in Round 2 of JEE counselling must complete their online Freeze/Float option selection and deposit the required Security + Counselling fee by today, as per the official schedule.
Key Details
- Window open: July 11, 2026 – July 13, 2026
- Process: Online, through candidates’ individual login on the counselling portal
- Action required: Select Freeze or Float option, and pay the Security + Counselling fee
What Candidates Need to Do
- Log in to the official counselling portal using registered credentials.
- Select response – Freeze (accept seat, exit further rounds) or Float (accept seat, remain eligible for upgrade in later rounds).
- Deposit the Security + Counselling fee online before the window closes.
Understanding Freeze vs Float
- Freeze: Candidate accepts the allotted seat as final and exits the counselling process. No further upgrades will be offered, but the seat is secured.
- Float: Candidate accepts the current seat but remains in the running for a better seat (higher-preference institute/branch) in the next round. This carries some risk – if a candidate’s seat is upgraded, they must accept the new allotment, and if not upgraded, they retain the current one.
Some counselling systems also offer a Slide option (accepting a different branch within the same institute) or a Surrender/Withdraw option (exiting the process entirely and forfeiting the seat). Candidates should check which options are available on their specific portal, as not all authorities offer all four choices at every round.
Typical Fee Components
Most state and national-level engineering counselling processes require two components at this stage:
- Security Deposit: A refundable amount held to ensure serious participation; typically returned or adjusted at the end of the admission process (rules vary by authority – some refund only to candidates who do not get admission, others adjust it against final fees).
- Counselling Fee: A non-refundable processing fee charged for each round of participation.
Exact amounts differ by state/authority and candidate category (General/OBC/SC/ST/EWS/PwD), so candidates should check the fee structure listed on their specific counselling portal rather than assume a standard figure.
Consequences of Missing the Deadline
- The Round 2 seat allotment may be automatically cancelled if the fee is not deposited or the Freeze/Float option is not selected within the window.
- Candidates who miss the deadline are typically not carried forward automatically to Round 3 and may need to check whether re-registration or a fresh choice-filling opportunity is available.
- Technical payment failures made before the deadline are usually eligible for resolution on the next working day – candidates facing errors should retain payment screenshots/reference numbers as proof.
Advice for Candidates
- Complete the process well before the 5 PM-style cut-off typically seen on the final day, as portals often slow down or crash under heavy last-minute traffic.
- Keep scanned documents (rank card, category certificate, ID proof, etc.) ready in advance, since document upload is usually bundled with this step.
- Double-check the Freeze/Float choice carefully – in many systems this cannot be reversed once submitted.
- Save the payment receipt and updated allotment/acceptance letter after submission.
