NIFT 2026 Round 2 seat allotment will be declared on July 7, 2026 — Round 3 follows on July 15 and the Stray Vacancy Round opens fresh registrations from July 19 to July 22.
After Round 2, students on slide or float preferences are automatically considered for better options in Round 3 without any separate action. The Stray Vacancy Round (also called the Spot Round) fills all remaining seats after the three regular rounds close and is open to fresh registrants as well as students who missed or withdrew from earlier rounds.
- Round 3 seat allotment date: July 15, 2026
- Round 3 fee payment and withdrawal window: July 15–17, 2026
- Spot Round registration: July 19–22, 2026
- Spot Round seat allotment: July 24, 2026
- Campus reporting deadline for all rounds: July 29, 2026
- Spot Round non-refundable participation fee: ₹5,000
NIFT 2026 Counselling Round-Wise Schedule
The table below covers all four phases of NIFT 2026 seat allocation. Round 2 is currently active; Rounds 3 and the Spot Round run through July 27, 2026.
| Round | Activity | Date (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Seat allotment result | June 27 |
| Round 1 | Seat acceptance fee payment | June 27 – July 1 |
| Round 2 | Choice modification window | July 3–5 |
| Round 2 | Seat allotment result | July 7 |
| Round 2 | Fee payment and withdrawal | July 7–9 |
| Round 3 | Choice modification window | July 11–13 |
| Round 3 | Seat allotment result | July 15 |
| Round 3 | Fee payment and withdrawal | July 15–17 |
| Spot Round | Registration and participation fee payment | July 19–22 |
| Spot Round | Document verification | July 19–22 |
| Spot Round | Choice filling and locking | July 19–23 |
| Spot Round | Seat allotment result | July 24 |
| Spot Round | Admission fee payment | July 24–27 |
| All Rounds | Physical reporting at allotted campus | July 29 |
What to Do After Round 2 Allotment
Your next steps after the Round 2 result on July 7 depend on the preference option you locked in during choice filling.
| Preference Option | What Happens in Round 3 | Required Action |
|---|---|---|
| Freeze | Current allotment is final; no upgrade considered | Pay seat acceptance fee by July 9 and prepare documents for campus reporting |
| Float | System automatically considers you for a higher-ranked campus in the same programme if a vacancy arises | No action needed; fee transfers automatically on upgrade |
| Slide | System considers you for a better programme at the same or higher-preference campus | No action needed; fee transfers automatically on upgrade |
| Withdraw | You exit the regular allocation process entirely | Register for the Spot Round from July 19; seat acceptance fee refunded minus ₹9,300 registration fee |
Students who do not pay the Round 2 seat acceptance fee by 11:59 PM on July 9 will have their allotment cancelled automatically. The seat moves to Round 3. You can re-enter via the Spot Round from July 19 by paying the ₹5,000 participation fee, provided you are within the merit list and not disqualified.
NIFT 2026 Round 3: Process and Steps
Round 3 seat allotment will be released on July 15, 2026. All seats vacated through Round 2 non-payments, rejections, and withdrawals are redistributed in this round. The process follows the same pattern as earlier rounds.
- Choice modification (July 11–13): Log in to nift.admissions.nic.in. Students on slide or float can update campus and programme preferences within this window. Students who selected freeze cannot modify choices.
- Seat allotment result (July 15): Download the allotment letter and verify your assigned campus and programme.
- Pay the seat acceptance fee (July 15–17): Confirm your allotment by paying online by 11:59 PM on July 17. Non-payment within this window cancels the allotment.
- Withdraw (July 15–17): If you do not want the Round 3 seat, submit a withdrawal request. The ₹9,300 registration fee will be deducted from the refund.
Seats remaining vacant after Round 3 closes on July 17 move to the Stray Vacancy Round.
NIFT 2026 Stray Vacancy Round: Eligibility and Process
The NIFT 2026 Stray Vacancy (Spot) Round opens from July 19, 2026, with seat allotment on July 24. It fills all remaining seats in the All India Open, SC, ST, and NRI Sponsored categories after Rounds 1, 2, and 3. Fresh registrants are eligible alongside students who missed or withdrew from earlier rounds.
Who is eligible for the Spot Round?
- Students within the NIFT 2026 merit list who did not register in earlier rounds
- Students who withdrew from Rounds 1, 2, or 3 and were not disqualified during document verification
- Students whose allotment was cancelled due to non-payment of the acceptance fee
- Students who were absent from earlier rounds without disqualification
- Age: below 24 years as on August 1, 2026 (UG programmes)
Who is not eligible?
- Students disqualified during document verification (cut-off marks, age criteria, or invalid documents)
- Students found to have submitted fraudulent documents at any stage
How to register for the NIFT 2026 Spot Round — step by step:
- Visit nift.admissions.nic.in between July 19 and July 22.
- Pay the non-refundable Spot Round participation fee of ₹5,000 online.
- Upload all required documents and complete document verification by July 22.
- Fill and lock your campus and programme choices by July 23 (midnight). Any campus or programme you already held as an allottee in an earlier round will not appear in the choice list.
- Check the seat allotment result on July 24.
- Pay the admission fee by July 27 if a seat is allotted to you.
- Report physically to your allotted NIFT campus on July 29, 2026.
The ₹5,000 Spot Round participation fee is non-refundable even if you do not receive a seat allotment.
Documents Required for NIFT 2026 Admission
Carry original documents and two sets of self-attested photocopies when reporting to your allotted campus on July 29.
| Document | Applicable To |
|---|---|
| Class 10 mark sheet and pass certificate | All UG students |
| Class 12 mark sheet and pass certificate | All UG students |
| Graduation degree and mark sheets (all years) | PG students |
| NIFT 2026 scorecard and admit card | All students |
| Government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, or voter ID) | All students |
| Recent passport-size photographs | All students |
| SC/ST/OBC-NCL certificate in prescribed central government format | Reserved category students |
| EWS certificate (current financial year) | EWS students |
| PwD certificate from a competent government authority | PwD students |
| Domicile or state resident certificate | Students claiming state quota |
NIFT 2026 Round 3 and Stray Vacancy Round FAQs
Ques. When is the NIFT 2026 Round 3 seat allotment result?
Ans. The NIFT 2026 Round 3 seat allotment result is scheduled for July 15, 2026. Students with slide or float preferences can modify their choices between July 11 and July 13 before the result is declared.
Ques. When does the NIFT 2026 Stray Vacancy Round start and what is the allotment date?
Ans. The NIFT 2026 Stray Vacancy (Spot) Round registration opens on July 19, 2026, and closes on July 22. The seat allotment result is declared on July 24 and the admission fee payment deadline is July 27, 2026.
Ques. What is the NIFT 2026 Spot Round fee and is it refundable?
Ans. The NIFT 2026 Spot Round participation fee is ₹5,000 and is non-refundable. It must be paid at the time of registration between July 19 and July 22. This fee is not returned even if no seat is allotted to you.
Ques. Can I apply in the Spot Round if I withdrew in Round 2?
Ans. Yes. Students who withdrew from Round 2 or any earlier round can register for the Spot Round between July 19 and July 22, 2026, as long as they were not disqualified during document verification. The ₹5,000 non-refundable participation fee applies.
Ques. What happens if I miss the Round 3 fee payment deadline?
Ans. If the Round 3 seat acceptance fee is not paid by 11:59 PM on July 17, 2026, your allotment is cancelled automatically. The seat moves to the Spot Round. You may re-enter via fresh Spot Round registration from July 19, subject to eligibility and payment of ₹5,000.
Ques. When do NIFT 2026 admitted students need to report to campus?
Ans. All admitted students from any round including the Spot Round must report physically to their allotted NIFT campus by July 29, 2026 with original documents for verification and enrollment. The orientation for new UG and PG students of the 2026–27 session also begins on July 29.
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