NIFT 2026 Spot Round Choice Filling: Campus and Programme Selection Guide

NIFT 2026 Spot Round choice filling opens on July 19, 2026 — you must register separately at nift.admissions.nic.in, fill campus and programme preferences, and lock your choices before July 23, 2026 (midnight) to be considered for seat allotment on July 24, 2026.

The NIFT 2026 Spot Round is the final counselling round conducted for seats that remain vacant after the earlier main rounds. Unlike previous rounds, the spot round requires a fresh registration. A registration fee of Rs. 5,000 applies to newly participating students; those who already paid the seat acceptance fee in a previous round and did not withdraw are exempt. Seat allotment is based entirely on your merit rank and the order in which you lock your preferences.

• Spot Round Registration Window: July 19 to July 22, 2026 (midnight)
• Choice Filling and Locking Deadline: July 23, 2026 (midnight)
• Seat Allotment Result: July 24, 2026
• Admission Fee Payment Deadline: July 27, 2026 (midnight)
• Registration fee is Rs. 5,000 for newly registering students; previous round seat-acceptance-fee payers are exempt
• If choices are not manually locked, the system auto-locks them when the window closes — manual locking is still recommended

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NIFT 2026 Spot Round: Key Dates at a Glance

All spot round deadlines are firm. The portal closes exactly at the time specified — do not wait until the last hour.

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How to Register for the NIFT 2026 Spot Round

A separate registration is mandatory for the spot round even if you participated in earlier counselling rounds. Follow these steps to complete registration before July 22, 2026:

1. Visit nift.admissions.nic.in and click the Spot Round link when it goes live on July 19, 2026.
2. Log in using your NIFT 2026 application number and registered password.
3. Open the Spot Round registration section and verify your details.
4. If you are participating for the first time (did not pay the seat acceptance fee in any earlier round), pay the registration fee of Rs. 5,000 online.
5. Students who paid the seat acceptance fee in a previous round and did not withdraw are exempt from this Rs. 5,000 fee.
6. Download and save the registration confirmation.

Registration must be completed by July 22, 2026 (midnight) to activate the choice filling window for your account.

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How to Fill and Lock Your Spot Round Choices: Step-by-Step

The choice filling window runs from July 19 to July 23, 2026. You can add and edit preferences any number of times within this period. Here is how to do it correctly:

1. Log in to the portal: Go to nift.admissions.nic.in and sign in with your application number and password.
2. Open the Choice Filling section: Click the Spot Round choice filling or modification link.
3. View all available options: The portal displays all campus-programme combinations regardless of visible vacancy. Some seats may open during processing due to virtual vacancies — do not skip options based on apparent unavailability at the time of filling.
4. Add and rank your preferences: Select every campus-programme combination you are genuinely willing to join and arrange them from most preferred (Rank 1) to least preferred. There is no penalty for adding more choices.
5. Review carefully before locking: Your highest-ranked option that has a seat available for your category and merit rank is what you will receive. There is no upgrade round after the spot round.
6. Lock your choices: Enter your counselling password and click the lock button. You will see a confirmation screen.
7. Download your locked choice sheet: Keep a copy as proof. If the system auto-locks at midnight on July 23, your last saved order is used.

Portal traffic is typically high near the deadline. Log in early and complete your submission well before midnight on July 23, 2026.

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NIFT Campuses and Programmes Available in the Spot Round

NIFT has 18 campuses across India. In the spot round, only campus-programme combinations with genuine vacancies after all earlier rounds and withdrawals appear for allotment. The following programmes are part of NIFT’s seat allocation system:

Campuses span New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Jodhpur, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Raebareli, Shillong, Srinagar, Kangra, Kannur, and Panchkula. Newer campuses typically have more vacancies in the spot round than established metro campuses. The live seat matrix with actual available combinations will be published on nift.admissions.nic.in from July 19, 2026.

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Tips for Selecting Campus and Programme Preferences

The spot round is your last opportunity — use these tips to get the best possible outcome:

• Add every option you would accept. The system allots your best available option automatically. A longer list means a better chance of receiving a seat.
• Do not filter based on visible availability. All choices are shown on the portal regardless of current vacancy status — virtual vacancies can emerge during processing.
• Prioritise programme over location. The discipline you study shapes your career trajectory more than the city, particularly at the UG level. Do not trade a strong programme for a metro address.
• Reference past closing merit ranks. Check how previous years’ allotments closed for each campus-programme to gauge which options are realistic given your rank.
• Include newer and smaller campuses. Campuses such as Srinagar, Kangra, Shillong, and Raebareli consistently have more spot round vacancies. If securing admission is the priority, include these.
• Have your fee payment ready before July 24. After allotment, you must pay the admission fee by July 27, 2026 (midnight). The seat is forfeited if you miss this deadline.
• The spot round result is final. There is no further upgrade or re-allotment after this round. Make your choices count.

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Documents Required for Joining After Seat Allotment

If you receive a seat and pay the admission fee, you must report to your allotted campus with originals and attested copies of these documents. Prepare them before July 24, 2026: