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Real-time status check (important): As of March 6, 2026, the latest official COAP portal publicly visible is COAP 2025 (IISc). The portal states that all COAP 2025 activities are over. COAP 2026 registration and round dates are expected after GATE 2026 results (official result date: March 19, 2026). Use this guide to prepare, then replace the expected dates once the official COAP 2026 portal goes live. |
COAP 2026 at a Glance
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Full form |
Common Offer Acceptance Portal (COAP) |
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What COAP does |
Shows and manages admission offers for M.Tech at participating IITs (and sometimes job offers from PSUs) in common time windows. |
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What COAP does NOT do |
COAP is not an application portal. You must apply separately to each IIT department where you want admission. |
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Who should use it |
GATE-qualified candidates applying for IIT M.Tech admissions (and eligible PSU recruitments if participating). |
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Registration fee |
Free registration (no COAP registration fee). |
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Rounds |
Main rounds first, then decisive additional rounds later. You must take an action in each round where you have an offer. |
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Offer options |
Accept & Freeze, Retain & Wait (limited), Reject (later rounds often only Accept & Freeze or Reject). |
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Best planning window |
March to July 2026 (registration likely after results; offers typically start around mid-May). |
COAP vs CCMT - Quick Difference
COAP is used mainly for IIT M.Tech admissions via GATE. CCMT is used for NITs, IIEST Shibpur, and some IIITs/CFTIs for M.Tech/M.Arch/M.Plan admissions. If your target is IITs, you usually need COAP along with separate IIT applications.
Key Date to Know First: GATE 2026 Result Date
GATE 2026 results are scheduled for Thursday, March 19, 2026, on the official GATE 2026 website. COAP registration and rounds usually open after results, so keep this as your starting point.
Expected COAP 2026 Timeline (Planning Reference Based on COAP 2025)
COAP 2026 official schedule is not published yet. Below is a practical planning window based on the COAP 2025 official round calendar.
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Stage |
Expected window (2026) |
What you should do |
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COAP registration likely opens |
Late March to April 2026 |
Register after GATE result. COAP registration is free. |
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IIT application windows |
March to May 2026 |
Apply to each IIT department separately. Enter your COAP ID in each IIT form. |
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Main offer rounds start |
Mid-May 2026 (expected) |
Offers come in fixed time windows. You must act within the window. |
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Decisive / additional rounds |
June to July 2026 (expected) |
Later rounds usually allow only Accept & Freeze or Reject. |
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Final institute admission steps |
May to Aug 2026 |
After Accept & Freeze, follow institute portal steps (fee, reporting, documents). |
COAP 2026 Eligibility (How to Check Correctly)
Eligibility rules are confirmed only on the official COAP 2026 portal once published. However, the latest official COAP brochure available (COAP 2025) shows these core rules:
• You must be an Indian national (as per COAP 2025 eligibility).
• You must have a valid GATE score. COAP 2025 accepted GATE 2025/2024/2023 scores. COAP 2026 is expected to accept a 3-year window (likely 2026/2025/2024), but confirm from the COAP 2026 brochure.
• You must also meet each IIT department’s eligibility rules (degree, CGPA/percentage, GATE paper, shortlist criteria, interview, etc.). COAP does not override institute rules.
COAP Registration Process
COAP registration gives you a COAP ID. You then use this COAP ID while applying to IITs. Based on the official COAP registration procedure (COAP 2025), here is the flow:
1. Open the official COAP portal (COAP 2026 link will be published by the coordinating institute).
2. Register using your highest GATE score first. After login, you can add other GATE scores (if applicable).
3. After successful registration, you receive User ID by email and password by SMS.
4. Log in, verify your details, and keep your COAP ID safe.
5. Apply separately to each IIT and enter your COAP ID in their application forms.
How Offers Work in COAP (And What You Must Do Each Round)
Participating institutes upload their offers in a common time window. When you have an offer, you must choose an option within the window. If you do not take action, COAP 2025 rules treated offers as rejected automatically.
Offer Options Explained
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Option |
Meaning |
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Accept & Freeze |
You accept the offer and exit COAP for that admission cycle. |
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Retain & Wait |
You hold the current offer but still want to see if you get a better offer in the next round. This option has limits. |
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Reject / Reject & Wait |
You do not want this offer. You remain eligible for future offers (if any). |
Important Rule About Retain & Wait (Latest Official COAP Rules)
In COAP 2025, Retain & Wait could not be selected more than twice for the same offer (same institute and same program). Also, in later decisive rounds, Retain & Wait was not available and candidates had to choose only Accept & Freeze or Reject. COAP 2026 is expected to follow similar logic. Confirm the final rule on the COAP 2026 Important Dates / Flowchart page once it is released.
Likely Participating Institutes for COAP 2026 (Based on Latest Official List)
The participating institute list is final only on the COAP 2026 portal. The latest official COAP 2025 portal listed these institutes:
• IISc Bengaluru
• IIT Bhilai
• IIT Bhubaneswar
• IIT BHU
• IIT Bombay
• IIT Delhi
• IIT Dharwad
• IIT Gandhinagar
• IIT Goa
• IIT Guwahati
• IIT Hyderabad
• IIT Indore
• IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
• IIT Jammu
• IIT Jodhpur
• IIT Kanpur
• IIT Kharagpur
• IIT Madras
• IIT Mandi
• IIT Palakkad
• IIT Patna
• IIT Roorkee
• IIT Ropar
• IIT Tirupati
What You Should Do Now (March 2026 Checklist)
• Download your GATE 2026 scorecard when available on GOAPS (keep PDF safe).
• Shortlist IITs and programs based on your GATE paper, interest area, and past cutoffs (trends).
• Track each IIT’s M.Tech admission page for application opening dates and interview/written test rules.
• Register on COAP as soon as COAP 2026 portal opens, then use your COAP ID in every IIT application.
• Make a decision plan before rounds start: which offer you will Accept & Freeze, and when you will use Retain & Wait.
Documents to Keep Ready (After You Accept an Offer)
• GATE 2026 scorecard (and older scorecards if you are using a previous-year score as permitted)
• Photo ID (Aadhaar / Passport / Driving License)
• Class 10 certificate (DOB proof)
• Qualifying degree mark sheets (all semesters)
• Provisional certificate or degree certificate
• Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS) in the required format, if applicable
• PwD certificate, if applicable
• Passport photo and signature (as per institute portal)
• Any extra forms required by the specific IIT (undertakings, anti-ragging, medical, etc.)
Also Check: JoSAA Counselling 2026 - Complete Guide
FAQs - COAP Counselling 2026
Q. Is COAP registration free?
A. Yes. The official COAP portal states that COAP registration is completely free.
Q. Do I need to apply to IITs separately if I register in COAP?
A. Yes. COAP is only for offer viewing and decision. You must apply separately to each IIT for M.Tech admission.
Q. When will COAP 2026 start?
A. COAP 2026 is expected after GATE 2026 results (March 19, 2026). Exact dates will be published on the official COAP 2026 portal.
Q. What if I don’t take action in an offer round?
A. COAP 2025 rules treated offers as rejected automatically if no action was taken. COAP 2026 is expected to be similar, so always act within the time window.
Q. Can I use Retain & Wait many times?
A. COAP 2025 limited Retain & Wait for the same offer and removed it in later decisive rounds. Confirm the COAP 2026 rule on the official flowchart.