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The Jharkhand Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board (JCECEB) runs counselling for state seats using JEE (Main) ranks for B.E./B.Tech and NEET (UG) results for M.B.B.S., B.D.S. and B.H.M.S. Either way, you fill a separate JCECEB form; your JEE Main or NEET form does not put you on its list. The 2026 engineering rounds are over and some dates changed along the way, so treat the dates below as a guide and watch the board's counselling notices page for next year's.
How does JCECEB counselling for engineering work?
In 2026 the board took applications from candidates with a JEE (Main)-2026 rank from 24 June to 2 July and published the State Merit List on 5 July, according to its press communique on the JEE (Main) merit list. The same notice sets eligibility: at least 45% in the qualifying 10+2 subjects taken together (40% for reserved categories), Indian citizenship, and local or permanent residence in Jharkhand.
The board then ran four online rounds, set out in its notice on rounds 1 to 4. Each round has the same steps:
Fill choices of institutes and branches.
Edit them in the short window after the deadline, if needed.
Download the provisional seat allotment letter.
Report to the institute with original documents and take admission.
Round 1 choice filling ran only from 6 to 9 July 2026, so windows last days, not weeks. New candidates could still apply before rounds 2, 3 and 4.
What does JCECEB engineering counselling cost?
The 2026 engineering round notice listed a registration fee of Rs 500 and a counselling fee of Rs 400 for General, EWS, BC-I and BC-II candidates, and Rs 250 each for SC, ST and all female candidates. A security deposit came on top: Rs 5,000 (General), Rs 3,500 (BC-I, BC-II, EWS) or Rs 2,000 (SC, ST, female). It is refunded if you give up the seat before the last round, and forfeited if you quit after admission or skip admission after the last round or after two recommendations.
How is JCECEB medical counselling different?
For state quota medical seats, the 2026 NEET (UG) information bulletin set an application window of 7 to 11 August, a merit list on 12 August, then first, second, third and stray vacancy rounds. It asks for at least 50% in Physics, Chemistry and Biology together (40% for SC, ST, OBC-NCL and PwBD candidates) and an age of 17 by 31 December of the admission year.
The money is much larger. The same bulletin lists a non-refundable counselling fee of Rs 1,000 (Rs 500 for SC, ST, female and Divyang candidates). MBBS and BDS security money is Rs 20,000 (UR/EWS) or Rs 10,000 (ST/SC/OBC/PwD) at government colleges, Rs 2 lakh (medical) or Rs 1 lakh (dental) at deemed or private colleges, and Rs 50,000 in the stray round. It is forfeited if you do not take admission after an allotment in the second or a later round.
Which documents should you keep ready for JCECEB counselling?
The 2026 notices for engineering and medical counselling both say your provisional seat allotment letter "will be deemed cancelled" if you do not submit the original documents. Keep the original and a scan of each:
JEE (Main) confirmation page and NTA score card (mandatory uploads), or your NEET (UG) result
Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and certificates
Local Resident Certificate from the Sub Divisional Officer (Civil) or Deputy Commissioner
Caste certificate in the state format; for BC-I and BC-II it must state non-creamy layer
Income and Assets Certificate if you claim EWS
Disability certificate; for medical courses, only from RIMS Ranchi or MGM Medical College, Jamshedpur
Income certificate up to Rs 8 lakh if you claim an engineering tuition fee waiver seat
Provisional seat allotment letter and every fee receipt
Also check the category on your JEE Main or NEET form. Claim a different one on the JCECEB form and you are treated as unreserved, unless the central and state caste lists differ and you upload the original caste certificate with the form.
Should you join the next round if you already have a seat?
A worked example under the 2026 engineering rules: you are a female candidate allotted Mechanical in round 1 but want Computer Science. You take admission, pay the Rs 2,000 deposit and enter round 2.
No better seat comes up: you keep Mechanical.
Computer Science is allotted: you must join it, and the Mechanical seat goes to someone else.
So in a later round, list only seats you prefer to the one you hold. To order them, use our guide to dream, target and safe choices in counselling. If you are thinking of leaving a seat altogether, read the penalty for leaving an engineering seat after admission first.
To keep Class 12 maths and physics fresh while you wait, the Fermi Concept Library has every concept in physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics and computing, each with its own lesson.
During counselling, open the JCECEB notices page daily: in 2026 the board posted several date changes and merit list corrections.
