What After IAT 2026: The IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) is conducted for admission to undergraduate science and research programmes offered by seven IISERs, IISc Bengaluru, IIT Guwahati, IIT Madras, IACS Kolkata, and IIEST Shibpur.
The exam has gained immense popularity because several prestigious institutes now accept IAT scores for admission. It also serves as an alternative pathway to gain admission to select IITs and IISc Bengaluru without appearing for JEE Advanced.
The IAT 2026 has now been conducted, and candidates are eagerly awaiting the next steps in the admission process. For those unfamiliar with the post-exam procedure, this SciAstra blog explains everything that follows the IAT 2026 exam, including the release of the response sheet, answer key, and results, as well as the counselling process. Read on to learn more!
IAT 2026 Participating Institutes and Seats
The IAT 2026 participating institutes are offering admission to 2343 seats. Check out the exact number of seats for different courses offered by the participating institutes. These details are mentioned below:
Check out the IISER 2026 seat intake for BS-MS, BS and BTech programmes at different IISERs below:
IISER 2026 BS-MS Seat Intake | |
IISER | Number of Seats |
IISER Berhampur | 300 |
IISER Bhopal | 300 |
IISER Kolkata | 280 |
IISER Kolkata (BS-MS in Computational and Data Sciences) | 30 |
IISER Mohali | 275 |
IISER Pune | 288 |
IISER Tirupati | 250 |
IISER Thiruvananthapuram | 320 |
Total | 2043 |
IISER 2026 BS/BTech Seat Intake | |
IISER Courses | Number of Seats |
IISER Bhopal (BTech in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences) | 75 |
IISER Bhopal (BTech in Chemical Engineering) | 40 |
IISER Bhopal (BTech in Data Science and Engineering) | 80 |
IISER Bhopal (BS in Economics Sciences) | 55 |
IISER Tirupati (BS in Economic and Statistical Sciences) | 50 |
Total | 300 |
What After IAT 2026?
Following the conclusion of the IAT exam, the evaluation and counselling processes begin. These processes involve several important steps, which candidates must complete to secure admission. The step-by-step detailed procedure for IAT 2026 is mentioned below.
Step 1. Release of the IAT 2026 Provisional Answer Key
The IAT 2026 provisional answer key was released for the exam itself on June 7, 2026 the official IAT website – iiseradmission.in.
The provisional answer key contains the answers marked correct by the examination authorities for all the questions asked in the test. Candidates can use it to estimate their probable scores before the declaration of the final result.
Candidates can raise objections against the provisional answer key. The objection window is open from June 10 to 13, 2026.
Check out the IAT 2026 Provisional Answer Key PDF below:
IAT 2026 Provisional Answer Key (Official PDFs) | |
|---|---|
IAT 2026 Provisional Answer Key Official PDF (Hindi) | IAT 2026 Provisional Answer Key (Hindi) |
IAT 2026 Provisional Answer Key Official PDF (English) | IAT 2026 Provisional Answer (English) |
Step 2. IAT 2026 Response Sheet
The IAT exam authorities also release the student response sheet for the candidates who appear for the exam. The response sheet contains the answers marked by candidates during the examination. By comparing their responses with the provisional answer key, candidates can calculate their tentative scores and evaluate their chances of admission to their preferred institutes.
The IAT 2026 response sheet was released on June 9, 2026 on the official IAT website.
Step 3. IAT 2026 Provisional Answer Key Objections
If candidates find any discrepancies in the provisional answer key, they will be given an opportunity to raise objections within the stipulated deadline. Candidates must submit valid supporting documents or explanations while challenging any answer. The examination authorities will review all objections before preparing the final answer key.
The IAT 2026 answer key objection window will remain open from June 9 to 13, 2026 at nestexam.in.
Step 4. Release of the IAT 2026 Final Answer Key
After considering the objections submitted by candidates, the authorities will publish the IAT 2026 final answer key. The final answer key is prepared after expert review and is considered binding. No further challenges or objections are entertained once it is released.
The IAT 2026 final answer key is expected to be released in the third week of June 2026 on the official exam website.
Step 5. Declaration of the IAT 2026 Result and Ranks
The IAT 2026 result will be announced on the official website after the release of the final answer key, tentatively in the fourth week of June 2026 at nestexam.in.
Candidates can log in using their credentials (User ID and password) to download their scorecards. The result will include important details such as the candidate's marks, category rank, and overall rank, which will be used during the counselling and admission process.
Step 6. Release of the IAT 2026 Counselling Schedule
Following the declaration of the results, the authorities will release the detailed IAT 2026 counselling schedule.
The schedule will include important dates related to registration, choice filling, seat allotment rounds, acceptance of allotted seats, fee payment, and reporting procedures. Candidates are advised to keep track of these deadlines to avoid missing any stage of the admission process.
Check out the tentative counselling dates below:
IAT 2026 Counselling Schedule | |
Event | Tentative Date |
Release of IAT 2026 Result | Fourth Week of June 2026 |
Publication of Detailed Counselling Schedule | Fourth Week of June 2026 |
Commencement of Counselling Registration and Choice Filling | Fourth Week of June 2026 |
Last Date for Counselling Registration and Choice Filling | First Week of July 2026 |
Release of First Round Seat Allotment | First Week of July 2026 |
Payment of Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF) and Uploading of Documents for Round 1 | First–Second Week of July 2026 |
Release of Second Round Seat Allotment | Second Week of July 2026 |
Payment of Seat Acceptance Fee and Document Submission for Round 2 | Second–Third Week of July 2026 |
Release of Third Round Seat Allotment (if required) | Third Week of July 2026 |
Payment of Seat Acceptance Fee and Document Submission for Round 3 | Third–Fourth Week of July 2026 |
Additional Seat Allotment Rounds (if seats remain vacant) | July–August 2026 |
Final Document Verification and Admission Confirmation | August 2026 |
Reporting to the Allotted Institute and Commencement of Academic Session | August 2026 |
Step 7. IAT 2026 Counselling
Candidates who qualify in IAT 2026 must participate in the counselling process by registering through the official portal and filling in their preferred institutes and programmes.
The counselling process includes the following steps:
1. Registration for Counselling
Registration is a mandatory step to participate in the IAT 2026 counselling process. Candidates must log in to the IISER admissions portal using their application credentials and confirm their participation by completing the counselling registration form. They must provide all the required details, including their name, date of birth, other personal information, and their IAT 2026 score.
During the registration process, candidates will also have to select their preferred courses and institutes from the list of IAT 2026 participating institutes. This process is known as choice filling.
2. Release of Seat Allotment List
Based on a candidate's IAT rank, category, submitted preferences, and seat availability, IISER will release the seat allotment results. Multiple rounds of seat allotment may be conducted if seats remain vacant.
3. Locking of Preferences/Choices
Candidates who secure ranks within the IAT 2026 opening and closing rank range for their respective categories may be offered seats during the allotment process.
It is advisable to carefully review all available options before locking in the choices, as seat allotment will be based on these preferences. Candidates who wish to accept the offered course and institute must select the "Freeze" option. Those who wish to participate in subsequent rounds of counselling for possible upgradation must choose the "Float" option.
Once a candidate selects the "Freeze" option, they must pay the Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF) through the official IAT website.
The details of the SAF are provided below.
Category | Seat Acceptance Fee | Refundable Amount | Non-Refundable Administrative Fee |
General / EWS / OBC / OBC-NCL / PwD / KM / Kashmiri Pandit / Kashmiri Hindu Families (Non-Migrants) | INR 35,000 | INR 25,000 | INR 10,000 |
SC / ST | INR 17,500 | INR 12,500 | INR 5,000 |
4. Acceptance of the Allotted Seat
Candidates who receive a seat offer must accept the allotted seat within the specified deadline by paying the Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF). Failure to complete this step may result in the cancellation of the allotted seat. Candidates must also download the offer letter for future reference.
Uploading of Required Documents
After accepting the seat, candidates must upload the necessary documents for verification through the admission portal. The required documents generally include:
Class 10 mark sheet and certificate
Class 12 mark sheet and certificate
IAT 2026 scorecard
Category certificate (if applicable)
PwD certificate (if applicable)
Valid photo identity proof
Passport-size photographs
Any other documents prescribed by the authorities
5. Document Verification
The submitted documents will be verified by the admission authorities. Candidates must ensure that all uploaded documents are valid and accurate. Any discrepancy or submission of invalid documents may lead to the cancellation of admission.
6. Upgradation in Subsequent Rounds (If Applicable)
Candidates who have accepted a seat may be considered for upgradation to a higher-preference IISER or programme in subsequent rounds, subject to seat availability and the counselling guidelines announced by IISER.
7. Payment of Admission Fee and Confirmation of Admission
Once the documents have been verified and the final seat has been confirmed, candidates must pay the prescribed admission fee to secure their admission. Thereafter, they must report to the institute to which they have been allotted a seat and complete the remaining admission formalities as per the institute's instructions.
Conclusion
After the conclusion of the IAT exam, candidates should be familiar with the admission process that follows to address any queries related to the subsequent steps. Therefore, it is important for them to understand the procedures that take place after the examination.
Following IAT 2026, several stages are conducted, including the release of the provisional answer key, response sheet, final answer key, results, and the counselling process. Candidates must be aware of these steps and complete them within the prescribed deadlines to secure admission to one of the IAT 2026 participating institutes. To help candidates navigate this process smoothly, this article provides all the essential information about what follows after the IAT 2026 exam.
