Every year JEE aspirants are fighting for one goal: getting into the IITs, but with a limited number of seats and high competition. In 2025, a major and effective shift has taken place: IITs added 400 new seats, increasing the total IIT intake to around 18,160 seats. This might look like a small shift at first glance; it’s part of a broader seat expansion plan under the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA). In fact, JoSAA has introduced 2,916 additional seats across all its participating institutes, which include IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. But how does this affect JEE aspirants? Let’s dive deep into detail.
What is JoSAA, and How Does It Work?
The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) is a centralized body responsible for seat allocation in 121 engineering institutions in India, which includes 23 IITs, 32 NITs, 26 IIITs, and 40+ GFTIs. JoSAA manages the entire counselling process, from registration and choice filling to mock allotments, real-time allotments, and admission confirmation. It is based on your JEE Advanced rank (for IITs) and JEE Main rank (for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs).
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JoSAA 2025 Seat Matrix
| Institute | Total Seats 2025 | Increased Seats 2025 | Total Seats 2024 |
| Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) | 18,160 | 400 | 17,760 |
| National Institutes of Technology (NITs) | 24,525 | 296 | 24,229 |
| Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) | 9,940 | 1,394 | 8,546 |
| Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs) | 10,228 | 826 | 9,402 |
| Total | 62,853 | 2,916 | 59,937 |
IIT-Wise Seat Increase Breakdown
This year in June 2025, IITs have collectively added new seats, aiming to provide more opportunities to aspirants who are looking forward to joining these prestigious institutions. Let’s have an IIT-wise seat increase breakdown.
| IIT Campus | Seats in 2024 | Seats in 2025 | Increase |
| IIT Bhilai | 283 | 329 | +46 |
| IIT Dharwad | 310 | 385 | +75 |
| IIT Tirupati | 244 | 254 | +10 |
| IIT Jammu | 280 | 305 | +25 |
| IIT Bhubaneshwar | 475 | 499 | +24 |
| IIT Kharagpur | 1869 | 1897 | +28 |
| IIT Goa | 157 | 197 | +10 |
| IIT Mandi | 329 | 353 | +24 |
| IIT Guwahati | 922 | 936 | +14 |
| IIT Bombay | 1360 | 1375 | +15 |
| IIT Dhanbad | 1125 | 1143 | +18 |
| IIT Roorkee | 1353 | 1370 | +17 |
| Other Minor Adjustments in other IITs | – | – | +94 |
| Total | ~17,770 | ~18,160 | +400 |
Note: These are the estimates based on the JoSAA Seat Matrix 2025 and internal updates from IITs.
How Will It Impact JEE Aspirants
Now that we know the increase in numbers, let’s understand how these additions will influence the JEE aspirants.
Slight Relaxation in Cutoffs
More numbers of seats mean the cutoff ranks may slightly shift, especially for new IITs and new branches. Aspirants who might get missed out by a narrow margin now stand a better chance of cracking and making it to IITs.
Higher Chances in Lower Rounds of JoSAA
Previously, many students dropped out or didn’t get a chance to make it beyond Round 4 or 5 of JoSAA. But now, with more numbers of seats, the possibility of seat upgrades and branch allotments will definitely increase.
Improved Seat Allocation Across Reserved Categories
The hike in the number of seats will also impact the category-wise reservations. More SC/ST/OBC/EWS seats will be available proportionally, giving an added advantage to the students from reserved categories.
Boost for Newer IITs
The IIT campuses like IIT Bhilai, IIT Dharwad, IIT Jammu, and IIT Mandi are emerging rapidly, and by adding more seats and with better facilities, these institutes are expected to draw more top-ranking students.
Positive Impact on Female Candidates
The expansion in this year, 2025, also supports the ongoing supernumerary seat policy for female candidates. The addition of seats may create an extra room for female candidates without impacting general category allotments.
Reduction in Branch Compromise
Many aspirants had to settle for lower preference branches just to secure a seat in IITs. But now, with more availability of seats, there is a better chance of aligning your desired branch and IIT campus.
More Program Choices and Flexibility
The new seats that were introduced are being tied up with new programs in AI, Data Science, Materials Engineering, etc., not just traditional B.Tech branches. This will give aspirants more variety and flexibility during JoSAA counseling rounds.
6,500 More Seats by 2029
This year’s 400-seat expansion is just the beginning; the Ministry of Education has approved a large-scale plan to add over 6,500 seats in the IITs by the year 2029. Most of this expansion will come from:
- Upgrading the infrastructure in IIT Bhilai, IIT Goa, IIT Palakkad, IIT Dharwad, and IIT Tirupati.
- Increasing the hostel capacity and classroom facilities
- Launching dual-degree, interdisciplinary, and industry-oriented programs.
This increase by the year 2029 would bring total IIT capacity close to 25,000 seats, relieving the stress of limited seats for JEE aspirants.
Conclusion
The addition of 400 new seats in IITs and around 2,916 seats across JoSAA institutes is a major step toward making the prestigious technical education more accessible. For JEE aspirants, this means more hope, more flexibility, and more choices. Use this change for your betterment, fill your preferences wisely, don’t underestimate newer IITs, and keep an open mind during JoSAA counselling. A smart approach of yours could make the difference between regret and success.
While these changes are welcomed, let’s not forget that top IITs will still have high cut-offs, especially for branches like CSE, ECE, and Mechanical. You still need to perform well in JEE Main and JEE Advanced to make it to the shortlist. Just remember, not every aspirant may land their first-choice college or branch, so be prepared to compromise wherever necessary.
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