Engineering Admission Processes Continue Across IITs, NITs and Private Universities

As of February 14, 2026, the engineering admission landscape in India is entering a high-velocity phase with several national and private entrance exams open for registration. The National Testing Agency (NTA) is facilitating Session 2 of JEE Main, while IIT Roorkee has confirmed the JEE Advanced timeline for April. Simultaneously, top private universities like VIT, SRM, and Manipal (MAHE) have active application windows, alongside the regional gateway COMEDK UGET for Karnataka-based colleges. This report provides a consolidated view of the mandatory eligibility criteria, registration deadlines, and examination dates for the 2026-27 intake.

As of today, February 14, 2026, the National Testing Agency (NTA) is efficiently managing the mid-phase of the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 registration. This Phase is critical for aspirants aiming for seats in NITs and IIITs, with the application window closing on February 25. Parallelly, IIT Roorkee has finalized the administrative Protocol for the JEE Advanced 2026, which remains the exclusive route for the 23 Indian Institutes of Technology. The registration for the top 2.5 lakh JEE Main qualifiers is scheduled to begin on April 23, following the results of the second session.

• JEE Main Session 2: Registration is active until February 25, 2026 (9:00 PM), with the Engineering exam scheduled from April 2 to April 9.
• JEE Advanced: Registration opens on April 23, 2026, leading to the nationwide examination on May 17.
• IIT Council Updates: The council has reiterated the mandatory 75% aggregate requirement in Class 12 for final seat allocation via JoSAA 2026.
• Credential Verification: All national-level forms now require Aadhaar-based eKYC to ensure the Authenticity of the candidate database.

Private University Entrances and Regional Tracks

While the national exams draw the largest volume, several premier private Engineering institutions have opened their independent registration portals. The Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) and SRM Institute of Science and Technology are currently seeing peak traffic for their respective entrance tests, VITEEE and SRMJEEE. Additionally, the Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK) has officially opened the UGET 2026 application window, providing a centralized track for over 150 private colleges in Karnataka.

• Manipal Entrance Test (MET): Registration for the first Phase at MAHE is closing soon on March 15, with a 50% aggregate requirement in PCM.
• COMEDK UGET: The portal at comedk.org is currently active for registrations until March 16, with a mock test release scheduled for February 18.
• Technical Compliance: Candidates are urged to use a laptop with a working camera for the "Live Photo" capture required by most private university portals.
• Selection Rubric: Most private institutions are maintaining a 60-40 split between entrance rank and board marks for their final Engineering merit lists.

Conclusion

The simultaneous activity across multiple admission portals on February 14, 2026, marks the most complex period for students navigating the Engineering landscape. As the NTA solidifies its Session 2 database, the shift toward institutional Authenticity and secure digital profiles has become a standard Protocol. This period is not only about registration but also about strategic planning, as exam dates for VITEEE, MET, and SRMJEEE are clustered around April and May. For the Candidate, maintaining a centralized checklist of deadlines and document requirements is essential to avoid technical disqualification. The 2026-27 Phase of admissions continues to prioritize meritocratic selection, with the National Medical Commission (NMC) and AICTE ensuring that institutional standards remain high across both public and private sectors. As the March deadlines approach, the focus will transition from form-filling to the high-stakes evaluation of technical proficiency across India’s premier classrooms.

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