The main difference between COAP and CCMT counselling is that COAP counselling 2026 is conducted for admission to IITs through GATE scores while CCMT 2026 counselling grants admission to NITs, IIITs and GFTIs based on GATE scores.
Difference between COAP & CCMT: As an aspiring exam taker of GATE exam, you must find it confusing to choose between COAP & CCMT. Where both of these counselling are of the same exam, however, they are distinctively different from each other. Through COAP counselling, you can get admission to the IITs as well as recruited in PSUs. On the other hand, after the CCMT counselling, you will be granted admission to the top NITs and IIITs. COAP counselling is expected to begin from the 3rd week of March 2026. On the other hand, CCMT counselling is expected to begin from the month of May 2026. Throughout this article, we will be discussing details about the difference between COAP & CCMT, their counselling process and the subsequent admission process post the seat allotment.
After you qualify GATE 2026 exam , you will be eligible to apply for admission to one of the participating institutes through the counselling process. Each institute will have its own approach to carrying out the GATE COAP & CCMT counselling process. Read this article to understand details about the difference between COAP & CCMT.
Also Check: CCMT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
GATE Counselling 2026: CCMT vs COAP Eligibility Criteria
The table below explains about the GATE 2026 counselling for both CCMT & COAP:-
Category | COAP | CCMT |
|---|---|---|
Scorecard | For COAP a valid GATE Score on any of the three years (2026/ 2024/ 2023) is required. | Likely to COAP a valid GATE Score on any of the three years is also required for CCMT. |
Minimum Marks Required | These differ according to different Institution |
|
Participating Institutions | IITs and IISc Bangalore | IIITs, NITs, GFTIs |
GATE 2026 Counselling Dates for COAP and CCMT
Being an aspiring contender for GATE 2026 counselling , you must be well versed with the whole schedule. IISc Bangalore has announced the dates related to COAP counselling. However, the CCMT counselling dates are yet to be announced. Go through the GATE COAP and CCMT dates 2026 below:-
GATE COAP Counselling Dates 2026
Events | GATE COAP Dates |
|---|---|
COAP Round 1 Seat Allotment | TBA |
COAP Round 2 Seat Allotment | TBA |
COAP Round 3 Seat Allotment | TBA |
COAP Round 4 Seat Allotment | TBA |
COAP Round 5 Seat Allotment | TBA |
COAP Round 6 Seat Allotment | TBA |
COAP Round 7 Seat Allotment | TBA |
COAP Round 8 Seat Allotment | TBA |
COAP Round 9 Seat Allotment | TBA |
COAP Round 7 Seat Allotment | TBA |
GATE CCMT Counseling Dates 2026
Events | Dates |
|---|---|
Counselling registration 2026, fee payment, and choice filling | May 2026 |
Last date of CCMT 2026 registration unlocking by the candidates | June 2026 |
Deadline for CCMT Online Registration and Fee Payment | June 2026 |
Deadline for addressing issues related to fee payment | June 2026 |
Deadline of online choice filling and locking of CCMT | June 2026 |
CCMT seat allotment 2026 Round 1 | June 2026 |
Payment of seat acceptance fees | June 2026 |
CCMT document verification by the officers | June 2026 |
Deadline for online document verification | June 2026 |
Deadline for resolution of any queries | June 2026 |
CCMT 2026 Seat Allotment Round 2 | June 2026 |
CCMT 2026 Seat allotment Round 3 | July 2026 |
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CCMT vs COAP Counselling Process
As discussed above, the counselling processes of CCMT & COAP are very similar yet different from each other. Where through CCMT, you can get admitted to the top NITs, IITs, and GFTIs, whereas COAP will help you get admission to the top IITs. Through the points below, we will be discussing about the difference between the COAP & CCMT counselling processes:-
Counselling Type | Aspect | Details |
|---|---|---|
COAP GATE Counselling 2026 | Purpose of COAP | Common Offer Acceptance Portal (COAP) 2026 is an online counselling platform designed primarily for candidates seeking admission to M.Tech programs at IITs and job offers from select PSUs through GATE 2026 scores. It provides a centralized system where multiple IITs release offers simultaneously, ensuring transparency and fairness in the admission process. |
Registration Requirement | To participate in COAP 2026, candidates must register online on the official COAP portal using their GATE 2026 credentials. Registration is mandatory to view, accept, retain, or reject offers from participating IITs and PSUs. Without COAP registration, candidates cannot access or respond to offers, even if they have applied to institutes individually. | |
Common Offer Platform | GATE COAP acts as a common platform where all participating IITs upload their admission and job offer letters within a common time window. This synchronized release helps candidates compare multiple offers at once and make informed decisions without pressure or confusion. | |
Role in IIT Admissions | COAP allows IITs to offer M.Tech admissions based on GATE results and manage candidate responses efficiently. Institutes use COAP to display offers, while final admission decisions depend on the candidate’s acceptance and fulfillment of institute-specific requirements. | |
Access to Multiple Offers | Once registered on COAP, candidates can access all admission and job offers from participating IITs and PSUs where they have applied. This eliminates the need to track offers individually across multiple institute portals and ensures a consolidated view of opportunities. | |
Not an Application Portal | COAP is not an application portal. Candidates must separately apply to individual IITs for M.Tech admissions or PSU recruitment through their respective application portals. COAP only facilitates the counselling and offer acceptance process after applications have been submitted. | |
Candidate Responsibility | It is the candidate’s responsibility to apply independently to their desired IITs before participating in COAP. Failure to apply to institutes directly may result in no offers appearing on the COAP dashboard, even after registration. | |
CCMT GATE Counselling 2026 | Purpose of CCMT | Centralized Counselling for M.Tech/M.Arch/M.Plan (CCMT) 2026 is conducted for candidates seeking admission to NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, IIEST Shibpur, and CFTIs through GATE 2026 scores. CCMT serves as the primary counselling authority for these centrally funded technical institutions. |
Eligible Programs | Through CCMT, candidates can apply for M.Tech, M.Arch, and M.Plan programs across participating institutions. The counselling process ensures centralized seat allocation based on GATE rank and candidate preferences. | |
Online Registration | Candidates must complete online registration on the CCMT official website. During registration, applicants are required to provide personal details, GATE information, and academic credentials accurately. | |
Choice Filling | Along with registration, candidates must fill in their preferred courses and colleges in order of priority. These choices play a crucial role in determining seat allocation and should be selected carefully based on interest and GATE rank. | |
Seat Allotment Process | Seats are allotted based on GATE rank, category, choices filled, and availability of seats. Multiple rounds of counselling are conducted, allowing candidates to upgrade their allotted seats depending on availability and eligibility. | |
Seat Acceptance and Verification | After seat allotment, candidates must confirm their seat by paying the seat acceptance fee within the stipulated time. They are also required to report to a designated reporting centre for document verification before final admission. | |
Final Admission Formalities | Once documents are verified, candidates must report to the allotted institute, complete remaining admission formalities, and pay the balance admission fee to secure their seat successfully. |
Also check: List of Documents Required for CCMT 2026 Counselling
CCMT vs COAP Admission Process
Along with the counselling process, there is a huge difference between the COAP & CCMT admission process, and as an aspiring student of the GATE exam, you are expected to know all about the admission process. Let us dive into the detailed description of the CCMT vs COAP admission process below:-
GATE COAP: Admission Acceptance Process 2026
If you have a valid GATE scorecard and wish to take part in the GATE counselling process, then you must have the knowledge of the entire process and how it is done after the registration for the counselling is over. You will be able to register for the GATE 2026 counselling via the COAP portal by following the steps mentioned below:-
- Log in to the COAP portal at iitk.ac.in/coap2026.
- Visit the institute-wise allotment information section, where you can find the seat allocation option
- All candidates will have the option of selecting one of three choices
- Accept and Freeze: This is the option if you do not wish to improve his or her preferences and is prepared to accept one of the offers. These candidates will not be considered for further rounds of COAP counselling.
- Retain and Wait: This option has to be selected if partial acceptance is shown and you want to consider upgrading to additional preferences in subsequent counselling rounds. You will not be considered for additional offers rejected in the current round. In case a better preference is offered to you, then the existing 'Retain and Wait' offer will be released.
- Reject and Wait: This option has to be used if you don’t wish to accept any of the offers provided during the current round. You will still be evaluated for higher preferences in subsequent rounds of counselling.
- Finally, click on the submit button and complete the further admission process
GATE CCMT: Admission Acceptance Process 2026
You must know about the complete GATE counselling process to get admission to the top NITs, IIITs and other institutes, as well as the entire admission acceptance process by which the GATE CCMT counselling is carried out. For admission into NITS, IIITs, and GFTIs, you must first register at the CCMT portal. It will be followed by three GATE counselling rounds for seat allotment in various institutes:-
Pre-Allotment Process
- Start by registering on the official portal of CCMT.
- The registration fee for OC/OB candidates is INR 2200, while SC/ST/PwD students will have to pay INR 1700.
- Make sure to fill out the form with the correct information.
Seat Allotment
- You will be allotted seats during the admission process based on your GATE 2026 scores.
- After the seat allocation is done, you will be required to pay the seat acceptance fee, which will be INR 20,000/-.
- Then, you will have to report to a reporting centre to complete the document verification process.
Getting Admitted To ‘Allotted Institute’
- After the document verification is done, you need to pay a fee of INR 10,000 to reserve your seats provisionally.
- The remaining amount has to be paid at the relevant allocated institute while reporting at the institute
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We hope this article was helpful in clearing out the differences between COAP and CCMT.
FAQs
To apply for GATE COAP, you must possess a valid GATE score from either of the years from 2026, 2025, or 2024. You must also meet the requirements set by the participating institute that you wish to apply for.
One who has a valid GATE score of either the current year or the last two years is eligible for CCMT counselling. You should note that you will be eligible for admission in the M.Tech course based on your qualifying paper in GATE. In order to be eligible for counselling, you also must have qulalified the relevant B.Tech/ B.Arch/ B.Plan degree with a minimum of 60% marks or 6.5 CGPA.
COAP counselling is a process through which GATE-qualified students can get admission to the top IITs and other institutes. It acts as a common platform for all the participating institutes to upload offer letters in a common window. COAP allows the institutes to offer admission based on the GATE results and accept applications.
The primary focus of CCMT is to conduct admission to M.Tech, M.Arch, and MPlan courses in NITs. However, it is not merely limited to that. After participating in CCMT counselling, you can get admission to IITs, GFTIs, and other centrally funded technical institutions.
No, COAP is just not limited to M.Tech and includes various other PG courses and research-based opportunities such as MS or PhD, depending upon the policies of the participating institutes.
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