GATE COAP 2026 Schedule Announced: Ten Rounds for MTech Admissions and PSU Job Offers
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has officially released the schedule for the Common Offer Acceptance Portal (COAP) 2026, the centralized platform through which GATE-qualified candidates will receive admission offers for MTech programs and job offers from public sector undertakings (PSUs). Registration on the portal will open shortly, and candidates are advised to monitor the official website for updates.
This year, the COAP process will feature ten distinct rounds, giving candidates multiple opportunities to evaluate and respond to offers. The schedule comes shortly after IIT Guwahati announced the GATE 2026 results on March 19, 2026. To participate in COAP, applicants must hold a valid GATE score from any of the last three years — 2026, 2025, or 2024.
It is important to note that COAP is not an application platform. Candidates must separately apply to individual institutions or companies for MTech admissions or PSU recruitment. The portal simply serves as a centralized medium where offers are displayed and candidates can make their acceptance decisions.
Participating Institutions
A wide range of premier institutions are taking part in the COAP 2026 process. These include the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, along with several IITs such as IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Guwahati, and IIT Roorkee, among others.
Complete Round-by-Round Schedule
The COAP 2026 process will run from May through July, with each round offering candidates a window to log in, review offers, and make their selections. Here is the detailed breakdown:
- Round 1: May 11 (10:00 AM) to May 13 (9:00 AM) — Retain & Wait option available
- Round 2: May 17 to May 20 — Retain & Wait option available
- Round 3: May 24 to May 27 — Retain & Wait option available
- Round 4: May 31 to June 3 — Retain & Wait option available
- Round 5: June 5 to June 10 — Retain & Wait option not available
- Round 6: June 13 to June 17 — Retain & Wait option not available
- Round 7: June 20 to June 23 — Retain & Wait option not available
- Round 8: June 27 to July 1 — Retain & Wait option not available
- Round 9: July 3 to July 5 — Retain & Wait option not available
- Round 10: July 8 to July 10 — Retain & Wait option not available (held only if required)
Key Rules and Guidelines
Candidates should be aware of several important regulations governing the COAP 2026 process. The Retain and Wait option, which allows applicants to hold an offer while waiting for a better one from the same institution and course, can be used a maximum of two times per candidate.
During the first four rounds, candidates will have three choices: Accept and Freeze, Retain and Wait, or Reject the offer. However, from Round 5 onward, only the Accept and Freeze and Reject options will be available. The final round, Round 10, will only be conducted if certain IITs decide to extend the process further.
Candidates must also remember that failing to make a selection within the designated time window for any round will result in the automatic cancellation of their offer. There is no provision for late responses or extensions.
Given the significance of each decision, experts recommend that candidates log in promptly at the start of every round, carefully review their available options, and make informed choices. Waiting until the last minute can lead to unnecessary stress or missed deadlines, potentially resulting in the loss of a valuable opportunity. With ten rounds spread over two months, there is ample time for candidates to secure the most suitable offer, but only if they remain vigilant and proactive throughout the process.
