NIT

You need to give the JEE-Mains entrance exam.

In NITs, IITs and IIMs counselling is done through JOSAA.

+2 board and JEE Mains are both considered for rank to get in the NITs. 40% board and 60% of JEE Mains marks are calculated.

Yes, you can definitely get admission. It mainly depends on the AIEEE entrance test. Rest for board cut-off, if you are expecting 96%, you need not to worry at all. Thanks.

Dear Jayanth,
You should have score above 60% in class 12th with PCM because this is the minimum eligibility mentioned by JEE.
All the best.

If by free seats you mean the one that are left for spot round of counseling then that may vary from university to university and there is no spot round for IITs for others NIT you may get admission in 80,000 rank as well but you need a high rank to get into a decent NIT for that rank up to 15000 would do depending upon the trade you are interested.

For NIT you may get admission in 80,000 rank as well but you need a high rank to get into a decent NIT for that rank up to 15000 would do depending upon the trade you are interested.

The JEE exam has experienced some change and hence, it will be difficult to comment which NIT's would succumb to what cut-offs. I would advise you to prepare well for the exam and later, we can check upon result declaration.