What is Diploma Lateral Entry in Haryana?
Diploma Engineering Lateral Entry allows eligible candidates to enter the second year of a Diploma Engineering programme instead of starting from the first year.
For the 2026–27 admission cycle, HSTES states that Diploma Engineering Lateral Entry is a two-year, semester-based course. Admission is conducted through online off-campus counselling and is based on the inter-se merit/rank of the qualifying examination.
Unlike an entrance-test-based admission route, candidates are ranked according to their qualifying-examination percentage, subject to the applicable eligibility and compatibility requirements.
Quick Facts
Key information about Diploma Engineering Lateral Entry
| Course | Diploma Engineering – Lateral Entry |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Entry | Second Year |
| Entrance Exam | No separate entrance examination |
| Admission Basis | Inter-se merit of qualifying examination |
| Admission Mode | Online off-campus counselling |
| Application | Online |
Who Can Apply?
Diploma Engineering Lateral Entry Eligibility
According to the 2026–27 prospectus, candidates can qualify through several routes.
Route 1 — 10+2
Candidates who have passed 10+2 with the prescribed subject combination can be considered for Diploma Engineering lateral entry.
Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electronics, Information Technology, Biology, Informatics Practices, Biotechnology, Technical Vocational subjects, Agriculture, Engineering Graphics, Business Studies, Entrepreneurship.
However, the exact subject requirement depends on the Diploma branch.
Route 2 — ITI
Candidates with:
10th + 2-year ITI
can be eligible for admission to the second year of Diploma Engineering courses, subject to the applicable compatibility rules.
Route 3 — Existing Diploma
Candidates who have completed a three-year Diploma in a particular branch may be eligible to take admission into the second year of a different Diploma branch through lateral entry, subject to compatibility.
Route 4 — NSQF Level 4
Candidates holding NSQF Level 4 qualifications can be considered for various Diploma Engineering courses according to the prescribed compatibility table.
Which Qualification Do You Have?
Eligible Diploma Branches
The 2026–27 prospectus lists a broad range of engineering/technology disciplines.
Don't claim that every branch is available for every lateral-entry qualification. Availability and eligibility are separate things.
How is Diploma Lateral Entry Merit Calculated?
For Diploma Engineering Lateral Entry, the admission merit is prepared using the percentage of marks obtained in the qualifying examination.
⚖️ Tie-breaking order
The prospectus also specifies a tie-breaking process when candidates have the same percentage. If candidates have equal qualifying-examination percentages, the order is:
- Date of birth — older candidate gets the higher rank.
- Candidate's name in alphabetical order.
- Father's name in alphabetical order.
- Mother's name in alphabetical order.
Diploma Lateral Entry Admission Process
Step-by-step guide to securing your seat
Step 1 — Check Eligibility
Verify your qualifying qualification and check whether your subjects/trade are compatible with the Diploma branch you want.
Step 2 — Online Registration
Applications are submitted online through the HSTES admission portal. There is no printed application form for these admissions. Candidates enter their details and upload the required documents, photograph and signature.
Step 3 — PPP Verification
For Haryana residents, the PPP ID is mandatory. Details such as name, date of birth, category, income and other information are fetched from the PPP database and remain non-editable in the registration form. Students should correct and verify their PPP information before applying.
Step 4 — Document & Marks Verification
The candidate selects a designated centre. For the 2026–27 process, verification is conducted online by designated centres in coordination with HSTES. The prospectus specifically states that merit is prepared only for candidates whose application has been submitted, fee paid and verified/confirmed.
Step 5 — Inter-se Merit
After verification, the qualifying-examination percentage is used to prepare the inter-se merit/rank.
Step 6 — Choice Filling
Candidates log in using their application credentials and fill institute/branch choices in priority order. The portal displays choices for which the candidate is eligible.
Step 7 — Seat Allotment
The seat-allotment result is displayed online in the candidate's login.
Step 8 — Physical Reporting
After seat allotment, the candidate reports to the allotted institute with the required documents and pays the applicable semester fee. The institute verifies the credentials and issues the Provisional Admission Slip.
Diploma Lateral Entry Counselling
The prospectus provides for two online off-campus counselling rounds for Diploma admissions. The centralized counselling covers the applicable categories and participating seats, while TFW and EWS supernumerary seats are handled separately according to the prescribed procedure.
What students do during counselling
The prospectus advises candidates to fill their choices carefully and notes that filling more eligible choices can increase the range of options considered during allotment.
Want to Upgrade Your Seat?
A candidate can participate in a subsequent counselling round for an upgrade.
If a new seat is allotted in a subsequent counselling round, the previous allotment/admission is automatically cancelled.
Therefore, candidates should fill only the choices they would prefer over their existing seat.
Documents Required
📄 During Registration
Depending on the candidate's category and qualification, documents can include:
- Qualifying examination DMC
- 10th DMC for date-of-birth verification
- PPP ID for Haryana residents
- Applicable special-category certificates
- EWS Income & Asset Certificate, where applicable
- Other documents specified for the selected category
🏫 At Institute Reporting
Candidates should carry original documents along with the required self-attested copies.
Registration Fee & Timeline
Diploma Lateral Entry Registration Fee
| Category | Registration fee |
|---|---|
| General | ₹1,000 |
| Reserved categories / Girls | ₹700 |
The prospectus states that the registration fee is non-refundable and is paid online.
Payment methods: Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, Wallet, UPI.
Approximate Admission Timeline
The schedule below is an approximate guide based on the 2026–27 admission cycle. Dates can change, so candidates should check the latest HSTES notification.
| Prospectus / admission information | April |
| Online registration | April–June |
| Application verification | April–June |
| Inter-se merit | June |
| First counselling / choice filling | June |
| First seat allotment | June |
| Second counselling | June–July |
| Institute-level counselling | After centralized counselling |
| Academic session | Around August |
| Final admission deadline | Later in the admission cycle |
Special Categories
TFW — Tuition Fee Waiver
Up to 5% of sanctioned intake per course may be available as supernumerary TFW seats in eligible institutions/courses, subject to the conditions specified by AICTE and the State Government.
For the 2026–27 prospectus, children of parents with annual family income up to ₹8 lakh are specified as eligible for the TFW scheme, with income verified through PPP for Haryana residents.
EWS — Economically Weaker Section
Up to 10% of sanctioned intake per course may be available as supernumerary EWS seats, subject to the applicable rules.
For EWS, the prospectus specifies: Verified PPP ID and Income & Asset Certificate as applicable documents.
HARIHAR
The prospectus also contains specific provisions for eligible candidates under the HARIHAR policy for Diploma Engineering Lateral Entry. The eligibility and verification requirements are specific. Check the detailed prospectus rules if this applies to you.
Scholarships for Diploma Lateral Entry Students
The prospectus states that students entering through second-year lateral entry can apply for the listed AICTE scholarships, subject to the respective eligibility conditions.
Pragati Scholarship
For eligible girl students pursuing technical education.
Saksham Scholarship
For eligible specially-abled students; the prospectus specifies a minimum 40% disability requirement.
Swanath Scholarship
For eligible students in specified categories including: Orphans, Students whose parent(s) died due to COVID-19, and Wards of Armed Forces/Central Paramilitary Forces personnel martyred in action.
Where Can You Take Admission?
Government Polytechnic
Government institutions participating in centralized counselling.
Government-Aided Polytechnic
Participating aided institutions/courses.
Self-Financing Polytechnic
Centralized counselling applies to the specified 75% seats, with institute-level procedures for applicable remaining seats.
Important Things to Know Before Applying
Crucial points students often miss
1. PPP information should be correct
For Haryana residents, information fetched from PPP is non-editable in the application. Correct discrepancies before registration.
2. Merit is prepared only after verification
Simply submitting the form isn't enough. The application must go through the prescribed verification process.
3. Eligibility is branch-specific
Your qualification may make you eligible for some branches but not others.
4. Keep your application number safe
The unique application number is required for future admission-related communication.
5. Lock your choices
If choices aren't locked, the last filled choices are considered final according to the prospectus.
6. Don't assume seat availability
Institutes, branches and sanctioned intake can change, so candidates should check the updated list during counselling.
7. Internal branch sliding isn't automatically allowed
The prospectus states that internal sliding/change of branch is not allowed during or after the admission process; candidates wanting another branch need to use a subsequent counselling opportunity where applicable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an entrance exam for Diploma Engineering lateral entry in Haryana?+
No separate entrance examination is specified. Admission is based on the inter-se merit of the qualifying examination, subject to eligibility and compatibility requirements.
How many years is Diploma lateral entry?+
The lateral-entry Diploma Engineering course is two years and semester-based.
Can I join directly in the second year?+
Yes. Diploma Engineering lateral entry is designed for eligible candidates to enter the second year.
Can 10+2 students apply for Diploma lateral entry?+
Yes, subject to the prescribed subject and branch compatibility requirements.
Can ITI students apply for Diploma lateral entry?+
Yes. Candidates with 10th + a two-year ITI can be eligible for second-year Diploma Engineering admission subject to compatibility.
Can a Diploma holder change their branch through lateral entry?+
The prospectus provides for candidates with a three-year Diploma in a particular branch to take admission to the second year of a different branch, subject to compatibility.
Is PPP ID mandatory?+
For Haryana residents, PPP ID is mandatory for the admission registration process.
What is the registration fee?+
For the 2026–27 prospectus, it is ₹1,000 for General Category and ₹700 for reserved categories and girls. The fee is non-refundable.
How is the merit prepared?+
The inter-se merit is based on the percentage of the qualifying examination, with specified tie-breaking rules.
Can I participate in the second counselling?+
Yes, subsequent counselling can be used for upgrading the allotted seat. However, a new allotment cancels the earlier allotment/admission automatically.
What happens if I don't report after seat allotment?+
The allotted seat can be cancelled if the candidate does not report within the prescribed reporting period.
Are scholarships available for lateral-entry students?+
The prospectus states that eligible second-year lateral-entry students can apply for the applicable AICTE scholarships.
Can I change my branch after admission?+
Internal sliding/change of branch is not allowed as a general process; candidates should use subsequent counselling opportunities where applicable.
Ready to Explore Other Lateral Entry Options?
Check out lateral entry admissions for B.E./B.Tech and B.Pharmacy degree programs in Haryana.