The official method for determining who gets shares and how many they get is called IPO allotment. This stage happens after the subscription window closes and the registrar has put together all the bids. The Red Herring Prospectus normally tells people when the allotment date is, which is usually 3–4 business days after the issue closes.
On allotment day, the registrar uses SEBI guidelines to equitably divide up shares among groups that have too many people wanting them. After the corporation has made its decision, it tells everyone about it and makes the status public.
How allotment works for different types of investors
The rules for allotment are very different for each category:
Retail Individual Investors (RII) can apply for up to ₹2 lakh per PAN. When there are too many people interested in a subject, retail allotment is usually done by lottery. The minimum lot size is the first thing that is looked at for every legitimate retail application. A lottery picks the winner of the minimal lot if there is more demand than supply. In rare circumstances where not enough people sign up, everyone gets the entire amount they asked for.
Non-Institutional Investors (NII) can apply for amounts over ₹2 lakh. Generally, the amount of allotment is in line with the amount applied for.
Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIB) – This group includes foreign institutions, mutual funds, and insurance firms. Most of the time, allotment is dependent on the magnitude of the bid.
This method of dividing investors into groups makes sure that everyone has a fair chance.
What Happens After the Allotment Is Made
- Successful applicants normally get their shares in their Demat account on the same day or the next working day. The blocked bank account will be charged the amount.
- Unsuccessful applicants—Funds that were blocked will be freed within one business day of the allotment status being released. In practice, most people get their money returned within one or two days.
- Partial allotment is common in the retail market. You get fewer shares than you asked for, and the rest of your money is still available.
How to Quickly Check Your Allotment Status
- The registrar will tell you when the allotment date is.
- Go to the official registrant portal, which includes Link Intime, KFintech, Bigshare, Cameo, and others.
- Type in your PAN, application number, or DP/Client ID.
- Submit and see the outcome right away.
IPO allotment is the time that makes an application into real ownership or gives you your money back so you can look for another chance. There are a number of high-quality IPOs coming up in 2026, but allotment chances will stay low for popular topics because there is so much demand. You can stay in control by quickly checking your status, knowing the regulations for each area, and using trusted tools.
If you don’t get shares, prompt allotment verification makes sure that your money is either working in a new listing or ready for the next good IPO. Make it a step in your upcoming IPO 2026 participation process that you can’t change.