*I’m only talking about last year 2017 in which I’ve attended the counseling and this year 2018. I’m not sure about year before 2017.
No it’s not compulsory. Let me tell you one of my friend got 40 marks last year in Jee mains and he is from General category and he’ve had applied for counseling.
Anyone has given Jee Mains they can apply for counseling. If you are getting low marks in Mains then it’s quite difficult that you’ll gonna get any good NIT with good branch.
I will suggest you to fill as much good college as possible during the time of counseling which might be start from June after JEE advance exam. During counseling also choose your preferred branch as much as possible like if you are interested in 2–3 branch then select those branch from all good colleges. Like if you are interested in Computer science and Electrical then select NIT with both branches individually. You’ll get the option there and try to put best colleges on the top because they give you colleges according in the order in which you have put the colleges.