CSAB Counselling 2026: Registration Soon After JoSAA, Check Dates, Eligibility, Seat Matrix, and Previous Year Closing Ranks
Content Writer | Updated On - Oct 27, 2025
Every Year after JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) finishes its rounds for JEE Main seat allocation, many seats remain vacant across the NIT+ system i.e. NITs, IIITs and GFTIs. To address this, The Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB) runs additional allotment rounds to fill those vacant seats.
- The CSAB counselling process is based on the candidate's JEE Main ranks.
- It consists of Special, NUET, and Supernumerary rounds to fill seats that remain unfilled in JoSAA counselling.
- For CSAB counselling, candidates are required to make a new registration, regardless of previous participation in JoSAA.
- Also, all candidates who have appeared for JEE Main can register for CSAB counselling, even if they did not participate in JoSAA earlier.
- The final allotment will be based on the Common Rank List (CRL) rank from the JEE Main 2026.
For more details candidates can check the CSAB counselling 2025 Information Brochure as it is expected to be the same for 2026 as well with minor adjustments.
Key Summary
|
- CSAB Counselling 2026: Highlights
- What is CSAB Counselling 2026?
- CSAB Counselling 2026 Eligibility
- CSAB Counselling 2026 Fees
- CSAB Counselling 2026 Documents Required
- CSAB Counselling 2026 Date(Tentative)
- CSAB Counselling Opening and Closing Ranks PDF (2024 and 2023)
- Frequently Asked Questions for CSAB Counselling
CSAB Counselling 2026: Highlights
Here are the key details and highlights of CSAB Counselling 2026 for candidates’ reference:
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Conducting Authority | Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB) |
| Official Website | csab.nic.in |
| Purpose | Conducted to fill remaining vacant seats in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs after the completion of JoSAA counselling rounds. |
| CSAB Eligibility Criteria | Candidates who qualified JEE Main 2026 and secured at least 75% marks in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST) or are in the top 20 percentile of their respective boards. |
| CSAB Counselling Rounds | Usually, two special online rounds are held for seat allocation. |
| Seat Acceptance Fee | ₹45,000 for General/OBC-NCL/EWS candidates and ₹19,000 for SC/ST/PwD candidates (includes ₹5,000 as a non-refundable processing charge). |
| Reservation Policy | Follows Government of India norms — 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST, 27% for OBC-NCL, 10% for EWS, and 5% horizontal reservation for PwD candidates. |
What is CSAB Counselling 2026?
CSAB counselling is conducted by the Central Seat Allocation Board and is a national-level admission process under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. It is held after the completion of Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) to fill vacant seats in the premier technical institutions across India.
- CSAB Counselling ensures that no seat remains vacant in NITs, IIITs and GFTIs.
- Seat allocation is based on JEE Main Ranks and candidate’s category. This ensures a transparent and merit-based admission process.
- Candidates must meet all the eligibility criteria, including JEE Main qualification, category certificates, and academic qualifications.
CSAB counselling generally conducts three rounds of seat allocation, which is mentioned as below:
- CSAB Special Round: After the completion of JoSAA counselling rounds, if there are still vacant seats in the NIT+ system, the Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB) comes in with special rounds to fill those leftover seats. Candidates are required to make a fresh registration i.e. earlier JoSAA registration does not carry over.
- CSAB NEUT Round: The NEUT round is specifically for candidates who belong to the North-Eastern (NE) states and certain Union Territories (UTs). The purpose is to allocate seats under the Government of India scheme “Reservation of seats in degree level technical courses for states/UTs lacking such facilities,’’ in AICTE approved engineering/technology/pharmacy/architecture degree institutions.
- CSAB Supernumerary Round: This is a special “extra” round for certain Union Territory candidates specifically Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, and Dadar and Nagar Haveli. It offers admission to supernumerary seats i.e additional seats beyond regular quota in NITs particularly, NIT Calicut, NIT Durgapur, and SVNIT Surat.
CSAB Counselling 2026 Eligibility
To be eligible for the CSAB counselling 2026 (after JoSAA 2026), candidates must satisfy the following criterias:
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| 1. JEE Main Qualification |
|
| 2. Academic Qualification |
|
| 3. Minimum Percentage Criteria |
|
Institute-Wise Eligibility Criteria
| Institute Type | Admission Through | Eligibility Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| NITs | JEE Main (Paper 1 – B.E./B.Tech) | Must have valid JEE Main score and 75%/65% criteria |
| IIITs | JEE Main (Paper 1 – B.E./B.Tech) | Same criteria as NITs |
| GFTIs | JEE Main (Paper 1 or Paper 2, depending on the course) | Must have valid rank and meet academic qualifications |
| Architecture Programs (B.Arch / B.Plan) | JEE Main Paper 2A (B.Arch) / Paper 2B (B.Plan) | Must qualify JEE Main Paper 2 and meet academic eligibility |
Also Check: College Predictor JEE Main 2026
Ques. Which Institutes take part in CSAB Counselling 2026?
Ans. During a CSAB counselling 2026, National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institute of Information Technology(IIITs), and Government Funded Technical Institutes(GFTIs) participate to offer admission to candidates who did not secure a seat via JoSAA counselling process. The list of Institutes take part every year is mentioned below:
National Institute of Technology(NITs)
| Institute Name | Location | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| NIT Jalandhar | Jalandhar, Punjab | nitj.ac.in |
| NIT Jaipur | Jaipur, Rajasthan | mnit.ac.in |
| NIT Bhopal | Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh | manit.ac.in |
| NIT Allahabad | Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh | mnnit.ac.in |
| NIT Agartala | Agartala, Tripura | nita.ac.in |
| NIT Calicut | Calicut, Kerala | nitc.ac.in |
| NIT Durgapur | Durgapur, West Bengal | nitdgp.ac.in |
| NIT Kurukshetra | Kurukshetra, Haryana | nitkkr.ac.in |
| NIT Rourkela | Rourkela, Odisha | nitrkl.ac.in |
| NIT Silchar | Silchar, Assam | nits.ac.in |
Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs)
| Institute Name | Location | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| IIIT Allahabad | Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh | iiita.ac.in |
| IIIT Guwahati | Guwahati, Assam | iiitg.ac.in |
| IIIT Hyderabad | Hyderabad, Telangana | iiit.ac.in |
| IIIT Jabalpur | Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh | iiitdmj.ac.in |
| IIIT Kancheepuram | Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu | iiitdm.ac.in |
| IIIT Kota | Kota, Rajasthan | iiitkota.ac.in |
| IIIT Lucknow | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh | iiitl.ac.in |
| IIIT Vadodara | Vadodara, Gujarat | iiitvadodara.ac.in |
| IIIT Sri City | Sri City, Andhra Pradesh | iiits.ac.in |
| IIIT Una | Una, Himachal Pradesh | iiitu.ac.in |
Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs)
| Institute Name | Location | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| BIT Mesra | Mesra, Jharkhand | bitmesra.ac.in |
| IITTM Gwalior | Gwalior, MP | iittm.ac.in |
| IICT Bhadohi | Bhadohi, UP | iict.ac.in |
| IHT Salem | Salem, Tamil Nadu | iht.ac.in |
Ques. Who is not eligible for the CSAB counselling process 2026?
Ans. There are certain conditions in which candidates are not eligible for the CSAB Counselling process 2026. The conditions are mentioned below:
- Candidates who have been allotted and accepted a seat in an IIT via JEE Advanced and JoSAA are not eligible for CSAB counselling.
- Candidates who failed to qualify JEE Main are not eligible, as CSAB counselling is based on JEE Main rank.
- Those candidates who do not meet the maximum marks/ subject combination requirements in Class 12.
CSAB Counselling 2026 Fees
All candidates who register for CSAB counselling 2026 are required to pay the Special Round Enrollment Fee (SREF) in full to participate. The SREF is Rs. 40,000 for Gen/EWS/OBC-NCL candidates and Rs. 19,000 for SC/ST/PwD candidates. This amount also includes a non-refundable Rs. 5000 as the Special Round Processing Fee, which is applicable to all categories.
In case, candidates' category has been upgraded or changed during JoSAA, for example, from SC/ST to General, candidates must pay an additional Rs. 15,000 to cover the fee difference.
Moreover, the paid amount will be adjusted towards the final admission fee only if the candidate accepts the allotted seat.
| Fee Type | Category | Amount (₹) | Details / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSAB Special Round Enrolment Fee (SREF) | General / GEN-EWS / OBC-NCL | 40,000 | Includes a non-refundable ₹5,000 Special Round Processing Fee (SRPF). |
| SC / ST / PwD | 19,000 | Includes the ₹5,000 non-refundable processing fee. | |
| Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF) | General / GEN-EWS / OBC-NCL | 45,000 | Amount paid during JoSAA will be adjusted; candidates only need to pay the remaining balance to the institute. |
| SC / ST / PwD | 19,000 | Includes the ₹5,000 processing fee; adjustment applies as per JoSAA payments. | |
| Additional Fees | Candidates with category change during JoSAA | 15,000 | Applicable to candidates whose category changed (e.g., SC/ST to General) after JoSAA; to complete their Payment Adjustment Fee (PAF). |
| Fee Refund Policy | All Categories | — | The fee is partially refundable if the candidate does not get a seat or withdraws before the deadline. |
Also Check: JEE Main 2026 Result
CSAB Counselling 2026 Documents Required
Candidates will require some essential documents which need to be uploaded to ensure the verification of candidates while registering for CSAB counselling 2026. The list of documents are tabulated below:
| S.No | Document | Mandatory | Key Information / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Class X Certificate / Mark Sheet, or Aadhaar / Birth Certificate | Yes | Used to verify Date of Birth, which must match the details in the JEE Main 2026 application form. |
| 2 | Class XII Mark Sheet & Certificate (Qualifying Exam) | Yes | Must indicate minimum 75% marks (or 65% for SC/ST/PwD) or proof of being in the Top 20 percentile for eligibility. |
| 3 | JEE Main 2026 Admit Card | Yes | Must be the official admit card containing the candidate’s photograph and signature. |
| 4 | Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/GEN-EWS) | If Applicable | Must follow the Govt. of India format, be valid as of the counselling date, and follow state-specific norms (e.g., Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu). |
| 5 | PwD Certificate | If Applicable | Issued by a competent medical authority as per the CSAB-approved format. |
| 6 | Bank Proof (Cheque Copy / Passbook Front Page) | Yes | Needed for refund processing. Must clearly show account holder’s name, account number, and IFSC code. |
| 7 | Medical Fitness Certificate (as per Annexure-8) | Yes | Issued by a registered medical practitioner, confirming the candidate’s fitness for engineering studies. |
| 8 | OCI / PIO Card or Passport | If Applicable | Required only for foreign nationals or OCI/PIO applicants. |
| 9 | Special Eligibility Documents (if applicable by institute/program) | If Required | Some institutes may demand extra documents for special courses or specific eligibility criteria verified during online reporting. |
CSAB Counselling 2026 Date(Tentative)
These dates and day ranges are representative and an expected timeline as per previous years’ trend. Candidates are advised to follow the official schedule for 2026 which will be published later on the official website.
| Typical days after JoSAA Last Round | Event | Action point |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0–2 | Vacancy PDF published | Download vacancy PDF, scan institutes & programs of interest. |
| Day 2–7 | CSAB registration opens | Register, pay enrollment fee, verify email/phone. |
| Day 3–10 | Choice filling window | Fill & lock choices. Build preference order. |
| Day 10–15 | Round-I Allotment | Check allotment, decide Freeze/Float/Slide, and report online. |
| Day 15–30 | Round-II / Round-III | Further allotments, report in windows. |
| Day 30+ | Final wrap & institute reporting | Institutes may verify documents physically. |
There are three options available during CSAB counselling and candidates have to choose one among them as per their choice. The three options are Freeze, Slide and Float. The details of these options are tabulated below:
| Option | Action | Outcome | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freeze | Accept the allocated seat and confirm it permanently. | You will not be considered for any further rounds of seat allocation. Your seat is provisionally confirmed for that specific college and course. | When you are fully satisfied with the seat you have been allotted and have no desire to seek other options. |
| Float | Accept the allocated seat, but remain in the counseling process for future rounds. | If a higher-preference seat (either in a different college or a different branch) is offered in a subsequent round, you will be given that new seat. If no better option is found, you will keep your current seat. | When you are open to getting a better college or a better branch in any institute, but are willing to accept your current seat if no improvement is possible. |
| Slide | Accept the allocated college, but request to be considered for a better branch in the same college during future rounds. | If a higher-preference branch is available in that same college in the next round, you will be moved to it. Otherwise, you will stay in your current branch. | When you are happy with the college but want to try for a different, higher-preference program within that college. |
CSAB Counselling Opening and Closing Ranks PDF (2024 and 2023)
Candidates can check the CSAB opening and closing Ranks cutoff for the year 2024 and 2023 for their reference:
JEE Main CSAB Cut-off - 2023
| Cut-off Round (2023) | IIITs | NITs | GFTIs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | IIIT Cut-off Round 1 | NIT Cut-off Round 1 | GFTI Cut-off Round 1 |
| Round 2 | IIIT Cut-off Round 2 | NIT Cut-off Round 2 | GFTI Cut-off Round 2 |
JEE Main CSAB Cut-off - 2024
| Cut-off Round (2024) | IIITs | NITs | GFTIs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | IIIT Cut-off Round 1 | NIT Cut-off Round 1 | GFTI Cut-off Round 1 |
| Round 2 | IIIT Cut-off Round 2 | NIT Cut-off Round 2 | GFTI Cut-off Round 2 |
Frequently Asked Questions for CSAB Counselling
Ques. How to Check the CSAB counselling Refund status?
Ans. You can check the CSAB refund status by logging into your account on the official CSAB Portal and clicking on the “Refund Status” section for updates. Your refund will be available in your account if you withdraw your seat before the time mentioned on the CSAB portal.
Ques. Will there be any reservation policy in CSAB counselling 2026?
Ans. Yes, the CSAB counselling follows the same reservation policy as JoSAA and other national-level admission processes.
| Category | Reservation Percentage |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Castes (SC) | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 7.5% |
| Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) | 27% |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 10% |
| Persons with Disabilities (PwD) | 5% (within each category) |
Ques. When will CSAB Counselling 2026 begin?
Ans. The CSAB counselling 2026 will start after the JoSAA counselling completion and will be conducted in three phases - NEUT round, Special round, and Supernumerary round. The dates will be published on the official website (csab.nic.in) soon.
Ques. What is the process of CSAB seat allotment?
Ans. The CSAB Counselling seat allotment is conducted online and candidates are required to complete the following steps:
| Step No. | Process | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Online Registration | Visit the official CSAB website and complete the registration process. |
| 2 | Choice Filling & Locking | Select your preferred colleges and courses, then lock your choices before the deadline. |
| 3 | Seat Allotment | Participate in the seat allotment rounds as per the official schedule. |
| 4 | Fee Payment & Verification | Pay the seat acceptance fee and upload/verify required documents online. |
| 5 | Reporting to Institute | Report to the allotted institute to confirm admission and complete all formalities. |
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.
