CSAB 2026 Eligibility – Who Can Apply for CSAB Counselling?

CSAB (Central Seat Allocation Board) 2026 conducts Special Rounds after JoSAA counselling ends. These rounds fill vacant seats in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs using the same JEE Main score. To be eligible for CSAB 2026, candidates must satisfy ALL of the following conditions:

Who Should Apply for CSAB 2026?

• Candidates with no JoSAA seat: If all 6 JoSAA rounds concluded without a seat allotment to you, CSAB gives you a fresh chance.
• Candidates wanting an upgrade: If you received a JoSAA seat in a less-preferred college or branch, you can withdraw and try CSAB for better options — but note that seat upgrade within CSAB is not guaranteed.
• Candidates who missed JoSAA registration: If you qualified JEE Main but never registered for JoSAA 2026, you can directly register for CSAB 2026.

Category-wise Eligibility Notes

OBC-NCL candidates must have a certificate issued on or after April 1, 2026 (within the last six months). EWS certificates must also be freshly issued for 2026. SC/ST candidates need their caste certificate; it has no expiry but must be signed by a competent authority. PwD candidates must carry a disability certificate from a government hospital or Disability Certification Board.

Institutes Covered Under CSAB 2026

CSAB 2026 covers all 31 NITs, 26 IIITs, and various GFTIs — the same set as JoSAA except IITs and ISM Dhanbad (which are exclusive to JoSAA). CSAB Special Rounds offer a realistic second shot at top NITs like NIT Trichy, NIT Warangal, NIT Surathkal, MNIT Jaipur, and VNIT Nagpur.