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2026

CSAB 2026 Special Round – Registration, Dates & Cutoff

Your second chance at NIT/IIIT admission after JoSAA 2026 — eligibility, fee ₹5,000, schedule & seat details

What is the CSAB Special Round?

The Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB) Special Round is conducted every year after JoSAA counselling concludes. It fills the seats that remain vacant in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs because some JoSAA allottees did not report to their allotted institutes. For thousands of JEE Main 2026 aspirants who missed out on seats in JoSAA, CSAB Special Round 2026 is an important second opportunity.

CSAB Special Round 2026 registration and vacancy display opened July 28, 2026 and closed August 3, after JoSAA Round 5 results were declared on July 16. The SR1 (Special Round 1) result was declared on August 6, 2026, with SR1 reporting August 6–11. The SR2 (Special Round 2) result was declared on August 12, 2026, with SR2 reporting August 12–17, marking the completion of CSAB 2026 counselling.

Eligibility for CSAB Special Round 2026

The following candidates are eligible to participate in CSAB 2026 Special Round:

  • Candidates who did not receive any seat in JoSAA 2026 rounds 1–5 and remain eligible for NIT/IIIT/GFTI admission.
  • Candidates who received a seat in JoSAA 2026 but did not accept it (i.e., did not report or pay seat acceptance fee).
  • Fresh registrations are also accepted — candidates who did not register for JoSAA 2026 can directly participate in CSAB Special Round.
  • Candidates must have a valid JEE Main 2026 score and satisfy the age and academic eligibility criteria for respective institutes.

Note: Candidates who accepted a JoSAA seat (paid seat acceptance fee and reported) are generally not eligible for the CSAB Special Round unless they formally withdraw from JoSAA.

Registration Process & Fee

To register for CSAB 2026 Special Round, candidates must visit the official CSAB portal at csab.nic.in. The step-by-step process is:

  1. Registration: Log in using JEE Main 2026 Application Number and password. New candidates must register with their JEE Main roll number and date of birth.
  2. Pay Registration Fee: Pay ₹5,000 (General/OBC) or ₹2,500 (SC/ST/PwD) via net banking, debit card, or UPI. This fee is non-refundable.
  3. Fill Choices: Add and arrange institute-branch combinations in order of preference. Up to 150 choices can be saved. Lock choices before the deadline.
  4. Seat Allotment: CSAB releases allotment results. Candidates can choose to Freeze (accept), Float (try for a better option in the next sub-round), or Slide (try for a better branch in the same institute).
  5. Reporting: Allotted candidates must pay the seat acceptance fee and report to their allotted institute with original documents within the stipulated time.

CSAB 2026 Special Round Schedule

EventDate (2026)
JoSAA 2026 Round 5 (Final) concludesJuly 16, 2026
NIT+ Withdrawal WindowJuly 16–20, 2026
PAF Payment / Category RestorationJuly 22–24, 2026
CSAB Registration & Vacancy Display OpensJuly 28, 2026
Mock AllotmentJuly 31, 2026
Choice Locking DeadlineAugust 5, 2026 (2 PM)
SR1 ReportingAugust 6–11, 2026
SR2 ReportingAugust 12–17, 2026
Physical Institute ReportingAugust 13–18, 2026

* Dates per official CSAB 2026 schedule; later steps may be revised. Check csab.nic.in for updates.

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Frequently Asked Questions – CSAB Special Round 2026

Key questions about CSAB 2026 Special Round registration, eligibility, and process

1
Who is eligible for CSAB 2026 Special Round?
Any JEE Main 2026 qualified candidate who did not receive a seat in JoSAA 2026, or candidates who received a seat but want to try for a better option, can register for the CSAB 2026 Special Round. Candidates must have a valid JEE Main 2026 score and meet NIT/IIIT admission criteria.
2
What is the registration fee for CSAB 2026 Special Round?
The registration fee for CSAB 2026 Special Round is ₹5,000 for General/OBC candidates and ₹2,500 for SC/ST/PwD candidates. This fee is non-refundable and must be paid online during registration.
3
How many rounds are there in CSAB Special Round 2026?
CSAB Special Round typically conducts 2 sub-rounds. In each sub-round, candidates can fill choices, receive allotment, and either accept (freeze) or float to the next sub-round. Seats remaining after both sub-rounds go to the CSAB NEUT round.
4
When does CSAB 2026 Special Round start?
CSAB 2026 Special Round registration closed August 3, 2026, after opening July 28 following JoSAA 2026 Round 5's conclusion on July 16. The SR1 (Special Round 1) result was declared August 6, 2026, with SR1 reporting running August 6–11. The SR2 (Special Round 2) result was declared August 12, 2026, with SR2 reporting running August 12–17, completing the CSAB 2026 counselling cycle. The exact schedule is on csab.nic.in.
5
Can I get CSE at a good NIT through CSAB Special Round?
Yes, CSE seats do become available in CSAB Special Round when JoSAA allottees do not report or withdraw. However, cutoffs in CSAB Special Round are typically higher (worse CRL rank required) than JoSAA rounds for the same institute-branch combination. Candidates with ranks above 50,000 CRL may find good options in Tier-2 NITs.

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Disclaimer

Information based on official sources and previous year patterns. Verify at official portals.