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:
- 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.
- 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.
- Fill Choices: Add and arrange institute-branch combinations in order of preference. Up to 150 choices can be saved. Lock choices before the deadline.
- 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).
- 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
| Event | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| JoSAA 2026 Round 5 (Final) concludes | July 16, 2026 |
| NIT+ Withdrawal Window | July 16–20, 2026 |
| PAF Payment / Category Restoration | July 22–24, 2026 |
| CSAB Registration & Vacancy Display Opens | July 28, 2026 |
| Mock Allotment | July 31, 2026 |
| Choice Locking Deadline | August 5, 2026 (2 PM) |
| SR1 Reporting | August 6–11, 2026 |
| SR2 Reporting | August 12–17, 2026 |
| Physical Institute Reporting | August 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
1Who is eligible for CSAB 2026 Special Round?
2What is the registration fee for CSAB 2026 Special Round?
3How many rounds are there in CSAB Special Round 2026?
4When does CSAB 2026 Special Round start?
5Can I get CSE at a good NIT through CSAB Special Round?
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Information based on official sources and previous year patterns. Verify at official portals.
