CSAB Counselling 2026 — Registration, Rounds, Seat Allotment & Schedule

What is CSAB Counselling?

CSAB (Central Seat Allocation Board) counselling is conducted for admission to the National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs) after the JEE Main examination. CSAB counselling is conducted in multiple special rounds after the main JoSAA counselling process.

CSAB counselling 2026 will be conducted for vacant seats that remain after the JoSAA counselling rounds. This provides an additional opportunity for candidates to secure admission in premier technical institutions across India.

CSAB Counselling 2026 Important Dates

The expected schedule for CSAB 2026 counselling is:

• JoSAA Round 6 (Last Round): Expected in August 2026
• CSAB Round 1 Registration: Expected in August 2026
• CSAB Round 1 Allotment: Expected in August 2026
• CSAB Round 2 Registration: Expected in August-September 2026
• CSAB Round 2 Allotment: Expected in September 2026
• Special Spot Round (if applicable): Expected in September 2026

CSAB Counselling 2026 Registration Process

The CSAB counselling registration process is as follows:

• Visit the official CSAB website at csab.nic.in.
• Candidates who have already registered for JoSAA can use their existing credentials.
• Fresh registration is required for candidates who did not register for JoSAA.
• Pay the CSAB counselling registration fee.
• Fill in your choices of NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs and lock them before the deadline.

Who is Eligible for CSAB Counselling 2026?

• Candidates who have qualified JEE Main 2026.
• Candidates who did not get a seat in JoSAA counselling.
• Candidates who want to upgrade their previously allotted seat in JoSAA.
• Candidates who missed the JoSAA registration window.
• Candidates who meet the specific eligibility criteria for the chosen institution.

CSAB vs JoSAA — Key Differences

• JoSAA: Main counselling for NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs conducted in multiple rounds (typically 6 rounds).
• CSAB: Special counselling rounds conducted after JoSAA for remaining vacant seats. Usually 2-3 rounds.
• CSAB counselling fees are generally lower than JoSAA registration fees.
• CSAB provides an additional opportunity for candidates who did not secure a seat in JoSAA.