The JoSAA 2026 seat allocation process has concluded, but the journey to securing a seat in top engineering institutes isn’t over yet! For students aiming for the NIT+ System (NITs, IIEST, IIITs, SPAs, and GFTIs), the Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB) is gearing up to conduct two crucial Special Rounds to fill remaining vacant seats.
Whether you didn’t get a seat in JoSAA, want to upgrade your current allotment, or are registering for the first time, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about the CSAB Special Rounds 2026.
Quick Answer: Top 5 Takeaways for CSAB 2026
- Fresh Registration is Mandatory: Your previous JoSAA registration and choices are null and void. You must register anew starting July 28, 2026.
- NIT+ System Only: CSAB Special rounds are strictly for NITs, IIITs, SPAs, and GFTIs. IITs are excluded from this process.
- Enrollment Fee: You must pay the Special Round Enrolment Fee (SREF) to participate (₹40,000 for GEN/OBC-NCL/EWS; ₹19,000 for SC/ST/PwD).
- Willingness Options: You will have 5 options upon allotment: Freeze, Float, Slide, Surrender, or Withdraw.
- Physical Reporting: After Round 2, confirmed candidates must physically report to their allotted institutes between August 13 to August 18, 2026.
Important Dates & Schedule
Mark your calendars. The CSAB counseling process moves quickly, and missing a deadline can result in the loss of your seat.
| Event | Date & Time (IST) |
|---|---|
| Online Request for Category Restoration | July 22 (10 AM) – July 23 (5 PM) |
| Partial Admission Fee (PAF) Payment for JoSAA Seats | July 22 – July 24, 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| Display of Vacancies | July 28, 2026 (10:00 AM) |
| Registration, Fee Payment & Choice Filling Starts | July 28, 2026 (10:00 AM) |
| Registration & Choice Filling Ends | August 5, 2026 (2:00 PM) |
| Special Round 1 Allotment Result | August 6, 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| Special Round 2 Allotment Result | August 12, 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| Physical Reporting at Allotted Institutes | August 13 – August 18, 2026 |
Participating Institutes & Vacancy Trends
For the academic year 2026-2027, a total of 114 institutes are participating in the CSAB Special Rounds. Here is the breakdown:
31 NITs + 1 IIEST
National Institutes of Technology and IIEST Shibpur.
26 IIITs
Indian Institutes of Information Technology.
3 SPAs
Schools of Planning and Architecture.
53 GFTIs
Other Government Funded Technical Institutes.
Vacancy Trends (Seats left after JoSAA)
- 2023: 11,295 seats
- 2024: 13,466 seats
- 2025: 13,727 seats
- 2026: Expected to be notably high due to delays in medical counseling results and subsequent withdrawals.
Who is Eligible to Participate?
Almost anyone who qualified in JEE (Main) 2026 is eligible! The system categorizes eligible candidates into 9 types, but they generally fall into these distinct groups:
The Newcomers
Candidates who cleared JEE Main but never registered for JoSAA 2026. You get a fresh chance to apply directly in CSAB.
The Unallocated
Candidates who participated in JoSAA but unfortunately did not secure any seat by Round 5.
The Upgraders
Candidates who already got a seat in the NIT+ system, paid their Partial Admission Fee (PAF), but want to try for a better branch or college.
The Dropouts & Withdrawals
Those whose JoSAA seats were canceled due to document errors, non-payment of fees, or who voluntarily withdrew / exited early.
If you already have a secured JoSAA seat (and paid the PAF), you can participate in CSAB. However, if you are allotted a new seat in CSAB, your previous JoSAA seat will automatically be canceled. Therefore, only fill choices that are strictly better than your current allotment!
Fee Structure Simplified
To participate, you must pay the Special Round Enrolment Fee (SREF) during registration. If you get a seat, you’ll need to pay the Institute Admission Fee-II (IAF-II).
- GEN/EWS/OBC-NCL: SREF is ₹40,000 (includes a ₹5,000 non-refundable processing fee). IAF-II is ₹35,000.
- SC/ST/PwD: SREF is ₹19,000. IAF-II is ₹16,000.
- Note on PAF: For candidates holding a JoSAA seat, the Partial Admission Fee (PAF) is ₹45,000 for GEN/EWS/OBC-NCL and ₹20,000 for SC/ST/PwD. You must pay this between July 22-24 to confirm your JoSAA seat before the CSAB Special Rounds begin.
Annual Tuition Fee Structure (Once Admitted)
For NITs (Based on Parental Income):
- Income above ₹5 Lakhs: ₹1.25 Lakh per year
- Income between ₹1 – ₹5 Lakhs: ₹45,000 per year
- Income below ₹1 Lakh / SC / ST / PwD: No Tuition Fee
For IIITs:
- Fees are generally fixed at nearly ₹3 Lakhs per year (varies slightly by institute, so check official websites).
Understanding Your Willingness Options
Once a seat is allocated to you in Round 1, you must perform Online Reporting and choose one of the following willingness options to avoid cancellation:
1. Freeze
You are 100% satisfied with the allotted seat and institute. You do not wish to participate in Round 2.
2. Float
You accept the current seat but are open to upgrading to an institute/branch of a higher preference in Round 2.
3. Slide
You accept the current seat but want a better branch within the same institute in Round 2.
4. Surrender & 5. Withdraw
Surrender: Reject current seat but participate in Round 2.
Withdraw: Reject current seat and exit CSAB entirely.
If your category was downgraded from OBC-NCL/EWS/SC/ST to GEN during JoSAA due to missing documents, and you have since acquired valid certificates (dated on or after April 1, 2026), you can request category restoration via the CSAB portal before the main counseling starts!
CSAB 2025 Last Rank Details (Reference)
To give you an idea of what to expect, here are the All India CRL (Common Rank List) closing ranks from CSAB 2025 for selected institutes and branches.
NIT Calicut (Home State Quota)
| Program Name | OPEN | OBC-NCL |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science and Engg | 8657 | 14405 |
| Electrical & Electronics Engg | 17883 | 23617 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 39555 | 28646 |
| Civil Engineering | 47061 | 55059 |
IIIT Kottayam (All India Quota)
| Program Name | OPEN | EWS | OBC-NCL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science and Engg | 50277 | 72939 | 69089 |
| Electronics & Communication | 55182 | 72608 | 77080 |
| CSE (Cyber Security) | 55979 | 77461 | 71753 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do my JoSAA choices carry over to CSAB?
No. The choices you submitted in JoSAA are considered null and void. You must register fresh and fill your choices again based on the new vacancy matrix.
What happens if I don’t get any seat in CSAB?
If you had a JoSAA seat and didn’t get a new one, your JoSAA seat remains safe (provided you paid the PAF). If you didn’t have a seat, your SREF will be refunded after deducting the ₹5,000 processing fee.
Can I change my Float/Slide option later?
If you choose Freeze, you cannot change it later. But if you choose Float or Slide, you can always upgrade your choices based on Round 2 allotments. However, if a higher choice is allotted, you cannot claim your older seat back.
Ready to Secure Your Seat?
Make sure you have all your documents ready, including your Class X/XII marks, JEE admit card, category certificates, and bank details for refunds.