CSAB 2026 Special Round registration opens July 28, 2026 at csab.nic.in, and is open to all JEE Main 2026 qualified students who did not lock a seat in JoSAA 2026 — including those seeking seats at self-financed technical institutions (SFTIs).
The Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB) fills vacant BTech seats across NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and partner self-financed technical institutions after JoSAA counselling ends. CSAB runs two simultaneous tracks — NEUT, for students permanently domiciled in North-Eastern states and specified Union Territories, and the Special Round, open to all eligible students. SFTI seats are now integrated into the Special Round portal; there is no separate SFTI registration in 2026. If you qualified JEE Main 2026 but missed out during JoSAA, CSAB 2026 is your best remaining route to BTech admission.
- CSAB Special Round 2026 registration closes August 3, 2026 at 10:00 AM — register at csab.nic.in using your JEE Main credentials.
- CSAB NEUT 2026 is exclusively for students domiciled in 8 North-Eastern states — Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura — plus 5 Union Territories.
- SFTI seats are part of the CSAB Special Round from 2026; you fill choices for both government NIT+ seats and SFTI institutions through a single registration.
- Students who locked a seat in any JoSAA 2026 round are NOT eligible for CSAB, unless they officially withdrew from JoSAA before the withdrawal deadline.
- CSAB Special Round 2026 has 2 confirmed allotment rounds — Round 1 on August 6 and Round 2 on August 12, 2026.
| Direct Link to CSAB 2026 Special Counselling Registration (ACTIVE) |
What is CSAB 2026 Special Counselling?
CSAB (Central Seat Allocation Board) operates under the Ministry of Education and conducts seat allocation after JoSAA closes. Two tracks run simultaneously every year:
- CSAB NEUT: Allocates seats across all 31 NITs, 26 IIITs, and 33 GFTIs specifically for students permanently domiciled in the 8 North-Eastern states or 5 specified Union Territories. CSAB NEUT 2026 registration closed June 30, and Round 2 allotment is scheduled for July 28, 2026.
- CSAB Special Round (includes SFTI): Open to all JEE Main 2026 qualified students regardless of state. Fills remaining vacant seats in government NIT+ institutions and around 34 partner self-financed technical institutions. Registration opens July 28, 2026.
Students not domiciled in NE states or UTs can only participate in the Special Round. Students from NE states or UTs may participate in both NEUT and the Special Round using a single login on csab.nic.in.
Eligibility for CSAB 2026 NEUT
CSAB NEUT has a mandatory domicile condition in addition to the standard academic requirements:
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| JEE Main Qualification | Valid JEE Main 2026 Paper-1 NTA Score and Rank (CRL) |
| Domicile (Mandatory) | Permanent resident of one of 8 NE states (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura) OR 5 UTs (Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep, Ladakh) |
| Class 12 Subjects | Physics, Mathematics, and one of Chemistry / Biology / Biotechnology / Technical Vocational, plus one language and one elective |
| Class 12 Aggregate — General / EWS / OBC-NCL | Minimum 45% aggregate marks |
| Class 12 Aggregate — SC / ST / PwD | Minimum 40% aggregate marks |
| Year of Passing | Class 12 passed in 2024, 2025, or 2026 only |
| JoSAA Seat Status | Must NOT have locked or accepted a seat in any JoSAA 2026 round |
| B.Arch | JEE Main 2026 Paper-2 rank; minimum 50% in Class 12 with Mathematics as a compulsory subject |
On domicile verification: CSAB does not adjudicate domicile eligibility. You must submit a valid Permanent Resident Certificate or Domicile Certificate from the competent authority of your state or UT. Missing or invalid domicile documents result in rejection at the document verification stage.
NEUT participating institutions include all NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs across India, plus dedicated NEUT-scheme seats at NIT Agartala, NIT Manipur, NIT Meghalaya, NIT Mizoram, NIT Nagaland, NIT Sikkim, NIT Arunachal Pradesh, NERIST (Itanagar), Tezpur University School of Engineering, and Mizoram University School of Engineering and Technology.
Eligibility for CSAB 2026 Special Round (SFTI)
SFTI seats are integrated into the CSAB Special Round from 2026 — there is no standalone SFTI registration portal. Students register once on csab.nic.in and can fill choices across both government NIT+ seats and SFTI partner institutions. The eligibility conditions for the Special Round are:
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| JEE Main Qualification | Valid JEE Main 2026 Paper-1 NTA Score and Rank |
| Class 12 Subjects | Physics, Mathematics, and one of Chemistry / Biology / Biotechnology / Technical Vocational, plus one language and one elective |
| Class 12 Aggregate — General / EWS / OBC-NCL | Minimum 45% aggregate marks |
| Class 12 Aggregate — SC / ST / PwD | Minimum 40% aggregate marks |
| Year of Passing | Class 12 passed in 2024, 2025, or 2026 |
| JoSAA Participation | Eligible whether or not you registered for JoSAA — provided you did NOT lock a JoSAA seat |
| Domicile | No domicile restriction — open to students from any state or UT |
SFTI partner institutions available through the Special Round include Amity University (multiple campuses), VIT Vellore, SRM Institute Chennai, KIIT Bhubaneswar, LPU Jalandhar, Shiv Nadar University, Galgotias University, NIIT University, Manipal University Jaipur, SASTRA University, and around 34 institutions in total. Based on 2025 trends, most SFTI branches accommodate students with a JEE Main rank up to 3,00,000 to 5,00,000 in less-competitive streams such as Mechanical, Civil, and Electrical Engineering.
CSAB 2026 Key Dates
Special Round dates below are officially confirmed for 2026. NEUT dates are actuals from the 2026 schedule (NEUT registration has already closed as of this article):
| Activity | CSAB NEUT 2026 | CSAB Special Round 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Registration Opens | June 23, 2026 (closed) | July 28, 2026 |
| Registration Deadline | June 30, 2026 (closed) | August 3, 2026 (10:00 AM) |
| Choice Filling and Locking | June 24 – July 9, 2026 | July 28 – August 5, 2026 (2:00 PM) |
| Mock Allotment | — | July 31, 2026 |
| Round 1 Allotment Result | July 15, 2026 | August 6, 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| Round 1 Reporting and Fee Payment | July 16 – 22, 2026 | August 6 – 10, 2026 |
| Round 2 Allotment Result | July 28, 2026 | August 12, 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| Round 2 Reporting and Fee Payment | July 29 – August 1, 2026 | August 12 – 14, 2026 |
| Physical Reporting at Institute | August 2 – 10, 2026 (expected) | August 13 – 18, 2026 |
CSAB 2026 Registration Fee Structure
CSAB NEUT and the Special Round have different fee structures. The Special Round uses a two-installment system where the upfront enrollment fee is credited toward your seat acceptance:
| Fee Component | General / EWS / OBC-NCL | SC / ST / PwD |
|---|---|---|
| CSAB NEUT — Registration Fee | Free | Free |
| CSAB NEUT — Seat Acceptance Fee (on allotment) | ₹5,000 | ₹5,000 |
| CSAB Special Round — SREF (paid at registration) | ₹45,000 | ₹25,000 |
| CSAB Special Round — IAF-II (paid on accepting allotment) | ₹35,000 | ₹16,000 |
| Non-refundable Processing Fee (included in SREF) | ₹5,000 | ₹5,000 |
Students who already paid the Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF) during JoSAA 2026 and then withdrew need to pay only the shortfall amount when registering for the CSAB Special Round — the portal calculates the difference automatically. Always confirm the current fee structure on csab.nic.in before making payment, as amounts may be revised in the official 2026 brochure.
Documents Required for CSAB 2026
| Document | Purpose / Notes |
|---|---|
| JEE Main 2026 Scorecard or Rank Card | Proof of eligibility and rank |
| Class 10 Mark Sheet and Certificate | Date of birth verification |
| Class 12 Mark Sheet and Certificate | Academic eligibility — minimum aggregate verification |
| Permanent Resident or Domicile Certificate | Mandatory for CSAB NEUT only; must be from competent state or UT authority |
| Category Certificate (SC / ST / OBC-NCL / EWS) | Central Government format only; required to claim reservation or fee concession |
| PwD or CwD Certificate | From a designated medical authority; required only if applying under PwD quota |
| Recent Passport-size Photograph | White background, clear face, as per CSAB specifications |
| Valid Government-issued Photo ID (Aadhaar / PAN / Passport) | Identity check at physical reporting to the allotted institute |
How to Register for CSAB 2026 Special Round
Registration for both NEUT and the Special Round takes place at csab.nic.in using your JEE Main 2026 login credentials. Follow these steps for the Special Round (opens July 28, 2026):
- Visit csab.nic.in and click the CSAB Special Round 2026 Registration link once it goes live on July 28, 2026.
- Log in with your JEE Main 2026 Application Number and Password.
- Complete the registration form and upload scanned copies of required documents in the formats specified in the official CSAB 2026 brochure.
- Pay the Special Round Enrollment Fee (SREF) — ₹45,000 for General or OBC-NCL, or ₹25,000 for SC, ST, or PwD students — online through the portal payment gateway.
- Fill in your choices of institutions and branches in order of preference. You can include both NIT+ government seats and SFTI institutions in the same choice list.
- Lock your choices before August 5, 2026 at 2:00 PM — unlocked choices are not considered for any allotment round.
- Check Round 1 allotment on August 6, 2026 at 5:00 PM on the CSAB portal.
- If allotted a seat, pay the IAF-II installment within the acceptance window (August 6–10, 2026) to confirm your allotment. If you want a better seat from your remaining choices, opt for floating.
- Check Round 2 allotment on August 12, 2026 and accept or decline within the reporting window (August 12–14, 2026).
- Report physically to your finally allotted institute with original documents between August 13 and 18, 2026.
CSAB 2026 Special Counselling FAQs
Ques. Can I apply for CSAB 2026 if I registered in JoSAA but was not allotted any seat?
Ans. Yes. If you participated in JoSAA 2026 but were not allotted a seat in any round, you are fully eligible for CSAB NEUT (if you meet the domicile requirement) and the CSAB Special Round. No additional withdrawal step is needed because no seat was locked.
Ques. Is a student from outside the North-Eastern states eligible for CSAB NEUT 2026?
Ans. No. CSAB NEUT is strictly for students who are permanent residents of the 8 North-Eastern states — Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura — or 5 specified Union Territories. Students from all other states must register for the CSAB Special Round instead.
Ques. Is there a separate SFTI registration process for CSAB 2026?
Ans. No. SFTI seats are now integrated into the CSAB Special Round. You register once on csab.nic.in and can fill both government NIT+ institution choices and SFTI partner institution choices in the same choice-filling form. There is no standalone SFTI portal or registration fee for 2026.
Ques. What happens if I accepted a JoSAA seat and now want to participate in CSAB 2026?
Ans. If you locked and accepted a JoSAA 2026 seat, you are not directly eligible for CSAB. You would need to have officially withdrawn from JoSAA before the withdrawal deadline to participate in CSAB. Students who reported at their JoSAA-allotted institute are not eligible.
Ques. What is the SREF fee in CSAB Special Round 2026 and is it refundable?
Ans. The Special Round Enrollment Fee (SREF) is ₹45,000 for General, EWS, and OBC-NCL students, and ₹25,000 for SC, ST, and PwD students. It includes a non-refundable processing fee of ₹5,000. If you are allotted and accept a seat, the remaining amount is credited toward your seat acceptance. If you register but are not allotted or do not accept, only ₹5,000 is forfeited.
Ques. Can I change my choices after locking them in CSAB 2026?
Ans. No. Once you lock your choices in CSAB 2026, they cannot be changed. The choice locking deadline for the Special Round is August 5, 2026 at 2:00 PM. Review all preferences carefully before locking, as the allotment is strictly based on the locked choice order and your JEE Main 2026 rank.
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