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CSAB Choice Filling 2026 has started for candidates seeking admission to vacant seats in NITs, IIITs, IIEST Shibpur, SPAs and other Government Funded Technical Institutes through the CSAB Special Rounds. The CSAB 2026 institute-wise vacant-seat list is now available, allowing candidates to check vacancies by institute, programme, category, quota and gender pool before finalising their preferences.
Candidates should complete registration, pay the applicable enrolment fee and use the released vacancy data along with JoSAA 2026 closing ranks, previous-year CSAB cutoffs and personal college preferences to prepare a well-ordered choice list.
CSAB Choice Filling 2026
The CSAB Special Rounds are conducted to fill seats that remain vacant in the NIT+ System after the completion of JoSAA counselling. Candidates interested in participating must complete fresh CSAB registration because their JoSAA registration and choice list are not automatically carried forward.
The official portal shows that registration and choice filling for CSAB Special Counselling 2026 have started. The tentative vacancy list for the CSAB Special Rounds has also been released and can now be used while preparing institute and programme preferences.
Candidates should review the released vacancy document and prepare their preference order using the following information:
- Their current JoSAA allotment
- JoSAA 2026 Round 5 closing ranks
- CSAB 2025 opening and closing ranks
- Preferred colleges and branches
- Institute fees, location and placement opportunities
- Acceptable backup options
Candidates should check whether their preferred institute, branch, category, quota and gender pool have available seats in the released matrix. They should then compare the vacancy data with previous cutoffs and revise their list before the choice-locking deadline.
CSAB Choice Filling 2026 Dates
The CSAB 2026 tentative seat-vacancy list was scheduled for 28 July 2026 and is now available. Candidates can use the released institute-wise and programme-wise vacancy data while completing choice filling.
| CSAB 2026 Activity | Official Date and Time | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled display of vacancies after JoSAA | 28 July 2026, 10:00 AM | Released |
| Registration, fee payment and choice filling begin | 28 July 2026, 10:00 AM | Started |
| Choices considered for mock allocation | Saved up to 30 July 2026, 5:00 PM | Upcoming |
| Mock seat allocation | 31 July 2026, 10:00 AM | Upcoming |
| Registration and SREF payment end | 3 August 2026, 10:00 AM | Upcoming |
| Resolution of eligible payment issues | 4 August 2026, 5:00 PM | Upcoming |
| Choice filling and locking end | 5 August 2026, 2:00 PM | Upcoming |
| CSAB Special Round 1 allotment | 6 August 2026, 5:00 PM | Upcoming |
| CSAB Special Round 2 allotment | 12 August 2026, 5:00 PM | Upcoming |
Candidates should download and review the vacancy list carefully. Vacancy availability should be checked for the exact institute, programme, category, quota and gender pool because a branch may have seats in one pool but none in another.
How to Fill Choices in CSAB 2026
Candidates can follow the steps below to complete the CSAB 2026 choice-filling process correctly.
Step 1: Complete Fresh Registration
Visit the official CSAB portal and sign in using the required JEE Main 2026 credentials. Complete fresh registration for the CSAB Special Rounds. Registration completed during JoSAA cannot be directly reused.
Step 2: Verify Candidate Details
Carefully verify the information displayed on the portal, including:
- JEE Main application details
- Category and PwD status
- Gender
- State of eligibility
- Nationality
- Class 12 qualification details
If any important detail is incorrect and cannot be edited, candidates should contact the official CSAB helpdesk immediately.
Step 3: Pay the Special Round Enrolment Fee
Pay the applicable Special Round Enrolment Fee through the available online payment modes. Candidates should save the payment receipt and transaction details for future reference.
Step 4: Review Available Programmes
The portal will display the institute-programme combinations for which the candidate is eligible. Before adding any choice, review the following factors:
- Institute location
- Branch curriculum
- Placement opportunities
- Institute and hostel fees
- Medical or physical eligibility conditions
- Higher education and career opportunities
Step 5: Arrange Choices in Genuine Preference Order
Place the college and branch combination that you prefer the most at the top. Do not arrange choices only according to allotment probability or previous closing ranks.
The counselling system checks choices from top to bottom and allots the highest available option for which the candidate is eligible. Therefore, a highly preferred but difficult-to-get option can safely be placed above realistic and backup choices.
Step 6: Save the Choice List Regularly
Candidates should save their choices frequently while adding or rearranging preferences. Unsaved choices may not be retained by the system.
Step 7: Review and Lock Choices
Before locking, check the institute name, programme name and preference number carefully. Candidates should download or take a printout of the final locked choice list for future reference.
CSAB 2026 Choice Editing and Locking Process
Candidates can add, delete and rearrange their choices during the official choice-filling window. Editing will not be allowed after the final deadline.
If choices are manually locked before the deadline and the candidate wishes to edit them, an unlock request may have to be submitted through the portal. The process generally requires OTP verification through the registered mobile number or email address.
If a candidate does not manually lock the list, the last saved choices may be automatically locked at the deadline. However, candidates should not depend entirely on automatic locking. They should save, review and manually lock the final list whenever possible.
| Situation | Expected Outcome |
|---|---|
| Choices saved and manually locked | Locked choices will be considered for allotment |
| Choices saved but not manually locked | The last saved list may be system-locked at the deadline |
| Choices entered but not saved | Unsaved choices may not be considered |
| No choice saved | Candidate may not be considered for seat allotment |
| Editing attempted after the deadline | Changes will not be permitted |
Best Choice Filling Strategy for CSAB Special Round 2026
A strong CSAB choice-filling strategy should be based on genuine preference rather than only on expected cutoffs. Candidates should include all the options they would realistically be willing to join and arrange them from most preferred to least preferred.
Create Three Groups of Choices
| Choice Group | Meaning | Recommended Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Aspirational | Better institutes or branches that may be difficult to get | Keep them at the top if genuinely preferred |
| Realistic | Options close to previous closing-rank trends | Place them after aspirational choices |
| Safe | Less competitive but acceptable options | Keep them lower in the preference list |
Use the Released Vacancy Data Carefully
The official CSAB 2026 vacant-seat list is now available. Candidates should compare the released vacancies with previous-year CSAB cutoffs, JoSAA 2026 closing ranks and their own college preferences.
Vacancy numbers should be used as a planning input rather than the only basis for choice filling. Candidates should still include every acceptable option in genuine preference order before locking their choices.
Do Not Depend Only on Published Vacancy Numbers
The initial vacancy matrix may not represent every seat that eventually becomes available. Additional vacancies can arise due to upgrades, withdrawals and movement between institutes and programmes.
Therefore, candidates should not remove a genuinely preferred programme only because it shows zero or very few initial vacancies.
Compare the College and Branch Together
Each CSAB choice is a combination of an institute and a programme. Candidates should compare both factors together rather than focusing only on college ranking or branch popularity.
For example, one candidate may prefer CSE at a newer IIIT over Civil Engineering at an older NIT, while another may prefer the established NIT due to location, fees or campus facilities. The correct order depends on the candidate’s own priorities.
Be Careful If You Already Hold a JoSAA Seat
Candidates who already have an NIT+ seat through JoSAA should include only those CSAB choices that they genuinely prefer over their current allotment.
If a candidate receives a new CSAB allotment, the previous JoSAA seat may be cancelled according to the applicable counselling rules. Therefore, do not add lower-preference colleges or branches simply as backup choices.
Common Mistakes to Avoid During CSAB Choice Filling
Copying the JoSAA Choice List Without Review
JoSAA and CSAB are separate counselling processes. Candidates should create a fresh CSAB list after reviewing current preferences, available programmes and previous cutoffs.
Selecting Only Options Showing Vacancies
Even though the official vacancy list is now available, the displayed numbers may change due to upgrades, withdrawals and seat movement. Candidates should include every acceptable option in genuine preference order.
Putting Safe Choices Above Preferred Choices
A safer option should not be placed above a better option merely because it has a higher probability of allotment. The preferred choice should always be ranked higher.
Adding Colleges or Branches You Do Not Want
Do not include a programme unless you are genuinely willing to join it. A seat allotted through CSAB may replace an existing JoSAA seat.
Ignoring Fees, Location and Branch Curriculum
Candidates should research the full cost of study, hostel facilities, travel distance, programme structure, placement opportunities and higher-study options before finalising the list.
Not Saving Choices Frequently
Choices should be saved after every major change. Candidates should not assume that the portal will automatically retain all unsaved entries.
Waiting Until the Final Hour
Last-minute payment failures, OTP delays, internet issues or portal traffic can prevent candidates from completing the process. Registration, payment and preference planning should be completed well before the deadline.
Treating Mock Allotment as the Final Result
The mock allotment is only an indication based on choices saved by the specified cutoff time. Final results can change after candidates edit their preferences and more participants complete choice filling.
CSAB Choice Filling 2026: Conclusion
CSAB Choice Filling 2026 is an important opportunity for candidates seeking admission to vacant seats in NITs, IIITs, IIEST Shibpur, SPAs and other GFTIs. Candidates should complete registration, fee payment and preference planning without waiting until the final day. The released CSAB 2026 vacancy matrix, previous CSAB closing ranks, JoSAA 2026 Round 5 cutoffs, branch preferences, fees, location and career opportunities should all be considered while preparing the choice list.
Before locking the final list, candidates should verify every institute-programme combination and arrange choices strictly according to genuine preference. Aspirational options can be placed above realistic and safe choices because the allotment system checks preferences from top to bottom. Candidates who already hold a JoSAA seat must be particularly careful and include only those CSAB options they would genuinely prefer over their current allotment.
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