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CSAB Seat Matrix 2026
The CSAB seat matrix 2026 is the official list of vacant seats available across NITs, IIITs, IIEST Shibpur, SPAs, and GFTIs for the CSAB Special Rounds, released after all JoSAA counselling rounds are over. It tells you exactly which institute, branch, quota, and category have seats remaining and forms the foundation for every choice you fill during CSAB Counselling 2026. Without reading the seat matrix first, candidates often fill choices for branches that carry no vacancies, which wastes their limited preparation time before the choice-locking deadline.
The matrix is published as a downloadable PDF on the official CSAB portal at csab.nic.in. It is released separately for Round 1 and Round 2, and the two versions differ: seats that are not accepted or are surrendered after Round 1 reporting move back into the pool and appear in the Round 2 matrix. So the seat matrix is not a one-time document. It changes between rounds.
CSAB Special Rounds are not an extension of JoSAA. They run on a separate portal, require fresh registration, and use a separate vacant-seat pool. IIT seats do not appear in the CSAB seat matrix because IIT admissions require JEE Advanced, not JEE Main.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Institute Details | Institute name and code |
| Programme Details | Programme name and course duration |
| Quota Type | All India (AI), Home State (HS), and Other State (OS) |
| Seat Pool | Gender-Neutral (GN) and Female-Only (FO) |
| Category | Open, EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, and PwD sub-categories |
| Vacant Seats | Number of vacant seats available in each row |
CSAB Seat Matrix 2026 Release Date
The CSAB 2026 seat matrix is expected to be released alongside the opening of registration, on or around July 28, 2026, at csab.nic.in. In 2025, the seat matrix was released on July 30, 2025 at 10 AM, on the same day registration opened. The 2026 schedule follows the same pattern.
The matrix release is timed so that candidates can study the vacancies before filling their choices. Since the choice-filling window runs for only a few days after registration, reading the seat matrix early, ideally on the day of release, gives candidates the maximum time to research their options systematically.
Event | Expected Date 2026 |
|---|---|
CSAB registration opens | July 28, 2026 |
CSAB seat matrix (Round 1) released | July 28 to July 30, 2026 |
Choice filling closes | August 3 to August 5, 2026 |
Round 1 seat allotment result | August 6, 2026 |
CSAB seat matrix (Round 2) released | After Round 1 reporting closes |
Round 2 seat allotment result | Second week of August 2026 |
Dates are based on the 2026 CSAB schedule as announced. Candidates should monitor csab.nic.in for any revisions, as deadlines can shift by one or two days based on JoSAA completion timelines.
Institute-Wise CSAB Seat Matrix 2026
CSAB 2026 covers 32 NITs, 26 IIITs, IIEST Shibpur, 2 SPAs, and 38 GFTIs. The number of vacant seats is not fixed in advance. It depends entirely on how many candidates accepted, reported, and retained their JoSAA seats. This means a high-demand institute can have very few vacancies while a newer or less-competitive institute may carry hundreds.
Based on 2025 data, which serves as the closest reference for 2026 estimates, the total vacant seat count across all CSAB participating institutions was 13,727. The breakdown was 4,580 seats in NITs, 3,087 in IIITs, and 6,060 in GFTIs. GFTIs consistently carry the most vacancies because demand for them is lower relative to NITs and IIITs.
Institute Type | Participating Institutions | Vacant Seats (2025 Reference) | Seat Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
NITs | 32 | 4,580 | Spread across branches; CSE and ECE have lowest vacancies |
IIITs | 26 | 3,087 | Newer PPP-model IIITs have higher vacancies; older IIITs fill faster |
GFTIs | 38 | 6,060 | Highest vacancy count; niche and regional programmes available |
IIEST Shibpur | 1 | Varies | Legacy institute; fills relatively quickly |
SPAs | 2 | Varies | Architecture seats; B.Arch candidates only |
NIT Agartala typically carries the highest number of CSAB vacant seats among NITs, with over 300 seats in recent years. NITs in the North East and newer NITs in smaller states generally have more vacancies than established NITs such as NIT Trichy, NIT Warangal, or NIT Calicut, which fill almost entirely in JoSAA itself.
Also Read: Best Colleges Available Through CSAB 2026, Check Now
Branch-Wise Vacant Seats in CSAB 2026
Branch-wise vacancy patterns in CSAB are predictable. Computer Science Engineering (CSE) and Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) carry the fewest vacant seats across all institute types, because they attract the highest demand during JoSAA. Mechanical, Civil, and Chemical Engineering branches typically have more vacancies, especially at mid-tier and newer institutes.
Based on CSAB 2025 data, the approximate branch-wise distribution of vacant seats across NITs was as follows. These figures are illustrative of the typical pattern and will differ in 2026 depending on actual JoSAA exit data.
Branch | Approximate CSAB Seats (NITs, 2025) | Vacancy Pattern |
|---|---|---|
Computer Science Engineering | Low (under 300 total) | Fills fastest; mostly at newer or smaller NITs |
Electronics and Communication | Low to moderate | Popular branch; limited vacancies at top NITs |
Electrical Engineering | Moderate | Decent availability at mid-tier NITs |
Mechanical Engineering | Moderate to high | Good availability across multiple NITs |
Civil Engineering | High | Widest availability; most vacancies in this branch |
Chemical / Metallurgy | High | Niche demand; higher vacancy count in most NITs |
Candidates who are flexible on branch have more choices in the seat matrix. A candidate targeting CSE exclusively will find the seat matrix thin on options, particularly at well-known institutes. Those open to ECE, Electrical, or even Mechanical at reputed NITs will find a wider pool of realistic choices.
Also Read: CSAB Cut-off 2026, NITs, IIITs & GFTIs Previous Year Analysis
Category-Wise Seat Availability in CSAB 2026
CSAB 2026 follows the Central Government reservation policy, which is the same framework applied during JoSAA. Every seat in the matrix is assigned to a specific category and pool combination. Reserved category seats that find no takers during JoSAA are converted back to Open or re-pooled under CSAB rules, which means category-wise availability can shift between what appeared in JoSAA and what appears in the CSAB seat matrix.
Category | Reservation Percentage | Notes on CSAB Availability |
|---|---|---|
Open (General/CRL) | 40.5% | Largest pool; competitive at top institutes |
Gen-EWS | 10% | Separate pool; EWS certificate dated on or after April 1, 2026 required |
OBC-NCL | 27% | Second largest reserved pool; OBC category rank used, not CRL rank |
SC | 15% | Significantly relaxed cutoffs; CSE available at several NITs even above CRL 60,000 |
ST | 7.5% | Most relaxed cutoffs; seats often available at multiple branches across NITs |
PwD (horizontal) | 5% across categories | Applies across all categories; PwD certificate required |
Female-Only (supernumerary) | 20% of NIT seats | Available to female candidates; if unfilled, merges with Gender-Neutral pool |
OBC-NCL candidates should note that the allotment for OBC seats uses the OBC category rank, not the Common Rank List (CRL) rank. Typically, OBC category closing ranks for the same seat are three to four times higher numerically than the CRL closing rank. Similarly, SC and ST candidates compete within their category pools with their respective category ranks.
Vacant reserved category seats from JoSAA are sometimes de-reserved and opened to a broader pool under specific CSAB rules. This is described in the CSAB brochure under the seat conversion rules section and can result in more Open-category seats than might be expected based on the raw JoSAA exit data.
Also Read: CSAB Schedule 2026, Registration, Fees & Seat Allotment
How to Use the CSAB Seat Matrix for Choice Filling
Reading the CSAB seat matrix correctly before filling choices is what makes choice filling effective. The CSAB College Predictor is a useful tool to cross-reference your JEE Main rank with historical closing ranks, but the seat matrix tells you which options actually have seats available this year. Using both together gives you the clearest picture before you lock choices.
Step 1: Download the seat matrix PDF from csab.nic.in.
The file is available under the Special Rounds section. Download all three PDFs if available separately for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.
Step 2: Filter by your category and pool.
Identify rows that match your category (for example OBC-NCL, Gender-Neutral or Female-Only). Rows outside your category are not available to you.
Step 3: Cross-check with your home state quota.
NIT seats are split 50% Home State (HS) and 50% All India (AI). If you belong to the home state of an NIT, you have access to HS quota seats where cutoffs are typically more relaxed than AI/OS seats at the same institute.
Step 4: Filter by branch and note vacancy counts.
Identify branches with at least one vacant seat in your category. Seats showing zero vacancies are not worth filling unless you expect vacancies to open after Round 1.
Step 5: Build your preference list from best to least preferred.
Place your most preferred institute-branch-category combination at the top and work down. There is no cap on the number of choices. Filling 20 to 30 realistic options is a reasonable approach. Allotment always picks the highest preference for which you are eligible, so a longer list only helps you.
Step 6: Check the matrix again before Round 2 choice filling.
The Round 2 seat matrix is released after Round 1 reporting closes. Seats that become available after Round 1 appear here. If you did not receive a seat in Round 1 or chose to Surrender, update your choices based on the new matrix.
Also Read: What Is Category Restoration in CSAB? Rules, Dates, Process
CSAB Seat Matrix 2026: Conclusion
The CSAB Seat Matrix 2026 is one of the most important documents for candidates participating in the CSAB Special Rounds. It provides the latest institute-wise, branch-wise, quota-wise and category-wise vacant seat details across NITs, IIITs, IIEST Shibpur, SPAs and GFTIs. Candidates should download the official seat matrix as soon as it is released and carefully identify the options available for their category, gender pool and state quota.
A strong CSAB choice-filling strategy should combine the current vacant seat data with previous-year CSAB closing ranks and personal institute preferences. Candidates should arrange choices in their actual order of preference, include enough realistic options and review the updated seat matrix before every round. Regularly checking the official CSAB portal will also help candidates avoid missing revised vacancies, counselling notices and important deadlines.
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