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The CSAB Vacant Seats 2026 list has been released for JEE Main-qualified candidates planning to participate in the CSAB Special Rounds. The official vacancy matrix displays the seats remaining after JoSAA counselling across participating institutes and programmes in the NIT+ system.
As of the latest update on 28 July 2026, the official institute-wise and programme-wise vacancy matrix is available. The CSAB Special Round registration and choice-filling process has also started. Candidates should download the official vacant-seat PDF, identify the rows applicable to their category, quota and gender pool, and then prepare or revise their choices accordingly.
CSAB Special counselling is conducted after the completion of JoSAA counselling to fill seats remaining vacant in the NIT+ system. The CSAB Special and DASA counselling processes are conducted through a common platform and include two rounds of seat allocation.
Candidates should avoid relying on incomplete or incorrectly interpreted vacancy numbers circulated through social media, YouTube videos, Telegram groups, or other sources. The final institute-wise, programme-wise, category-wise, quota-wise, and gender-pool-wise vacancy details should be checked directly in the official CSAB vacancy document.
Download CSAB 2026 Vacant Seats PDF
CSAB Vacant Seats 2026
As of 28 July 2026, the official CSAB Vacant Seats 2026 list has been released on the counselling portal. The vacancy matrix contains the seats remaining after JoSAA across participating NITs, IIITs, IIEST Shibpur and other GFTIs in the NIT+ system.
CSAB Special Round registration and choice filling are now active. Candidates should complete registration within the prescribed deadline, download the vacancy PDF and prepare a broad preference list based on the exact institute, programme, quota, category and gender-pool combination applicable to them.
CSAB vacant seats are created only after the JoSAA counselling process for the NIT+ system concludes. Seats may remain vacant for several reasons, including:
- Withdrawal by candidates after JoSAA allotment
- Non-payment of the required admission or partial admission fee
- Cancellation during document verification
- Candidates not reporting to the allotted institute
- Movement of candidates to IITs, state counselling, private colleges, or other admission processes
- Failure to complete online reporting requirements within the deadline
CSAB Vacancy Status as of 28 July 2026
| CSAB 2026 Activity | Current Status |
|---|---|
| JoSAA counselling for the NIT+ system | Completed |
| Display of vacancies after JoSAA | Released on 28 July 2026 |
| Official CSAB Special vacancy list | Released |
| Institute-wise vacancy numbers | Available in the official PDF |
| Branch-wise vacancy numbers | Available in the official PDF |
| CSAB registration | Started |
| CSAB choice filling | Started |
The released vacancy matrix indicates how many seats are available before the Special Rounds begin. However, the presence of a vacancy does not guarantee admission at a particular JEE Main rank.
Seat allotment will depend on several factors, including the candidate's JEE Main rank, category, quota, gender pool, eligibility, order of choices, available vacancies, and competition from other registered candidates.
CSAB 2026 Institute-Wise Vacant Seat List
The CSAB 2026 institute-wise vacant-seat list contains details of the seats remaining across participating institutes in the NIT+ system. These institutes include NITs, IIITs, IIEST Shibpur and other Government Funded Technical Institutes participating in CSAB Special counselling.
Candidates should use the released 2026 vacancy matrix for current seat availability and should not treat the 2025 or 2024 vacancy data as the present vacancy list. Previous-year data may still be used only to understand broad vacancy trends and possible closing-rank movement.
The official seat matrix includes the following details:
| Vacancy Detail | What Candidates Must Check |
|---|---|
| Institute | Exact name and campus of the participating college |
| Academic programme | Branch, degree, specialisation, and programme code |
| Quota | Home State, Other State, or applicable All India quota |
| Seat category | OPEN, GEN-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, and PwD seat pools |
| Gender pool | Gender-neutral or female-only seat pool |
| Vacant seats | Number of seats available for that exact combination |
Candidates must check the complete vacancy row rather than focusing only on the institute and branch name. A seat may be vacant under a particular category, quota, or gender pool but may not be available to every applicant.
For example, a vacancy shown under the Home State OBC-NCL female-only pool cannot be considered available to an Other State gender-neutral candidate. Careful interpretation of each column is therefore essential.
Also Read: CSAB Special Round 2026, Dates, Registration & Cutoffs
NIT Vacant Seats Through CSAB 2026
The NIT vacant seats through CSAB 2026 are now available in the official vacancy matrix. Candidates should search the PDF institute-wise and then verify the exact programme, quota, category and gender-pool row before treating a seat as applicable.
Vacancies may appear in both highly preferred and core engineering programmes. However, popular branches such as Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, and Mathematics and Computing usually attract strong competition, even when only one or two seats are available.
Candidates with flexible academic preferences should also consider suitable options in branches such as:
- Civil Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Production Engineering
- Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
- Biotechnology
- Mining Engineering
- Engineering Physics
A less popular branch should not automatically be treated as a safe option. Admission chances can vary significantly based on the reputation of the institute, Home State advantage, category movement, vacancy count, and the number of candidates participating in the Special Rounds.
For example, five vacancies in a core branch at an established NIT may attract more competitive candidates than twenty vacancies in a similar branch at a newer institute. Therefore, vacancy count and admission probability should not be treated as the same thing.
IIIT and GFTI Vacant Seats in CSAB 2026
The IIIT and GFTI vacant seats in CSAB 2026 are included in the official Special Round vacancy matrix. Candidates can now check the exact college-wise and branch-wise availability in the released document.
IIIT vacancies may be available in programmes such as:
- Computer Science and Engineering
- Information Technology
- Electronics and Communication Engineering
- Artificial Intelligence
- Data Science
- Cyber Security
- Mathematics and Computing
- Specialised computing and electronics programmes
Candidates should carefully compare the curriculum before adding specialised IIIT programmes. Similar programme names may have different course structures, coding exposure, mathematics requirements, elective options, and career outcomes.
GFTIs may offer opportunities in core engineering, architecture, planning, food technology, materials science, and other specialised technical programmes, depending on the participating institute.
Before adding an IIIT or GFTI to the choice list, candidates should check:
- Total programme and hostel fee
- Permanent or temporary campus status
- Official placement report
- Branch curriculum and elective structure
- Hostel availability
- Institute location and connectivity
- Internship opportunities
- Industry and alumni exposure
- Accreditation and degree-awarding status
A college should not be selected only because it appears in the vacancy matrix. Candidates must be genuinely prepared to join the allotted institute and study the allotted programme if they accept the seat.
Branch-Wise CSAB Vacant Seats 2026
The branch-wise CSAB Vacant Seats 2026 data has been released. Candidates can now compare the availability of a preferred programme across multiple NITs, IIITs and GFTIs, while ensuring that the vacancy belongs to their applicable quota, category and gender pool.
Branch Groups to Track in the Vacancy Matrix
| Branch Group | Programmes to Search For |
|---|---|
| Computer and technology | CSE, IT, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cyber Security, Mathematics and Computing |
| Electronics and electrical | ECE, Electrical Engineering, EEE, VLSI, Electronics Engineering, Instrumentation |
| Core engineering | Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Production, Industrial Engineering |
| Specialised programmes | Metallurgy, Mining, Biotechnology, Materials Engineering, Food Technology |
| Interdisciplinary programmes | Engineering Physics, Smart Manufacturing, Computational Engineering, Industrial Design |
Candidates should search for related branches instead of using only one programme name. A student interested in a software-oriented career may also evaluate Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Mathematics and Computing, Cyber Security, and suitable electronics programmes instead of restricting the list to regular CSE.
However, candidates should not choose a branch only because it appears related to software. They must review the course curriculum, placement eligibility, coding exposure, higher-study options, and their own academic interests.
How to Check the CSAB 2026 Vacancy List
Now that the official vacancy matrix has been released, candidates can follow these steps:
- Visit the official CSAB counselling website.
- Open the CSAB Special and DASA 2026 section.
- Open the link titled Tentative Seat Vacancy, Vacant Seat Matrix, or the corresponding official vacancy notice.
- Open or download the official PDF or seat-matrix file.
- Search using the institute name, branch name, or programme code.
- Check the quota, seat category, and gender pool in the same row.
- Note all suitable options in a separate shortlist.
- Compare the shortlisted options with previous CSAB opening and closing ranks.
- Review institute fees, location, curriculum, and placement information.
- Arrange the final choices in genuine order of preference.
Previous CSAB opening and closing ranks should be used only as a reference. Vacancy patterns, category movement, candidate participation, and branch demand can change every year.
Candidates who have already started filling choices should review and revise their list using the released vacancy matrix. A branch that appeared unlikely earlier may now become relevant if a suitable vacancy is available under the candidate's category, quota and gender pool.
Also Read: CSAB Opening vs Closing Rank 2026, Branch-wise Analysis
What to Do After the CSAB Vacant Seats Are Released
Now that the official CSAB Vacant Seats 2026 list has been released, candidates should first filter the matrix for applicable seats and then classify their suitable options into three broad groups.
| Choice Group | How to Use It |
|---|---|
| Ambitious | Highly preferred institutes or branches that closed at more competitive ranks in previous years |
| Realistic | Institutes and programmes with previous closing ranks reasonably close to the candidate's rank |
| Safer | Acceptable programmes that previously closed at less competitive ranks |
These groups should be used only for planning. The final choice list must still be arranged in the candidate's actual preference order.
Do not place a less preferred college above a better option merely because it appears easier to secure. The allotment system considers the highest available choice according to the candidate's rank, category, eligibility, and submitted preference order.
Candidates should also verify:
- Registration completion status
- Choice-filling and locking deadlines
- Participation or enrolment fee instructions
- Required documents
- Seat acceptance and reporting rules
- Freeze, Float, Slide, Surrender, or Withdrawal conditions, wherever applicable
- Refund and fee-adjustment rules
- Physical reporting requirements after the final allotment
It is important to fill a sufficiently broad choice list. Restricting the list to only a few top NITs or CSE programmes can significantly reduce the chances of receiving an allotment.
Candidates should include every institute and branch they would genuinely be willing to join. At the same time, they should avoid adding options they would certainly reject, as an allotment may affect subsequent counselling decisions and fee obligations.
Also Read: CSAB Counselling 2026, Registration, Fees, Seat Allotment
How to Prepare Choices After the Vacancy List Is Released
Since registration and choice filling are active and the official vacancy document is now available, candidates should immediately create or revise a structured shortlist.
Begin by filtering the vacancy matrix according to your category, quota and gender pool. Then list preferred institutes, acceptable branches, fee limits, location preferences and any non-negotiable conditions. Compare these applicable vacancies with previous CSAB closing ranks to identify ambitious, realistic and safer options.
Remove programmes for which no applicable vacancy is shown, but do not reject an institute merely because your preferred category row is absent in one branch. Check all acceptable programmes and related branch options before finalising the list.
This approach is more effective than waiting until the final day to start research. It also reduces the risk of incorrect choice ordering or missing suitable institutes because of time pressure.
Also Read: CSAB Eligibility Criteria 2026, Special Round & Counselling
CSAB Vacant Seats 2026: Conclusion
The CSAB Vacant Seats 2026 list has been published on the official portal on 28 July 2026. CSAB Special Round registration and choice filling have also started, allowing candidates to check actual seat availability and prepare or revise their preference lists.
The released seat list should be analysed together with previous CSAB closing ranks, category, quota, gender pool, programme preference, fees, curriculum and institute quality. Candidates must read the complete vacancy row because a seat shown for one category, quota or gender pool may not be available to every applicant.
A broad but carefully ordered choice list is generally more effective than selecting only a few popular NITs or CSE programmes. Candidates should use the official PDF to check every applicable institute-wise, programme-wise, category-wise, quota-wise and gender-pool-wise vacancy before locking their choices.
