The CSAB Special Counselling Registration 2026 has been initiated, and it is one of the most significant steps for students who did not secure good seats in JoSAA based on their JEE Main scores.

The Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB) has opened applications for admission on July 28, 2026, at 10:00 AM for thousands of engineering aspirants to various Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs) such as NITs, IIITs, IIEST Shibpur, SPAs, and more. This article covers all the important details about CSAB 2026 Registration, including the deadline, fee, eligibility criteria, required documents, and a step-by-step procedure for the CSAB registration process.

At a Glance: Everything You Need to Know Before You Register

Particulars	Details
Counselling Body	Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB)
Article Name	CSAB Special Counselling Registration 2026
Registration Start Date	July 28, 2026, 10:00 AM
Registration & Fee Payment Last Date	August 3, 2026, 10:00 AM
Number of Special Rounds	Two (SR1 and SR2)
Eligibility	Valid JEE Main 2026 rank
Seats Offered	Around 48,000 across 114 institutes (including 9 new GFTIs)
Mode of Registration	Online only
Official Website	csab. nic. in

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This table gives you the complete picture in one glance, but let’s go deeper into each section so nothing about CSAB Special Counselling Registration 2026 is left unclear.

When Does Registration Open?

The CSAB Special Counselling Registration 2026 process was initiated from 10:00 AM on 28th July 2026.

The registration process started immediately after JoSAA 2026 counselling and is the beginning of the CSAB Special Round admission schedule for the year. There is no point in waiting for the candidates to log in, as they have to make their choices, upload their documents, and pay their fee within a short span.

Last Date to Register: Don’t Miss This Deadline

CSAB Special Counselling Registration 2026 deadline is 3rd August 2026 at 10 AM. Last deadline for registration and payment of Special Round Enrolment Fee (SREF). It’s advisable that you complete your registration a day or two before the closing date of the portal, since after that date you will not be able to register.

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Key Dates You Simply Can’t Afford to Miss

Event	Date
CSAB Special Counselling Registration Start Date	July 28, 2026
Registration & Fee Payment Closes	August 3, 2026, 10:00 AM
Choice Filling & Locking	Continues after registration, within the CSAB schedule
SR1 Reporting Window	August 6–11, 2026
SR2 Reporting Window	August 12–17, 2026

Note: Dates are as per the schedule released on the official CSAB website. Candidates are advised to keep checking csab.nic.in for any updates or extensions.

Where to Register: The Official Portal Link

The CSAB Special Counselling Registration 2026 link is only available on the official CSAB portal. Candidates are not allowed to register, fill choices, and pay the fee from any third-party website or app.

Direct Registration Link: https://csab.nic.in

Always confirm that the URL in your browser reads “csab.nic.in” before entering your JEE Main credentials or making any payment.

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Why a “Fresh” Registration Is Compulsory, Even After JoSAA

The concept of fresh registration is what many students have been confused about each year. Those who have already registered and have filled choices in JoSAA do not carry over to CSAB Special Counselling Registration 2026.

• Each candidate (even the ones who had dropped out from JoSAA) will have to register afresh on the CSAB portal.
• New options must be filled and secured from other options in the Special Rounds.
• The JoSAA Seat Acceptance fee already paid by some candidates will not be forfeited; it will be adjusted according to the rules of CSAB.
• To sum up, CSAB Special Counselling Registration 2026 is an entirely new counselling process, and not a JoSAA process.

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How the Online Registration Actually Works

The entire registration procedure is carried out online via the official website. There is no possibility of a physical or offline application.

• It’s a broad concept, and here’s what it entails: When creating or logging into your account, you must use the JEE Main 2026 credentials.
• To double-check personal and academic information.
• Paying the Special Round Enrolment Fee. Populating your institute/branch preferences. You’re not supposed to lock in final selections before the deadline.

Registering in 9 Simple Steps

1. Visit the official website csab.nic.in and click on the CSAB Special Round Counselling 2026 registration link.
2. Log in with JEE Main 2026 Credentials: Enter all your details from the JEE Main 2026 application number and password.
3. OTP verification: An OTP will be sent to your registered mobile number as well as email ID; fill it and proceed.
4. Ensure personal information is correct Double-check the information for your name, category, date of birth, and more; incorrect information can lead to problems further down the road.

• Provide Bank Account Details: This is important if any refund is applicable, so verify details like Bank Account Number and IFSC Code.
• Pay the Special Round Enrolment Fee (SREF) – Make the payment via any of the available online payment methods.
• Make choices and choose institutes and branches according to your choice and rank expectation.
• Lock your choices: Lock your list of choices before the deadline when you are confident of your choices.
• Save/Print the confirmation page The confirmation page is downloaded and saved or printed for future reference.

Before You Begin: Keep These Handy

Here are some details you should have ready before you start filling out the application to ensure a trouble-free process without last-minute panics:

• Download the JEE Main 2026 application number and password.
  • An active mobile number and email address. Details of the bank account for refunds.
  • Scanned copies of documents that are required (listed below)

How Much Will It Cost You?

The fee for registering for the event, known as the Special Round Enrolment Fee (SREF), must be paid on registration. The fee amount for each category for the year 2026 is mentioned in the official Information Brochure of CSAB, which may vary slightly depending on the category of candidates (General, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD).

As fee structures change from year to year, candidates should always check on the official CSAB portal before paying the exact fee.

Who Can Actually Apply? Eligibility Explained

Eligibility is not a prerequisite for all JEE Main candidates. Interested candidates must fill the CSAB Special Counselling Registration 2026 form as per their eligibility.

• The eligibility for CSAB Special Counselling Registration 2026 is as follows:
  • Candidates with a valid JEE Main 2026 rank.Candidates who cancelled their seats taken from JoSAA counselling.Candidates who didn’t apply to JoSAA but otherwise fulfilled the eligibility conditions of CSAB. Minimum Eligibility Criteria (e.g., qualifying marks in class 12) specified in the CSAB brochure must be met by the candidates.
  • The detailed eligibility brochure on the official website should be read once because there may be differences in eligibility for each category and quota.

Document Checklist for a Smooth Registration

Keeping your documents ready in advance saves a lot of stress during registration and later during verification. Here’s the checklist:

Document	Purpose
JEE Main 2026 Admit Card / Scorecard	Rank and application verification
Class 10 Marksheet & Certificate	Date of birth proof
Class 12 Marksheet & Certificate	Qualifying exam proof
Aadhaar Card / Birth Certificate	Identity and DOB verification
Category Certificate (if applicable)	For OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS candidates
PwD Certificate (if applicable)	For candidates applying under PwD quota
Passport-size Photograph & Signature	Application form requirement

There are some things to keep in mind:

• The OBC-NCL and GEN-EWS certificates must be issued from April 1, 2026 onwards.
  • All documents that are not in English or Hindi shall be accompanied by a certified translation.
  • Have a copy of the document, both as a digital copy (for upload) and a physical copy (for later documentation).

Trouble Logging In? Here’s the Fix

Candidates have to enter their JEE Main 2026 application number and password to log in. The application number and password were previously used to register for JEE Main 2026.

In case you forget your password, you can use the Forgot Password option on the CSAB portal, and you will receive a reset link to your registered mobile number/email address.

The Only Website You Should Trust

Official website: csab. nic. in publishes all official updates, notices, registration link, choice filling window, and final schedule of CSAB Special Counselling Registration 2026.

Don’t use unofficial links or forwards via social media – fake portals that ask for registration fees are a common problem during counselling.

Final Checklist Before You Hit Submit

• Registration and fee payment should be done simultaneously and within the same time frame.
  • JoSAA choices will not be taken into account for CSAB. This year there are two Special Rounds (SR1 and SR2), and registration is typically a single registration for both Special Rounds.
  • Ensure that your bank information is correct; any refund will be made using the details you provided on the sign-up page.

FAQs

1.  What is the starting Date of CSAB Special Counselling Registration 2026?

The registration process began on July 28, 2026, at 10:00 AM through the official CSAB website.

2.  Last Date for CSAB Special Counselling Registration 2026?

The registration and fee payment deadline is August 3, 2026 at 10:00 AM.

3.  Am I allowed to avail of my JoSAA options for Special Counselling?

All candidates, including those who have participated in JoSAA, must register and fill the fresh choices. Fresh registration and fresh choice filling are mandatory for all candidates, including those who had appeared for JoSAA.

4.  Which is the official website of CSAB Special Counselling Registration 2026?

The only official website is csab.nic.in. Registration and payment should not be done via other portals.

5.  Can students apply for CSAB Special Counselling Registration without appearing in JoSAA?

Yes, candidates who have secured JEE Main 2026 but did not apply in JoSAA can apply for CSAB as long as they fulfill the eligibility criteria.

6.  What paperwork is required during registration?

The important documents required are JEE Main admit card, Class 10th and 12th marksheets, category certificate (if applicable), and passport-size photographs.

7.  In 2026, how many Special Rounds are taking place?

This year, there are two Special Rounds (SR1 and SR2) which aim to fill the seats of the vacancies in NITs, IIITs and GFTIs.

8.  What will happen if I do not register in time?

Those who do not register before the Aug 3rd cut-off date will not be eligible for the current cycle and might have to wait for the next cycle to be announced by CSAB (as per their availability).