CSAB counselling provides a second chance to the ones who missed a seat in JoSSA

The Joint Seat Allocation Authority counselling process is currently going on. However, vacant seats can still be filled up by special rounds conducted by the Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB).

Candidates missing a seat in JoSAA have a final opportunity to get enrolled in top engineering institutes.

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What are JoSSA and CSAB counselling?

Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSSA) is the primary counselling authority for admissions to IITs, NITs, IIITs and GFTIs, while Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB) does not offer admissions to IITs and conducts special rounds for admissions for the seats which remain vacant after JoSSA counselling rounds, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Only candidates who have qualified in Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main are eligible for CSAB special rounds and the counselling is conducted for admissions to various undergraduate degree programs in engineering, technology and architecture at NITs, IIEST, IIITs, SPAs and other GFTIs.

Types of CSAB counselling rounds

Hindustan Times noted the different types of CSAB counselling rounds.

CSAB Special Rounds: If seats remain vacant after JoSAA 2026 counselling rounds in the NIT + System (excluding IIT seats), two CSAB Special Rounds are conducted.

CSAB Supernumerary Round: Conducted by CSAB 2026 through its online portal for admission to supernumerary seats in selected NITs (NIT Durgapur, NIT Calicut, SVNIT Surat) for candidates with state of eligibility as Union Territories of Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Lakshadweep, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

CSAB NEUT Rounds: These are conducted to allocate seats of AICTE-approved institutes under the scheme of “Reservation of seats in Degree Level Technical Courses for States / UTs lacking such facilities in the AICTE-approved institutions” to candidates hailing from North-Eastern states and Union Territories.

Seat allotment process in CSAB counselling is based on JEE Main rank, category, filled choices, and the availability of vacant seats. Candidates are advised to check the official CSAB website for further details. Moreover, candidates should log in to the portal and check the seat allotment information themselves.

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FAQs

1) When will the JoSSA counselling end?

The JoSSA counselling will continue till July 21, 2026, according to Hindustan Times.

2) Do candidates who missed a seat have a second chance?

Yes, candidates who missed a seat after JoSSA counselling rounds have a second chance in the form of CSAB counselling rounds for securing a seat in top engineering institutes in India.