CSAB Counselling Fees 2026 is one of the first things candidates check before registering for CSAB Special Rounds. And rightly so, because the fee structure in CSAB is not just one payment, it involves multiple components paid at different stages, each with its own refund rules and conditions.
If you are planning to participate in CSAB Special Rounds 2026, understanding exactly what you will be paying, when, and what you get back if things do not work out, is essential before you begin.
Overview of CSAB Counselling Fees 2026
CSAB counselling involves fees at three different stages. Here is a quick overview before we go into the details:
| Fee Stage | Fee Name | When Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Special Round Enrolment Fee (SREF) | At the time of CSAB registration |
| Stage 2 | Institute Admission Fee Part II (IAF-II) | After seat allotment, during Online Reporting |
| Stage 3 | Balance Institute Fee | At the time of physical reporting to the allotted institute |
Each stage is mandatory and time-bound. Missing any payment within the stipulated deadline has direct consequences on your seat.
Special Round Enrolment Fee (SREF)
The SREF is the first fee you pay when you register for CSAB Special Rounds. It is a combined fee that includes two components:
- Institute Admission Fee Part I (IAF-I): The initial admission fee that goes toward the institute.
- Special Round Processing Fee (SRPF): A flat Rs. 5,000 charged by CSAB for processing your participation in the Special Rounds.
| Category | SREF Amount (Including SRPF) |
|---|---|
| General / GEN-EWS / OBC-NCL | Rs. 40,000 |
| SC / ST / PwD | Rs. 19,000 |
The SRPF of Rs. 5,000 is non-refundable and non-adjustable under all circumstances. It cannot be adjusted toward the institute’s admission fee either. This is deducted upfront before any refund is calculated.
Adjusted SREF for Type-6, 7, 8, and 9 Candidates
Type 6, 7, 8 & 9 candidates who have already paid their Seat Acceptance Fee for JoSAA 2026 do not have to pay full SREF amount. The balance SAF amount (after deducting JoSAA processing charges of Rs. 5,000) is adjusted against the SREF. These candidates only need to pay the difference amount at the time of CSAB registration.
If your category changed during the JoSAA document verification process for example, from SC to General and you haven’t previously paid the PAF amount, you’ll have to pay an additional Rs. 15,000 on top of your SREF. This difference reflects the SAF for SC/ST/PWD and GEN applicants.
Institute Admission Fee Part II (IAF-II)
After a seat is allotted to you in any CSAB Special Round, you must pay IAF-II as part of completing Online Reporting. Documents are not verified unless IAF-II is paid.
| Category | IAF-II Amount |
|---|---|
| General / GEN-EWS / OBC-NCL | Rs. 35,000 |
| SC / ST / PwD | Rs. 16,000 |
| Type-6 Candidates (already paid PAF in JoSAA) | Not required already covered |
IAF-II is payable in the round in which the seat is allotted for the first time only. You do not pay it again if you are upgraded or shifted to another seat in a subsequent round.
Non-payment of IAF-II within the Online Reporting window is treated as rejection of the allotted seat. You will lose the seat and become ineligible for all further CSAB rounds.
Balance Institute Fee
After all three CSAB Special Rounds conclude and your seat is provisionally confirmed, you pay the remaining institute fee (if any) when you physically report to the allotted institute. The balance is calculated as:
Total Institute Fee − (IAF-I + IAF-II already paid)
Bank Account Details at the Time of SREF Payment
At the time of paying the SREF, you are required to enter your bank account details (Account Holder Name, Account Number, IFSC, Bank Name) and upload a scanned copy of a cancelled cheque or stamped passbook front page. This is mandatory for processing any refund if it becomes applicable. Providing incorrect bank account details can delay or redirect your refund, CSAB will not be responsible for this.
CSAB Counselling Fees: Refund Rules
Refunds are based on when you left the counselling process as well as your stage in the counselling process.
Deductions Before Refund
- SRPF (Rs 5,000): Always deducted with no refund.
- JoSAA Processing Fee (Rs 5,000): Deducted if a JoSAA seat has been accepted and SAF paid at any time.
- Withdrawal Fee (Rs 2,000): Will be deducted if you withdraw after paying SAF but did not pay PAF.
- CSAB Withdrawal/Surrender deduction (Rs 2,000): Applies under certain circumstances during the CSAB Special Rounds.
Situations and Refund Outcomes
| Situation | Refund |
|---|---|
| Not allotted any seat in CSAB and did not register for the next round | SREF refunded after deducting SRPF (Rs. 5,000) and applicable JoSAA charges |
| Allotted seat in Round 1 or 2, chose Withdraw | SREF refunded after deducting SRPF + Rs. 2,000 withdrawal fee + applicable JoSAA charges |
| Allotted seat in Round 1 or 2, chose Surrender and not allotted in next round | SREF refunded after deducting SRPF + Rs. 2,000 + applicable JoSAA charges |
| Document verification unsuccessful in Round 1 or 2 | SREF refunded after deducting SRPF + Rs. 2,000 + applicable JoSAA charges |
| Did not complete Online Reporting in Round 3 | No refund from CSAB; deposited fees transferred to allotted institute minus Rs. 5,000 each for JoSAA and CSAB processing |
| Allotted in Round 3 but did not pay IAF-II | No refund from CSAB |
| Seat cancelled in Round 3 due to invalid documents or unanswered queries | No refund from CSAB |
| Failed to report to institute after Round 3 | No refund from CSAB; institute’s refund rules apply |
The key takeaway: Round 3 is the point of no return for fees. Any failure after Round 3 allotment results in no refund from CSAB. Whatever is left is transferred to the allotted institute, and their refund policy applies from that point.
Institute Fees at NIT+ System Colleges
The different annual fees for different types of institutions (NITs, IIITs, SPAs, IIEST & GFTIs) are:
- National Institute of Technology (NITs) – Approx Rs. 1.25 Lakh to Rs. 1.5 Lakh
- Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIITs) Rs. 1 Lakh to Rs. 2 Lakh/Tuition per annum – Type of Institute (Govt Funded or PPP)
- IIEST Shibpur – Approx Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 90,000 Tuition/year
- Schools of Planning and Architecture (SPA) – Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 75,000 Tuition/year
- Govt Funded Technical Institutes (GFTI) – Rs. 30,000 to 80,000 Tuition/year
Many government-funded NIT+ institutes provide fee concession for SC; ST category candidates per Government of India as per Government of India fee waiver norms. Family Income criteria is applicable to be eligible for many NIT to charge very little/zero tuition fee for SC/ST category students.
Key Things to Keep in Mind About CSAB Fees
- The SRPF of Rs. 5,000 is gone the moment you register. There is no scenario in which it is refunded.
- IAF-II must be paid in the same round the seat is allotted for the first time. You cannot pay it in a later round.
- If you are a Type-6 candidate (have a secured JoSAA seat), weigh your decision carefully before registering for CSAB. If a better seat is allotted in CSAB, your JoSAA seat is automatically cancelled with no way to get it back.
- Always keep your bank account details accurate at the time of SREF payment. Refunds go to the account you enter at that point.
- Fees paid for IIT seats in JoSAA are NOT adjusted in CSAB. If you had paid for an IIT seat and are now allotted a seat in CSAB, you must follow the IIT’s own refund process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the CSAB registration fee for General category candidates?
A. The SREF is Rs. 40,000 for General, GEN-EWS and OBC-NCL candidates.
Q. How much do SC/ST/PwD candidates pay for CSAB registration?
A. SC, ST, and PwD candidates will pay Rs. 19,000 as the SREF for the CSAB Special Rounds.
Q. Is the CSAB processing fee refundable?
A. The SRPF of Rs. 5,000 is non-refundable and non-adjustable under any circumstances.
Q. What is IAF-II and when is it paid?
A. IAF-II (Institute Admission Fee Part II) is paid after a seat is allotted in a CSAB round, as part of Online Reporting. General/OBC-NCL/EWS candidates pay Rs. 35,000 and SC/ST/PwD pay Rs. 16,000.
Q. Do Type-6 candidates need to pay the full SREF?
A. Type-6 applicants (those who paid the SAF and PAF in JoSAA) will have the remaining balance of their SAF applied toward the SREF; they will need to pay only the difference.
Q. What happens to fees if I do not get any seat in CSAB?
A. The full amount of the SREF will be refunded after deducting the SRPF of 5000 rupees and any JoSAA-related processing fees applicable to my application.
Q. Is there any refund after Special Round 3?
A. There are no refunds from CSAB for any unsuccessful applicant after Special Round 3. All fees that were paid will be remitted to the institution that was assigned to the applicant after deducting applicable processing charges.
Q. Are IIT fees adjusted if I get a CSAB seat?
A. When you receive an initial offer of admission at an IIT from JoSAA, any fees paid at that time will not be applied toward your seat at CSAB. You need to file a separate claim with IIT regarding refunding your IIT fee.
Rajesh Mishra is an admission counsellor and the founder of GLN Admission Advice Pvt. Ltd. with more than 16 years of experience in student counselling and admission guidance. He has worked with thousands of students and parents seeking clarity in complex admission processes across India.
His guidance approach is practical, transparent, and strategy focused. Rajesh Mishra helps families understand counselling systems, admission rules, and college selection in simple language so they can make informed decisions.
Through GLN Admission Advice, he provides guidance for Medical, AYUSH, Engineering, MBA, PGDM, and Law admissions, and regularly shares content to help students understand counselling procedures, cutoff trends, and common mistakes during admission counselling.