CSAB Counselling Registration 2026 is the first and most important step for any candidate who wants to participate in CSAB Special Rounds 2026. No matter how strong your JEE Main rank is, if you miss the registration window or make an error during the process, you simply cannot participate in any of the three Special Rounds.
This guide covers who needs to register, what the process involves, what fees to pay, what documents to keep ready, and the common mistakes that candidates make.
Who Needs to Register for CSAB Counselling 2026?
Fresh registration on csab.nic.in is mandatory for every candidate. Your JoSAA registration does not carry over to CSAB, these are two separate processes with separate portals.
Following types of candidates are eligible to register for CSAB Special Rounds 2026:
| Candidate Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Type-1 | Did not register in JoSAA 2026 at all but is eligible as per JEE Main 2026 criteria |
| Type-2 | Participated in JoSAA 2026 but was not allotted any seat |
| Type-3 | Got a JoSAA seat but it was cancelled due to non-payment of Seat Acceptance Fee |
| Type-4 | Exercised the EXIT option during JoSAA 2026 |
| Type-5 | Got an IIT seat in JoSAA, then withdrew, had it cancelled after verification, or has taken admission |
| Type-6 | Got a NIT+ seat in JoSAA and secured admission by paying both SAF and PAF |
| Type-7 | Got a NIT+ seat in JoSAA but validly withdrew |
| Type-8 | Got a NIT+ seat in JoSAA, seat was cancelled after document verification, no subsequent seat allotted |
| Type-9 | Got a NIT+ seat, paid SAF, documents verified, seat cancelled due to non-payment of PAF |
Type-6 candidates: You can register for CSAB while retaining your JoSAA seat. If CSAB allots you a new seat, your JoSAA seat is automatically and permanently cancelled. You must submit declaration accepting this condition at the time of registration.
Basic Eligibility to Register for CSAB 2026
To be eligible for registration please make sure that you satisfy the following requirements:
- You are an Indian citizen (by birth or naturalization), or an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) /Person of Indian Origin (PIO) who holds a valid OCI / PIO card. Non-Indian citizens who do not have an OCI / PIO will not be able to register.
- You hold valid rank in JEE Main 2026 or have been otherwise granted admission to any higher educational institution as qualified through those entrance examinations (B.E/B.Tech, B.Arch/B.Planning).
- You satisfy that institution and programme’s eligibility requirements to which you would like to apply
- You have the results declared for an acceptable qualifying examination (Class 12 or equivalent) before your documents will be verified after applying.
Step-by-Step CSAB Counselling Registration Process 2026
Step 1: Visit Official CSAB Portal
Go to official website (https://csab.nic.in/) and beware of phishing attempts from sites that resemble CSAB. CSAB will never ask you to do register on any other website.
Step 2: Complete Fresh Registration
Click on the online registration link for CSAB Special Rounds and 2026 enter your application number and date of birth to register. Ensure that all information you enter in your personal details, academic and contact details is accurate. The information you will need to provide is:
- Personal details (Your name must match your class 10 certificate, your date of birth, and Your gender)
- Your Contact details (Your mobile phone and email will have to be valid and in use for the duration of the counselling process.)
- Your JEE Main 2022 registration and rank
- Your Nationality and Category
- Your State.
For candidates whose documents were not verified during JoSAA, you can update your State of Eligibility, Nationality, Gender, and Category (only from Beneficiary to non-Beneficiary) during CSAB registration.
For candidates whose documents were verified during JoSAA and category was changed from OBC-NCL/GEN-EWS/SC/ST to GEN, you can submit a separate category restoration request within the CSAB schedule if you have now acquired valid certificates.
Step 3: Pay the Special Round Enrolment Fee (SREF)
You must need to pay the SREF before you can proceed to document upload or filling choices.
| Category | SREF Amount |
|---|---|
| General / GEN-EWS / OBC-NCL | Rs. 40,000 |
| SC / ST / PwD | Rs. 19,000 |
This fee includes:
- Institute Admission Fee Part I (IAF-I): Applied toward institute admission
- Special Round Processing Fee (SRPF) of Rs. 5,000: Non-refundable and non-adjustable under all circumstances
Payment modes: Debit Card, Credit Card, UPI, Net Banking, E-Challan, CSC.
At the time of SREF payment, you must also 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 used for any applicable refund later.
Step 4: Fill and Lock Choices
Once SREF payment is confirmed, you get access to the choice filling section. This is where you select institutes and branches in your order of preference.
Important points about choice filling:
- All eligible programs are displayed regardless of vacancy status, fill based on your preference, not just what appears vacant
- Fill as many choices as possible, the more you fill, the better your chances across all three rounds
- Choices from JoSAA 2026 are null and void for CSAB, fill completely fresh
- The same locked choices are used for all three Special Rounds, they cannot be changed between rounds
- If you do not manually lock your choices, the last saved choices are auto-locked at the deadline
- If no choices are saved at all, you will not be considered for any allotment
- Type-6 candidates: All choices are fresh except your last secured JoSAA seat, which is automatically treated as your last preference
- Download and print your locked choices, the printout contains the terms and conditions you agreed to
Step 5: Upload Documents (If Required)
Candidates whose documents were not verified in NIT+ System during JoSAA Rounds 1–6 must upload all required documents during Online Reporting after seat allotment. At the registration stage, document upload is not always required upfront – check the specific CSAB 2026 schedule for exact requirements.
Candidates whose documents were already successfully verified in NIT+ System during JoSAA are exempt from re-uploading documents. Their verified status carries over to CSAB.
Documents to Keep Ready Before CSAB Registration
Keep the following documents scanned and ready before you start the registration process.
- JEE Main 2026 Admit Card and Score Card – All candidates
- Class 12 (or equivalent) Marksheet and Certificate – All candidates
- Class 10 Certificate (for date of birth) – All candidates
- SC/ST/OBC-NCL/GEN-EWS Caste/Category Certificate – Reserved category candidates
- PwD Certificate – PwD candidates
- Domicile/State Certificate (for State of Eligibility) – All candidates
- J&K Migrant Certificate (if applicable) – J&K migrant candidates
- OCI/PIO Card (if applicable) – OCI/PIO candidates
- Cancelled Cheque or Passbook Front Page (for refund account) – All candidates (mandatory at SREF payment)
Category Restoration: A Separate Step Within Registration
If your category was changed from OBC-NCL, GEN-EWS, SC, or ST to GEN during JoSAA document verification because you did not have valid certificates at the time, you now have a chance to restore your original category for CSAB.
Visit csab.nic.in after registration opens and look for the category restoration link. Upload your valid category certificate within the schedule given in the CSAB brochure (Annexure-3). CSAB officials will verify the request and update your category accordingly.
This is a time-bound activity. Missing this window means you compete in the General category for CSAB rounds.
Common Mistakes to Avoid During CSAB Registration
- Using JoSAA login for CSAB: JoSAA credentials do not work on CSAB. Always create a fresh registration on csab.nic.in.
- Wrong category selection: Once entered, category cannot be changed from non-beneficiary to beneficiary. If you are in a reserved category, select it correctly from the start.
- Not saving choices before locking: Unsaved choices are not auto-saved by the system. If you do not save and lock, the system treats it as no choices filled.
- Incorrect bank account details: Refunds go only to the account entered at SREF payment. Double-check every digit before submitting.
- Sharing login credentials: CSAB strongly advises keeping your login ID and password confidential. If someone else misuses your account, CSAB takes no responsibility.
- Type-6 candidates not reading the declaration: If you have a secured JoSAA seat and register for CSAB, a mandatory declaration regarding automatic cancellation of the JoSAA seat upon CSAB allotment must be submitted. Not understanding this has led to many candidates accidentally losing good JoSAA seats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is CSAB registration separate from JoSAA registration?
A. Full and complete registration at csab.nic.in is required in order to complete your process. Registration through JoSAA will not be considered for CSAB.
Q. Can I register for CSAB if I did not participate in JoSAA?
A. Type 1 candidate who did not participate in JoSAA but have valid JEE Main rank is eligible to directly register for CSAB.
Q. Can I update my category during CSAB registration?
A. You may only change your category from beneficiary to non-beneficiary. To restore a category that was downgraded during JoSAA verification, use the separate category restoration link on csab.nic.in.
Q. What happens if I forget to lock my choices?
A. The last saved choices are auto-locked when the choice-filling window closes. If no choices were saved, you will not be considered for any allotment.
Q. Do Type-6 candidates need to pay the full SREF?
A. Their balance SAF (after deducting JoSAA processing charges) is adjusted. They only pay the difference amount.
Q. Can I modify my choices between CSAB Special Rounds?
A. Locked choices remain fixed for all three rounds. No changes are permitted once the choice-filling window closes.
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.