This counselling guide is currently available in English only. Translations are coming soon.
CSAB Special Round B.Arch 2026
Fills NIT, IIEST, IIIT, SPA and GFTI vacant seats after JoSAA Round 6.
CSAB Special runs after JoSAA closes. It fills vacant B.Arch seats at NITs, IIEST Shibpur, IIITs, SPAs (Delhi, Bhopal, Vijayawada), and Government Funded Technical Institutes. IITs do NOT participate in CSAB Special. Three rounds with their own choice filling.
Official portal: csab.nic.in2026 schedule expected late July
CSAB Special begins after JoSAA Round 6 closes. The 2026 brochure is typically released a week before registration opens.
Expected: Late July 2026At a glance
3
₹40,000 (₹19,000 reserved)
₹35,000 (₹16,000 reserved)
No
NITs, IIEST, IIITs, SPAs, GFTIs
Yes, if you accept
Eligibility
JEE Main Paper 2 score required
A valid JEE Main 2026 Paper 2 B.Arch rank is mandatory. JEE Advanced and AAT are not used in CSAB Special.
Holding a JoSAA seat is fine, registering means risk
You can register for CSAB Special even if you accepted a JoSAA seat. Once you accept any CSAB Special allotment, your JoSAA seat is automatically cancelled. Decide before registration.
Academic eligibility is the same as JoSAA
10+2 with Physics and Mathematics compulsory plus one more, 50% PCM aggregate (45% for reserved). Single board issuance.
Important dates
| Milestone | Date | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| JoSAA Round 6 closes | Late July 2026 (TBD) | Expected | |
| CSAB Special registration | Late July 2026 (TBD) | TBD | |
| Round 1 allotment | Early August 2026 (TBD) | TBD | |
| Round 2 allotment | Mid August 2026 (TBD) | TBD | |
| Round 3 allotment (final) | Late August 2026 (TBD) | TBD |
JoSAA Round 6 closes
Late July 2026 (TBD)
CSAB Special registration
Late July 2026 (TBD)
Round 1 allotment
Early August 2026 (TBD)
Round 2 allotment
Mid August 2026 (TBD)
Round 3 allotment (final)
Late August 2026 (TBD)
Reservation matrix
| Category | Quota | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| OPEN | Merit | |
| OBC-NCL | 27% | |
| SC | 15% | |
| ST | 7.5% | |
| EWS | 10% | |
| PwD (horizontal) | 5% | |
| Female (horizontal) | Per institute |
Fee structure
Special Round Enrolment Fee, General/OBC/EWS
Paid at CSAB registration, separate from JoSAA fee₹40,000
Special Round Enrolment Fee, SC/ST/PwD
₹19,000
Institute Academic Fee (IAF-II), General/OBC/EWS
Paid after CSAB seat allotment, on top of Enrolment Fee₹35,000
IAF-II, SC/ST/PwD
₹16,000
Common mistakes to avoid
CSAB acceptance cancels your JoSAA seat
If you currently hold a JoSAA seat and accept any CSAB Special allotment, the JoSAA seat is automatically cancelled and the cancellation cannot be reversed. If your JoSAA seat is already acceptable, do not register for CSAB Special.
IITs are not in CSAB Special
CSAB Special covers NITs, IIEST Shibpur, IIITs, SPAs, and GFTIs only. If you are aiming for IIT B.Arch, your only route is JoSAA via JEE Advanced plus AAT.
Total fees are higher than JoSAA
CSAB Special charges Enrolment Fee plus IAF-II, totalling ₹75,000 for General candidates. JoSAA Round 1-6 acceptance fee is ₹35,000. Plan finances accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
Is CSAB Special the same as JoSAA?
Can I register for CSAB Special if I accepted a JoSAA seat?
How many rounds does CSAB Special have?
Do I need JEE Advanced for CSAB Special B.Arch?
What is the difference between Enrolment Fee and IAF-II?
What is CSAB-NEUT? Is it the same as CSAB Special?
Can I get an IIT through CSAB Special?
When does CSAB Special start in 2026?
Free tools for CSAB Special aspirants
Predict your rank, calculate cutoff scores, and find colleges you can get into.
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Information curated from official sources. Always verify against csab.nic.in before applying.