Can a Student Apply for Both JoSAA and CSAB: Every year, as the JEE Advanced and JEE Mains results are declared, lakhs of students enrol themselves in the counselling process so that they can secure their desired seat in the top engineering institutes such as IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. The governing body that conducts the counselling of these candidates is JoSAA or (Joint Seat Allocation Authority). However, as the JoSAA counselling rounds come to an end, there are many students who end up without a seat and wish to have a better course or institute. That’s where CSAB (Central Seat Allocation Board) plays a major role. This governing body offers special rounds of counselling to fill vacant seats in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs (but not IITs).
So, a common question that arises among the candidates is: Can a student apply for both JoSAA and CSAB? The answer is yes—students can apply to both, and doing so may actually improve their chances of getting a seat in a preferred college or branch. But there are some rules and steps to follow carefully. This article explains everything you need to know about participating in both JoSAA and CSAB counselling.
Also Check -
How to Fill Undertaking Form of JoSAA?
What Are JoSAA and CSAB?
JoSAA is the official counselling body that is designed for admissions into IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. The governing body conducts six rounds of counselling based upon JEE Main and JEE Advanced ranks. All students who wish to get admission into these institutes must register for JoSAA and participate in the process.
On the other hand, CSAB comes into play after JoSAA completes its six rounds. It conducts two special rounds of counselling to fill any leftover seats in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. However, CSAB does not offer seats in IITs. It uses JEE Main scores only, and it's especially helpful for those who didn’t get any seat through JoSAA or are looking for better options.
Can I Apply for JoSAA and CSAB?
Yes, you can apply for both. In fact, this is a common route taken by many aspirants. First, you must participate in JoSAA counselling and go through all its rounds. If they don’t get a seat or are not satisfied with the allotted seat, they can also apply for CSAB counselling.
Some of you who accept a seat through JoSAA may still apply for CSAB to try for an upgrade. However, if you are allotted a new seat in CSAB, then their previous JoSAA seat will be cancelled, and you must take the CSAB seat.
What is the Eligibility Criteria for JoSAA and CSAB?
For JoSAA, you must have qualified in either JEE Main or JEE Advanced, depending on the institute they are aiming for (IITs require JEE Advanced; NITs/IIITs/GFTIs accept JEE Main).
For CSAB, you must have appeared for JEE Main and must either:
Not have received any seat during JoSAA counselling, or
Have received a seat but want to participate again to try for a better one.
What Happens to JoSAA Seat If I Join CSAB?
If you have already accepted a seat through JoSAA and are participating in CSAB:
If you are not allotted a new seat in CSAB, your JoSAA seat remains safe.
If you are allotted a seat through CSAB, your JoSAA seat will be automatically cancelled, and you must join the institute allotted through CSAB. There is no going back to the previous seat.
This is why you must be very careful before registering for CSAB and should do so only if you are ready to give up your JoSAA seat in case a new one is allotted.
Fees and Refunds for JoSAA and CSAB
For JoSAA, you have to pay a seat acceptance fee—₹35,000 for General/OBC candidates and ₹17,500 for SC/ST/PwD. This is usually adjusted in the admission fee or refunded if you withdraw before the final round.
For CSAB, you have to pay a non-refundable registration fee, which may vary between ₹3,000–₹4,000. If a seat is allotted in CSAB and you choose not to take it, no refund is given. So, you should apply only if you are serious about joining.
Also Check -
How to Obtain Income Certificate for JoSAA Counselling 2025?
What are the Options During JoSAA and CSAB Counselling?
Both JoSAA and CSAB offer similar options for seat acceptance:
Freeze: Accept the seat and do not participate in further rounds.
Float: Accept the seat but remain open to better options in other institutes.
Slide: Stay in the same institute but hope for a better course.
Withdraw: Exit the counselling altogether (allowed under specific deadlines).
Surrender (in CSAB only): Give up the seat to try again in the next CSAB round.
Should I Apply for JoSAA and CSAB Both?
The answer is typically yes, but it comes with the following conditions:
If you want to improve your chances of getting a better course or college,
If you did not get any seat in JoSAA,
If you are willing to give up your JoSAA seat in case CSAB offers a better one.
If you are willing to accept these conditions, then applying for both JoSAA and CSAB is a smart move. It increases options and ensures that no opportunity is missed due to unfilled seats.
In conclusion, applying for both JoSAA and CSAB can be beneficial, but students need to be fully aware of the rules, deadlines, and consequences, especially regarding the cancellation of previous seats. By carefully planning their participation in both counselling rounds, students can increase their chances of getting a seat in a preferred college or branch. Keeping track of updates on the official JoSAA and CSAB websites is also very important to avoid missing any important step in the process.
Related Articles
| JoSAA IIIT Round 3 Cutoff 2025 | JoSAA IIT Round 3 Cutoff 2025 |
|---|---|
| JoSAA NIT Round 3 Cutoff 2025 | - |
If you have further queries regarding admission to top private engineering colleges in India , you can write to hello@collegedekho.com or call our toll free number 18005729877, or simply fill out our Common Application Form on the website.
Are you feeling lost and unsure about what career path to take after completing 12th standard?
Say goodbye to confusion and hello to a bright future!
FAQs
A student should generally consider applying for both JoSAA and CSAB if they:
- Wish to improve their chances of securing a better course or college.
- Did not get any seat during the JoSAA counselling rounds.
- Are prepared and willing to give up their JoSAA-allotted seat if CSAB offers a more preferred option.
Both JoSAA and CSAB counselling offer similar options for seat acceptance:
- Freeze: Accept the allotted seat and opt out of further rounds.
- Float: Accept the current seat but remain open to better options in any institute in subsequent rounds.
- Slide: Accept the current institute but aim for a better branch within that same institute.
- Withdraw: Exit the counselling process entirely (allowed under specific deadlines).
Surrender (CSAB only): Give up the current seat to try for a different one in the next CSAB round.
Applying to both can be a strategic move to maximize opportunities, but requires careful attention to rules, deadlines, and the irreversible nature of accepting a CSAB seat over a JoSAA one.
For JoSAA, students are required to pay a seat acceptance fee upon seat allotment. This fee is ₹35,000 for General/OBC candidates and ₹17,500 for SC/ST/PwD candidates. This amount is typically adjusted against the admission fee or can be refunded if the student formally withdraws before the final round of JoSAA.
For CSAB, candidates must pay a non-refundable registration fee, which generally ranges between ₹3,000 and ₹4,000. If a seat is allotted through CSAB and the candidate decides not to accept it, this registration fee is not refunded. Therefore, it is advised that students only apply for CSAB if they are seriously committed to joining an allotted institute.
For JoSAA, candidates must have qualified in either JEE Main or JEE Advanced. Eligibility depends on the target institute: IITs primarily require a JEE Advanced qualification, while NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs accept JEE Main ranks.
For CSAB, candidates must have appeared for JEE Main. Additionally, they must meet one of the following conditions: they either did not receive any seat during the JoSAA counselling rounds, or they received a seat in JoSAA but wish to participate in CSAB to try for an upgrade to a better option.
Yes, students are allowed to apply for both JoSAA and CSAB counselling, and it is a common strategy to maximize chances of securing a seat or an upgrade. Students typically participate in all JoSAA rounds first. If they don't get a seat they desire, or any seat at all, they can then apply for CSAB counselling. A crucial implication to note is that if a student has already accepted a seat through JoSAA and then gets a new seat allotted in CSAB, their previously accepted JoSAA seat will be automatically cancelled. In such a scenario, the student must take the CSAB-allotted seat and cannot revert to their JoSAA seat.
JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) is the primary governing body for admissions into IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. It conducts six rounds of counselling based on both JEE Main and JEE Advanced ranks. All students aiming for admission to these institutes must register and participate in JoSAA.
CSAB (Central Seat Allocation Board), on the other hand, comes into play after JoSAA's six rounds are completed. Its purpose is to fill any remaining vacant seats specifically in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. Importantly, CSAB does not offer seats in IITs. It uses only JEE Main scores and conducts two special rounds of counselling, proving beneficial for students who did not secure a seat through JoSAA or are seeking better options.
Was this article helpful?
Similar Articles
Tier 3 Engineering Colleges in India
Tier 2 Engineering Colleges in Hyderabad
Biggest Engineering College Campus in India 2025
GATE XL 2026: Exam Date, Syllabus, Question Paper, Answer Key, Response Sheet
GATE XH 2026: Exam Date, Syllabus, Question Paper, Answer Key, Response Sheet
GATE XE 2026: Exam Date, Syllabus, Question Paper, Answer Key, Response Sheet