DASA UG and CSAB 2026 Special Rounds: Admission Schedule Released

Candidates looking for final seats in the NIT+ system can begin registration on July 28 as the JEE Apex Board rolls out the unified counselling timeline.

For thousands of engineering aspirants still eyeing a spot in the prestigious NIT+ system—comprising NITs, IIITs, IIEST, SPAs, and select GFTIs—the wait is finally over. The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Apex Board has officially released the counselling schedule for the Direct Admission of Students Abroad (DASA UG) and the CSAB special rounds for 2026. Managed this year by IIEST Shibpur, the process offers a critical window for students to secure remaining seats after the standard JoSAA rounds have concluded.

The registration process for both tracks is set to commence on July 28, 2026. Whether you are a foreign national applying through DASA or a domestic candidate participating in the CSAB special rounds, the authorities have implemented a unified, synchronized calendar to streamline the payment of enrollment fees and the choice filling process. Candidates should note that any previous choices made during JoSAA rounds will not be carried forward; this is a fresh start, and a new profile must be created on the official portal, csab.nic.in.

Key Dates and Deadlines

The clock starts ticking at 10:00 AM on July 28 for both registration and document uploads. For those tracking the August deadlines, the window for choice locking closes on August 5 at 2:00 PM. Following this, the first round of seat allotment results will be declared on August 6 at 5:00 PM. A second round of allotments is scheduled for August 12, providing a final opportunity for candidates to find their placement within the NIT+ system.

Physical reporting, a mandatory step for confirming admission, is tentatively slated for between August 13 and August 18. During this time, students will be required to visit their allotted institutes to complete the payment of remaining fees and verify their credentials. While these dates are official, the board has advised that final reporting schedules remain subject to confirmation by the specific participating universities.

Why it matters

The synchronization of DASA UG and CSAB special rounds under a single umbrella represents a significant shift toward administrative efficiency in India’s technical education sector. By consolidating these high-stakes admission cycles, the JEE Apex Board is working to eliminate the chaos of seat vacancies that often plague the end of the academic admissions calendar. For the student, this means less ambiguity; for the institutes, it ensures that high-quality seats do not go to waste due to disjointed administrative timelines.

This systemic approach is crucial, as the NIT+ network remains the second-most sought-after tier of engineering education in India, often serving as the primary alternative for top-tier candidates who may have narrowly missed the cut-offs for premier IITs. As the July 28 opening date approaches, candidates are urged to keep their documentation ready, as the short turnaround between registration and allotment leaves little room for error.