The Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB) has opened the online registration and choice filling process for the 2026 admission cycle under the Direct Admission of Students Abroad (DASA) scheme and CSAB special counselling rounds. Candidates interested in securing seats at premier Indian institutes like NITs, IITs, and GFTIs must complete their registration and submit their preferences by August 3.
Understanding DASA and CSAB Special Counselling
DASA is a scheme designed to facilitate admission for foreign nationals, Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) into undergraduate engineering programs at top Indian technical institutes. The CSAB special counselling rounds provide an additional opportunity for candidates who missed out or want to improve their seat allotment after the regular counselling rounds.
Both processes involve online registration, payment of counselling fees, and choice filling where candidates select their preferred institutes and courses. These rounds are crucial for filling vacant seats and ensuring maximum utilization of available seats across participating institutes.
Key Dates and Steps for Candidates
- Registration and choice filling for both DASA UG 2026 and CSAB special counselling started recently and will close on August 3.
- Mock seat allotment results for both processes will be released on July 31, helping candidates gauge their chances before final seat allotment.
- CSAB special counselling Round 1 seat allotment results will be announced on August 6, with candidates required to upload documents and accept or surrender seats by August 10.
- Document verification queries for Round 1 must be addressed by August 11.
- Round 2 seat allotment for CSAB special counselling will be declared on August 12, with subsequent document submission and fee payment deadlines extending to August 17.
- Candidates allotted seats through CSAB special rounds must report physically to their allotted institutes between August 13 and August 18.
- For DASA UG 2026, after the final application submission by August 3, candidates must respond to document verification queries and pay any balance enrolment fee by August 4.
- Choice filling and locking for DASA will occur on August 5, with Round 1 and Round 2 seat allotments announced on August 6 and August 12 respectively.
- DASA candidates must report to their allotted institutes on August 13 and complete balance fee payments by August 18.
Why This Counselling Window Is Important for Applicants
This special counselling phase offers a critical second chance for candidates who may have missed initial counselling rounds or wish to improve their seat allocation. It also helps institutes fill leftover seats, ensuring no vacancy goes unused. For foreign and NRI students, the DASA scheme remains a vital pathway to access India’s premier engineering education.
Completing registration and choice filling accurately and on time is essential, as changes after the deadline are generally not permitted. Candidates should carefully review their choices before locking them to avoid any regrets. The physical reporting and document verification steps are equally important to confirm admission and avoid losing the allotted seat.
Overall, this counselling window is a key event in the admission calendar for thousands of aspirants targeting engineering programs at top Indian technical institutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is eligible to apply through the DASA scheme?
A: DASA is open to foreign nationals, Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) seeking admission to undergraduate engineering courses in Indian institutes.
Q: What is the last date to complete registration and choice filling for CSAB special counselling 2026?
A: Candidates must complete registration and choice filling by August 3, 2026, for the CSAB special counselling rounds.
Q: When do candidates need to report to their allotted institutes after seat allotment?
A: Candidates allotted seats through CSAB special counselling and DASA must report physically to their respective institutes between August 13 and August 18, 2026, to complete admission formalities.
