15,000+ engineering seats vacant in NITs, IIITs, GFTIs: Here's how to apply

Didn't get a seat through JoSAA? There is still another chance. More than 15,000 engineering seats remain vacant across NITs, IIITs, IIEST Shibpur and GFTIs, with CSAB special counselling now underway.More than 15,000 engineering seats remain vacant across NITs, IIITs, IIEST Shibpur and GFTIs, with CSAB special counselling now underway.Thousands of engineering aspirants who could not secure admission through the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) still have another opportunity. The Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB) has begun its special counselling process after 15,423 seats remained vacant across 119 centrally funded engineering institutes following the completion of JoSAA 2026.The vacant seats are available in 31 National Institutes of Technology (NITs), 27 Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST) Shibpur, and 60 Government-Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs). Admissions will be based on candidates' JEE Main All India Rank (AIR).WHERE ARE THE VACANCIES?Vacant seats after JoSAA Counselling 2026CategoryVacant SeatsGovernment Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs)6,945National Institutes of Technology (NITs)4,611Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs)3,628Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST) Shibpur239Total Vacant Seats15,423Gender-wise vacant seatsCategoryVacant SeatsGender-neutral13,156Female-only2,267Total15,423 Vacant Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) seatsInstitute TypeVacant CSE SeatsGFTIs1,405IIITs1,173NITs503IIEST Shibpur17Total CSE Vacant Seats3,098NIT vacant seats by quotaQuotaVacant SeatsOther State (OS)2,372Home State (HS)2,081Goa, Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh quotas (combined)158Total NIT Vacant Seats4,611 Among all participating institutes, GFTIs have the highest number of vacant seats, with 6,945 seats still available. They are followed by NITs with 4,611 seats, IIITs with 3,628 seats, and IIEST Shibpur with 239 seats.As per media reports, out of the total vacant seats, 13,156 are gender-neutral, while 2,267 are reserved for female candidates.Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), one of the most preferred branches among engineering aspirants, also has 3,098 vacant seats. This includes 503 seats in NITs, 17 in IIEST Shibpur, 1,173 in IIITs and 1,405 in GFTIs.In NITs alone, 2,372 seats fall under the Other State quota, while 2,081 are under the Home State quota. The remaining seats are distributed across the Goa, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh quotas.WHO CAN APPLY FOR CSAB SPECIAL COUNSELLING?Candidates who have a valid JEE Main 2026 All India Rank and meet the eligibility criteria can participate in the CSAB Special Counselling.The process is especially meant for students who were unable to secure a seat during JoSAA or want to explore another opportunity in centrally funded engineering institutes.IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBERCSAB special counselling 2026 scheduleEventDate & TimeRegistration beginsJuly 28, 2026Registration closesAugust 3, 2026, 10:00 amFirst mock seat allotmentJuly 31, 2026Choice filling & auto-locking deadlineAugust 5, 2026, 2:00 pmRound 1 seat allotmentAugust 6, 2026Online reporting & document verification (Round 1)August 6–10, 2026Round 2 seat allotmentAugust 12, 2026Online reporting (Round 2)August 12–14, 2026Physical reporting at allotted institutesAugust 13–18, 2026The CSAB Special Counselling began on July 28 and registrations will remain open until August 3 at 10 am.The first mock seat allotment is scheduled for July 31, while choice filling and auto-locking will continue until August 5 at 2 pm. The Round 1 seat allotment will be announced on August 6, followed by online reporting and document verification until August 10.The second round of allotment will be declared on August 12, with candidates required to complete reporting by August 14. Physical reporting at allotted institutes will take place between August 13 and August 18.Students are advised to check the official CSAB portal regularly, complete registration before the deadline and carefully fill in their preferred choices to improve their chances of securing a seat.- EndsPublished By: Princy ShuklaPublished On: Jul 31, 2026 11:57 IST