JoSAA vs CSAB Counselling 2025 : JosAA is a Joint Seat Allocation Authority of the Ministry of Education which plays a crucial role after JEE Mains Examination in securing admissions into prestigious technical institutes like IITs, IIITs, NITs and GFTIs. While CSAB counselling is a Central Seat Allocation Board which fills up the vacant engineering seats that are left covered by the Joint Seat Allocation Authority. JoSAA counselling covers all prestigious institutes like IITs, NITs, IIITs and GFTIs, and CSAB handles NITs, IIITs and GFTIs. JoSAA conducts counselling in 6 rounds, and there will be only 2 rounds in the case of CSAB. Only JEE Mains and JEE Advanced qualified candidates can go for counselling in JoSAA. For CSAB, only JEE Mains qualified aspirants can attend the counselling.
Central Seat Allocation Board counselling starts only after the end of Joint Seat Allocation Authority finishes its counselling session. Through CSAB counselling, candidates can’t get admission into IITs. Read the article below to complete details regarding JoSAA vs CSAB counselling.
Aspect | JoSAA | CSAB |
Full Form | Joint Seat Allocation Authority | Central Seat Allocation Board |
Purpose | Centralised counselling for IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs | Special rounds to fill vacant seats in the NIT+ system |
Institutes Covered | IITs, NITs, IIITs, GFTIs | NITs, IIITs, GFTIs (excluding IITs) |
Rounds | 6 rounds | 2 special rounds |
Exams Considered | JEE Main and JEE Advanced | JEE Main only |
Eligibility | Based on qualifying JEE Main/Advanced | Only JEE Main qualified students |
Fee Structure | Seat acceptance fee after allocation | Registration + participation fee (non-refundable if seat allotted) |
Seat Type | Regular round seats | Leftover seats after JoSAA |
Upgradation | Allows float/slide/freeze | Allows upgrade from JoSAA seat |
IIT Participation | Yes | No |
Withdrawal Option | Yes, before the final round | Not available after seat acceptance |
Counselling in JoSAA will be done for the official seats that are available for fill up by the authority based on the guidelines. While CSAB counselling is done to fill the seats left over by the JoSAA. Candidates will get a partial refund of their money within a specific period of time, while CSAB does not refund the paid counselling fees. In JoSAA, students will have more options in selecting seats and in CSAB, candidates will have very less chances, and they have to get it from JoSAAs leftover seats. JoSAA is safer and comfortable compared to CSAB counselling, as there will be more seats in counselling and also a money refund is guaranteed by JoSAA than CSAB.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No, it is not compulsory but candidates have to attend first for JoSAA and then CSAB for counselling.
Yes, Candidates who didn’t participate in JoSAA can participate in CSAB counselling if they pass the JEE Mains Examination.
JoSAA counselling is considered to be safer than CSAB counselling.
No, Money will not be refunded in CSAB counselling.
Candidates who had qualified JEE Mains or JEE Advanced are only eligible for JoSAA counselling.
No, admission into IITs is possible only through JoSAA counselling. CSAB counselling does not cover IITs.
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