Summary
The Direct Admission of Students Abroad (DASA) scheme and NRI quotas provide dedicated pathways for non-residents and foreign students to study engineering in India. For 2026 admissions, DASA at NITs/IIITs/IIEST/SPAs strictly requires a valid JEE Main 2026 score (SAT scores are no longer accepted). The scheme allocates 15% supernumerary seats at approximately 62 participating institutes, with one-third reserved as a CIWG (Children of Indian Workers in Gulf) sub-quota at substantially reduced fees. Private universities including BITS Pilani, VIT, SRM, and Manipal maintain separate NRI admissions with INR-denominated fee structures.
Who Is Eligible — Categories Covered
DASA serves four primary candidate categories for engineering admission to participating Indian institutes:
**NRI (Non-Resident Indian):** Indian citizens who completed their 11th and 12th grade (or equivalent) education outside India in a recognized international board.
**OCI (Overseas Citizen of India):** Foreign citizens of Indian origin holding an OCI card. Following a Supreme Court ruling and Ministry of Education policy update, OCI candidates can also apply through regular JoSAA counselling at resident fees using their JEE Main/Advanced ranks.
**PIO (Person of Indian Origin):** Foreign citizens of Indian origin holding a PIO card. Same recent JoSAA eligibility as OCI applies.
**Foreign Nationals:** Citizens of any country other than India who have completed equivalent secondary education.
**CIWG (Children of Indian Workers in Gulf countries):** A specific sub-category for children of Indian nationals working in Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Requires documentary proof of parental employment in the Gulf. CIWG candidates receive a 1/3 sub-quota within DASA's 15% allocation, with significantly lower fees.
JEE Main 2026 Score Requirement
For DASA 2026, all candidates must have a valid JEE Main 2026 score with rank entered in the DASA application portal. This is a major policy change from the SAT-based DASA system used pre-2021.
Important exception: **BITS Pilani International Student Admission (ISA)** is a separate scheme outside DASA that may still accept SAT scores. BITS ISA candidates apply directly through bits-pilani.ac.in, not through DASA.
For IIT admission, foreign nationals and NRIs must qualify the JEE Advanced examination. **IITs do NOT participate in DASA** — this is a critical clarification often missed in older guides.
15% Supernumerary Seat Allocation
DASA allocates 15% supernumerary seats at approximately 62 participating institutes, including all NITs (31), all IIITs (25), IIEST Shibpur, SPAs (3), and selected GFTIs.
These seats are supernumerary, meaning they are added to the regular intake rather than displacing seats reserved for Indian residents. So a DASA applicant does not compete with regular JoSAA candidates for the same seats.
CIWG Sub-Quota
Within the 15% DASA allocation, exactly one-third (5% of total intake at participating institutes) is reserved for CIWG candidates. CIWG fees are approximately INR 62,500 per semester (~INR 1,25,000 per year) — substantially lower than general DASA fees.
Over a 4-year B.Tech, a CIWG candidate pays approximately INR 5 lakh in tuition, while a general DASA candidate pays roughly USD 32,000–34,000 (approximately INR 27-29 lakh).
Counselling Process — dasanit.org
DASA counselling is conducted online by a coordinating institute (NIT Rourkela for 2025-26). Key steps: online registration with non-refundable fee (~USD 300), choice filling, multiple allotment rounds, seat acceptance, and physical reporting to the allotted institute.
Private College NRI Quotas
Major private universities maintain their own NRI quota admissions, separate from DASA. Approximate fees: VIT ~USD 9,000/year, SRM ~USD 5,000-8,000/year, MIT Manipal ~USD 6,000-10,000/year, BITS Pilani ISA varies. In INR terms, private NRI fees range from INR 5-8 lakh per year.
Action Items for AY 2026-27 NRI/DASA Aspirants
1. Verify JEE Main 2026 registration and appearance — non-negotiable for DASA 2. For CIWG candidates: gather all parental work documents NOW 3. Check dasanit.org daily starting mid-March 2026 for the official 2026 brochure 4. Apply in parallel to private college NRI quotas (VIT, SRM, Manipal, BITS) as backup 5. Apply for OCI/PIO card if needed — processing takes 60-90 days 6. Verify passport validity (at least 6 months remaining) before applying
Authoritative Sources
- DASA Official Portal — dasanit.org - VIT NRI Admissions — vit.ac.in/admissions/international - SRM NRI Admissions — srmist.edu.in/admission/indian-nri - Manipal Institute of Technology — manipal.edu - BITS Pilani ISA — bitsadmission.com