DASA

The Direct Admission of Students Abroad (DASA) scheme is an initiative of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, to provide quality technical education in premier Indian institutions to overseas Indian citizens and foreign nationals. The scheme is coordinated by Educational Consultants of India Limited (Ed. CIL) on behalf of the Ministry of Education.

For the academic year 2026-27, the admission process under the DASA scheme will be coordinated by National Institute of Technology Calicut (NIT Calicut). The scheme offers admission to Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) Engineering, Architecture, and Planning programs in NITs, IIITs, SPAs, IIEST, and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs).

DASA 2026 – Scheme Overview

The DASA scheme was launched in 2001 by the Government of India to provide international students—including Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs), and Foreign Nationals—an opportunity to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate technical education in India’s premier institutions. The scheme promotes Indian higher education globally and builds a diverse community of international students within the Indian education system.

Approximately 15% of total seats in participating institutions are reserved as supernumerary seats for DASA-eligible candidates. The total number of seats available through DASA varies annually; for 2025-26, approximately 4,500+ seats were offered across 59 undergraduate programs. A similar or increased intake is expected for 2026-27.

DASA 2026 – Important Dates (Expected)

The official DASA 2026 schedule will be announced on the official website. Based on previous year trends, the following dates are expected:

Note: Dates are tentative and subject to change. Candidates must regularly check the official DASA website (dasanit.org) for the latest schedule.

DASA 2026 – Eligibility Criteria

Category Eligibility

Non-Resident Indian (NRI):

• Indian nationals studying abroad.
• Must have completed at least 3 years of education in a foreign country during the last 6 years.
• Must have passed Class XI and Class XII (or equivalent) from abroad.

Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) / Person of Indian Origin (PIO):

• Holders of valid OCI or PIO cards.
• Must have studied abroad or in India (specific conditions apply as per brochure).

Foreign Nationals:

• Citizens of countries other than India, holding valid passports issued by their respective governments.

Academic Eligibility

Important: Candidates appearing for Class XII examination in 2026 are eligible to apply, provided their results are declared by the deadline specified in the DASA brochure (typically September 2026).

DASA 2026 – Application Process

The entire application process is conducted online through the official DASA portal. No offline applications are accepted.

Step-by-Step Application Procedure

1. Registration: Visit dasanit.org and complete new registration using a valid email ID, mobile number, and JEE Main 2026 application number.
2. Fill Application Form: Log in with credentials and enter personal details, academic qualifications, category information, and preferred exam centre (if applicable).
3. Select Programs and Institutes: Choose up to the specified number of preferred courses and institutes in order of priority.
4. Upload Documents: Scan and upload all required documents in the prescribed format and size limits.
5. Pay Application Fee: Pay the non-refundable registration fee of USD 300 (or equivalent in INR) through SWIFT, NEFT, RTGS, or online payment gateway.
6. Submit and Print Confirmation: Review all details carefully, submit the application, and take a printout of the confirmation page for future reference.

Only registered and successfully submitted applications will be considered for seat allotment.

DASA 2026 – Documents Required

Candidates must keep the following documents ready in scanned format (PDF, JPG, PNG) before starting the application:

• Valid Passport: Candidate’s passport (first and last page, with validity).
• Parent’s Passport: For NRI/CIWG candidates (proof of Indian citizenship).
• Class X Mark Sheet and Certificate: Proof of date of birth.
• Class XI Mark Sheet: (where applicable).
• Class XII Mark Sheet: Final or provisional mark sheet (if result declared).
• Study Certificate: Proof of studying Class XI and XII outside India (for NRI/CIWG candidates).
• JEE Main 2026 Scorecard: Official scorecard with rank/percentile.
• OCI/PIO Card: If applicable.
• NRI Status Proof: Employment certificate, visa, work permit, or residency proof of parent(s).
• Passport-size Photograph: Recent color photograph (as per specifications).
• Scanned Signature: On white paper with black ink.
• Migration Certificate: From the last attended institution.
• Equivalence Certificate: From Association of Indian Universities (AIU), if Class XII is from a foreign board not recognized as equivalent.
• Financial Support Affidavit: Declaration of ability to pay fees.
• Anti-Ragging Affidavits: As per UGC guidelines (by candidate and parent/guardian).

DASA 2026 – Fee Structure

Note: Exact fee structure for 2026-27 will be published in the official DASA brochure. CIWG candidates pay tuition fees at par with Indian nationals.

DASA 2026 – Seat Allotment Process

1. Merit List Preparation: DASA ranks are prepared based on JEE Main 2026 scores, normalized across sessions and categories.
2. Choice Filling and Locking: Candidates log in to the portal, fill their preferred institute-branch combinations, and lock choices before the deadline.
3. Mock Allotment: A mock seat allotment is conducted to help candidates understand their chances and revise choices if needed.
4. Seat Allotment Rounds: Multiple rounds of seat allotment are conducted. Candidates are allotted seats based on rank, category, preferences, and seat availability.
5. Acceptance and Reporting: Candidates who accept allotted seats must pay the admission fee and report to the allotted institute for document verification and final admission.

CIWG Scheme – Children of Indian Workers in Gulf Countries

The CIWG (Children of Indian Workers in Gulf) scheme is a special sub-category under DASA exclusively for children of Indian citizens working in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

CIWG 2026 – Key Features

• Eligible Countries: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iraq.
• Parental Eligibility: At least one parent must be an Indian citizen employed in a Gulf country with valid employment visa, work permit, and residency proof.
• Student Eligibility: Must have completed Class XI and XII entirely in a Gulf country.
• Academic Criteria: Same as DASA (Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry/Biology/Computer Science; minimum 60% aggregate).
• Age Criteria: Born on or after 1st October 2001.
• Fee Benefit: CIWG candidates pay tuition fees at par with Indian nationals (approximately ₹1.25 lakh per annum), significantly lower than general DASA fees.
• Seat Allocation: Separate CIWG quota seats are available in most DASA-participating institutes.

CIWG 2026 – Additional Documents Required

• Parent’s valid Indian passport.
• Parent’s employment certificate from Gulf country.
• Parent’s valid work visa and residency permit (Iqama/RP).
• Student’s study certificate proving Class XI and XII completed in Gulf country.
• Salary slips or bank statements (if requested).

DASA 2026 – Participating Institutes

The DASA scheme covers the following categories of institutions:

National Institutes of Technology (NITs)

All 31 NITs participate in DASA admissions, including top-ranked institutes such as:

• NIT Tiruchirappalli (Trichy)
• NIT Warangal
• NIT Surathkal
• NIT Calicut
• NIT Rourkela
• NIT Durgapur
• NIT Jaipur
• NIT Allahabad
• NIT Nagpur
• And all other NITs

Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs)

Leading IIITs including:

• IIIT Hyderabad
• IIIT Allahabad
• IIIT Jabalpur
• IIIT Gwalior
• IIIT Kota
• And other IIITs

Schools of Planning and Architecture (SPAs)

• SPA Delhi
• SPA Bhopal
• SPA Vijayawada

Other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs)

• IIEST Shibpur
• Indian Maritime University (select programs)
• Other CFTIs as notified by MoE

Note: The complete and final list of participating institutes and branch-wise seat matrix for DASA 2026 will be published in the official information brochure on dasanit.org.

Programs Offered through DASA 2026

DASA UG 2026 offers admission to a wide range of undergraduate programs, including:

• Core Engineering: Computer Science, Electronics & Communication, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Biotechnology, etc.
• Emerging Technologies: Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Machine Learning, Cyber Security, Internet of Things, Robotics, etc.
• Architecture: B.Arch (through JEE Main Paper 2A).
• Planning: B.Plan.
• Interdisciplinary Programs: As offered by participating institutes.

DASA PG 2026 offers M.Tech., M.Arch., M.Plan., and M.Sc. programs in select institutes. Admission is based on GMAT/GRE scores.

DASA 2026 – Cutoff and Rank Trends

DASA cutoffs vary based on:

• Category (General DASA vs. CIWG).
• Institute popularity and ranking.
• Branch demand (Computer Science and ECE consistently have the highest cutoffs).
• Seat availability in each round.

Based on previous years, a JEE Main percentile of 92-97 is generally considered safe for admission to most NIT branches under DASA. However, cutoffs for top NITs and CS/ECE branches are significantly higher. Candidates should refer to previous years’ opening and closing ranks published on the DASA website for realistic target setting.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is JEE Main mandatory for DASA 2026?
Yes. JEE Main 2026 is compulsory for DASA UG admissions. SAT Subject Tests are no longer accepted. For PG admissions, GMAT/GRE is accepted.

2. Can OCI/PIO candidates apply under DASA?
Yes. OCI and PIO cardholders are fully eligible for DASA admissions.

3. Are IITs included in DASA?
No. IITs do not participate in the DASA scheme. Admission to IITs is through JEE Advanced only.

4. What is the difference between DASA and CIWG?
CIWG is a sub-category under DASA for children of Indian workers in Gulf countries. CIWG candidates pay significantly lower tuition fees (Indian rate) compared to general DASA candidates.

5. Can CIWG candidates also apply for general DASA seats?
Yes. CIWG candidates can opt for both CIWG and Non-CIWG seats. If allotted under CIWG, the fee difference is refunded as per DASA rules.

6. What is the age limit for DASA 2026?
Candidates must be born on or after 1st October 2001. Age relaxation for reserved categories is applicable as per Government norms.

7. How many times can I attempt DASA?
There is no restriction on the number of attempts, provided the candidate meets the age and academic eligibility criteria each year.

8. Is there any negative marking in DASA seat allotment?
No. Seat allotment is purely merit-based. There is no negative marking.

9. Can I change my preferred choices after locking?
No. Once choices are locked, changes are not permitted. However, candidates can modify choices until the lock window is active.

10. What if I do not have a valid passport at the time of application?
A valid passport is mandatory for DASA application. Candidates must ensure their passport is valid and uploaded during registration.

Important Notes and Disclaimer

• This page is updated for DASA 2026 admissions (Academic Year 2026-27).
• The conducting authority for DASA 2026 is NIT Calicut (as per recent trends). Final confirmation will be available in the official brochure.
• All dates are tentative and subject to change as per Ministry of Education and NTA notifications.
• Candidates are advised to regularly visit the official DASA website (https://dasanit.org) for the latest updates, brochures, and notifications.
• For specific queries, candidates may contact the DASA coordinating institute through the official portal.

This page is for informational purposes only. ALLEN Overseas does not guarantee the accuracy of dates and eligibility criteria not yet officially released by the competent authority. Candidates must refer to official notifications for final confirmation.