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 Foreign Nationals, Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), Persons of Indian Origin (PIO), and Non-Resident Indians (NRI). The scheme is coordinated by the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur (IIEST Shibpur) on behalf of the Ministry of Education, as per the MoE order dated 25th February 2026.

For the academic year 2026-27, the admission process under the DASA scheme will be coordinated by the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur (IIEST Shibpur). The scheme offers admission to Undergraduate (UG) Engineering/Technology (B.E./B.Tech.), Architecture (B.Arch.), and Planning (B.Plan.) programs in NITs, IIEST, IIITs, SPAs, Other-GFTIs, and a few other Technical Institutes.

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.

For DASA UG 2026: Approximately 15% of total seats in participating institutions are reserved as supernumerary seats for DASA-eligible candidates. Of these, 5% are reserved for Children of Indian Workers in the Gulf (CIWG) candidates. The exact seat matrix for 2026-27 is available on the official website (csab.nic.in).

For DASA PG 2026: The seat matrix for postgraduate programs across all participating institutes is available on the official DASA PG portal (dasanit.org). Candidates are advised to check the seat matrix before filling their choices.

DASA UG 2026 – Important Dates

The official schedule for DASA UG 2026 has been published. The following dates are confirmed:

Note: The official schedule has been published. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official website (csab.nic.in) for any updates.

*Source: DASA UG Brochure v1.2 (02 June 2026), Annexure 3, Pages 43–44

DASA 2026 – Eligibility Criteria

Category Eligibility

Non-Resident Indian (NRI):

• Indian nationals studying abroad.
• Must have completed at least 2 years of education in a foreign country during the last 8 years.
• The 2 years must be inclusive of Class XI and XII or equivalent only (not beyond).
• 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.
• OCI/PIO candidates are eligible regardless of country of study, provided they meet the academic eligibility criteria.

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 30th 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 csab.nic.in and log in using your JEE Main 2026 Application Number and Password.
2. Complete Questionnaire: Once logged in, register for DASA 2026 and answer the online questionnaire on nationality, OCI/PIO status, and CIWG status.
3. Pay DASA Enrolment Fee (DEF): Pay the DEF — comprising a non-refundable registration fee of USD 300 plus first semester tuition fee — through Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, UPI, or e-challan (for INR transactions only).
4. Upload Documents: Scan and upload all required documents in the prescribed format and size limits.
5. Fill and Lock Choices: After successful document verification, fill choices of academic programs in order of preference. Save and lock choices before the deadline.
6. Download Confirmation: Download and print the locked choices printout 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 (Nationals of Nepal without a passport must submit an Authenticated Citizenship Card)
• 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).
• Medical Certificate: From an authorised medical practitioner in the home country or India (as per format in Annexure 10 of the brochure)

Additional Documents for CIWG Candidates:

• Parent’s Passport: Copy of the passport of the parent working in a Gulf country.
• Parents’ valid Visa and Work Permit: With validity on any date in 2026.
• Employer Certificate: Proof that the parent is/was working in a Gulf country in 2026 (as per format in brochure).

DASA 2026 – Fee Structure

Note: The registration fee of USD 300 is non-refundable. Parents living in India or abroad may pay fees in INR at the existing exchange rate in place of USD.

DASA 2026 – Seat Allotment Process

• Merit List Preparation: Seat allotment is based on the JEE Main 2026 Common Rank List (CRL) as provided by the JEE Apex Board, used without any modification.
• Choice Filling and Locking: Candidates log in to csab.nic.in, fill their preferred institute-branch combinations after successful document verification, and lock choices before the deadline.
• Mock Allotment: A mock seat allotment is conducted to help candidates understand their chances and revise choices if needed.
• Seat Allotment Rounds: Two rounds of seat allotment are conducted. Candidates are allotted seats based on CRL rank, category, preferences, and seat availability.
• Acceptance and Reporting: Candidates who are allotted seats must exercise their willingness option (Freeze, Float, Slide, Surrender, or Withdraw) during online reporting and physically 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 for children of Indian citizens working or who have worked in a Gulf country till any date in 2026.

CIWG 2026 – Key Features

• Eligible Countries: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, and Iran
• Parental Eligibility: Either parent must be an Indian citizen working or who has worked in a Gulf country till any date in 2026, with valid employment visa and work permit.
• Student Eligibility: Must have completed Class XI and XII entirely in a Gulf country.
• Academic Criteria: Same as DASA — Physics, Mathematics, and one of: Chemistry/Biology/Biotechnology/Computer Science/Technical Vocational Subject; minimum 75% aggregate or 7.5 CGPA out of 10.
• Age Criteria: Born on or after 1st October 2001.
• Fee Benefit: CIWG candidates pay tuition fees significantly lower than general DASA fees. Candidates are advised to check the official website (csab.nic.in) for the exact fee structure.
• Seat Allocation: CIWG seats constitute 5% of total seats (within the 15% DASA supernumerary quota), i.e. one-third of all DASA seats, across all participating institutes.

CIWG 2026 – Additional Documents Required

• Parent’s valid Indian passport.
• Parent’s employment certificate from Gulf country.
• Parent’s valid Visa with validity on any date in 2026 and Parent’s valid Work Permit with validity on any date in 2026
• 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 30 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 is available in the official information brochure on csab.nic.in.

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. (through JEE Main Paper 2B).
• 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. For more details on DASA PG 2026, visit dasanit.org.

DASA 2026 – Cutoff and Rank Trends

DASA cutoffs vary based on:

• Category (DASA Non-SAARC, DASA SAARC, and 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. These are indicative figures based on previous year trends and may vary. Candidates should refer to previous years’ opening and closing ranks published on the official website (csab.nic.in).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is JEE Main mandatory for DASA 2026?
Yes. JEE Main 2026 is compulsory for DASA UG admissions. For PG admissions, GMAT/GRE is accepted.

2. Can OCI/PIO candidates apply under DASA?
Yes. OCI and PIO cardholders are eligible for DASA admissions. However, conditions apply based on the date of issue of the OCI/PIO card. Candidates are advised to refer to the official brochure for details.

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 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.

7. How many times can I attempt DASA?
There is no explicit restriction on attempts, provided the candidate meets all eligibility criteria, including the age limit.

8. Is there any negative marking in DASA seat allotment?
Seat allotment is purely based on JEE Main 2026 Common Rank List (CRL), category, and candidate preferences.

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. Exception: Nationals of Nepal without a passport may submit an Authenticated Citizenship Card.

Important Notes and Disclaimer

• This page is updated for DASA 2026 admissions (Academic Year 2026-27).
• The conducting authority for DASA 2026 is the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur (IIEST Shibpur), as officially notified by the Ministry of Education.
• All dates are as per the officially published schedule. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official website for any updates.
• Candidates are advised to regularly visit the official DASA UG website (https://csab.nic.in) for the latest updates, brochures, and notifications.
• For specific queries, candidates may contact the DASA coordinating institute through the official portal (csab.nic.in).

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.