DASA 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Before applying through the Direct Admission of Students Abroad (DASA) 2026 scheme, candidates must carefully review and ensure they meet all eligibility requirements prescribed by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, and the DASA Coordinating Institute. Failure to meet any of these criteria will result in disqualification at any stage of the admission process.

1. Nationality / Category Eligibility

The DASA 2026 scheme is open to the following categories of candidates:

• Foreign Nationals (FNs): Citizens of countries other than India, holding valid passports issued by their respective governments.
• Overseas Citizens of India (OCI): Holders of valid OCI cards issued under the Citizenship Act, 1955.
• Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs): Holders of valid PIO cards issued by the Government of India.
• Non-Resident Indians (NRIs): Indian citizens residing abroad for employment, business, or education, holding valid NRI status as per the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

Important: Candidates belonging to the above categories must also satisfy the residential and academic eligibility conditions specified below.

2. Age Criteria

Applicants must be born on or after 1st October 2001. The date of birth recorded in the Class X certificate, Secondary Education Board records, or any valid government-issued certificate (Passport, Aadhaar, etc.) will be considered final. No subsequent requests for age relaxation will be entertained.

3. Academic Eligibility

To be eligible for admission under DASA 2026, candidates must fulfill both the entrance examination requirement and the qualifying examination requirement.

3.1 Entrance Examination Requirement

Candidates must hold a valid JEE (Main) 2026 rank in the relevant paper:

• B.E. / B.Tech. programs: Valid JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech.) rank.
• B.Arch. program: Valid JEE Main 2026 Paper 2A (B.Arch.) rank.
• B.Plan. program: Valid JEE Main 2026 Paper 2B (B.Plan.) rank.

Note: SAT subject scores are no longer accepted for DASA admissions. JEE Main 2026 is the sole entrance examination for DASA UG 2026.

3.2 Qualifying Examination Requirement

Candidates must have completed Class XII (10+2) or equivalent from a recognized education system accepted by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). Candidates currently appearing for Class XII in the academic year 2025–26 are eligible to apply, provided their final results are declared by the deadline specified in the DASA 2026 brochure (typically 30th September 2026).

3.3 Subject and Marks Requirements – Program Wise

For B.E. / B.Tech. Programs:

• Mandatory Subjects: Candidates must have passed Class XII with the following three subjects:
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • One of: Chemistry / Biotechnology / Computer Science / Biology
• Minimum Aggregate Marks: Candidates must have secured at least 75% aggregate marks or equivalent CGPA of 7.5 out of 10 in the qualifying examination.
• Relaxation: 5% relaxation (70% aggregate or 7.0 CGPA) for SC/ST candidates.

For B.Arch. (Bachelor of Architecture) Program:

• Eligibility Path 1 (10+2): Passed 10+2 examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
• Eligibility Path 2 (10+3 Diploma): Passed 10+3 Diploma examination with Mathematics as a compulsory subject.
• Minimum Aggregate Marks: At least 75% aggregate marks or equivalent CGPA of 7.5 out of 10 in the qualifying examination.
• Relaxation: 5% relaxation (70% aggregate or 7.0 CGPA) for SC/ST candidates.
• Additional Requirement: Valid JEE Main 2026 Paper 2A (B.Arch.) rank is mandatory.

For B.Plan. (Bachelor of Planning) Program:

• Mandatory Subject: Candidates must have passed Class XII with Mathematics as a compulsory subject.
• Minimum Aggregate Marks: At least 75% aggregate marks or equivalent CGPA of 7.5 out of 10 in the qualifying examination.
• Relaxation: 5% relaxation (70% aggregate or 7.0 CGPA) for SC/ST candidates.
• Additional Requirement: Valid JEE Main 2026 Paper 2B (B.Plan.) rank is mandatory.

Important Note: The academic eligibility criteria (subjects and minimum marks) are in addition to the requirement of a valid JEE Main 2026 rank. Both conditions must be satisfied simultaneously.

4. Residential Requirement for Indian Nationals Studying Abroad

Indian nationals (including NRI candidates) must fulfill the following residential and study conditions to be eligible under DASA 2026:

• Foreign Nationals: No residential restrictions. Eligible to apply from any country (including India).
• OCI / PIO Cardholders: No residential restrictions. Eligible to apply irrespective of where they have studied.
• NRI / Indian Nationals studying abroad: Must have:
  • Studied abroad for a minimum period of two years during the last eight years immediately preceding the year of admission.
  • The two-year study period must include Class XI and Class XII (or equivalent).
  • The qualifying examination (Class XII or equivalent) must have been passed from abroad.
  • Study period beyond Class XII (e.g., gap years, foundation courses) is not counted toward the two-year requirement.

Verification: Candidates must upload study certificates from the institutions attended abroad, clearly indicating the period of study. In case of any discrepancy, the DASA Coordinating Institute reserves the right to reject the application.

5. Additional Eligibility Conditions

• Equivalence Certificate: Candidates who have passed Class XII from a foreign board not automatically recognized as equivalent to Indian 10+2 must obtain an equivalence certificate from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and upload it during application.
• Medical Fitness: Candidates selected for admission must submit a medical fitness certificate from a registered medical practitioner at the time of reporting to the allotted institute.
• Anti-Ragging Affidavits: Both the candidate and parent/guardian must submit anti-ragging affidavits as per UGC regulations at the time of admission.

6. Summary Table – DASA 2026 Eligibility at a Glance

7. Important Notes and Disclaimers

• This eligibility criteria page is updated for DASA 2026 admissions (Academic Year 2026–27).
• The coordinating institute for DASA 2026 is expected to be NIT Calicut, subject to final confirmation by the Ministry of Education.
• All eligibility conditions are subject to change as per the official DASA 2026 Information Brochure, which will be published on the official website: https://dasanit.org.
• Candidates are advised to regularly visit the official DASA website for the latest updates, corrigenda, and announcements.
• For specific queries related to eligibility, candidates may contact the DASA Coordinating Institute through the official portal after the release of the brochure.

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