Updates About DASA / CIWG Scheme

DASA / CIWG Scheme 2026

Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs), and foreign nationals can seek admission to India’s premier technical institutions, excluding IITs, through the Direct Admission of Students Abroad (DASA) scheme, run by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

(Note: The category “Person of Indian Origin (PIO)” has been officially discontinued and merged under OCI, as per current Government of India notifications.)

The DASA admission pathway is especially relevant for NRI students living in the USA and Middle East (UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia). It offers a structured admission route to leading institutes such as NITs, IIITs, SPAs, IIEST, and other CFTIs, based entirely on JEE Main Rank.

A dedicated sub-category within DASA, known as CIWG (Children of Indian Workers in Gulf Countries), provides reserved seats specifically for children of Indian expatriates working in eligible Gulf countries, along with reduced tuition fee benefits. CIWG applicants (from UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia) must provide valid proof of their parent’s Gulf-based employment.

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Countries that fall under CIWG are –

• Bahrain
• Iran
• Iraq
• Kuwait
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Required CIWG Proof Documents (Updated for 2026)

Students applying under the CIWG (Children of Indian Workers in Gulf) category must provide official evidence that at least one parent is employed in an eligible Gulf country. The following documents are typically required during CIWG verification:

Mandatory CIWG Parent Employment Documents:

• Copy of the Parent’s Passport
  (Must clearly show name, nationality, and passport number)
• Valid Gulf Country Visa of the Parent
• Parent’s Work Permit / Employment Residence Permit
• Proof of Parent’s Employment in the Gulf
  Examples:
  
  • Company/Organization employment letter
  • Contract issued on official company letterhead
  • Certificate of employment from HR department

Contract issued on official company letterhead

Key Points to Know:

• CIWG applicants must pay the same initial fee as DASA (Non-SAARC) students if they want the flexibility of applying under both categories during seat selection.
• After paying this initial fee, you will be able to choose institutes and programs under both CIWG and DASA (Non-SAARC) options during choice filling.
• If you secure a seat under CIWG, the fee difference will be refunded as per official refund timelines and policies.
• Unless this initial DASA (Non-SAARC) fee is paid, the system will not allow you to choose seats under the DASA category. You will be restricted only to CIWG options

DASA UG: Participating Institutions & Programs Offered (Updated for 2026)

Under the DASA UG Scheme, eligible NRI/OCI/Foreign National students, including those studying in the USA and Middle East (UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia) can seek admission to premier centrally-funded technical institutions offering undergraduate programs in Engineering, Architecture, and Planning.

As per previous admission cycles, DASA participating institutes include:

• 31 National Institutes of Technology (NITs)
• Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs)
• Schools of Planning and Architecture (SPAs)
• Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), Shibpur
• Other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs)
  

(Institution Counts for 2026)

The exact number of participating institutes for 2026–27 will be confirmed once the official brochure is released.
(The earlier data: “31 NITs, 4 IIITs, 3 SPAs, and 14 CFTIs” must be verified from the official DASA 2026 brochure).

31 National Institute of Technology (31 NITs):

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 Indian Institute of Information Technology (4 IIITs):

3 Schools of Planning & Architecture (3 SPAs):

Other Premier Technical Institutes (14 SPAs):

Top 10 FAQs (Updated for 2026)

Q1. What is the DASA/CIWG Scheme 2026?

DASA/CIWG 2026 allows eligible NRI, OCI and foreign national students, including those in the USA and Gulf, to secure admission in NITs, IIITs, SPAs, IIEST and CFTIs. Admissions are strictly based on JEE Main 2026 All India Rank.

Q2. Is JEE Main mandatory for DASA/CIWG UG admissions in 2026?

Yes. JEE Main 2026 rank is compulsory for all DASA and CIWG applicants. SAT Subject Tests are permanently discontinued, and no separate DASA exam exists. Seat allotment depends entirely on JEE Main AIR and choice filling.

Q3. Who is eligible to apply under the CIWG category?

CIWG applies only to children of Indian workers employed in eligible Gulf countries-UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. Valid parent employment proof such as visa, work permit, and employer letter must be submitted during DASA verification.

Q4. What documents are required for DASA/CIWG registration?

Mandatory documents include passport, DOB proof, Class 10-12 mark sheets, study certificate confirming Class 11-12 abroad, JEE Main 2026 rank card, fee receipt, and CIWG parent employment proof if applying under CIWG.

Q5. Is there an age limit for DASA/CIWG 2026?

No official upper age limit has been mentioned for DASA UG 2026. The old cutoff condition for students born on or after 01 October 1999, is outdated and not included in recent DASA guidelines.

Q6. What is the education eligibility for DASA 2026?

Applicants must have studied Class 11 and 12 (or equivalent) outside India from a recognized board. Physics and Mathematics must be mandatory subjects. Students appearing for Class 12 in 2026 may apply provisionally until results are submitted.

Q7. Which countries fall under CIWG for 2026 admission?

Official CIWG countries include UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. Iran and Iraq are not included as per current guidelines. Only Gulf-employed parent documentation from listed countries qualifies for CIWG reservation.

Q8. What fee applies under DASA and CIWG categories?

For 2026, the expected tuition is USD 4,000 per semester for DASA (Non-SAARC). CIWG students pay the same reduced fee as Indian nationals. A USD 300 non-refundable registration fee applies. Final fee will be confirmed in the brochure.

Q9. How many seats are reserved under CIWG?

One-third of the total DASA supernumerary seats (15% of intake) are reserved exclusively for CIWG students. The remaining two-thirds fall under the standard DASA category. Final seat matrix for 2026 will be published in the official brochure.

Q10. When will DASA 2026 applications open?

DASA UG 2026 registrations are expected to begin in June 2026. Applications, document upload, JEE Main score submission, and fee payment must be completed by July 2026. Allotment rounds usually take place in August, followed by reporting in September.