DASA Admission Dates

DASA 2026: Admission Dates

DASA (Direct Admission of Students Abroad) is an initiative by the Ministry of Education (formerly MHRD), Government of India, to enroll Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs), and foreign nationals into top engineering institutions across India. The scheme is especially beneficial for NRI students living in the USA and Middle East, offering a dedicated admission pathway through JEE Main.

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DASA 2026 Important Dates

The DASA 2026 admission process will open in June and close in July. Three rounds of seat allotment will be held in August, followed by reporting and internal sliding in September. Admissions will be based solely on the JEE Main 2026 All India Rank.

How to Appear

If you are planning to appear for DASA UG 2026–27, you must review the detailed eligibility criteria, including age requirements, academic qualifications, minimum qualifying marks, and your JEE Main score. Yes, JEE Main is mandatory. All DASA candidates, including NRIs in the USA and Middle East, must appear for JEE Main conducted by NTA, just like Indian resident students

Which Institutions Conduct The DASA Exam

DASA is conducted each year by one of the National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), Schools of Planning and Architecture (SPAs), or other premier technical institutions of India. For the DASA 2026 admission cycle, the coordinating institute is National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal, which oversees the complete admission process for NRI/OCI/PIO students, including those living in the USA and Middle East (UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia).

Application Process

The mode of application will remain completely online. The DASA UG 2026 application form is expected to be available from  April 2, 2026 (official confirmation pending). Aspiring NRI/OCI/PIO candidates, including those living in the USA and Middle East (UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia), must register themselves within the stipulated timeline.

The tentative last date for submitting the filled DASA UG 2026–27 application form is  June 5, 2026 (awaiting official brochure update).

The application process will include:

• Filling in all required personal, academic, and eligibility details in the online portal
• Uploading scanned documents (passport, mark sheets, study certificates, JEE Main score, etc.)
• Payment of the registration fee + first-semester tuition fee (as per DASA/CIWG category)
  

If a candidate is not allotted a seat under DASA or chooses to withdraw their admission within the allowed timeframe, the first-semester tuition fee will be refunded as per DASA refund rules.

Important Dates to Note

The DASA UG 2026-27 online application is expected to open on April 2, 2026, with the final submission deadline on June 5, 2026. NRI students in the USA and Middle East must also upload their JEE Main 2026 scores by the same date.

The first round of seat allotment is tentatively scheduled for  June 15, 2026, followed by subsequent rounds based solely on JEE Main All India Rank and the choices filled by candidates. Students not allotted a seat in Round 1 will automatically be considered in Round 2 and Round 3.

Final admission confirmation for all rounds is expected to conclude by  June 30, 2026, and candidates must report to their allotted institutes between  July 25-29, 2026. No individual call letters will be issued, students must follow all instructions and deadlines on the official DASA portal to avoid disqualification.

Participating Instructions

Total of 62 colleges would be participating in DASA 2026-27, out of which a few are listed below:

• National Institute of Technology, Agartala
• Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad
• National Institute of Technology, Arunachal Pradesh
• Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal
• National Institute of Technology, Calicut
• National Institute of Technology, Delhi
• National Institute of Technology, Durgapur
• National Institute of Technology, Goa
• National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur
• Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur
• National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar
• National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur
• National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra
• National Institute of Technology, Manipur
• National Institute of Technology, Mizoram
• Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur

To dig into more details, please visit the DASA 2026-27 guide. 

All DASA/CIWG Participating College List

DASA / CIWG & JEE FAQ 2026–27

Q1: Will DASA Scheme be available in 2026?

Yes. The DASA scheme will continue in 2026 for NRI, OCI, PIO, and foreign national students, including those in the USA and Middle East. Admissions will remain JEE Main–based, with no separate DASA exam or SAT score requirement, as per current guidelines.

Q2: What is the eligibility criteria for NRI, PIO, OCI candidates under DASA / CIWG 2026?

Candidates must complete Class 11 and 12 (or equivalent) outside India, hold valid NRI/OCI/PIO status, and submit a JEE Main 2026 rank. CIWG applicants must prove their parents’ employment in Gulf countries. Other requirements include age limits, documents, and minimum academic criteria.

Q3: Students of which grade are eligible to take JEE Main exam for applying under DASA 2026?

Students currently in Class 12 or those who completed Class 12 in 2024 or 2025 are eligible to appear for JEE Main for DASA 2026. Since DASA admissions are JEE Main–rank based, students should start preparation from Grade 11 for competitive advantage.

Q4: Is ‘JEE Mandatory from DASA 2026 onwards’ a final & official circular?

Yes. Since 2021, JEE Main has been officially mandated for all DASA/CIWG engineering admissions. SAT Subject Tests are permanently discontinued. There has been no reversal, and all 2026 admissions will be strictly based on JEE Main All India Rank.

Q5: Can government withdraw the changes made for DASA 2026?

While policy changes are theoretically possible, no announcement suggests a rollback. Major changes require multi-year notice due to the impact on NRI academic planning. For now, families should assume JEE Main will remain mandatory for all upcoming cycles, including 2026.

Q6: Is there any change in the qualifying exam criteria also for DASA 2026-27?

The core criteria remain unchanged: completion of Class 12 outside India, minimum academic requirements, and a valid JEE Main rank. Any updates for 2026–27 will appear in the official brochure. Students should monitor documentation rules, as they may get minor adjustments.

Q7: How should NRI Students prepare for JEE to apply under DASA / CIWG Scheme for 2026?

NRI students should follow a structured two-year JEE Main plan, focusing on NCERT, PYQs, time-bound tests, and high-level conceptual practice. Many students in the USA and Middle East choose online coaching due to time-zone support, personalized mentoring, and targeted JEE preparation.

Q8: What will be the JEE Rank cutoff for engineering admissions under DASA / CIWG 2026 Scheme?

Cutoffs vary by branch and institute, but top NITs typically close below AIR 10,000 for CSE under DASA and even lower for CIWG. Middle-tier NITs may extend to AIR 25,000–40,000. Final 2026 cutoffs depend on competition and seat availability.

Q9: Do NRI Students need coaching to clear JEE Main for admissions under DASA / CIWG 2026?

Coaching is not mandatory but highly recommended, especially for NRI students studying in US or Middle East curricula. Structured guidance helps bridge syllabus gaps, manage time zones, strengthen fundamentals, and improve rank against India-based competition targeting the same seats.

Q10: Best JEE Online Coaching for JEE Main 2026 for NRI Students:

The best coaching programs offer live classes aligned with US/Middle East time zones, JEE-oriented study material, PYQs, mock tests, and personalized mentoring. Platforms specializing in NRI preparation, like TestprepKart, provide tailored support for DASA/CIWG and JEE Main ranking improvement.

Q11: How to submit JEE Rank on DASA Website for admissions in NITs, CFTIs?

After JEE Main 2026 results, candidates must log in to the DASA portal, upload their JEE Rank Card, and complete document submission. Rank verification, choice filling, and fee payment follow. Ensure accuracy in passport details, name spelling, and eligibility documents to avoid rejection.

Q12: Do USA-based NRI students get any special preference under DASA 2026?

USA-based NRI students do not receive any special reservation under DASA. All applicants-whether from the USA, Middle East, or other countries, compete using the same JEE Main rank. Only CIWG applicants from Gulf countries receive a dedicated reserved quota and reduced fee benefits.

Q13: What documents are required for DASA/CIWG 2026 registration?

Students must upload their passport, Class 10-12 mark sheets, proof of studying Class 11-12 abroad, JEE Main 2026 scorecard, school certificate, and fee payment receipts. CIWG students must additionally submit their parent’s Gulf employment proof. All documents must match the applicant’s passport details.

Q14: Can a CIWG student apply under both CIWG and DASA categories?

Yes. CIWG students can select both categories during registration. They are first considered for CIWG seats; if those fill up, they automatically move to the DASA list. This dual-option strategy increases their chances of securing a seat in preferred branches and institutes.

Q15: What happens if a student misses the DASA 2026 application deadline?

Missed deadlines cannot be extended individually. However, students may still apply during the “Choice Refilling & New Candidate Registration” phase in late August 2026. They can participate from Round 2 or Round 3, depending on remaining seat availability in NITs and IIITs.

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