NRI Quota in Engineering Colleges in India

NRI Quota in Engineering Colleges in India

Yes! You have landed at the right page. There are so many top institutes including NITs, CFTIs, SPA.. & other governments / private engineering colleges accept NRI students under the DASA CIWG quota. First we should understand what is NRI quota. 

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What is NRI Quota?

The supernumerary quota which is allotted by the Institutes of India for the Non-Resident Indians is known as NRI quota. In few particular schemes (of such Quota), the Persons of Indian Origin (PIO), & Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) can also apply.

NRI Quota in Private  Colleges

Such Institutes may take admissions of NRI Students under either management quota or NRI Quota. In both such cases, fees for the entire course is higher than the general students' fees. Hence, NRI Students end up paying a much higher amount than what the general candidates pay.

 

NRI Quota in Government Colleges

For a few reputed government/centrally funded Institutes, the government itself has laid down strict schemes to provide reservation/quota to the NRI Students. One such scheme is the DASA Scheme & its subset which is the CIWG Scheme.

Under these 2 schemes, the NRI / PIO / OCI & even foreign candidates can take admissions in renowned Technical Institutes of India including- NITs, IIITs, CFIs & SPAs.

 

Is NRI Quota Applicable to IITs/NITs?

IITs don't provide NRI Quota. The admissions are solely based on JEE Advanced Exam. Speaking of NITs, let me elaborate the NRI Quota in NITs,

 

NITs, IIITs, SPAs & CFTIs

NRI students prefer NITs as their second choice after opting for IITs. Luckily, under the DASA & CIWG Quota, the NRIs/PIO/OCI/FNs can get into NITs and CFTIs (Centrally Funded Technical Institutes) – NITs, IIITs, SPAs, and CFTIs.

DASA, abbreviated for Direct Admission for Students Abroad, is a scheme governed by MHRD, India.

Here’s the list of DASA participating colleges & the seats reserved under both DASA & CIWG schemes:

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Note: It’s to be addressed that the DASA seats in the table are of DASA alone (including 1/3rd of CIWG). These seats are the total available seats in the DASA scheme, whereas CIWG seats are of Gulf Quota alone.

A CIWG candidate who is not able to take admissions under CIWG Quota can also take admissions under DASA Quota. But then he/she will have to pay the course fee according to DASA Scheme.

 

What is CIWG Scheme?

CIWG stands for Children of Indian Workers in Gulf and it’s the subset of DASA. That is, 1/3rd of seats from DASA are reserved for Gulf Quota/CIWG scheme; i.e. 5% of total seats in a college.

CIWG scheme is applicable for the students that are residing in the below-mentioned Gulf countries:

• Iran

• Iraq

• Kuwait

• Oman

• Qatar

• Saudi Arabia

• United Arab Emirates

 

Pros & Cons of DASA / CIWG

Under each of the above mentioned participating colleges, 15% of the seats are reserved for NRIs/PIOs/OCIs & FN candidates taking admissions under DASA Quota.

Economical

The best thing for NRIs from above mentioned Middle Eastern countries is that they can apply under the CIWG Scheme (Children of Indian Worker in Gulf) under which 5% of seats are reserved for them (i.e. 1/3rd of DASA seats). Also, CIWG candidates have to pay much fewer fees compared to non-Gulf NRIs applying under the DASA Quota. CIWG Applicants will need to pay INR 6 lakhs to complete their entire UG Course. On the other hand, a DASA candidate pays INR 22 lakhs for the same UG Course.

Competition

Competition for the CIWG scheme is immense. So, you have to work pretty hard to get admission in these prestigious engineering colleges.

 

Admission Process under DASA / CIWG Scheme

JEE Main Score: From session 2025-26, DASA scheme will take admissions on the basis of JEE Main Scores before the registration deadline of DASA.  If you fail to submit the JEE Main scores in time, you won’t be able to attend the first 3 rounds of counselling for admissions. That is, you’ll miss an opportunity to onboard your prospective colleges.

JEE Main Rank: From session 2025-26 onwards, JEE Main Rank is mandatory for DASA / CIWG instead of SAT Test Scores.

Familiarity with DASA colleges and registration isn’t adequate; you should also be familiar with DASA fees, Programs under DASA, Admission Dates, Seat Allotment, Cutoff.

In order to know more about DASA, check the DASA scheme here.

 

Indian Institute of Technology’s (IITs)

Let’s talk about IITs to check which JEE Exams do International students need to take in order to onboard the IITs for UG Courses in Engineering.

NRI, PIO, & OCI Students must firstly appear for JEE Mains. If they qualify Mains, then only those students can appear for JEE Advanced. Only those who qualify JEE Advanced can take admissions in IITs of their choice.

For Foreign Candidates, they dont need to take JEE Mains. They can directly appear for JEE Advanced. Only those who qualify JEE Advanced can take admissions in IITs.

There is no any quota encouraged in IITs. Hence, NRI Students can't find any reserved percentage of seats.

 

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Mathematics in Physics	Solutions	SET Theory
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FAQ

Question 1. What is the NRI Quota in Engineering Colleges in India? 

Answer: The NRI Quota in Engineering Colleges reserves a certain percentage of seats for Non-Resident Indian (NRI) or foreign national candidates seeking admission to engineering courses in Indian colleges.

Question 2. How are seats allocated under the NRI Quota in Engineering Colleges?

Answer: Engineering colleges allocate seats under the NRI Quota based on specific guidelines,

Question 3. What are the eligibility criteria for candidates applying under the NRI Quota?

Answer: Eligibility criteria might include NRI or foreign national status, proof of relationship with an NRI, specific educational qualifications, or other requirements outlined by colleges or universities.

Question 4. Are there additional fees for candidates admitted under the NRI Quota?  

Answer: Candidates admitted under the NRI Quota often have a different fee structure, typically higher than that for regular Indian candidates.

Question 5. Do candidates under the NRI Quota need to appear for entrance exams like JEE Main or state-level engineering entrance tests?

Answer: Requirements may vary among colleges. Some institutes consider scores from entrance exams while others might have separate criteria or direct admissions under the NRI Quota.

Question 6. Are the seats under the NRI Quota limited, and is the competition high for these seats?

Answer:  Seats under the NRI Quota are limited and often attract considerable competition due to a smaller number of available seats.

Question 7. How can candidates apply for admission under the NRI Quota in Engineering Colleges?

Answer: Candidates can typically apply directly to colleges or universities offering engineering courses, following the specific application procedure outlined for NRI or foreign national candidates.

Question 8. Are there scholarships or financial aid available for NRI candidates admitted through the NRI Quota?

Answer: Some colleges or organizations might offer scholarships or financial assistance to deserving NRI candidates, but availability varies among institutions.

Question 9. Can Indian citizens with NRI sponsors apply under the NRI Quota in Engineering Colleges?

Answer:  In some cases, Indian citizens sponsored by NRIs or foreign nationals might be eligible to apply under the NRI Quota, subject to specific criteria set by colleges.

Question 10. Where can candidates find detailed information about the NRI Quota in Engineering Colleges and related admission procedures?

Answer: Detailed information regarding the NRI Quota, eligibility criteria, required documentation, important dates, and procedures is usually available on the official websites of colleges or universities offering engineering courses.