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Navigating undergraduate engineering admissions through DASA 2026 (Direct Admission of Students Abroad) and CSAB 2026 Special Rounds requires a clear understanding of eligibility, entry requirements, and seat allotment rules.

Here is an authoritative guide structured around the most critical questions and answers candidates face for both admission channels.

Part 1: DASA 2026 (UG) — Essential Q&A

Q1: Who is eligible to apply under the DASA 2026 scheme?

The DASA scheme is meant for candidates residing outside India. Eligible categories include:

• Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)

• Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs)

• Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs)

• Foreign Nationals

Key Conditions:

• Age Limit: Candidates must be born on or after October 1, 2001.

• Academic Eligibility: Candidates must have completed Class 11 and Class 12 (or equivalent) from a recognized educational board outside India.

• Minimum Marks: A minimum aggregate of 75% marks (or 7.5 CGPA out of 10) in Class 12 with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.

Q2: Is SAT accepted for DASA 2026 admissions?

No. SAT scores are no longer accepted for DASA engineering admissions. Admission is based exclusively on the candidate’s JEE Main 2026 Rank (Paper 1 for B.Tech/B.E. and Paper 2 for B.Arch/B.Planning).

Q3: What is the CIWG scheme under DASA, and who qualifies?

CIWG (Children of Indian Workers in Gulf Countries) is a supernumerary category within the DASA scheme.

• Quota: 1/3rd of seats under the 15% DASA supernumerary quota in NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs are reserved for CIWG candidates.

• Eligibility: Either parent must be an Indian national actively employed in a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, or Iraq). Candidates must have completed Class 11 and 12 abroad.

• Fee Benefit: CIWG candidates pay tuition fees equivalent to domestic Indian students (approx. ₹1,25,000 per year), whereas non-CIWG DASA candidates pay registration and tuition fees in US Dollars.

Q4: What documents are mandatory for DASA 2026 registration?

Candidates must upload scanned copies during online application:

1. Valid Passport of the candidate (and parent’s Indian passport if applying under CIWG).

2. Class 10 Certificate / Birth Certificate (for date of birth verification).

3. Class 11 and Class 12 Marksheets / Study Certificate proving education abroad.

4. Official JEE Main 2026 Scorecard showing CRL rank.

5. Parent’s Gulf Employment Proof, valid Work Visa, and Residence Permit (CIWG applicants only).

Part 2: CSAB Special Rounds 2026 — Essential Q&A

Q1: What are CSAB Special Rounds, and when are they held?

CSAB Special Rounds are conducted by the Central Seat Allocation Board to fill seats remaining vacant in the NIT+ system (NITs, IIITs, IIEST Shibpur, and GFTIs) after the completion of all JoSAA counseling rounds.

Q2: Who is eligible to participate in CSAB Special Rounds 2026?

Participation is open to a broad group of candidates who appeared for JEE Main 2026 and meet the minimum aggregate requirements for the NIT+ system:

• Eligible Candidates:

  • Candidates who did not register for JoSAA rounds.

  • Candidates who registered for JoSAA but were not allotted any seat.

  • Candidates who were allotted seats in JoSAA but withdrew, surrendered, or had their seat canceled due to non-payment/document issues (if resolved).

  • Candidates who accepted a seat in JoSAA and paid the Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF), but want to upgrade to a better choice.

• Ineligible Candidates:

  • Candidates whose JEE Main 2026 ranks are invalid or who do not meet the 75% Class 12 criteria (or top 20 percentile).

Q3: Do I need to register separately for CSAB if I already registered for JoSAA?

Yes. JoSAA registration credentials and choice lists do not transfer automatically to CSAB Special Rounds.

• All candidates must complete fresh registration on the official CSAB portal (csab.nic.in).

• You must submit a fresh list of college-branch choices.

Q4: What happens to a seat retained from JoSAA if I enter CSAB Special Rounds?

If you secured and retained a seat during JoSAA:

• If you get allotted a higher-preference seat in CSAB: Your JoSAA seat is automatically canceled and immediately allocated to another candidate. You cannot reclaim your previous JoSAA seat.

• If no new seat is allotted in CSAB: Your previously retained JoSAA seat remains safe and intact.

Q5: What fee structure applies to CSAB Special Rounds?

Participation requires paying the Special Round Enrolment Fee (SREF):

• Non-JoSAA Allottees / Fresh Entrants: Must pay the full enrollment fee (combining processing charges and institute seat acceptance fees).

• JoSAA Seat Retainers: The fee paid during JoSAA (SAF/PAF) is adjusted against the CSAB enrollment fee, requiring only a nominal processing variance balance if applicable.

DASA UG 2026 vs. CSAB Special Rounds 2026