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DASA Exam: Who is it for? Eligibility & Admission Process

Updated on 14 January, 2024

Pragya Sharma

Pragya Sharma

Sr. Content Editor

Many NRIs or PIOs (Person of Indian Origin) living abroad wish to pursue their higher education in premier Indian institutions. But they often remain confused about the available options. The DASA exam is a lifeline in this regard, helping them study seamlessly at India’s most prestigious institutions. It goes a long way in helping those with a desire to study engineering and technology, among other related fields. 

What is DASA Exam

Here are more details of the DASA entrance exam, which is part of a scheme by the Ministry of Education, Government of India. DASA stands for Direct Admission to Students Abroad. The Indian government has designated Educational Consultants of India Limited (Ed. CIL) as the agency to undertake the scheme. 

The DASA exam allows foreign nationals, NRIs, or PIOs to get direct admissions into NITs (National Institutes of Technology) and other centrally-funded technical institutions (except IITs) and Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh. PG and UG program admissions are coordinated under this scheme. It is administered by the National Institute of Technology Calicut for the 2023-24 period.

Eligibility Criteria for DASA Exam

The DASA 2024-25 details are yet to be announced. However, for DASA exam admission, the general eligibility criteria include the following:

  • Candidates should have passed the senior secondary or equivalent examination (to 12 years of schooling in India). 
  • Candidates should have 60% aggregate marks or 6.75 CGPA on a ten-point scale or equivalent grades in all the qualifying examination subjects. 
  • Indian nationals desiring admission should have studied abroad for at least five years (including the qualifying examination for the XI and XII standards) in the last eight years. 

Admission Process for DASA Exam

Here is a closer look at the DASA admission process:

  • The DASA exam application form has to be filled out online. 
  • The registration should be done by filling out this online form and paying the fee through NEFT/RTGS/e-payment/SWIFT on or before the deadline.
  • Documents should be uploaded through the designated portal. 
  • The account has to be created at www.dasanit.org. Candidates must enter their JEE (Main) application number and date of birth (completing registration through the web link on the email ID registered for the JEE Main). 
  • The application number will be the username. After this, candidates should create accounts and enter their ID and password. 

Applicants should upload their passport-size photographs and scanned signatures per the guidelines along with documents like the passport, proof of date of birth, mark sheets of 10th, 11th,  and 12th or equivalent examination, and a certificate from school authorities per the given format. 

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FAQs

Who is eligible for DASA?

Foreign nationals, NRIs, or PIOs who have passed their qualifying examination (senior secondary or any equivalent) are eligible. They should also have aggregate marks of 60% (minimum) or a CGPA of 6.75 on a 10-point scale or equivalent.

Can Indians apply for DASA?

All foreign nationals studying in any country or Indian nationals studying abroad can apply for the DASA exam if they meet the eligibility criteria.

What is the advantage of DASA?

One of the major benefits of DASA is that foreign nationals or Indians studying abroad can easily apply to reputed institutions. Seats are reserved for DASA students in top institutions, relieving them from following the whole process followed by local students.

Pragya Sharma

Sr. Content Editor

Pragya Sharma is a content developer and marketer with 6.5+ years of experience in the education industry. She started her career as a social media copywriter for NIELIT, Ministry of Electronics & IT, and has now scaled up as a 360-degree content professional well-versed with the intricacies of digital marketing and different forms of content used to drive and hook the target audience. She is also a co-author of 2 stories in an anthology based on the theme- women empowerment.

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Disclaimer

The above tips are the Author's experiences. upGrad does not guarantee scores or admissions.