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CIWG is the acronym for Children of Indian Workers in Gulf. It is a special category under the DASA scheme for eligible NRI students whose parent is working or has worked in an eligible Gulf country.
The DASA CIWG category is meant for eligible students to seek admission in NITs, IIITs, SPAs, IIEST Shibpur, Other-GFTIs and other participating technical institutes in India.
CIWG is a boon for NRI families in Gulf as it provides reserved seats under DASA and lower tuition fee than regular DASA Non-SAARC category.
Use these important DASA and CIWG resources to check eligibility, fee structure, important dates, participating institutes, cutoffs and seat allotment details.
DASA Eligibility DASA Fee Structure DASA Important Dates DASA Seat Allotment Participating Institutes DASA CIWG Cutoff
CIWG Scheme means scheme of Children of Indian Workers in Gulf. As per DASA 2026, eligible NRI students whose parent is working or has worked in an eligible Gulf country can apply under CIWG category for admission in India to engineering, architecture and planning through JEE Main 2026 rank.
| Particular | Details |
| Full Form | Children of Indian Workers in Gulf |
| Admission Route | DASA 2026 |
| Candidate Type | Eligible NRI students |
| Parent Condition | Parent must be working or should have worked in an eligible Gulf country |
| Entrance Exam | JEE Main 2026 |
| Courses | B.Tech, B.Arch, B.Planning and selected integrated programs |
| Participating Institutes | NITs, IIITs, SPAs, IIEST Shibpur, Other-GFTIs and other listed institutes |
| Main Benefits | Reserved CIWG seats and lower tuition fee |
| Official Portal | Visit Official Portal |
CIWG is not a separate entrance examination. This is a category of seat in the DASA counselling process.
Students applying under the CIWG must first meet the DASA eligibility rules. Then they have to prove the parent’s Gulf work connection with valid documents.
The final admission depends on:
| Factor | Why It Matters |
| JEE Main 2026 rank | Decides merit position |
| CIWG eligibility | Confirms whether the student can claim CIWG category |
| Parent Gulf documents | Required for CIWG verification |
| Class 12 eligibility | Required for academic admission |
| Choice filling | Decides institute and branch preference |
| Seat availability | Decides final allotment |
CIWG provides a category benefit, but does not guarantee admission. Students should have a valid JEE Main rank and proper documents.
CIWG has two main advantages for eligible Gulf-based NRI students.
| Advantage | How It Helps |
| Reserved seats | One-third of DASA seats are reserved for CIWG candidates |
| Lower fee | CIWG tuition fee is lower than regular DASA Non-SAARC fee |
The benefits can make a big difference to NRI families in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Iraq and Iran.
DASA admission planning requires a clear understanding of important dates, eligibility, JEE Main score, institute options, fee structure, seat matrix and choice filling.
Download the JEE e-book guide to understand preparation strategy, admission planning and counselling support for NRI students.
Participating institutes will have up to 15% supernumerary seats under DASA. 5% of the seats under this DASA quota are reserved for CIWG candidates .
In other words, one-third of the DASA seats are reserved for CIWG.
| Seat Type | Meaning |
| DASA Seats | Supernumerary seats for eligible DASA candidates |
| CIWG Seats | Reserved seats for eligible Children of Indian Workers in Gulf |
| Non-CIWG Seats | DASA seats other than CIWG seats |
If CIWG seats remain vacant, they may be converted to Non-CIWG seats as per DASA rules.
The following Gulf countries are covered under CIWG for DASA 2026:
| S.No. | Gulf Country |
| 1 | United Arab Emirates |
| 2 | Bahrain |
| 3 | Iraq |
| 4 | Iran |
| 5 | Kuwait |
| 6 | Oman |
| 7 | Qatar |
| 8 | Saudi Arabia |
Students should not assume eligibility for the CIWG solely based on living in a Gulf country. The parent work proof is of great importance.
A student can apply under CIWG only if the student meets the eligibility criteria for DASA and CIWG document criteria.
| Eligibility Area | Requirement |
| Candidate category | Mainly eligible NRI students |
| Parent condition | Either parent should be working or should have worked in an eligible Gulf country |
| Entrance exam | Valid JEE Main 2026 rank |
| Academic eligibility | Class 12 or equivalent as per DASA rules |
| Residential eligibility | As per DASA rules for NRI candidates |
| Document verification | CIWG documents must be accepted during verification |
OCI and PIO candidates may be eligible under DASA rules but CIWG category is directly related with NRI candidates whose parent has proof of Gulf work. Students should read the official category rules prior to registering.
DASA CIWG admission is based on the correct JEE Main paper for the chosen course.
| Course | JEE Main Paper Required |
| B.Tech / B.E. | JEE Main Paper 1 |
| B.Arch | JEE Main Paper 2A |
| B.Planning | JEE Main Paper 2B |
| Selected Integrated Programs | As per institute and DASA seat matrix |
B.Tech aspirants need to concentrate on JEE Main Paper 1 Architecture and Planning aspirants should go through the requirements of Paper 2A and Paper 2B thoroughly.
CIWG applicants must upload normal DASA documents plus parent Gulf work documents.
| Document | Purpose |
| Candidate passport | Identity and nationality verification |
| Date of birth proof | Age verification |
| Class 10 marksheet/certificate | Academic support |
| Class 11 marksheet or study certificate | Study proof |
| Class 12 marksheet or equivalent certificate | Academic eligibility |
| JEE Main 2026 scorecard | Rank verification |
| School certificate | Proof of Class 11 and Class 12 education |
| Medical certificate | Required in prescribed format |
| OCI/PIO card | If applicable |
| Parent passport | CIWG parent proof |
| Parent Gulf visa | Shows parent’s Gulf connection |
| Parent work permit | Shows parent’s work status |
| Company/organization certificate | Proof that parent is working or has worked in the Gulf country |
If the documents do not match or are incomplete, the verification of documents may get delayed or your candidature may get affected.
TestPrepKart helps NRI students and parents with CIWG eligibility, JEE Main preparation, document planning, fee understanding, cutoff analysis and DASA choice filling strategy.
The parent’s Gulf work connection is the most important part of CIWG verification.
| Parent Document | What To Check |
| Parent passport | Name and identity should be clear |
| Parent visa | Should show Gulf country connection |
| Parent work permit | Should support work status |
| Company certificate | Should confirm employment or past employment in Gulf country |
Parents should keep these documents ready before DASA registration starts.
Students can apply for CIWG through the official seat allocation portal of DASA and CSAB Special Rounds.
| Step | What To Do |
| Step 1 | Login using JEE Main 2026 application number and password |
| Step 2 | Complete DASA registration |
| Step 3 | Select CIWG status correctly, if eligible |
| Step 4 | Pay applicable DASA Enrolment Fee |
| Step 5 | Upload DASA and CIWG documents |
| Step 6 | Respond to document verification queries, if any |
| Step 7 | Fill and lock institute and branch choices |
| Step 8 | Check seat allotment result |
| Step 9 | Complete reporting and admission formalities |
Application Form Link: Start CIWG Application
DASA is open for the eligible candidates who are NRI, OCI, PIO and Foreign Nationals. However, CIWG category is for only eligible NRI students with a parent having a valid Gulf work connection.
| Candidate Type | DASA Eligibility | CIWG Eligibility |
| NRI | Can apply under DASA if eligibility is satisfied | Can apply under CIWG if parent Gulf work proof is valid |
| OCI | Can apply under DASA as per rules | Must check official category rules |
| PIO | Can apply under DASA as per rules | Must check official category rules |
| Foreign National | Can apply under DASA as per rules | CIWG is generally linked to NRI parent Gulf work proof |
While registering, students are required to choose the correct category, as selection of wrong category may affect document verification and allotment of seats.
There is no separate exam for CIWG. The candidates have to appear for JEE Main 2026 and then have to participate in DASA 2026 counselling.
| Event | Date And Time |
| DASA registration, fee payment, choice filling and document upload start | 28 July 2026, 10:00 AM |
| Mock seat allocation display | 31 July 2026, 10:00 AM |
| Registration, fee payment and document upload end | 3 August 2026, 10:00 AM |
| Last date to respond to DASA document verification queries | 4 August 2026, 9:00 PM |
| Choice filling and locking end | 5 August 2026, 2:00 PM |
| Round 1 seat allotment result | 6 August 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Round 2 seat allotment result | 12 August 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Physical reporting at allotted institute | 13 August to 18 August 2026 |
Students should check the official portal regularly because missing a deadline can affect admission.
Important Dates Link: Check Important Dates
CIWG students pay a lower first-semester tuition fee compared to DASA Non-SAARC candidates.
| Category | Registration Fee | First-Semester Tuition Fee | Initial Payment |
| DASA-CIWG | US$300 | ₹62,500 | US$300 + ₹62,500 |
| DASA Non-SAARC | US$300 | US$4000 | US$4300 |
| DASA SAARC | US$300 | US$2000 | US$2300 |
| DASA-CIWG + Non-CIWG Option | US$300 | US$4000 | US$4300 |
The US$300 registration fee is non-refundable. Tuition fee refund depends on the official DASA refund rules.
Fee Structure Link: View Fee Structure
Eligible CIWG students may also be considered for non CIWG DASA seats.
This is a useful option if a student wishes to maximise chances of admission by keeping both CIWG and Non-CIWG options open.
| Option | Meaning |
| CIWG Only | Candidate is considered only for CIWG seats |
| CIWG + Non-CIWG | Candidate is considered for both CIWG and Non-CIWG seats |
| Fee | Candidate pays the same initial fee as DASA Non-SAARC |
| Refund | If final admission is under CIWG, balance tuition fee is refunded as per rules |
Parents should understand the fee and refund rule before selecting this option.
Get a complete JEE admission guide for USA, UAE and Gulf-based NRI students. Understand eligibility, JEE Main, JEE Advanced, DASA, CIWG, CSAB counselling, documents, fees and college selection strategy.
CIWG seats are available within the DASA participating institute network. Eligible students can apply to the participating institutes and programs as per the official seat matrix.
| Institute Type | Examples |
| NITs | NIT Trichy, NIT Surathkal, NIT Warangal, NIT Calicut, NIT Rourkela and others |
| IIITs | IIIT Allahabad, IIIT Gwalior, IIITDM Jabalpur, IIIT Kancheepuram and others |
| SPAs | SPA Delhi, SPA Bhopal, SPA Vijayawada |
| IIEST | IIEST Shibpur |
| Other-GFTIs | Other participating government funded technical institutes |
| Other Technical Institutes | As listed in official DASA seat matrix |
Participating Institutes Link: Check Participating Institutes
CIWG students can apply for different programs depending on JEE Main paper, eligibility and seat availability.
| Stream Area | Examples |
| Computer Science | CSE, IT, AI, Data Science |
| Electronics | ECE, Electronics, Communication Engineering |
| Core Engineering | Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Chemical |
| Interdisciplinary | Mathematics and Computing, Biotechnology, Materials |
| Architecture | B.Arch |
| Planning | B.Planning |
Computer Science, IT, AI, Data Science and ECE are usually competitive. Students should keep backup branches also.
CIWG seat allotment is done through the DASA seat allocation process.
The allotment depends on:
| Factor | Impact |
| JEE Main rank | Higher rank improves seat chances |
| CIWG verification | Required to claim CIWG seat |
| Choice order | Decides preference of institute and branch |
| Seat availability | Decides final allotment |
| Category | CIWG and Non-CIWG have different seat pools |
| Program eligibility | Student must satisfy course-specific requirements |
Students should fill choices carefully. If a student is eligible for both CIWG and Non-CIWG, both types of seats may appear separately during choice filling.
Seat Allotment Link: Check Seat Allotment
CIWG cutoff shows the opening and closing ranks for CIWG seats in participating institutes.
| Cutoff Type | Meaning |
| Opening Rank | First rank at which a CIWG seat was allotted |
| Closing Rank | Last rank at which a CIWG seat was allotted |
| Round-wise Cutoff | Cutoff movement between seat allotment rounds |
| Branch-wise Cutoff | Competition level for each branch |
| Institute-wise Cutoff | Rank trend for each participating institute |
Students should compare CIWG cutoff with CIWG cutoff only. Comparing CIWG ranks with Non-CIWG ranks can be misleading.
Cutoff Link: Download CIWG Cutoff
Free DASA counselling for NRI, OCI, PIO and Foreign National students seeking admission in NITs, IIITs, SPAs and other premier Indian institutes.
Get guidance on DASA dates, registration, documents, fees, cutoffs and choice filling.
No, SAT Subject Test is not required for DASA UG 2026 admission.
Students aiming for DASA or CIWG admission should prepare for JEE Main 2026. Admission is based on JEE Main rank, DASA eligibility, document verification, choice filling, and availability of seats.
| Old Information | Updated 2026 Information |
| SAT Subject Test for DASA | Not applicable for DASA UG 2026 |
| Separate CIWG exam | No separate CIWG exam |
| Current admission basis | JEE Main 2026 rank |
CIWG admission is through rank basis, so students should work hard for JEE Main.
TestPrepKart is offering online JEE Main Coaching for NRI and Gulf students with live classes, mock tests, doubt support, performance analysis and DASA choice filling guidance.
| Preparation Support | How It Helps |
| Live JEE Main classes | Builds concept clarity |
| Doubt solving | Helps students improve weak topics |
| Mock tests | Builds exam practice |
| Performance analysis | Tracks score improvement |
| Study material | Supports structured preparation |
| DASA guidance | Helps with eligibility, documents and choice filling |
| Gulf-friendly batches | Useful for UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain students |
JEE Main Online Preparation Link: Start JEE Preparation
Students and parents can use DASA and CIWG resources to stay updated with eligibility, dates, documents, fee, cutoff and seat allotment.
| Resource | Link |
| Download DASA / CIWG eBook | Download Free E-Book |
| Watch CIWG Video Guide | Watch CIWG Guide |
| Download DASA / CIWG App | Download DASA App |
| Book Free DASA CIWG Counselling | Book Free Counselling |
| Check DASA 2026 Brochure | Check DASA Brochure |
| Check CIWG Cutoff | Check CIWG Cutoff |
| Mistake | Why It Is Risky |
| Thinking all Gulf residents get CIWG | Parent work proof is required |
| Using old SAT-based information | DASA UG admission is now based on JEE Main |
| Uploading unclear parent documents | CIWG verification may fail |
| Ignoring visa/work permit validity | Document query may be raised |
| Selecting wrong category | Can affect fee and seat allotment |
| Filling only top NIT CSE choices | Reduces admission chances |
| Not checking portal queries | Candidature may be cancelled |
| Missing choice locking deadline | Student may not be considered for allotment |
CIWG is a great opportunity for eligible NRI students from Gulf countries. It has seats reserved for DASA and the tuition fee is lower than for the regular DASA Non-SAARC admission.
But students shouldn't just rely on the CIWG tag. Must have valid JEE Main rank. Correct parent documents. Verified eligibility and smart choice filling.
Parents should check the CIWG eligibility early and keep the documents ready and guide the student to prepare seriously for JEE Main.
TestPrepKart helps NRI students and parents with CIWG eligibility, JEE Main preparation, document planning, fee understanding, cutoff analysis and DASA choice filling strategy.
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