JEE Advanced 2023: Overseas citizens, PIO no longer in foreign national category

They will also not take the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main, as per an earlier announcement, but it will only be for 2023

IIT JEE Main advanced 2023 registration for OCI candidates

Earlier, 10 per cent supernumerary seats were declared for foreign nationals. (Representative image)

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In a slight change of process to obtain admissions to Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) would no longer be considered as foreign national candidates. They will also not take the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main, as it was announced earlier, but it will only be a one-time measure for 2023. Additionally, they will be included in the common merit list for the general category seats during the process of seat allocations. Earlier, 10 per cent supernumerary seats were declared for foreign nationals.

Citing a judgement by the Supreme Court in February 2023, in a case related to OCI/PIO candidates, a press statement issued by IIT Guwahati, the organising chairperson of JEE (Advanced) 2023, said, “The effect of the judgment has been considered by the Joint Admission Board (JAB), 2023 in its emergency meeting held on March 06, 2023. Accordingly, certain changes have been made to the Information Brochure for JEE (Advanced) 2023. The eligibility conditions for the OCI/PIO candidates shall remain the same as earlier announced, i.e. they will be eligible to appear directly for JEE (Advanced) 2023 without appearing in JEE (Main) 2023. This measure shall be applicable only for the year 2023.”

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Asked if it meant that JEE (Main) would be mandatory for OCI/PIO candidates from next year to qualify for JEE (Advanced), organising chairman Bishnupada Mandal said, “That is a decision for Joint Admission Board (JAB) to take for next year. Considering that the relaxation was announced before the court judgement and one session of the JEE (Main) is already over, it was decided to continue the relaxation for this year. At the time of seat allocation, however, OCI/PIO candidates will no longer be admitted on 10 percent supernumerary seats for foreign nationals. They will compete with the common merit list of open category.”

The statement issued by his office added, “During the seat allocation process for IITs, the eligible OCI/PIO candidates who qualify in JEE (Advanced) 2023 shall be eligible to compete for the Open category seats in the General (GEN) and GEN-Person with Disability (PwD) categories as applicable. Eligible Female OCI/PIO candidates who qualify in JEE (Advanced) 2023 shall also be entitled to be considered for the Open Female Supernumerary seats in GEN and GEN-PwD categories as applicable.” Accordingly, their registration fee for JEE-Advanced will be on par with the fee-structure of Indian nationals.

As per the revised brochure, all OCI/PIO candidates will be be an addition to, and not as a part of, the 2.5 lakh Indian national candidates who qualify for appearing in JEE (Advanced) 2023 after JEE (Main).

After redefining OCI/PIO candidates as foreign nationals last year, the JAB had taken the decision to exclude them from the JEE-Main.

Pallavi Smart

Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Role: As a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, her designation reflects her seniority, specialized knowledge, and the editorial rigor applied to her reporting. Core Authority & Specialization: Pallavi Smart is the definitive voice for Education news in the region. Her coverage scope is comprehensive: Policy and Regulatory Changes: Reports on major shifts in educational policy, including the restructuring of entrance exams (e.g., MHT-CET adopting the JEE Main model), the draft regulatory framework for coaching classes, and revised teacher recruitment processes. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Provides in-depth reporting on prestigious institutes like IIT Bombay and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), covering institutional initiatives, administrative debates (e.g., renaming IIT Bombay), and student welfare programs (e.g., mandatory mental health courses). Teachers and Eligibility: Covers crucial issues affecting the teaching fraternity, such as the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers and related controversies and application numbers. Student Welfare & Rights: Focuses on issues concerning students, including the rollout of government scholarships, the financial strain on schools due to midday meal reimbursement delays, and instances of child rights violations (e.g., the Powai studio hostage crisis). Admissions and Vacancy: Tracks the outcome of centralized admission processes (e.g., MBBS, BPharm) and analyzes vacancy concerns, providing essential data-driven insights for parents and students. Credentials & Trustworthiness Dedicated Beat: Her consistent focus on the "KG to PG" education beat allows her to develop unparalleled subject matter knowledge, ensuring her reports are accurate, detailed, and contextualized. Proactive Reporting: Her articles frequently break news on policy and institutional planning, providing the public with timely, essential information about a sector that directly impacts millions of families. She tweets @Pallavi_Smart ... Read More