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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.”
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.
