OCI students can sit for JEE: CBSE

Some IITs, NITs admitted students based on JEE tests

The CBSE has clarified on confusion on whether the students with overseas citizens of India (OCI) status are eligible for admissions to centrally funded technical institutions through joint entrance examination (JEE) or not.

While many students with OCI status were barred from taking the JEE-Main conducted for admissions to IITs, NITs and other institutions, the board in reply to questions asked under right to information Act has categorically stated that it never restricted any of these candidates from taking the test.

The board has also stated in response to the RTI application that there was no restriction on the OCI students to submit applications JEE-Main and appear in the nationwide test.
Contrary to its reply sought under the RTI, the information bulletin of the JEE-2016 categorically mentioned that the OCI students were not eligible for admissions to CFTIs through this test.

“The central board of secondary education (CBSE) has not restricted the wards of OCIs/ PIOs from submitting application for JEE Main and appearing for the examination. There was no restriction on the wards of the OCIs/PIOs to submit application for JEE Main and appear in earlier examinations of JEE Main 2013, 2014 and 2015,” the board said.

To a question on whether the OCI students were admitted to NITs and IITs through JEE conducted so far, the board conveniently drew its hands off, maintaining that it’s mandate was limited to holding the entrance test only. 

While the information bulletin of the JEE-Main 2016 categorically mentions that the OCI students are not eligible for admissions to centrally funded technical institutions, the CBSE in response to an RTI application has clarified that it never restricted these candidates from taking the test. “The CBSE does not collect the information regarding the admissions in various institutes,” the board said in its reply.

On the other hand, some of the IITs and NITs say that they have admitted OCI students on the basis of their performance in JEE Main and JEE-Advance. But, these students were admitted under the category of foreign students and levied non-subsidised academic fee.

“The OCI students can take JEE but they will be admitted as foreign students based on their performance in the nationwide test. These students are not treated at par with Indian students. Subsidised education is only available to Indian students. We see passport and admit as per rules,” IIT-Bombay Director Devang K Khakar told Deccan Herald.