Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) would no longer be considered as foreign national candidates in a slight change in the admissions process to Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). They will also skip the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main, as previously announced, but this will be a one-time measure for 2023. They will also be included in the common merit list for general category seats during the seat allocation process. Previously, foreign nationals were granted 10% supernumerary seats.
A press statement issued by IIT Guwahati, the organising chairperson of JEE (Advanced) 2023, citing a Supreme Court decision in February 2023 in a case involving OCI/PIO candidates, said, "The effect of the judgement has been considered by the Joint Admission Board (JAB), 2023 in its emergency meeting held on March 06, 2023." As a result, some changes have been made to the JEE (Advanced) 2023 Information Brochure. The eligibility conditions for OCI/PIO candidates will remain the same as previously announced, i.e. they will be eligible to take JEE (Advanced) 2023 without first taking JEE (Main) 2023. This measure will be in effect only until 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.
