BAMS Admission in India – Complete Guide to Eligibility, Fees, Cutoff, Counselling, Direct & Management Quota Admission

Choosing BAMS Admission in India is one of the smartest career decisions for students who want a medical career, yet also want a more holistic and ancient approach to healing. Ayurveda has exploded in popularity not only across India but across the world, and students today are actively searching for safer, affordable, and career-secure medical pathways. Because of this, BAMS has become one of the most demanded medical courses after NEET.

This guide explains everything about BAMS Admission in India — eligibility, fees, cutoff, counselling process, management/NRI quota, direct admission, documents, career options, job scope, and complete guidance. And because the competition is rising every year, understanding the real process is extremely important.

What Is BAMS? Why It Has Become the Most Demanded Course After NEET

BAMS stands for Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, and it blends ancient Ayurvedic wisdom with modern medical science. Students learn Anatomy, Physiology, Surgery, ENT, Gynecology, Obstetrics, Pathology, Panchakarma, and Ayurvedic Pharmacology together.

This combination makes BAMS extremely valuable, especially in today’s era where people demand natural and side-effect-free treatments.

Major reasons why BAMS is becoming more popular than ever

• Ayurveda is now a global industry worth billions.
• India is the world leader in Ayush healthcare.
• BAMS doctors get government job opportunities.
• Private sector demand has skyrocketed.
• Fees are much lower compared to MBBS Admission in India.
• Students can become Ayurvedic doctor, Panchakarma specialist, Ayurvedic surgeon, Hospital manager, or even open their own Ayurvedic clinic.

Because of this massive career boom, students who earlier struggled with MBBS cutoffs are now actively choosing BAMS instead of taking gap years.

Why Students Prefer BAMS Over Other Medical Courses

Many students choose BAMS because:

➡ It offers a doctor’s degree + natural healing specialization
➡ It has low competition compared to MBBS
➡ It offers stable career opportunities
➡ It allows private clinic setup within 1 year
➡ It offers PG, MD Ayurveda, MSc Yoga, MPH, Pharma Research
➡ It opens doors for Ayurveda practice abroad

In today’s world, where people want less chemicals and more natural healing, Ayurveda is becoming the next big thing. So if you choose BAMS now, you will enter a field that grows every year.

Eligibility for BAMS Admission in India

Even though the course is Ayurveda-based, the eligibility is similar to MBBS Admission guidelines. The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) handles all regulations.

Eligibility criteria

1. You must complete 10+2 with PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology).
2. You must score at least 50% marks in PCB (40% for reserved categories).
3. You must appear for NEET UG, because NEET is compulsory for all medical courses including BAMS.
4. You must be at least 17 years old.
5. There is no upper age limit for BAMS.

BAMS Admission Process in India – Step-by-Step (Simplified)

Even though most students feel BAMS admission is complicated, once you understand each stage, the entire process becomes very easy.

Here’s the simplest breakdown:

Step 1 – Appear for NEET UG Exam

NEET UG is compulsory for all BAMS seats — government, private, deemed, management quota, and NRI quota.

Step 2 – Get Your NEET Scorecard & AIR Rank

Immediately after the NEET results, download:
✔ NEET Scorecard
✔ NEET Rank Letter
✔ NEET Result PDF

Step 3 – Register for State AYUSH Counselling

Every state conducts its own counselling for BAMS seats.

Examples:

• Karnataka AYUSH Counselling
• Maharashtra AYUSH Counselling
• Uttar Pradesh AYUSH Counselling
• Rajasthan AYUSH Counselling
• Haryana AYUSH Counselling
• Tamil Nadu AYUSH Counselling
• Kerala AYUSH Counselling

Additionally, AACCC conducts 15% AIQ counselling.

Step 4 – Choice Filling

You choose your preferred courses and colleges.

Tips:
✔ Always keep high-chance colleges on top
✔ Add mid-level colleges in the center
✔ Keep backup options at the bottom

Step 5 – Round-1 BAMS Seat Allotment

If you get a seat → freeze it.
If you don’t get a seat → move to Round 2.

Step 6 – Round-2 Counselling

Competition reduces significantly in Round 2 because many students leave for MBBS/BDS.

This makes Round-2 the best chance for mid-rankers.

Step 7 – Mop-Up Round for Remaining Seats

This round covers:

• leftover seats
• cancelled seats
• upgraded seats

Many students get admission here.

Step 8 – Stray Vacancy Round (Direct Admission at College Level)

If you still don’t get a seat, don’t worry.

Stray Vacancy Round allows:
✔ Direct Admission
✔ Management Quota Admission
✔ NRI Seat Admission

This is the round where colleges fill vacant BAMS seats.

Types of BAMS Seats Available in India

You can access BAMS seats under the following categories:

1️⃣ Government BAMS Seats

Lowest fees. High competition. Best for high NEET scorers.

2️⃣ Private BAMS Colleges

Moderate fees. State counselling required.

3️⃣ Deemed Universities

High fees. Best infrastructure.

4️⃣ Management Quota BAMS Seats

Available in private colleges during the last rounds.

5️⃣ NRI BAMS Quota

Special seats for NRI/OCI/PIO.

6️⃣ Direct BAMS Admission in Stray Vacancy Round

Filling of leftover seats by the colleges.

BAMS Cutoff in India – NEET Score Required for Admission

Because demand has grown rapidly, cutoffs have increased in both government and private Ayurvedic colleges.

General cutoff trends (approx.)

• Government BAMS colleges: 450–550+ NEET
• Top private colleges: 350–450 NEET
• Mid-range private colleges: 250–350 NEET
• Management quota seats: 150–300 NEET
• NRI quota: No strict cutoff (qualification in NEET is enough)

Cutoff varies state by state, and every year the competition rises because more students choose Ayurveda over repeated MBBS attempts.

BAMS Fees in India – Government, Private, Management & NRI Quota