Pune: Maharashtra students who have completed their undergraduate Ayurveda education in other states have received good news as they are now eligible for admission under the state quota in government, government-aided, and private unaided colleges within Maharashtra.

This significant change allows these students to apply through both the All India and state quotas, enhancing their chances of securing admission.

Traditionally, postgraduate Ayurveda admissions in Maharashtra were divided between the All India and state quotas.

For government and government-aided colleges, 85% of the seats were reserved under the state quota, while in private unaided colleges, 70% of the seats were set aside for Maharashtra residents.

These quotas prioritized local students, with only 15% and 30% of seats, respectively, available to students from other states through the All India quota.

Maharashtra residents who pursued their undergraduate Ayurveda education in other states were previously unable to benefit from these state quota reservations.

They had to compete solely through the All India quota to gain entry into postgraduate courses in Maharashtra. However, the state's Medical Education and Drugs Department has recently announced a decision to rectify this situation by allowing Maharashtra-domiciled students who completed their undergraduate studies outside the state to be eligible for state quota admissions.

This change will be effective from the 2024-25 academic year and has been incorporated into the updated admission rules for postgraduate courses in Ayurveda, Unani, and Homeopathy.

Eligibility Criteria for Admission under the State Quota:

• Candidates who completed their undergraduate Ayurveda degree from a recognized institution outside Maharashtra must provide a Maharashtra domicile certificate.

• Students from Maharashtra who were admitted to BAMS courses in other states through the 15% All India quota must submit a certificate from the dean of their respective Ayurveda college.

• Candidates must have secured at least the 50th percentile in the All India AYUSH Postgraduate Entrance Examination 2024. Differently-abled candidates should have scored no less than the 45th percentile.

• Candidates must comply with the Maharashtra Ayurvedic Practitioners Act, 1961, and have passed the qualifying examination from a college in Maharashtra.