BAMS admissions 2025; NCISM drops 50% PCB mark requirement in Class 12, but NEET remains mandatory
15-Jul-25 06:10:30
BAMS admissions 2025: Students seeking admission into the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) courses will no longer be required to score a minimum of 50% in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) in Class 12. The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has removed this eligibility criterion starting from the 2025 academic year.
Students can now apply for Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) programs with just a Class 12 pass in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, or Biotechnology, according to new guidelines. However, candidates must still qualify through NEET-UG for admission. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for undergraduate studies remains a mandatory requirement for securing admission to Ayurveda colleges across the country.
Eligibility criteria revised for all categories of candidates
According to a notification issued by NCISM Secretary Sachchidanand Prasad, the earlier eligibility norms had mandated a minimum score of 50% in PCB subjects for general category students and 40% for those from SC, ST, and OBC backgrounds. These percentage-based cut-offs have now been removed for all categories.
The revised rules also officially recognise Biotechnology as a qualifying subject alongside Biology. Candidates from diverse academic streams who have passed Class 12 with any of these subjects will now be eligible for admission, provided they clear NEET-UG.
Rule applicable from 2025 admission cycle onwards
The updated eligibility criteria will apply to admissions beginning from 2025. The BAMS course, which falls under the Ministry of AYUSH, is offered across numerous institutions in India.
More than 22 lakh students appeared for NEET-UG 2025, competing for over 40,000 BAMS seats available in 598 Ayurveda medical colleges across the country. Despite the change in academic eligibility, NEET-UG remains the standardised gateway for all BAMS aspirants.
AYUSH Medical Association supports the move
As reported by the TNN, Rakesh Pandey, National Spokesperson of the AYUSH Medical Association, stated, "Thousands of students will benefit from this decision." He further added that NEET counselling is expected to take place as scheduled and will proceed without disruption, as quoted by the TNN.
The revised policy is expected to broaden access to Ayurveda education by removing rigid academic cut-offs while retaining NEET-UG as the sole screening mechanism for admission. Institutions will continue to follow the NEET-UG merit-based counselling process as per the AYUSH Ministry's regulations.
Source & Credit: Times of India