61 Ayurveda colleges lose recognition for 2026-27: check your BAMS college before counselling

If you are planning to study BAMS this year, there is news you cannot afford to miss. The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has withheld recognition from 61 Ayurveda medical colleges across the country for the 2026-27 academic session. That means these colleges cannot take fresh admissions this year, and anyone applying must check the official list before filling choices in counselling.

Madhya Pradesh is hit hardest. Twelve of the 61 colleges are in the state. On top of that, NCISM has withdrawn recognition from one college each in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. The news came through Dr Rakesh Pandey, national spokesperson of the Ayush Medical Association, who said the action followed inspections that found serious problems.

Why NCISM acted against these colleges

The commission found what it calls non-compliance with its prescribed standards. In plain words, the colleges failed to meet the basic conditions needed to teach and train students properly.

The problems listed include refusal to permit inspections, poor inpatient and outpatient department (IPD and OPD) services, too few qualified teaching staff, irregularities involving teaching and non-teaching personnel, and discrepancies in how the colleges and their attached hospitals actually function. In short, many of these colleges looked fine on paper but failed when inspectors checked the ground reality.

Dr Pandey said strict implementation of the prescribed standards is needed to protect the quality of Ayurveda education and healthcare services. He also hoped a final decision on the recognition status of the colleges would come before the government-conducted admission counselling process ends, so students are not left confused mid-way. This matters because education-news updates like this directly affect the choices students make during counselling, much like the NEET-related developments we track every week.

More than 600 Ayurveda colleges in India, 494 recognised

The scale of the problem is worth understanding. According to Dr Pandey, more than 600 Ayurveda medical colleges operate across the country, but only 494 have been granted recognition. The action against the 61 colleges applies specifically to the 2026-27 session.

This is not the first such crackdown this year. Earlier, NCISM reportedly derecognised nine private Ayurvedic colleges offering BAMS courses in Madhya Pradesh and seven in Gujarat for the 2026-27 session. The Gujarat decision put around 620 BAMS seats at risk in that state alone. The pattern is clear: the regulator is checking colleges closely, and colleges that fail inspections are losing permission to admit students.

What BAMS aspirants should do right now

Admission to BAMS courses happens through the central and state counselling rounds for AYUSH courses. If your name is in the merit list, follow these steps before you lock any choice:

• Visit the NCISM official website and check the latest list of recognised Ayurveda colleges for the 2026-27 session.
• While filling choices in counselling, drop any college whose recognition for this session is withheld or withdrawn, even if someone recommends it.
• Do not pay admission fees to any college before confirming its recognition status for 2026-27 in writing.
• If an agent or counsellor pushes a particular college, ask them to show proof of NCISM recognition first. Students who took part in other medical counselling rounds, such as the KEAM second phase allotment for AYUSH and allied courses, should note that recognition issues apply there too.
• Keep checking the official counselling portal of your state, because the final decision on some colleges may come before the counselling process concludes.

“Strict implementation of prescribed standards is essential to maintain the quality of Ayurveda education and healthcare services,” said Dr Rakesh Pandey, national spokesperson, Ayush Medical Association

A seat in a college that loses recognition can create problems that stay with a student for years. Degrees, internships, and registration with the state AYUSH council all depend on the college being recognised. Spending a few minutes to check the official list is the cheapest insurance a student can buy. Changes in how medical admissions are run are also on the table, from the proposal to hold NEET UG in two stages to this NCISM crackdown, so it pays to stay updated through the session.

Sources

The Times of India, Medical Dialogues, and Careers360 reported the NCISM action and the statements of the Ayush Medical Association on October 12-13, 2026.