NEET 2026 Eligibility Criteria for BAMS/BSMS/BUMS/BHMS Admission

NEET 2026 Eligibility Criteria for BAMS/BSMS/BUMS/BHMS Admission: As the landscape of Indian medical education continues to evolve, the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Ayush Admissions Central Counseling Committee (AACCC) have streamlined the entry process for traditional medicine systems. For the academic session 2026, admission to AYUSH courses including Ayurveda (BAMS), Siddha (BSMS), Unani (BUMS), and Homeopathy (BHMS) remains strictly governed by the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

Understanding the fine print of the eligibility requirements is the first step for any aspirant looking to secure a seat in these prestigious medical disciplines.

Mandatory Educational Qualifications for NEET UG 2026

The primary academic gateway for AYUSH courses is the 10+2 higher secondary examination. The NCISM (National Commission for Indian System of Medicine) and NCH (National Commission for Homoeopathy) mandate the following:

• Subject Requirements: Candidates must have passed the qualifying examination (10+2 or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (or Biotechnology) as core subjects.

• English Language: Proficiency and passing marks in English are mandatory for all applicants.

• Minimum Percentage: While the passing of 10+2 is the baseline, candidates generally need to meet aggregate marks in the PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) group—typically 50% for Unreserved and 40% for Reserved categories.

Note: The admission process for these courses shall continue to be conducted through the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) only. No separate entrance exams are valid for AYUSH degree courses.

NEET UG 2026 Age Limit 

NEET 2026 Age Criteria for BAMS/BSMS/BUMS/BHMS Admission is a critical filter in the eligibility process. It ensures that students entering the rigorous medical field possess a certain level of maturity.

• Minimum Age: A candidate must have attained the age of seventeen (17) years on or before the 31st of December of the year of admission.

• For the 2026 Intake: This means the candidate must be born on or before December 31, 2009.

• Upper Age Limit: As per current regulations, there is no maximum age limit for appearing in NEET (UG) or seeking admission to AYUSH courses, following the removal of age restrictions by the National Medical Commission (NMC).

NEET UG 2026 Selection and Counseling Process for BAMS/BSMS/BUMS/BHMS Admission

Meeting the basic eligibility is only the beginning. Admission depends on your performance in the NEET (UG) 2026 exam and your standing in the merit list.

1. Qualifying the NEET Exam

To be eligible for the counseling process, candidates must achieve the minimum qualifying percentile:

• General/EWS: 50th Percentile

• SC/ST/OBC: 40th Percentile

• PwBD: 45th Percentile

2. Counseling Authorities

Once results are declared, seats are divided into two main categories:

• All India Quota (15%): Managed by the AACCC for Government, Government-aided, Deemed Universities, and National Institutes.

• State Quota (85%): Managed by respective state medical authorities for seats within state-run and private institutions.

The path to becoming an AYUSH practitioner in 2026 is clearly defined: academic excellence in science, meeting the age threshold, and a competitive NEET score. Aspirants should ensure all documentation, particularly 10+2 marksheet and age proofs, are ready before the counseling sessions begin.