Karnataka AYUSH Counselling 2026: Complete Guide to BAMS, BHMS & BUMS Admissions, RGUHS Seat Matrix, Fees & Cutoffs
Published 17 October 2026 · Updated 17 October 2026
For medical aspirants who missed the fiercely competitive cutoff ranks for Karnataka government and private MBBS seats, the AYUSH stream (Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Unani, and Naturopathy) offers a respected clinical pathway with rewarding career prospects and high return on investment.
Karnataka is widely acknowledged as the epicenter of traditional Indian medicine education. Home to over 65 institutions affiliated with the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) and governed by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM), Karnataka attracts students nationwide.
This comprehensive guide details the KEA AYUSH counselling process, institutional seat quotas, government vs private fee structures, rural service bond guidelines, and opening & closing rank benchmarks.
1. The Core Undergraduate AYUSH Degree Programs
Under Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) combined counselling, admissions are conducted for four distinct undergraduate systems:
| Degree | Full Title | Duration | Core Focus | Qualifying Pathway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAMS | Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery | 5.5 Years (4.5 yr academic + 1 yr internship) | Vedic Ayurveda (Charaka, Sushruta) integrated with modern anatomy, clinical pathology & pharmacology | NEET UG Score |
| BHMS | Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery | 5.5 Years | Classical Homeopathy, Materia Medica, Organon of Medicine & modern clinical diagnosis | NEET UG Score |
| BUMS | Bachelor of Unani Medicine & Surgery | 5.5 Years | Unani-Tibb (Humoral theory), herbal single drugs, and regimental therapies (cupping, leeching) | NEET UG Score + 10th/12th Urdu/Arabic |
| BNYS | Bachelor of Naturopathy & Yogic Sciences | 5.5 Years | Drugless therapeutics: Hydrotherapy, mud therapy, clinical dietetics, acupuncture & yoga | KCET PCB Rank / NEET UG |
2. Seat Categories & Quotas in Karnataka AYUSH Colleges
Unlike all-India central AYUSH counselling conducted by AACCC (which handles 15% AIQ government seats), KEA administers the 85% State Quota along with 100% of seats in private aided and unaided colleges:
- Government Seats in Government Colleges (‘G’ Quota):
- Strictly reserved for Karnataka domicile candidates (Clauses A through O).
- Annual tuition is just ₹25,180 per year at premier institutes like Government Ayurvedic Medical College (GAMC), Bengaluru and Government Ayurveda Medical College, Mysuru.
- Government Quota in Private Colleges (‘G’ Quota):
- Available to Karnataka candidates across GM, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, SC, ST, and HK Region 371(J).
- Regulated annual fees range from ₹78,500/year (in private aided colleges like SDM Hassan/Udupi) to ₹1,45,000/year in private unaided colleges.
- Open Private Quota (‘OPN’ Quota):
- Open to candidates from all across India, irrespective of state domicile.
- Allotted purely on All India NEET UG merit rank. Fees typically range between ₹2,50,000 and ₹3,75,000 per annum.
- Other / Management Quota (‘Q’ Quota):
- Private institutional quota seats with fees between ₹4,00,000 and ₹5,50,000 per annum.
3. Top AYUSH Institutions in Karnataka & Closing Benchmarks
1. Government Ayurvedic Medical College (GAMC), Bengaluru
- Location: Dhanwantari Road, near Victoria Hospital & Majestic.
- Legacy: Established in 1968; boasts an attached 350-bed inpatient hospital treating 650+ daily OPD patients.
- NEET Closing Benchmark (GM): ~528 Marks (AIR ~58,400).
- Annual Tuition: ₹25,180.
2. Government Ayurveda Medical College, Mysuru
- Location: Sayyaji Rao Road, Mysuru.
- Legacy: Renowned heritage institution adjacent to the Government Panchakarma Hospital with advanced medicinal botanical gardens.
- NEET Closing Benchmark (GM): ~515 Marks (AIR ~66,100).
- Annual Tuition: ₹25,180.
3. SDM College of Ayurveda & Hospital, Hassan & Udupi
- Management: Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Educational Society.
- Highlights: Globally acclaimed Panchakarma research centers, high inpatient occupancy, and exceptional training in Ksharasutra management of anorectal disorders.
- NEET Closing Benchmark (GM): ~495–502 Marks (AIR ~74,000–79,800).
- Annual Tuition (Govt Quota): ₹78,500.
4. Government Homeopathic Medical College, Bengaluru
- Location: Dr. Siddaiah Puranik Road, Basaveshwaranagar.
- Highlights: Karnataka’s only government homeopathic college, with high clinical footfall in chronic dermatological, pediatric, and allergic ailments.
- NEET Closing Benchmark (GM): ~462 Marks (AIR ~1,12,000).
- Annual Tuition: ₹20,500.
4. Mandatory Internship & Rural Service Bond Rules
1-Year Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship:
- Every BAMS and BHMS student must complete a 12-month paid rotating internship across general medicine, surgery, obstetrics, community medicine, and hospital emergency care.
- Internship Stipend in Government Institutions: ₹15,000 to ₹20,000 per month (substantially higher than many private medical colleges).
Karnataka Rural Service Bond:
- Under the Karnataka Compulsory Service Training by Candidates Completed Medical Courses Act, candidates admitted under Government Quota seats must execute a legally binding bond undertaking 1 year of compulsory public service in rural PHCs, Community Health Centres (CHCs), or government AYUSH dispensaries.
- Monthly Rural Medical Officer Salary: ₹45,000 to ₹55,000 per month during the bond period.
- Penalty for Non-Compliance: ₹15,00,000 (Rupees Fifteen Lakhs) for BAMS/BHMS graduates.
5. Strategic Tips for KEA AYUSH Option Entry
- Option Entry Timing: KEA usually activates the AYUSH option entry window concurrently with or immediately following NEET UG MBBS/BDS Round 2.
- Seat Retention Across Streams: Candidates holding a BDS seat from Round 1 or Round 2 can list BAMS/BHMS choices higher up in their priority order. If an upgraded AYUSH seat is allotted, the BDS seat automatically relinquishes without penalty.
- Panchakarma Bed Footfall Check: When choosing private BAMS colleges, always prioritize teaching hospitals with minimum 100+ operational hospital beds and daily OPD exceeding 200 patients to ensure sufficient clinical patient exposure.
To simulate your admission probability across all 84 medical, dental, and AYUSH colleges statewide, use the Karnataka NEET College Predictor and calculate net degree financial costs with the 5.5-Yr Medical Fee Calculator.