4,584 PG Ayurveda seats in 413 Colleges: AYUSH Minister Naik informs Lok Sabha

New Delhi: Through a written reply, the AYUSH Minister Shri Shripad Yesso Naik recently updated the Parliament about the details on Ayurveda course admission process, reduction in NEET percentile, reservation scheme and the number of PG seats in all the Ayurveda colleges across the country.

The queries on the same were raised during the recent question hour at the Lok Sabha by Members- Shri Harish Dwivedi, Dr Kalanidhi Veeraswamy and Shri Omprakash Bhupalsinh Alias Pawan Rajenimbalkar.

According to the information given to the Lok Sabha on the number of Ayurvedic colleges functioning in the country including Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu as well as the number of students pursuing Post-Graduate courses in said colleges in the country, State/ UT-wise; there are a total of 4,584 PG Ayurveda seats in 413 institutes.

The minister had furnished the break-up as follows:

Further, the Dwivedi and Dr Veeraswamy demanded to know the total number of seats under Government/management quota which remained vacant during the last three years; whether the percentage of such seats going vacant has been increasing year by year within the country, if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise including Tamil Nadu and the reasons along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard.

On this question, the Minister stated that the counselling for admission in ayurvedic college was conducted by concerned State Government authorities. At present, no such steps are being taken by the Central Government. As the counselling was under the previous state Govt. the information relating to vacant seats is not available.

It was further asked whether various States had asked the Government to reduce the eligibility for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) to fill vacant seats and the action taken by the Government on it.

Naik replied, "The Ministry in view of representation received from various State Governments/UTs had reduced the NEET percentile criteria for the academic year 2018-19. However, Ministry has not reduced the NEET percentile for the academic year 2019-20 due to availability of approximately 7,97,060 NEET qualified candidates against the approximately 20,685 permitted seats by the Ministry in Ayurveda UG course."

Further, the questions were raised relating to the existence of any special reservation scheme for admission in Ayurvedic Medical Colleges in the country. The minister pointed out that there exist two types of quota seats for admission in Ayurveda Medical Colleges, including All India Quota and State/ UT Quota. Under All India Quota, the reservations are applicable for SC/ST/OBC/PwD and EWS in Central Universities and National Institutes. In respect of State Govt. and State Govt. aided colleges reservation is there for SC/ST/PWD. Under State Quota seats, the reservations are as per the norms of the concerned State Governments.

Further, on the question whether the number of Ayurvedic Medical Colleges in Vidarbha and rest of Maharashtra is higher than in Marathwada region creating difficulties for the students of that area; Naik stated, "NEET Percentile required for eligibility in admission to Ayurveda UG course is 50th Percentile for Unreserved category candidates and 40th percentile for reserved candidates including SC/ST/OBC. In respect of candidate with benchmark disabilities specified under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, the minimum marks required is 45th Percentile for General Category and 40th Percentile for SC/ST/OBC."

The Minister was further asked to answer whether the number of Ayurvedic Medical Colleges in Vidarbha and rest of Maharashtra is higher than in Marathwada region creating difficulties for the students of that area; and if so, the steps likely to be taken by the Government including addressing the issue of reservation ratio of 70 per cent and 30 per cent to help the students of Marathwada region to get admission in Ayurvedic Medical Colleges.

To this, the Minister replied that the Ministry processes the applications that are received from the respective applicants from all over the country and the Ministry has no role in several applications being received from any particular Region or State.