Out‑of‑State Students Take Seats in Maharashtra Ayurveda Colleges, Sparking Seat‑Blocking Concerns

In the latest private Ayurveda college allotment list released by Maharashtra’s Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell, a shocking number of top-ranked seats have gone to students from outside the state, raising fresh concerns over seat blocking in Ayurveda and the integrity of the admission process.

Background and Context

Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, is gaining rapid popularity among domestic and international aspirants. The Maharashtra Board reserves 85% of private college seats for domicile candidates, with the remaining 15% earmarked for the all-India quota. Until now, seat-blocking—a phenomenon well-documented in engineering and medical streams—has been largely absent from Ayurveda. However, the recent allotment report shows that five of the top ten ranks are claimed by out-of-state students, suggesting that the trend might now be surfacing in the medical humanities domain.

Senior CET officials note that after the first two admission rounds, fresh registration opened for rounds three and four, attracting more than 20,000 applicants across the state. This surge created a fertile ground for manipulation and, as alleged by some stakeholders, for agents to register candidates who had already secured seats elsewhere, thereby clogging the system.

Key Developments

The provisional merit list, released on December 5, 2025, shows prominent examples:

• Mohit Mayank – Rank 2, hailing from Patna, reserved a seat at Siddhakala Ayurved Mahavidyalaya in Sangamner rather than the popular RA Podar College in Mumbai.
• Raj – Rank 3, a candidate from Bihar, chose the same Sangamner institution.
• Himanshu Bansal – Rank 9, from Gurugram (Delhi NCR), also opted for Siddhakala.

According to a senior CET official, these decisions have prompted an internal probe to verify the eligibility and domicile status of the applicants. “We observed that several candidates with high scores from other states already had seats through the all-India quota or in government colleges in their home states,” said the official, stressing the need for stringent document checks before finalizing the merit list.

Parallel concerns emerged in the MBBS admission process earlier this year, where the state found that several documents submitted were falsified. “We are still awaiting comprehensive contact details from the Medical Counselling Committee to take appropriate action,” the official added.

Political pressure followed: Dhananjay Shinde, general secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, sent a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanding a full probe into what he called a “growing malpractice” in the admission process.

Thus, the Maharashtra CET Cell faces mounting scrutiny from students, agents, and political actors alike.

Impact Analysis

For aspirants—including international students looking to pursue a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) in India—these developments carry several implications:

• Reduced Opportunities for Domicile Candidates – With 85% of seats earmarked for Maharashtra residents, out-of-state siters are eroding actual opportunities for local students.
• Increased Competition and Higher Cutoffs – If high-scoring out-of-state candidates are admitted, the merit cutoffs for domicile students may rise, making enrollment even more competitive.
• Uncertainty over Seat Allocation – With a possible audit of documentation, candidates may face delays, cancellations, or re-allocation of seats, adding administrative friction.
• Financial and Legal Risks – A seat that is later voided can impact tuition payments, visa status, and the overall cost of the BAMS program.
• Reputation Risks for Colleges – Private institutions that accept questionable candidates may suffer reputational damage which could affect future enrollment and placement opportunities.

Thus, students planning to enroll in Maharashtra Ayurveda programs should remain vigilant regarding eligibility criteria and potential changes to seat allocations.

Expert Insights & Practical Guidance

Senior admissions analyst Dr. Snehal Patel advises prospective students to verify domicile status through official state documents and confirms that the CET Cell is now requiring an additional biometric verification step for out-of-state applicants.

Key action points for international aspirants:

• Check Eligibility Early – Obtain a state domicile certificate before applying if you intend to consider private Maharashtra schools.
• Scrutinize Offer Letters – Ensure that the offer letter explicitly references the seat’s reservation category and that all associated documentation is verifiable.
• Engage Reputable Agents – Work only with agents licensed by the Maharashtra government; verify their accreditation on the CET website.
• Track Admission Status – Regularly monitor the CET portal and register for updates via the official email notifications.
• Plan for Contingencies – In case a seat is revoked, identify alternate colleges in other states or regions with similar Ayurvedic programs.
• Document Storage – Keep digital copies of all admission documents, including screenshots of the portal, for future reference.

According to Dr. Patel, “Transparency is the only antidote against seat-blocking; the more accessible and auditable the process, the less scope for manipulation.”

Looking Ahead

The Maharashtra government has already announced an amendment to the CET admission protocol aimed at tightening document verification and introducing real-time biometric authentication for all candidates, irrespective of domicile status. If implemented, these measures could curb the misuse of the system and restore faith among stakeholders.

At the same time, the Indian Education Ministry is set to pilot a state-wide digital verification system that cross-references student details with national databases. Experts predict that such a move will significantly reduce discrepancies and make it harder for agents to forge documents.

Meanwhile, private Ayurveda colleges may consider developing their own early-bird counseling mechanisms—such as pre-qualified student drives—to attract legitimate applicants before the CET rounds commence. Industry analysts estimate that by 2026, at least 30% of top-ranked Ayurveda seats across Maharashtra will be secured by domicile candidates, thanks to these reforms.

For international aspirants, staying informed and adopting a proactive approach will be key to navigating the evolving landscape of Ayurveda admissions in India.

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