If you're a BAMS graduate anywhere in India preparing for AIAPGET, you've probably seen the number 2,274 floating around, the total AYUSH postgraduate seats available through counselling this year. But that number covers four different systems of medicine, and it raises an obvious question for anyone eyeing the south: exactly how many Ayurveda PG seats in Kerala are actually up for grabs, and how much of that 2,274 figure can Kerala really claim?
This guide breaks down the numbers so PAN-India aspirants, not just Keralites, understand where they stand and walk through exactly how Kerala Ayurveda PG counselling fits into the national picture.
The 2,274 figure is the total number of postgraduate AYUSH seats notified for the current admission cycle, spread across roughly 250 participating institutions nationwide. It's important to understand this isn't an Ayurveda-only number; it's the combined seat count across all four AYUSH disciplines: Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Unani, and Siddha, covering MD, MS, and PG Diploma programmes. Ayurveda typically accounts for the largest single chunk of this pool since it has the most colleges and the widest speciality spread, but the 2,274 seats you keep hearing about should never be read as "2,274 Ayurveda PG seats"; that's a common misconception among aspirants comparing states.
So, when someone asks how many Ayurveda PG seats in Kerala exist out of the 2,274, the honest answer starts with a clarification: Kerala's share needs to be measured against the Ayurveda-specific portion of that all-India pool, not the combined 2,274 total.
Kerala runs its own state-level counselling for Ayurveda postgraduate admissions through the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE Kerala), while still relying entirely on the AIAPGET score and rank for eligibility, which is exactly why AIAPGET Kerala results are watched so closely by aspirants across the country every year. Based on the most recent official prospectus released by the state's Ayurveda Medical Education Department, Kerala offers roughly 235–240 Ayurveda PG seats each year, distributed across around 24 recognised colleges, a mix of government-aided and self-financing institutions.
Here's how that breaks down:
Government Ayurveda Colleges (Thiruvananthapuram, Thrippunithura, and Kannur) — the most sought-after, offering roughly 185 seats when combined with aided colleges under the state quota.
Aided institutions like Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varier Ayurveda College, Kottakkal, and Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda College, Ollur.
Self-Financing Ayurveda colleges around 20 institutions including Amrita School of Ayurveda, Pankajakasturi Ayurveda Medical College, MVR Ayurveda Medical College and Sree Narayana Institute of Ayurvedic Studies, together contributing roughly 50–55 additional seats.
Out of this total, the state sets aside 15% of sanctioned Ayurveda PG seats in Kerala colleges for the All India Quota (AIQ), meaning candidates from outside Kerala can also compete for a defined slice of these seats through AACCC counselling, while the remaining seats stay within Kerala's own state-quota system for candidates of Kerala origin.
To put Kerala's Ayurveda PG seats in Kerala colleges in context, at roughly 235–240 seats, Kerala holds one of the largest state-level shares of Ayurveda PG capacity in the country, especially given its relatively small geographic size compared to states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, or Uttar Pradesh. When you account for the fact that AIAPGET's 2,274 seats span four disciplines, Kerala's Ayurveda-specific contribution works out to a meaningful double-digit percentage of the all-India Ayurveda seat pool, making the state one of the top three or four destinations nationally for Ayurveda postgraduation.
This matters for PAN-India candidates because Kerala isn't just a "regional" option. Its Ayurveda PG colleges in Kerala are counted among the oldest and most academically respected in the country. Government Ayurveda College, Thiruvananthapuram, and Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varier Ayurveda College, Kottakkal, are frequently cited among India's premier Ayurveda teaching institutions, with strong clinical exposure and faculty depth built over decades.
If you're comparing Ayurveda PG colleges in Kerala by seat type, here's a simplified picture:
Government seats are naturally the most competitive since Kerala's Ayurveda PG seats in government colleges also come with a monthly stipend for postgraduate scholars, plus significantly lower fees than self-financing institutions. Self-financing Ayurveda PG colleges in Kerala fill both state-quota and All India Quota seats, and are usually the realistic option for candidates who don't crack the top government-college cut-offs.
Because 15% of every college's sanctioned seats go to the All India Quota, a candidate from Delhi, Maharashtra, or Tamil Nadu genuinely has a shot at Ayurveda PG seats in Kerala colleges through AACCC counselling, provided their AIAPGET rank is competitive. Kerala's strength in Panchakarma, Kayachikitsa, and classical Ayurveda pedagogy, rooted in the state's long Ayurveda heritage, makes it an attractive destination even for students who have no family connection to the state.
That said, most of Kerala's Ayurveda PG seats (the remaining 85%) are reserved for candidates of Kerala origin through the state quota, so outstation aspirants should plan their AIAPGET Kerala strategy specifically around AIQ seats and management-quota options in self-financing colleges, rather than assuming open competition across the entire seat matrix. Following the Kerala Ayurveda PG counselling schedule closely is essential here, since AIQ option-registration windows are typically shorter than the state-quota rounds.
Qualify AIAPGET with the minimum required percentile (50th for the general category, 40th for SC/ST/SEBC candidates); this is the single common entrance test that decides AIAPGET Kerala eligibility as well as your national merit standing.
Register with CEE Kerala using your AIAPGET roll number, application ID, and rank once the Kerala Ayurveda PG counselling notification is released. This AIAPGET Kerala registration step is mandatory even if you already hold a national AIAPGET rank.
Upload nativity and category documents — remember, most state-quota Ayurveda PG seats in Kerala require proof of Kerala origin; AIQ and management seats in self-financing colleges are open to non-Keralites.
Participate in the Centralised Allotment Process (CAP), ranking your preferred colleges and specialities.
Report and confirm admission at the allotted institution within the stipulated deadline.
Out of the 2,274 all-India AYUSH PG seats notified through AIAPGET, Kerala's roughly 235–240 Ayurveda PG seats represent one of the strongest state-level concentrations of Ayurveda postgraduate capacity in the country spread across government, aided, and self-financing Ayurveda PG colleges in Kerala. Because exact numbers can shift slightly each year pending final approval from NCISM, the Ministry of AYUSH, and Kerala University of Health Sciences, always cross-check the latest seat matrix on the official CEE Kerala portal before finalising your college-preference list.
Whether you're a Kerala-origin candidate targeting a government seat or a PAN-India aspirant eyeing an All India Quota berth, understanding exactly how Ayurveda PG seats in Kerala fit into the national 2,274 picture is the first step to building a realistic AIAPGET counselling strategy.
Kerala offers roughly 235–240 Ayurveda PG seats across around 24 colleges, including government, aided, and self-financing institutions. The exact figure can shift slightly each year.
No, the 2,274 seats cover all four AYUSH disciplines - Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Unani, and Siddha - across MD, MS, and PG Diploma courses. Ayurveda accounts for a large portion of this total, but not all of it.
Most state-quota seats require proof of Kerala origin. However, 15% of sanctioned seats are set aside as All India Quota (AIQ), which non-Keralites can compete for through AACCC counselling, along with management seats in self-financing colleges.
Candidates need a minimum of the 50th percentile in AIAPGET for the general category, and the 40th percentile for SC/ST/SEBC candidates, as per the Kerala Ayurveda PG counselling eligibility norms.
Government Ayurveda College, Thiruvananthapuram, Government Ayurveda College, Thrippunithura, and Government Ayurveda College, Kannur are the three government institutions offering Ayurveda PG seats in Kerala, together making up the bulk of the state-quota seats.
It's the largest single contributor to Ayurveda PG seats in Kerala, with around 81 seats across various specialties under the state quota, including general, reservation, and service-quota categories.
Yes, self-financing Ayurveda PG colleges in Kerala such as Amrita School of Ayurveda, MVR Ayurveda Medical College, and Pankajakasturi Ayurveda Medical College fill both state-quota and All India Quota seats, and are often realistic options for candidates who miss government-college cut-offs.
Once you qualify AIAPGET, register on the CEE Kerala website using your AIAPGET roll number, application ID, and rank, then complete the five-step online application process before participating in the Centralised Allotment Process (CAP).
Yes, candidates admitted to Government or Aided Ayurveda PG colleges in Kerala receive a monthly stipend (currently Rs. 40,000) for all three years of the course, inclusive of research/book allowance.
The most accurate, up-to-date seat matrix for Ayurveda PG seats in Kerala is published each year on the official CEE Kerala website (cee.kerala.gov.in), along with the prospectus, category lists, and allotment schedules.
