Rising Interest in AYUSH Postgraduate Courses Drives Surge in AIAPGET Participation

Interest in postgraduate education under the AYUSH system has increased significantly, with nearly 50,000 candidates appearing for the All India AYUSH Post Graduate Entrance Test (AIAPGET) in 2026. According to examination data, 49,864 candidates took the entrance test this year, compared with 42,075 in 2025, representing an increase of about 18.5 per cent.

The number of candidates has almost doubled over the past six years. In 2020, around 25,076 students appeared for the examination, while the 2026 figure reached 49,864. Ayurveda continues to attract the largest share of candidates among the four disciplines covered by the examination.

Of the candidates who appeared this year, 35,838 opted for Ayurveda, followed by 10,643 for Homoeopathy, 2,649 for Unani and 734 for Siddha. A total of 27,711 candidates qualified across the four disciplines. Ayurveda recorded 19,920 qualified candidates, while Homoeopathy, Unani and Siddha recorded 5,934, 1,425 and 432 qualifiers respectively.

Experts cited in the report attributed the growing interest to several developments in AYUSH education. The expansion of government and nationally recognised institutions has increased the availability of postgraduate seats. Changes in curricula have also introduced greater emphasis on practical, activity-based and experiential learning, alongside research methodology and statistics.

Financial support for postgraduate research is another factor. Scholarships have been introduced to assist selected students with dissertation-related work, while postgraduate qualifications can open career pathways in clinical practice, teaching, research, government services, hospitals, pharmaceuticals and wellness-related fields.

The expansion of AYUSH institutions and the increasing focus on research and practical training are reshaping postgraduate education in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine.

28-09-2026