CENTAC opens special-stray round registration for BAMS 2025

The Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC), Puducherry, has launched a Special Stray Round registration drive to fill 21 vacant BAMS seats for the 2025 academic year. These critical seats are available at the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Ayurveda Medical College (RGAMC), Mahe, under both Government and Management Quotas. This is the absolute final opportunity for NEET UG-qualified candidates to secure admission. Interested aspirants, including fresh applicants, were urged to register online and complete the fee payment strictly by the deadline of November 26, 2025. The initiative aims to utilize every seat and complete the admission process for the AYUSH course promptly.

The Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC), the governing body for admissions in the Union Territory of Puducherry, has initiated a final, critical phase of counselling for the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) course. This Special Stray Round has been announced to address the 21 vacant seats remaining at the highly regarded Rajiv Gandhi Ayurveda Medical College (RGAMC) in Mahe. This move signals the very last opportunity for NEET UG-qualified candidates to secure a seat for the 2025 academic session before the admission window closes permanently.

​The urgency of this notification, released in the last week of November 2025, stems from the need to comply with the regulatory body’s strict cutoff date for completing admissions into undergraduate medical and AYUSH courses. By opening the window for fresh applications and conducting a special round, CENTAC aims to ensure that no seat remains unfilled, thereby maximizing the utilization of educational infrastructure and contributing skilled Ayurvedic practitioners to the healthcare system. Aspirants who missed previous rounds or were unsuccessful in securing a seat now have one final, high-stakes chance.

​ Seat Vacancies and Registration Deadline

​The Special Stray Round has been specifically instituted to fill the residual vacancies at the lone Government-run Ayurveda medical college in the region, which offers immense value to the admitted candidates.

• ​Total Seats Available: A total of 21 vacant seats have been identified at the Rajiv Gandhi Ayurveda Medical College, Mahe.
• ​Quota Breakup: These seats span both the Government Quota (GQ) and the Management Quota (MQ). 
  • ​Initial reports suggest a higher number of vacancies under the Government Quota (e.g., 16 seats) and a smaller number under the Management Quota (e.g., 5 seats). However, candidates must note that unfilled Government Quota seats may be converted into Management Quota seats after the exhaustion of the eligible GQ merit list, following CENTAC rules.
• ​Registration Closure: The registration window for this special round, including the option for fresh applications from eligible NEET UG candidates, closed on November 26, 2025. This strict deadline was imposed to expedite the final allotment and joining process.

​Aspirant Instruction: Only candidates who successfully registered and paid the requisite fees by the deadline are eligible for inclusion in the Special Stray Round merit list and subsequent allotment process. The merit for this round will be determined based on the candidates' NEET UG 2025 score.

 Fee Structure and Admission Process

​Participation in the Special Stray Round often requires the payment of the full tuition fee upfront, a mechanism used by counselling bodies to ensure commitment and reduce the chances of non-joining.

• ​Tuition Fee Payment: Interested candidates who submitted their willingness and course preferences were often required to pay the full tuition fee at the time of registration/preference submission. 
  • ​Government Quota (GQ) Fee: The fee for the BAMS course under GQ is significantly subsidized, generally ranging from ₹18,500 to ₹74,000 per annum, depending on the candidate's category (SC/ST/PwD vs. General/OBC/EWS).
  • ​Management Quota (MQ) Fee: The Management Quota fee is substantially higher, typically around ₹2,35,000 per annum for all categories.
• ​Admission Procedure Flow: 
  • ​Online Registration & Fee Payment: Completed by November 26, 2025.
  • ​Draft Allotment List: CENTAC is expected to publish a Draft Allotment List for the Special Stray Round shortly after the registration deadline.
  • ​Final Allotment and Reporting: Successful candidates will be required to physically report to the Rajiv Gandhi Ayurveda Medical College, Mahe, with all original documents to complete the admission formalities within a very short stipulated time frame.

​RGAMC Details: The Rajiv Gandhi Ayurveda Medical College is a Government of Puducherry institution functioning under the Perunthalaivar Kamaraj Medical College Society (PKMCS), offering the 4.5-year BAMS course followed by a 1-year compulsory internship. Its BAMS course has a total intake capacity of 63 seats.

​Eligibility and The Finality of the Round

​The eligibility for the Special Stray Round is strictly limited to candidates who have qualified for the NEET UG 2025 examination and meet all the minimum academic criteria.

• ​NEET UG Qualification: Only candidates who possess a valid NEET UG 2025 score and have met the qualifying percentile cut-off are eligible to apply.
• ​Eligibility for Fresh Candidates: CENTAC has specifically invited fresh applications, ensuring that any eligible candidate who missed the previous counselling rounds gets a chance. However, the existing merit list of candidates who registered earlier will be prioritized before the fresh applicants are considered.
• ​The Last Chance: This Special Stray Round is the absolute final stage of the BAMS admission process for the 2025 academic session. Seats remaining vacant after the conclusion of this round will not be filled and will lapse for the current year. This underscores the critical importance of participation for eligible aspirants who desire a seat in this prestigious AYUSH college.

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​Conclusion

​The initiation of the CENTAC Special Stray Round for 21 BAMS seats at RGAMC, Mahe, is the decisive action required to conclude the 2025 admissions. With the registration window now closed, the focus shifts to the quick finalization of the merit list and seat allotment. This process provides a final, crucial lifeline for NEET UG-qualified aspirants seeking to embark on an Ayurvedic career. Candidates must now await the allotment results and be prepared to report immediately with their complete set of original documents and fees to secure their seat before the strict academic session deadline.

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