UP AYUSH Counselling 2026 Choice Filling is one of the most important stages of the admission process for candidates seeking BAMS, BUMS and BHMS seats in Uttar Pradesh. After completing registration, paying the applicable security deposit and meeting the required counselling conditions, candidates must carefully select and arrange their preferred colleges and courses before the choice-locking deadline.
The choices available to a candidate depend on the security deposit paid during registration. UP domicile candidates opting for the government-college deposit can select government AYUSH colleges, while candidates who pay the higher deposit can choose from both government and private colleges. Candidates from other states can generally select private-sector AYUSH colleges.
The order of preference is important because seat allotment considers the candidate’s locked choices along with their merit rank, category and seat availability. Candidates should therefore place their genuinely preferred college and course at the top rather than simply arranging choices based on perceived safety. Choice locking is also compulsory; once choices are locked using the required password and OTP confirmation, they cannot be modified for that counselling round.
In this article, we will explain UP AYUSH Counselling 2026 Choice Filling in detail, including the colleges and courses available based on the security deposit, step-by-step choice filling and locking process, importance of preference order, choice filling for seat upgradation, common mistakes and important security precautions candidates should follow while submitting their choices.
What Decides the Choices Shown to a Candidate
The colleges a candidate can choose from during UP AYUSH Counselling 2026 choice filling depend directly on the security deposit paid at registration.
- Candidates who paid the deposit applicable to government colleges only, as UP domicile candidates, can choose only government sector AYUSH colleges.
- Candidates who paid the higher deposit applicable to both government and private colleges, as UP domicile candidates, can choose from government and private sector AYUSH colleges together.
- Eligible candidates from other states who paid the higher deposit can choose only private sector AYUSH colleges.
This is why deciding the security deposit amount correctly at the time of registration matters, since it cannot easily be changed once choice filling has started.
UP AYUSH Counselling 2026 Choice Filling: Step by Step
- Log in to the counselling portal using the registered ID and password created at the time of registration.
- Select a course, such as BAMS, BUMS or BHMS, to view the list of colleges available under that course for the candidate’s category and deposit type.
- Choose colleges one at a time in the order of preference. The college picked first is automatically placed at the top of the list, followed by the next selections in the order they are chosen.
- Click Save and Continue to add choices for another course as well, if the candidate wants to keep options open across BAMS, BUMS and BHMS.
- Use the up and down arrows shown against each choice to rearrange the preference order before final submission, in case the candidate wants to change the sequence.
- Click Choice Lock once satisfied with the list. The portal displays all selected choices along with an Agree or Later option.
- On choosing Agree, enter the account password again, followed by the OTP sent to the registered mobile number, to complete the locking process.
- Once locked, the choices for that round cannot be changed under any circumstance.
Choice Locking Is Compulsory
A candidate who completes choice filling but does not lock the choices is treated as not wanting to take part further in that round of UP AYUSH Counselling 2026. No seat is allotted to such a candidate, even if they had filled a long list of preferences. This is why choice locking, done through the password and OTP confirmation, should never be left for the last minute before the deadline.
Choice Filling for Seat Upgradation
Candidates who are already admitted through an earlier round can use choice filling again in a later round if they want to try for a better college or course. While doing this, the candidate should not select their currently allotted seat as one of the fresh choices.
If a new seat is allotted through this fresh choice filling, the earlier seat is automatically cancelled and the candidate must accept the new one. If no new seat comes through, the earlier seat continues as it is, with no loss to the candidate.
Common Mistakes During Choice Filling
- Filling only one or two choices instead of a wider list, which reduces the chances of getting any seat if the top choices are not available.
- Placing colleges in a “safe first” order instead of genuine preference order, which can result in a lower-preferred seat even when a better one was actually possible.
- Forgetting to lock choices before the deadline, which means no allotment at all for that round.
- Selecting the current seat again while filling choices for upgradation, which is not allowed and can create confusion in the result.
- Sharing login details, password or OTP with someone else to fill choices, which puts the candidate’s own registration at risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When does choice filling open in UP AYUSH Counselling 2026?
A. It opens after the security deposit is paid and the candidate’s name is published in the state merit list for that round.
Q. Can a candidate choose both government and private colleges in UP AYUSH Counselling 2026?
A. Only if they paid the higher security deposit applicable to both government and private colleges at the time of registration.
Q. What happens if a candidate does not lock their choices?
A. The candidate is treated as not wanting to take part in that round, and no seat is allotted, even if choices were filled.
Q. Can choices be edited after locking?
A. Once choices are locked with the OTP confirmation, they cannot be changed for that round of UP AYUSH Counselling 2026.