Last Updated: 19 february 2026
NEET MDS 2026 Exam Overview
NEET MDS 2026 is the national-level entrance examination for admission to Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) courses across India. The exam is conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) and serves as the single mandatory entrance test for postgraduate dental admissions.
NEET MDS Counselling 2026 – Secure Your PG Dental Seat
Expert guidance for choice filling, seat allotment & admission across India.
If you are planning to pursue MDS in 2026, this detailed guide explains everything — exam overview, eligibility criteria, scope, exam pattern, syllabus, result, cut off, and counselling process.
What is NEET MDS?
NEET MDS (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for MDS) is a computer-based entrance examination for admission to postgraduate dental programs in India.
No state, private college, or university is permitted to conduct a separate entrance examination for MDS admission. Admission is strictly based on NEET MDS merit and centralized counselling.
Scope of NEET MDS 2026
NEET MDS 2026 has a wide scope and covers admissions across multiple categories of seats and institutions in India.
1. 50% All India Quota (AIQ) Seats
NEET MDS is applicable for admission to 50% All India Quota seats in government dental colleges across all states.
- Open to candidates from any state
- Seats allotted through centralized counselling
- Admission purely on merit
These seats provide opportunities to secure admission in top government dental colleges outside your home state.
Confused About NEET MDS Admission?
Avoid mistakes in counselling & secure the right MDS college.
2. State Quota Seats (All States & Union Territories)
NEET MDS 2026 is also mandatory for admission to State Quota seats in all states and union territories.
This includes:
- Government Dental Colleges
- State Private Dental Colleges
- State Universities
Each state conducts its own counselling process, but admission is strictly based on NEET MDS rank. No separate entrance exam is allowed.
3. Private Dental Colleges & Deemed Universities
NEET MDS is compulsory for admission to:
- All Private Dental Colleges
- Deemed Universities
- Private Universities offering MDS programs
Across India, no private institution can conduct a separate entrance test for MDS admission.
All admissions must be based on NEET MDS score and counselling process only.
NEET MDS Admission Assistance 2026
Personalised counselling for Dental PG seat allotment & documentation.
4. Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) Institutions
NEET MDS is the qualifying examination for admission to MDS courses in Armed Forces Medical Services institutions.
Candidates interested in defence dental institutions must qualify NEET MDS and fulfill additional eligibility conditions prescribed by authorities.
5. Screening Exam for Army Dental Corps (Short Service Commission)
NEET MDS serves as the screening examination for Dental Surgeons (BDS & MDS) applying for Short Service Commission in the Army Dental Corps.
Candidates are shortlisted based on NEET MDS performance and then undergo further selection procedures as per defence guidelines.
Institutions Not Covered
For previous admission sessions, certain institutions were excluded from NEET MDS. For example, AIIMS New Delhi was not covered under NEET MDS for the 2024 admission session.
Candidates are advised to check the official information bulletin for the 2026 session for updated details.
NEET MDS 2026 Important Dates (Tentative)
The official schedule will be announced in the information bulletin. Based on previous trends, the expected timeline is:
- Notification Release: January 2026
- Application Form Start: February 2026 (Tentative)
- Last Date to Apply: March 2026 (Tentative)
- Admit Card Release: April 2026 (Tentative)
- NEET MDS 2026 Exam Date: 2nd May 2026 (Tentative)
- Result Declaration: May / June 2026 (Tentative)
- Counselling Begins: June 2026 (Tentative)
Candidates should regularly check the official NBEMS website for confirmed updates.
Candidates should regularly check the official NBEMS website for updates.
NEET MDS 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Before applying, ensure you meet the following requirements:
- Must have a BDS degree from a recognized dental college.
- Must be registered with the Dental Council of India or State Dental Council.
- Completion of 12 months compulsory rotatory internship before the prescribed cutoff date is mandatory.
- There is no upper age limit.
- There is no restriction on the number of attempts.
NEET MDS 2026 Exam Pattern
NEET MDS is conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.
Mode of Examination
Online (Computer-Based Test)
Exam Structure
- Total Questions: 240 Multiple Choice Questions
- Total Marks: 960
- Duration: 3 Hours
- Language: English Only
- Marking Scheme: +4 for each correct answer and −1 for each incorrect answer
The paper includes questions from all subjects studied during BDS, covering pre-clinical, para-clinical, and clinical subjects.
NEET MDS 2026 Syllabus
The syllabus is based on the BDS curriculum approved by DCI.
Major subjects include:
- General Anatomy
- Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Dental Materials
- Oral Pathology & Microbiology
- Oral Medicine & Radiology
- Prosthodontics
- Periodontology
- Orthodontics
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
- Pedodontics
- Public Health Dentistry
- Pharmacology
Strong conceptual understanding, especially in clinical subjects, is essential for a good rank.
NEET MDS 2026 Cut Off (Expected)
NEET MDS Admission Assistance 2026
Personalised counselling for Dental PG seat allotment & documentation.
NEET MDS 2025 CUT OFF
| Category | NEET MDS Cutoff (Percentile) | NEET MDS (Out of 960) |
| General | 50th percentile | 261 |
| SC/ST/OBC (Including PwBD of SC/ST/OBC) | 40th percentile | 227 |
| General (PH) | 45th percentile | 244 |
The qualifying percentile is expected to remain similar to previous years:
- General Category – 50th Percentile
- SC/ST/OBC – 40th Percentile
- PwD (General) – 45th Percentile
The actual cutoff marks vary depending on exam difficulty and number of candidates.
NEET MDS 2026 Result
The result will be declared online on the official NBEMS portal. Candidates can download:
- Scorecard
- Rank Letter
- Category-wise Cut Off
NEET MDS 2026 Counselling Process
After the result declaration, counselling for All India Quota seats is conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and state counselling is conducted separately by respective state authorities.
Counselling generally includes:
- Round 1
- Round 2
- Mop-Up Round
- Stray Vacancy Round
NEET MDS 2026 Preparation Tips
If you want to secure a strong rank, focus on:
- Thorough revision of all BDS subjects
- Solving previous years’ question papers
- Taking full-length mock tests regularly
- Strengthening clinical subjects
- Improving time management and accuracy
Consistency and smart revision strategy play a key role in success.
Dental Colleges in India
State NEET MDS Counselling
| State Counseling Name | Details |
| Uttar Pradesh NEET MDS Counseling | Know about UPNEET MDS Counseling |
| Rajasthan NEET MDS Counseling | Know about Rajasthan NEET MDS Counseling |
| Karnataka NEET MDS Counseling | Know about Karnataka NEET MDS Counseling |
| Himachal NEET MDS Counseling | Know about Himachal NEET MDS Counseling |
| Haryana NEET MDS Counseling | Know about Haryana NEET MDS Counseling |
Important Link for NEET MDS
| Download NEET MDS Important Docs (Counselling Assistance Call 9717232255) |
|---|
| Download Admit Card |
| Download Result/Score Card |
| Official Web Page of NAT BOARD |
NEET MDS 2026 Exam FAQ
Ans: NEET MDS (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Master of Dental Surgery) is a national-level entrance exam for admission into MDS courses across India. It is conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE).
Ans: Yes, qualifying NEET MDS is compulsory for admission to all MDS colleges in India, including government, private, and deemed universities.
Ans: Generally, the qualifying percentile is 50th percentile for General category, 40th percentile for SC/ST/OBC, and 45th percentile for PwD candidates. The cutoff may vary depending on official notifications each year.
Ans: Yes, candidates with a low NEET MDS score may still have chances in private, deemed, or management quota seats. Proper counselling strategy and correct choice filling are important to secure admission.
Ans: NEET MDS counselling includes online registration, choice filling, seat allotment, document verification, and reporting to the allotted college. Counselling is conducted separately for All India Quota, Deemed Universities, and State Quotas.
