Medical

NEET MDS (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test MDS)

National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Master of Dental Surgery) — NEET MDS is the statutory single eligibility cum entrance examination conducted by NBEMS for admissions to Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) programs across all government, private, and deemed dental universities in India. It governs admission into disciplines like Orthodontics, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Prosthodontics, and Conservative Dentistry.

Conducting Body
NBEMS
Level & Scope
Postgraduate • National
Mode & Duration
Computer Based (3 Hours)
Exam Timeline
March
National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS)Dates: Announced

Last Verified: 2026-03-01 from official conducting body notifications.

NEET MDS (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test MDS) (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Master of Dental Surgery)) Examination Guide
MedicalPostgraduate

Official Overview & Examination Scope

Purpose, Scope & Academic Impact

NEET MDS is the statutory single eligibility cum entrance examination conducted by NBEMS for admissions to Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) programs across all government, private, and deemed dental universities in India. It governs admission into disciplines like Orthodontics, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Prosthodontics, and Conservative Dentistry.

Eligibility Criteria & Academic Qualifications

BDS degree from a DCI-recognized dental college, provisional or permanent registration with State Dental Council, and completion of mandatory 1-year rotatory dental internship.

Exam Pattern & Test Structure

Total: 960 Marks
Section / PaperQuestionsMarksDuration
Part A: Basic Sciences & Pre-Clinical Dentistry100 Questions400 Marks3 Hours (Integrated)
Part B: Clinical Dental Specialities140 Questions560 Marks3 Hours (Integrated)
Marking Scheme & Negative Marking:

+4 marks for correct answer, -1 mark for incorrect answer. Total 240 questions for 960 marks.

Negative Marking Rule: -1 mark penalty for incorrect responses

Recommended Preparation Roadmap & Strategy

Master Dental Council of India (DCI) BDS curriculum with standard clinical textbooks.
Practice radiographic interpretation and clinical scenario MCQs.
Solve previous 5 years NEET MDS official question sets.

Cutoff Trends & Score Benchmark

MAIDS Delhi Orthodontics and Oral Surgery close within top 50-100 All India Ranks.

Participating Institutes / Career Pathways

Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (MAIDS Delhi)
Faculty of Dental Sciences KGMU Lucknow
Government Dental College (Mumbai)
SDM College of Dental Sciences (Dharwad)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the qualifying percentile for NEET MDS?

The minimum qualifying cutoff is 50th percentile for General category candidates and 40th percentile for SC/ST/OBC candidates.

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