NEET MDS Exam 2026: Exam Dates, Eligibility, Application Form, Exam Pattern, Admit Card, Syllabus, Result, Counselling

Latest Updates

• NEET MDS 2026 Notification will be released officially in February 2026.
• NEET MDS 2026 Registration will be open in Late February 2026.
• NEET MDS 2026 Admit Card will be released on the official website in the last week of April 2026.
• NEET MDS 2026 Exam will be conducted on May 2, 2026.

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET MDS) is the postgraduate dental entrance exam that is administered at the national level by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) to gain admission to the Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) programs in India. The test is administered every year in a computer-based test (CBT) format and has a total of 240 multiple-choice questions, amounting to 960 marks, with an addition of +4 marks to correct answers and -1 mark to incorrect answers. The only qualification test for postgraduate dental seats is NEET MDS, which applies to government, private, deemed, and central universities. The data presented by NBEMS indicates that 30,435 applicants registered for NEET MDS 2025 and approximately 29,220 attended the exam on April 19, 2025, which is an indicator of a large turnout among dental graduates. 

The qualifying cut-off percentiles have been updated in the recent sessions by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare so as to get more seats occupied. As an example, the cut-off percentile of the General category decreased to approximately the 30th percentile (197 marks) of NEET MDS 2025, with other categories also having similar decreases to expand eligibility. There are 329 colleges in India accepting NEET MDS 2026 for admission. Let us understand the NEET MDS 2026 in detail.

The NEET MDS lists are the foundation of the counselling and seat allotment done by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and decide who gets admissions to specialities such as Prosthodontics, Orthodontics, Oral Surgery, and others in the colleges throughout the country. 

NEET MDS: Quick Highlights

Below are the quick details of NEET MDS 2026.

What is NEET MDS? 

NEET MDS (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test in Master of Dental Surgery) is a national-level postgraduate-level entrance exam administered by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) to seek admission to the Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) programs in India. It is conducted annually in a computer-based test (CBT) format and examines the candidates using multiple-choice questions based on the BDS curriculum. The NEET MDS scores of competent candidates are counselled and allocated seats in the government and privately owned dental colleges throughout the country. The test usually has 240 questions and a 3-hour time limit and a +4/-1 marking scheme.

NEET MDS 2026 Application/Registration Process

The NEET MDS 2026 application process begins with login credentials, followed by application details and documentation. Students registering for NEET MDS 2026 can follow the process below.

• Visit the official website- https://natboard.edu.in/viewnbeexam?exam=neetmds  and click on ‘New Registration’.
• Fill in the details such as Name, date of birth, contact, and email address.
• Once you get login credentials, you can begin an application form with qualification details, identity proof, and internship status.
• Upload all the required documents and pay the registration fee.
• Save and take a printout.

NEET MDS 2026: Application Fees

To complete the application process, students have to pay a registration fee as per category. Below are the details of the NEET MDS 2026 enrollment fee.

NEET MDS 2026: Admit Card

After registration, students can download the NEET MDS 2026 admit card on the official website. Candidates need the application number and login details to access the admit card. The table below provides NEET MDS 2026 Admit Card details.

The candidates applying for NEET MDS 2026 must have a Bachelor's in Dental Surgery. Below are the details of NEET MDS 2026 eligibility criteria.

The NEET MDS 2026 is a multiple-choice questions-based exam conducted in two sections. For complete NEET MDS 2026 exam pattern details, read the table below.

NEET MDS Marking Scheme 

The NEET MDS 2026 has a 25% negative marking for every incorrect answer. Students applying for the exam can check the NEET MDS 2026 marking scheme.

NEET MDS 2026 Preparation Tips

The NEET MDS 2026 exam is highly competitive for students. Candidates appearing for the exam can follow some practice tips as follows.

• Understand Syllabus: The first thing that you need to focus on is the syllabus for the exam. Check out all the topics and subtopics that you have to go through for preparation.
• Time Management: Make sure you prepare and practice for exams with time management. NEET MDS 2026 is a time-based exam, so practising to solve questions within a specified time is important.
• Prioritise: Make sure you prioritise your weak topics to improve these sections. Practice your strong areas every day, and give additional time to improve weak areas.
• Maintain Health: Make sure you take breaks, eat healthy, and ensure enough sleep. During exam preparation, ensuring good health is important for mental and physical well-being.

Exam Day Guidelines & Dress Code

Students appearing for NEET MDS 2026 have to follow certain exam day guidelines and dress codes. Here's the detailed information on NEET MDS 2026 exam guidelines and dress code. 

• Make sure you visit the exam centre half an hour before the specified time. 
• Make sure you wear simple and comfortable clothing, including t-shirts, and lower. 
• Avoid wearing jewellery like earrings or bracelets.
• Avoid wearing closed-toe footwear like shoes, as they require additional checking.

Things to Avoid During the Exam

While appearing for the NEET MDS 2026 exam, there are a few things students need to avoid, such as:

• Do not leave your allocated seat without permission.
• Bring passport-size photographs (same as uploaded on the registration portal). 
• Do not bring any electronic device or study material. 

NEET MDS 2026 Answer Key

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) releases the answer key soon after the exam. The NEET MDS 2026 answer key is likely to be released in April 2026. Here are the quick details on the answer key.

NEET MDS 2026 Result 

The NEET MDS 2026 results are likely to be released in July 2026. Students can download results or scorecards on their candidate login. The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) releases the cut-off and merit list for counselling.

NEET MDS 2026 Counselling

The Medical Council Committee (MCC) conducts NEET MDS 2026 counselling for 50% AIQ (All India Quota). 15% of seats in NEET MDS 2026 are allocated to NRI candidates. MCC conducts counselling in 3 rounds, followed by a stray vacancy round. Here are the details of NEET MDS 2026 Counselling.

Top Colleges Accepting NEET MDS Score

The NEET MDS 2026 exam is conducted to provide admissions to Master's in Dental Surgery in various specialisations at top dental colleges in India. Here are the colleges accepting NEET MDS 2026 scores.

The NEET MDS 2026 is expected to start in February 2026. The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) will release the NEET MDS 2026 notification in February 2026, followed by a registration and correction window. Here are the details of the NEET MDS exam dates & schedule for 2026.

The NEET MDS 2026 exam is conducted in two sections, Part A & Part B. These sections include questions based on a Bachelor's in Dental Surgery. Here are quick details of the NEET MDS 2026 syllabus.

Key topics that are covered by NEET MDS exam are Dental Materials, Oral Pathology & Oral Microbiology, Oral Medicine & Radiology, Pedodontics & Preventive Dentistry, Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopaedics

Periodontology, Prosthodontics & Crown & Bridge, Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, and Public Health Dentistry. 

Click Here and Check: NEET MDS Syllabus 2026 PDF download.

The NEET MDS previous year question papers are available to download on the official website. The NEET MDS exam pattern includes 240 questions carrying a 4-mark weightage each. Here are some of the NEET MDS previous year question papers.

The NEET MDS 2026 cutoff will be released by NBEMS after the result declaration. The NEET MDS 2026 expected cut-off is calculated based on the previous year's cut-offs and exam results. Here's the expected NEET MDS 2026 cutoff.

NEET MDS 2026: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Ques. What is the highest NEET MDS score?

Ans. The highest NEET MDS score out of 960 is 779, scored in 2025.

Ques. Is NEET MDS easy to crack?

Ans. The difficulty level of NEET MDS is moderate to high. However, it can vary from person to person.

Ques. How many times can I attempt NEET MDS?

Ans. The students can attempt the NEET MDS exam as many times as possible.

Ques. How many seats are there in NEET MDS?

Ans. There are approximately 6,228 seats in 329 government and private dental colleges in India.

Ques. What is the tentative date for NEET MDS 2026 registration?

Ans. NEET MDS 2026 Registration Date has not yet officially been released, but the registration is expected to start in late February 2026.

Ques. How to apply for NEET MDS 2026?

Ans. Visit the website https://natboard.edu.in/viewnbeexam?exam=neetmds  and click on ‘New Registration’. Fill in the required details and pay the fee.

Ques. What is the NEET MDS 2026 exam Fee?

Ans. The NEET MDS application fee is   ₹3,500 for General, OBC, and for EWS, SC, ST, and PWD is ₹2,500.

Ques. What is NEET MDS syllabus topic-wise?

Ans. Key topics that are covered by the NEET MDS exam are Dental Materials, Oral Pathology & Oral Microbiology, Oral Medicine & Radiology, Pedodontics & Preventive Dentistry, Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Periodontology, Prosthodontics & Crown & Bridge, Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, and Public Health Dentistry.