The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Master of Dental Surgery) is the only entrance exam for the MDS admission in government, private and deemed dental colleges of India, it is held by the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences.
If you are looking for admission for the Master of Dental Surgery at any dental college of the country for the academic year 2026-27, you can apply for this entrance examination, shortly after the release of the notification brochure.
Lakh of aspirants across the country participate in the NEET (MDS) every year. In 2026, many aspirants are ready to take part in it. Read this article to check the important dates, eligibility criteria, application fee, exam pattern, etc,.
NEET MDS 2026 Overview
The NEET MDS 2026 will be administered across the country by the NBEMS, all those aspirants will take part in it who will have submitted the application. Refer to the table below for an overview.
| Examination Name | NEET MDS 2026 |
| Full Form | National Eligibility cum Entrance Test – Master of Dental Surgery |
| Conducting Authority | National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) |
| Course Offered | Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) |
| Academic Session | 2026–27 |
| Mode of Examination | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Exam Level | National Level |
| Number of Questions | 240 Multiple Choice Questions |
| Total Marks | 960 Marks |
| Official Website | natboard.edu.in |
Important Dates
The NBEMS will announce the important dates for the NEET MDS 2026 with the release of notification. Refer to the table below for the expected schedule.
| Event | Expected Date |
| Notification Release | February 2026 |
| Online Application Start | February 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | March 2026 |
| Correction Window | March 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | April 2026 |
| Examination | April 2026 |
| Result Declaration | May 2026 |
| Counselling Begins | June 2026 |
Eligibility Criteria
In order to apply for the NEET MDS 2026, it is mandatory that you meet the following eligibility requirements.
- You are an Indian citizen and you live in any part of the country.
- You have completed Bachelor’s of Dental Surgery from an institution recognised by the DCI.
- You must have completed a twelve-month compulsory rotatory internship.
Notes:
- There is no age limit to participate in the NEET MDS 2026.
- It is mandatory that the internship is completed by the cut-off date notified in the notification.
Application Fee
To apply for the NEET MDS 2026, you have to deposit the application fee. The payable amount varies from category to category, refer to table below for details.
| Category | Application Fee |
| UR / OBC | ₹4,250 |
| SC / ST / PwD | ₹3,250 |
Ensure that you deposit the application fee by the due date, if you don’t pay it deadline your form won’t be accepted. You have to pay it using the debit card, credit card, NET banking or UPI.
Exam Pattern
The exam pattern for the NEET MDS 2026 is made public. The NBEMS will conduct this entrance exam in online mode using the CBT. There will be a total number of 240 objective-type questions, whose distribution are as follows:
| Subject | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks |
| General Anatomy (including Embryology & Histology) | 14 | 56 |
| General Physiology & Biochemistry | 14 | 56 |
| General Pathology & Microbiology | 14 | 56 |
| General Pharmacology | 14 | 56 |
| General Medicine | 15 | 60 |
| General Surgery | 15 | 60 |
| Oral Pathology & Oral Microbiology | 14 | 56 |
| Oral Medicine & Radiology | 14 | 56 |
| Pedodontics & Preventive Dentistry | 14 | 56 |
| Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopaedics | 14 | 56 |
| Periodontology | 14 | 56 |
| Prosthodontics & Crown & Bridge | 14 | 56 |
| Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics | 14 | 56 |
| Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery | 14 | 56 |
| Dental Materials | 14 | 56 |
| Public Health Dentistry | 14 | 56 |
| Total | 240 | 960 |
Each question carries a weightage of 4 marks, and there is also a provision of negative marking; for each incorrect answer, 1 mark will be deducted for incorrect response.
The maximum time duration to touch all MCQs is 3 hours, and the medium of the exam will be English. PwBD candidates will get an extra timing of an hour, as per rules of the Government of India.
How to Apply?
In order to apply online for the NEET MDS 2026, please follow the step-by-step instructions available below.
- Go to the official website of the NBEMS at https://natboard.edu.in/.
- Tap on Examination, and then hit the ‘NEET-MDS’ option.
- Find an option that reads ‘2026 > Application Link’ and get redirected to the application page.
- Register yourself by providing all the details such as name, mobile number and email address.
- Login with your user ID and password, and then start filing the application form.
- Upload the required documents as per requirement, and make sure to attach your photograph and signature.
- Pay the application fee, review your application form, and then click on the Submit button.