NEET MDS Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Marks Required, Age Limit, Qualification, Nationality

NEET MDS eligibility criteria 2026

Every aspirant needs to fulfill the NEET MDS 2026 eligibility criteria set by NBE. Listed below are the basic eligibility guidelines for the NEET MDS entrance exam, as well as eligibility criteria for Jammu and Kashmir aspirants and Foreign Nationals.

• In order to appear for NEET MDS 2026, aspirants must be Indian citizens, Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs), or Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs).

• Aspirants must possess a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree, which must be awarded by the university or institute in India under MDS course regulations 2017 issued by the Dental Council of India (DCI) with the approval of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).

• Candidates also must possess a provisional or permanent registration certification issued by DCI or State Dental Council (SDC).

• Dental graduates must also have completed or are likely to complete the 12 months rotatory internship on or before June 30, 2026. Candidates need to know that aspirants who are undergoing the rotatory internship and are expected to complete it before June 30, 2026, will only be considered eligible for exams. However, they will not be eligible to take admissions in MDS courses until they produce the internship certificate at the time of counselling.

NEET MDS 2026 eligibility criteria for Jammu and Kashmir aspirants

Aspirants who have studied for UG dental degrees from Jammu and Kashmir will not be counted as eligible to participate under 50% All India Quota (AIQ) seats. But, candidates who were nominated by the Government of India (GoI) under the central pool quota seats will be qualified for AIQ seats. However, such candidates need to submit the duly signed affidavit mentioning that he/she was nominated by GoI and have to send it to the address mentioned below with the printout of the NEET MDS application form 2026.

Address: Deputy Director (Examinations),

National Board of Examinations,

Medical Enclave, Ansari Nagar,

Mahatma Gandhi Marg, (Ring Road), New Delhi – 110029

NEET MDS eligibility criteria for foreign nationals

• Their basic Dental Qualification equivalent to BDS should be recognised by the Dental Council of India

• According to the NEET MDS eligibility criteria 2026, it is not mandatory for foreign nationals to have the temporary registration of DCI at the time of examination.

• Foreign nationals can take the exam without a DCI registration certificate.

• The temporary registration certificate by DCI will be issued on the condition that the foreign national must be registered as a medical practitioner in the candidate's country.

NEET MDS age limit

As per the NEET MDS 2026 eligibility criteria, the candidate must have a minimum age of 20 years. There is no upper age limit for NEET MDS exam.

Who are not qualified as per the NEET MDS 2026 eligibility criteria?

Read the points mentioned below extremely carefully to know on what basis, an aspirant is considered unqualified to appear at the entrance of NEET MDS.

• Any applicant found in violation of NEET MDS 2026 eligibility conditions set by NBE will not be allowed to take up the examination.

• In any case, if any ineligible aspirant successfully appears for the entrance examination, later his/her candidature will be cancelled.

• As mentioned above, if candidates will not complete their 12 monthly rotatory internships on or before the prescribed date set by NBE will not be considered for the NEET MDS exam.

How many attempts for NEET MDS?

Candidates can appear for NEET MDS as many as times as they want. There is no NEET MDS attempt limit. In order to appear in NEET MDS, aspirants must be the citizens of India OCIs, PIOs can also appear.