National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (MDS) - Eligibility Criteria

A candidate for admission to the Master in Dental Surgery course, must possess a recognised degree of Bachelor in Dental Surgery awarded by a university or institute in India and registered with the State Dental Council and has obtained provisional or permanent registration and has undergone compulsory rotatory internship of a year in an approved/recognised dental college.

A candidate who after passing the final qualifying examination (BDS or the foreign dental degree recognized by GoI/DCI), is undergoing 12-month compulsory rotatory internship/ practical training and is likely to complete the same by 31st March 2023 can take up this examination, but he/she shall not be eligible for admission unless he/she has completed the compulsory rotatory internship and obtained provisional or permanent registration on or before 31st March 2023 or the candidate produces a certificate from the head of Institution that he/she will be completing internship by 31st March 2023. Candidate may visit the DCI website to know any change in date of Internship completion.

The dates indicated by candidates with regard to 12 months Compulsory Rotatory Resident Internship i.e. starting date, completion date, shall be treated as final and candidates will be required to submit the original Compulsory Rotatory Resident Internship completion certificate at the time of counseling. No condonation of internship of 12 months period shall be accepted except. (i) the students of the batch admitted during academic session 2007-08 and have completed 4 ½ year BDS course alongwith 06 months compulsory rotating internship. (ii) the students admitted during the academic session 2006-07 at Rajah Muthiah Dental College, Annamalai University those have completed 05 years BDS course without internship.

Candidates found to be ineligible at any stage of NEET-MDS 2023 will not be permitted to appear in the examination and/or counseling. In an unlikely event of any ineligible candidate appearing and/or being successful in the NEET-MDS 2023, the results/ candidature of such candidate shall be cancelled and/or are deemed to be cancelled

Requests for appearing in NEET-MDS 2023 from candidates completing internship after 31st March 2023 or having qualifications that are not recognized as per Dentists Act shall be summarily rejected. Candidates are further advised not to canvass for the same.

Some of the Universities/institutions are having regulations that candidates who are already pursuing the PG Course in their University or in another University are not eligible for admission till they complete the course. The candidates who are already pursuing PG Dental Courses either through All India Quota or State Quota and are applying for a seat under All India Quota may confirm the eligibility conditions of that University in this regard. NBEMS/ MCC/MoHFW shall not be responsible if such candidates are denied admission. Such candidates may opt for the subject and the college at their own risk and cost.

Eligibility of candidates issued admit card for the examination shall be purely provisional. Appearing in NEET-MDS 2023 does not confer any automatic rights upon the candidate for admission to MDS courses.

Candidates who have studied/passed BDS from the UT of Jammu & Kashmir are also eligible for participation in counseling for 50% All India Quota seats. These candidates shall also be eligible for participation in ‘Grant of Short Service Commission in Army Dental Corps’ and for MDS admissions in Armed Forces Institutes.

It is not mandatory for foreign nationals to have temporary registration with DCI at the time of writing NEET-MDS. Foreign Nationals can write NEET-MDS without DCI registration. Provided that in the case of a foreign national, the following procedure shall be followed:

The Council may, on payment of the prescribed fee for registration, grant temporary registration for the duration of the post-graduate training restricted to the dental college/institution to which he or she is admitted for the time being exclusively for post-graduate studies.

Provided further that temporary registration to such foreign national shall be subject to the condition that such person is duly registered as medical practitioner in his/her own country from which he/she has obtained his/her basics dental qualification and that his/her degree is recognized by the corresponding state dental council or concerned authority.