NEET (UG) - BDS 2026

Official Schedule for Top Dental Colleges Admission 2026

Exam Overview

Application Start

08 Feb 2026 (Closed)

Application Deadline

11 Mar 2026 (Closed)

Exam Date

03 May 2026

Mode
Offline

Participating Colleges

Top institutes accepting NEET (UG) - BDS scores:

Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences
#2
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences
#3
New Delhi, Delhi
Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth
#4
Pune, Maharashtra
Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal
#5
Manipal, Karnataka
A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences
#6
Mangaluru, Karnataka
King George's Medical University
#7
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
SRM Dental College
#8
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Siksha 'O' Anusandhan
#9
Bhubaneswar, Odisha
JSS Dental College and Hospital
#10
Mysuru, Karnataka
Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore
#11
Mangaluru, Karnataka
Postgraduate Institute of Dental Sciences, Rohtak
#12
Rohtak, Haryana
Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research
#13
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
#14
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research
#16
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Jamia Millia Islamia
#17
New Delhi, Delhi
Faculty of Dental Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU
#18
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Nair Hospital Dental College
#19
Mumbai, Maharashtra
Govt. Dental College, Nagpur
#20
Nagpur, Maharashtra
Govt. Dental College, Mumbai
#21
Mumbai, Maharashtra
M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences
#22
Bengaluru, Karnataka
Mahatma Gandhi P.G. Institute of Dental Sciences
#23
Puducherry, Puducherry
Christian Dental College
#24
Ludhiana, Punjab
SDM College of Dental Sciences & Hospital
#25
Dharwad, Karnataka
Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology
#26
Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Sree Balaji Dental College & Hospital
#27
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Aligarh Muslim University
#28
Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh
KLE Vishwanath Katti Institute of Dental Sciences
#29
Belgaum, Karnataka
Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute
#30
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Yenepoya Dental College
#31
Mangaluru, Karnataka
Chettinad Dental College and Research Institute
#32
Kelambakkam, Tamil Nadu
Manav Rachna International Institute of Research & Studies
#33
Faridabad, Haryana
Government Dental College, Bangalore
#34
Bengaluru, Karnataka
Government Dental College, Thiruvananthapuram
#35
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research
#36
Wardha, Maharashtra
Government Dental College, Ahmedabad
#37
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Government Dental College, Kozhikode
#38
Kozhikode, Kerala
SRM Kattankulathur Dental College
#39
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
K.L.E. Society's Institute of Dental Sciences
#40
Bengaluru, Karnataka

About NEET (UG) - BDS 2026

The NEET (UG) - BDS is a major entrance examination for students seeking admission to Top Dental Colleges. The exam is conducted in Offline mode, with the exam scheduled for 03 May 2026. It is one of the important exams for 2026 admissions in India and is conducted annually to fill seats across participating institutions.

The application process opens from 08 Feb 2026 (Closed) and the last date to apply is 11 Mar 2026 (Closed). Candidates are advised to complete their registration well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues. All applications must be submitted online through the official portal. Keep your academic documents, photograph, and signature ready before starting the registration process.

NEET (UG) - BDS scores are accepted by 38 institutes across India, including Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth. The complete list of participating institutions includes: Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (Chennai, Tamil Nadu); Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (New Delhi, Delhi); Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Pune, Maharashtra); Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal (Manipal, Karnataka); A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences (Mangaluru, Karnataka); King George's Medical University (Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh); SRM Dental College (Chennai, Tamil Nadu); Siksha 'O' Anusandhan (Bhubaneswar, Odisha); JSS Dental College and Hospital (Mysuru, Karnataka); Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore (Mangaluru, Karnataka); Postgraduate Institute of Dental Sciences, Rohtak (Rohtak, Haryana); Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (Chennai, Tamil Nadu); Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu); Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (Chennai, Tamil Nadu); Jamia Millia Islamia (New Delhi, Delhi); Faculty of Dental Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh); Nair Hospital Dental College (Mumbai, Maharashtra); Govt. Dental College, Nagpur (Nagpur, Maharashtra); Govt. Dental College, Mumbai (Mumbai, Maharashtra); M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences (Bengaluru, Karnataka); Mahatma Gandhi P.G. Institute of Dental Sciences (Puducherry, Puducherry); Christian Dental College (Ludhiana, Punjab); SDM College of Dental Sciences & Hospital (Dharwad, Karnataka); Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (Bhubaneswar, Odisha); Sree Balaji Dental College & Hospital (Chennai, Tamil Nadu); Aligarh Muslim University (Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh); KLE Vishwanath Katti Institute of Dental Sciences (Belgaum, Karnataka); Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute (Chennai, Tamil Nadu); Yenepoya Dental College (Mangaluru, Karnataka); Chettinad Dental College and Research Institute (Kelambakkam, Tamil Nadu); Manav Rachna International Institute of Research & Studies (Faridabad, Haryana); Government Dental College, Bangalore (Bengaluru, Karnataka); Government Dental College, Thiruvananthapuram (Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala); Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research (Wardha, Maharashtra); Government Dental College, Ahmedabad (Ahmedabad, Gujarat); Government Dental College, Kozhikode (Kozhikode, Kerala); SRM Kattankulathur Dental College (Chennai, Tamil Nadu); K.L.E. Society's Institute of Dental Sciences (Bengaluru, Karnataka). Candidates will be allotted seats based on their rank in the entrance exam along with the counselling process.

For the most current and accurate information on NEET (UG) - BDS 2026 — including admit card release, syllabus, exam-day instructions, answer key, and result announcement — candidates should regularly check the official website at https://exams.nta.ac.in/NEET/. Bookmark the page and set reminders for key dates to avoid missing any deadlines.

How to Apply for NEET (UG) - BDS 2026

  1. Visit the Official Website — Go to NEET (UG) - BDS official website and click Apply Online or New Registration.
  2. Register and Create Account — Enter your name, email, and mobile number. Verify via OTP.
  3. Fill the Application Form — Complete personal details, educational qualifications, exam city preferences, and category information.
  4. Upload Documents — Upload your passport-size photograph, signature, and Class 10/12 mark sheets as per specifications.
  5. Pay the Application Fee — Pay online via card, net banking, or UPI before 11 Mar 2026 (Closed). Save the payment receipt.
  6. Submit and Download Confirmation — Review, submit, and download your confirmation page. The admit card will be released before the exam (03 May 2026).

Frequently Asked Questions – NEET (UG) - BDS 2026

The NEET (UG) - BDS 2026 exam is scheduled for 03 May 2026. The exam is conducted in Offline mode. Candidates must download their admit card from the official website before the exam. Check the official website for any last-minute schedule updates.

The last date to apply for NEET (UG) - BDS 2026 is 11 Mar 2026 (Closed). The application window opened from 08 Feb 2026 (Closed). Apply well before the closing date to avoid server congestion. Ensure fee payment and document upload are completed before the deadline, as late applications are typically not accepted.

NEET (UG) - BDS 2026 scores are accepted by Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (Chennai, Tamil Nadu); Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (New Delhi, Delhi); Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Pune, Maharashtra). In total, 38 institutes participate in the NEET (UG) - BDS admissions process. Candidates must check each institute's individual cutoff and eligibility criteria on the official counselling portal.

The NEET (UG) - BDS 2026 application form opened/opens from 08 Feb 2026 (Closed). Registration is online through the official portal. You need a valid email ID, mobile number, and scanned copies of your photograph and signature. Submit the form with the required application fee before 11 Mar 2026 (Closed).

To apply for NEET (UG) - BDS 2026, candidates typically need: a valid email ID and mobile number, Class 10 and 12 mark sheets, a recent passport-size photograph, a scanned signature, and a government-issued photo ID. Reserved category candidates may also need caste/category certificates. Always refer to the official notification for the exact and updated document checklist.

NEET (UG) - BDS 2026 is conducted in Offline mode. Candidates mark answers on a printed OMR sheet at designated exam centres. Admit cards must be downloaded from the official website and carried to the exam hall along with a valid photo ID.

More Questions About NEET (UG) - BDS & Related Exams

BDS cutoffs are 80-120 marks lower than MBBS in the same state. For good government dental colleges: 550-600 marks. Private dental colleges: 450-500 marks. Keep BDS as backup but don't settle during early counselling rounds.

Depends on your score gap. If you're within 50 marks of MBBS cutoff, one drop year might help. If gap is larger, BDS from a good college offers stable career. Dentistry has growing scope in cosmetic/orthodontics specializations with strong earnings potential.

BDS is absolutely worth it if you're passionate about dental sciences. The field is evolving rapidly with cosmetic dentistry, implantology, and orthodontics offering high earning potential. A BDS graduate with a specialization or good private practice can earn comparable to many MBBS graduates. Don't view BDS as a 'lesser' choice — it's a distinct, rewarding career path with lower competition and faster path to independent practice.

NEET MDS (typically January-February) has much lower competition than NEET PG. Around 6,000 MDS seats for ~35,000 applicants versus 50,000 PG seats for 2 lakh+ MBBS graduates. Orthodontics remains the most competitive MDS branch.

A BDS graduate earns ₹4-8 lakh per year initially. After MDS (especially Orthodontics, Prosthodontics), earnings jump to ₹15-40 lakh with private practice. MDS adds 3 years but significantly increases career trajectory.

85% of government dental seats are reserved for state domicile students. You can only access these through your home state counselling. For other states, only 15% AIQ seats are available through MCC counselling. Plan your strategy accordingly.

Government dental colleges offer lower fees (₹50K-2L/year vs ₹5-15L for private) but may have infrastructure gaps. Top private colleges like Manipal, SRM offer better clinical exposure. For MDS preparation, government colleges often have better teaching faculty.

BDS is a 5-year program — 4 years of academic study + 1 year of compulsory rotating internship. The internship is mandatory for the degree to be complete and for registering with the State Dental Council to practice. Plan your timeline accordingly — you can start MDS prep during internship.

Government dental colleges: ₹50,000-2 Lakh per year (total ₹2.5-10L over 5 years). Private dental colleges: ₹3-15 Lakh per year (total ₹15-75L). Management quota in private colleges can be even higher. Government seats offer exceptional value — every mark in NEET counts toward securing one.

Yes. A BDS degree with State Dental Council registration is sufficient to open and run your own dental clinic independently. MDS is required only for specialist titles (Orthodontist, Prosthodontist, etc.). Many successful dentists build profitable general practice careers with just BDS, especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

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