The medical community is currently on high alert as the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) is expected to release the official notification for the NEET MDS 2026 exam any moment. Thousands of dental graduates across the country are waiting for the registration window to open. This national-level test is the only way to get into Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) courses in India. As of today, February 27, 2026, experts believe the application process will start within the first week of March, following the release of the information bulletin.
Anticipated Exam Schedule and Key Deadlines
Even though the full notification is still awaited, the NBEMS has already shared a tentative calendar. This has helped many aspirants plan their study time. The NEET MDS 2026 exam is currently set for May 2, 2026. This gives students about two months to finish their final revision. The test will be held on a computer in various cities across India.
- Expected Registration: The link is likely to go live by the first week of March 2026.
- Exam Date: Officially scheduled for May 2, 2026, in a single session.
- Internship Cut-off: Students must finish their one-year internship by May 31, 2026, to be eligible.
- Result Date: The board usually announces results by the end of May or early June.
| Event Detail | Expected Date / Deadline | Current Status |
| Official Notification | Last Week of February 2026 | Awaited |
| Online Registration Start | First Week of March 2026 | Upcoming |
| NEET MDS Exam Date | May 2, 2026 | Confirmed |
| Internship Completion | May 31, 2026 | Mandatory |
Mandatory Documents and Registration Process
When the registration portal opens on the official NBE website, aspirants will need to act quickly. Seats in preferred cities often fill up fast because of the "first-come, first-served" rule. To make the application easy, students should keep their digital documents ready. The National Board of Examinations has made the process fully online, including fee payment and document uploading.
- BDS Certificate: A degree or provisional certificate from a recognized college is a must.
- DCI Registration: Candidates must have a valid registration with the Dental Council of India or a State Dental Council.
- Identity Proof: A valid Aadhaar card, PAN card, or Voter ID will be needed for the test center entry.
- Application Fee: Likely to be ₹3,500 for general students and ₹2,500 for SC/ST/PwD categories.
Preparing for the Computer Based Test
The NEET MDS 2026 will follow a specific pattern that checks the basic and clinical knowledge of the student. There will be 240 multiple-choice questions in the test. The paper is divided into two parts: Part A covers general medical subjects, while Part B focuses on dental subjects. Since there is negative marking, aspirants must be very careful with their answers. Every wrong answer will take away one mark from the total score.
- Time Duration: Candidates get 3 hours (180 minutes) to solve the entire paper.
- Subject Focus: High weightage is usually given to Oral Surgery, Prosthodontics, and Periodontics.
- Practice Mocks: Taking online mock exams helps in getting used to the computer-based format.
- Admit Cards: These will be issued about one week before the May 2 exam.
Conclusion
As the wait for the NEET MDS 2026 notification continues, the atmosphere among dental students is one of focused preparation. The National Board of Examinations is expected to maintain a strict timeline to ensure the academic session starts on time. All aspirants are encouraged to keep their internship documents and registration certificates ready for the upcoming application phase. By staying informed through the official portal, students can ensure they do not miss any important updates regarding the exam or the test center selection.