BDS Admission 2025-2026: Registration Dates, Merit List, Choice Filling and Allotment

BDS admissions in India are conducted through the NEET UG 2025 exam. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) handles the All India Quota (15%), while respective state authorities manage the remaining 85%.
NEET UG 2025 will be conducted through the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Candidates must meet eligibility criteria such as passing 10+2 with physics, chemistry, and biology and qualifying for NEET.

Quick Highlights

NEET UG 2025 Exam Details:

NEET UG Counselling Details

All India Quota MBBS/BDS Counselling:

All India Quota Counselling Details: Click here

State MBBS/BDS Counselling:

NEET MDS 2025 CUT OFF

NEET UG 2025 CUT OFF

BDS Admission 2025-2026 : Tentative Counseling Schedule

For BDS admission in 2025, you will need several documents for both the NEET UG counselling process and reporting to the allotted dental college. It’s essential to have these documents ready in advance to avoid any last-minute hassles. Here’s a comprehensive list:

Documents Required for BDS Admission 2025:

1. NEET UG 2025 Admit Card: The admit card is issued by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
2. NEET UG 2025 Result/Rank Letter/Scorecard: Official document indicating your score and rank in the NEET UG exam.
3. Class 10 Mark Sheet and Passing Certificate: As proof of your date of birth and qualifying the 10th standard.
4. Class 12 Mark Sheet and Passing Certificate: Proof of passing the 12th standard with the required subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English).
5. Passport-sized Photographs: Usually, you’ll need multiple recent passport-sized photographs (as specified by the counselling authority, often 6-8). Make sure they are the same as the ones you used in your NEET application.
6. Identity Proof: Any valid government-issued photo ID such as:
   • Aadhaar Card
   • PAN Card
   • Voter ID
   • Passport
   • Driving License
7. Caste Certificate (if applicable): For SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates, issued by the competent authority as per the central government norms. The sub-caste should be clearly mentioned. OBC certificates should state that the candidate does not belong to the ‘creamy layer’.
8. PwD Certificate (if applicable): For persons with disabilities candidates, a valid disability certificate issued by a duly constituted and authorized medical board as per the regulations.
9. Domicile Certificate (if applicable): Required by some state counselling authorities to prove your residency in a particular state for state quota seats.
10. Transfer Certificate (TC) / Migration Certificate: Issued by the last school or college you attended.
11. Character Certificate: Usually issued by the last attended educational institution.
12. Provisional Allotment Letter: Downloaded from the counselling portal after a seat is allotted in a particular round.
13. Proof of Payment of Counselling Fee: The receipt or online transaction details of the counselling registration fee.
14. Affidavit/Undertakings (if required): Some counselling authorities may require specific affidavits, for example, regarding not being involved in ragging.

Additional Documents Often Required at the Time of Reporting to the Allotted College:

• Medical Fitness Certificate: Issued by a registered medical practitioner in the prescribed format (often provided by the college or counselling authority).
• Gap Certificate (if applicable): If there was a gap in your education after Class 12, you might need to submit an affidavit explaining the reason for the gap.
• Income Certificate (if applicable): May be required for certain fee waivers or scholarships.
• Photocopies of all original documents: Carry at least 2-3 sets of self-attested photocopies of all the above-mentioned documents.

BDS Admission 2025: Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) admission in India for 2025 are primarily based on the guidelines set by the Dental Council of India (DCI) and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG. Here’s a breakdown of the key criteria:

Educational Qualification:

• Candidates must have passed the Class 12 examination or its equivalent from a recognized board.
• They must have passed with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) as compulsory subjects.
• English must also have been a subject in their qualifying examination.

Minimum Marks in Qualifying Examination (Class 12 or Equivalent):

• General Category: A minimum aggregate score of 50% in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology taken together.
• SC/ST/OBC Category: A minimum aggregate score of 40% in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology taken together.
• PwD Category: A minimum aggregate score of 45% in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology taken together.

Entrance Examination:

• NEET UG Qualification is mandatory. Candidates must appear for and qualify in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
• Admission to BDS programs is solely based on the merit obtained in the NEET UG examination. There are no other national or state-level entrance exams for BDS admission in India, except for NEET UG.

Age Limit:

• Candidates must have completed 17 years of age on or before December 31st of the year of admission (i.e., by December 31, 2025).

Nationality:

• The candidate must be an Indian national. NRIs, OCIs, and foreign nationals may also be eligible as per the regulations set by the DCI and the Government of India.

Other Important Points:

• Candidates appearing for the Class 12 examination in 2025 are also eligible to apply for NEET UG. However, their admission to the BDS course will be subject to passing the qualifying examination with the required marks.
• NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) candidates are also eligible to appear for NEET, subject to the rulings of the Supreme Court.
• There is no upper age limit for appearing in the NEET UG exam, as per the latest regulations.
• Candidates must be medically fit to pursue the BDS course.

Counselling Process for BDS Admission 2025

The BDS admission counselling process in India for 2025 is a multi-stage procedure conducted online by two main authorities: the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) for All India Quota (AIQ) seats and respective State Counselling Authorities for state quota seats. Here’s a step-by-step overview:

1. NEET UG Qualification:

• The first and foremost requirement is to qualify in the NEET UG 2025 examination. The results for this exam, held on May 4, 2025, are expected by June 14, 2025. Only qualified candidates are eligible for counselling.

2. Registration:

• MCC (for 15% AIQ, Central Universities, Deemed Universities, AIIMS, JIPMER): Eligible candidates need to register on the official MCC website (https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.mcc.nic.in/) when the registration window opens (tentatively in July 2025). This involves providing your NEET details and other necessary information.
• State Counselling Authorities (for 85% State Quota and Private Colleges): You need to register separately on the official website of the counselling authority for the state where you seek admission. The schedules and processes vary for each state.

3. Payment of Counselling Fee:

• During registration, you’ll need to pay a non-refundable registration fee and a refundable security deposit online. The amount differs for MCC and state counselling, as well as for different categories and types of institutions (government/central vs. deemed/private).

4. Choice Filling and Locking:

• After successful registration and payment, you log in to the respective counselling portal and fill in your choices of BDS colleges in order of your preference. It’s crucial to prioritize your choices carefully.
• Once you are satisfied with your choices, you must lock them within the stipulated deadline. If you fail to do so, the system might auto-lock them based on the schedule. Locked choices cannot be modified.

5. Seat Allotment:

• The counselling authorities (MCC and the states) will conduct seat allotment in multiple rounds based on your NEET UG rank, the choices you’ve filled, seat availability, and reservation criteria.
• The results of each round will be published online on the respective websites. You can then download your provisional allotment letter if a seat is allotted to you.

6. Reporting to the Allotted College and Document Verification:

• If you are allotted a seat, you must report to the designated dental college within the specified time frame.
• You will need to carry all your original documents (as listed in my previous response about required documents) for verification. Failure to produce the required documents can lead to the cancellation of your allotted seat.

7. Admission Confirmation:

• After successful document verification, you will need to pay the admission fee to the college to confirm your seat.

Rounds of Counselling:

• MCC Counselling: Typically involves Round 1, Round 2, a Mop-Up Round, and a Stray Vacancy Round.
• State Counselling: Usually consists of two or more rounds, which may also include a mop-up or stray vacancy round depending on the state’s policies and the number of vacant seats.

Key Points to Remember:

• You need to register separately for MCC and state counselling if you are seeking admission through both quotas.
• Carefully check the counselling schedules and information bulletins released by the MCC and the respective state authorities.
• Ensure you have all the necessary documents ready before the counselling process begins.
• Be mindful of the deadlines for registration, choice filling, locking, and reporting.
• Understand the rules and regulations for each round of counselling, including those related to resignation and forfeiture of security deposits.