NEET MDS Overview 2026: Exam Pattern, Time-Bound Sections by NBESMS, Marking Scheme, and Syllabus

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Bhaskar Das

Study Abroad Specialist | Updated on - Sep 30, 2025

NEET MDS 2026 exam pattern will be declared by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) tentatively in the second week of February 2026, when the information bulletin is released. The exam pattern of NEET MDS 2026 will probably be the same as the previous year, where time-bound sections were implemented. As per the exam pattern of NEET MDS, it is a computer-based test (CBT) of three hours' duration.

The test consists of two timed sections. Part A or Section A comprises 100 questions to be answered within 75 minutes, and Part B or Section B comprises 140 questions to be answered within 105 minutes. The questions are a total of 240. NEET MDS question patterns will be multiple-choice objective types, with four options as answers. The test duration will be 2 PM to 5 PM. It is anticipated that NBE will launch a demo test or authentic NEET MDS mock test for practice purposes.

The NEET MDS 2026 exam is anticipated to be held in the third week of April 2026. The NEET MDS application process is anticipated to be carried out between February and March 2026.

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Key Summary

  • NEET MDS 2026 will be conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) as a computer-based test of 3 hours duration.
  • The exam will have time-bound sections: Part A with 100 questions in 75 minutes and Part B with 140 questions in 105 minutes.
  • The test will be held from 2 PM to 5 PM in online mode, with multiple-choice questions only in English.
  • A total of 240 questions will be asked, carrying 960 marks in total.
  • Marking scheme: +4 marks for correct answers, -1 mark for incorrect answers (25% negative marking), and 0 for unanswered questions.
  • The exam fee is INR 3,500 for General/OBC/EWS candidates and INR 2,500 for SC/ST/PWD candidates.
  • The application process is expected in February–March 2026, and the exam is likely to be held in the third week of April 2026.
  • Admit card is expected in March 2026, result in May 2026, and counselling in June–August 2026.
  • The syllabus of NEET MDS 2026 is based on the BDS curriculum prescribed by the Dental Council of India (DCI).
  • Part A of the syllabus covers Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Medicine, and Surgery.
  • Part B includes Oral Pathology, dental materials, Oral Medicine & Radiology, Pedodontics, Orthodontics, Periodontology, Prosthodontics, Conservative Dentistry, Oral Surgery, and Public Health Dentistry.
  • NBE may release a demo/mock test for candidates before the exam.
  • Results will be declared tentatively on May 19, 2026, and individual scorecards around May 23, 2026.
  • Merit list for 50% All India Quota (AIQ) will be released, followed by counselling conducted by MCC for AIQ seats and separate state counselling for state quota seats.
  • Counselling will involve registration, choice filling, seat allotment, and will likely conclude by August 2026.

Key Highlights of NEET MDS 2026:

Event Details
Exam Name National Eligibility Entrance Test for Masters of Dental Surgery (NEET MDS)
Conducting Body National Board of Examinations (NBE)
Exam Level National-level Postgraduate Exam
Exam Frequency Once a year
Mode of Exam Computer-based test
Courses Offered MDS/PG Diploma in Dental Studies
Exam Fees INR 3,500 (General, OBC, EWS)INR 2,500 (SC, ST, PWD)
Exam Duration 3 hours
Exam Timing 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Total Questions 240
Total Marks 960
Marking Scheme +4 for each correct response-1 for each incorrect responseNo marks for unanswered questions
Language English
Official Website nbe.edu.in
Contact Information Helpline Numbers: 022-61087595, 7996165333Email: helpdesknbeexam@natboard.edu.in
FAQ: Ques. Who conducts the NEET MDS exam, and what courses does it offer?Ans. The NEET MDS exam is conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE). It offers admission to postgraduate dental courses such as MDS and PG Diploma in Dental Studies.Ques. What is the exam fee for NEET MDS 2026 for different categories?Ans. The exam fee for NEET MDS 2026 is INR 3,500 for candidates in the General, OBC, and EWS categories and INR 2,500 for candidates in the SC, ST, and PWD categories. The fee is payable online during the application process.

Important Dates for NEET MDS 2026

Below are mentioned important dates for NEET MDS 2026:

Event Tentative Dates
Application Form Release January 2026 (likely 4th week)
Last Date to Apply Within 1 month of application start
Admit Card Release March 2026
NEET MDS Exam Date March 2026
Result Declaration May 2026
Counseling June 2026
FAQ: Ques. When will the application form for NEET MDS 2026 be released?Ans. The NEET MDS 2026 application form is expected to be released in the 4th week of January 2026.Ques. What is the expected date for the NEET MDS 2026 exam?Ans. The NEET MDS 2026 exam is likely to be conducted in March 2026.

Highlights of NEET MDS Exam Pattern 2026

NEET MDS Pattern 2026 Details
Mode of the Examination Online/Computer-based
Medium of the Examination English
Duration of the Examination 3 hours
Sectional Duration Part A – 75 minutes Part B – 105 minutes
Type of Questions Objective type
Total Number of Questions 240
Sectional Questions Part A – 100 Part B – 140
Number of Parts in Question Paper Two
Number of Topics for Each Subject 14 and 15
Negative Marking 25% negative marking for incorrect answers
FAQ: Ques. What is the mode of the NEET MDS 2026 exam?Ans. The NEET MDS 2026 exam will be conducted online as a computer-based test (CBT).Ques. How many questions are there in NEET MDS 2026 and how are they divided?Ans. There are a total of 240 objective-type questions in NEET MDS 2026, divided into two parts: Part A with 100 questions and Part B with 140 questions.

NEET MDS Exam Pattern 2026 in Detail

In this section, we present the comprehensive NEET MDS 2026 exam pattern.

  • Mode of the Examination: As per the exam pattern of NEET MDS, the test will be held online or through a computer-based mode. The candidate requires minimal knowledge of computers to take the test.
  • Medium of the Examination: English is the sole language choice for those candidates who want to take NEET MDS.
  • Duration of the Test: NEET MDS will be conducted from 2 PM to 5 PM, providing the candidates with three hours of time to try the test. Part A will last for 75 minutes and Part B for 105 minutes.
  • Number and mode of questions: The number of questions in the NEET MDS examination will be 240. These will all be objective type questions, that is, for each question, a candidate will have four options. He/she will have to select only the right answer out of these four options. Part A will have 100 questions and Part B will have 105 questions.
FAQ:Ques. What is the mode of the NEET MDS 2026 examination?Ans. The NEET MDS 2026 examination will be conducted online as a computer-based test.Ques. In which language will the NEET MDS 2026 exam be held?Ans. The exam will be conducted only in English.

NEET MDS 2026 Exam Pattern and Structure

The below table illustrates the NEET MDS 2026 exam pattern and format.

Part Subjects Number of Questions
Part A (Total – 100)
1 General Anatomy including Embryology and Histology 14
2 General Human Physiology and Biochemistry 14
3 Dental Anatomy, Embryology & Oral Histology 14
4 General Pathology and Microbiology 14
5 General and Dental Pharmacology and Therapeutics 14
6 General Medicine 15
7 General Surgery 15
Part B (Total – 140)
1 Dental Materials 14
2 Oral Pathology and Oral Microbiology 14
3 Oral Medicine and Radiology 14
4 Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry 14
5 Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics 14
6 Periodontology 14
7 Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge 14
8 Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics 14
9 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 14
10 Public Health Dentistry 14
Grand Total Part A + Part B 240
Type of Response Marks Awarded
Correct Response +4
Incorrect Response -1 (25% negative marking)
Unanswered 0
FAQ: Ques. What is the marking scheme for NEET MDS 2026?Ans. Each correct answer carries +4 marks, each incorrect answer carries -1 mark as negative marking, and unanswered questions carry 0 marks. Ques. How many parts are there in the NEET MDS 2026 exam?Ans. The NEET MDS 2026 exam consists of two parts: Part A and Part B.

NEET MDS 2026 Syllabus

The syllabus of NEET MDS 2026 follows the BDS course of study under the Dental Council of India (DCI) curriculum. It is split into two sections:

Part A (100 questions):

  • General Anatomy including Embryology and Histology
  • General Human Physiology and Biochemistry
  • Dental Anatomy, Embryology, and Oral Histology
  • General Pathology and Microbiology
  • General and Dental Pharmacology and Therapeutics
  • General Medicine
  • General Surgery

Part B (140 questions):

  • Dental Materials
  • Oral Pathology and Oral Microbiology
  • Oral Medicine and Radiology
  • Periodontology
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Prosthodontics
  • Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics
  • Orthodontics
  • Public Health Dentistry
  • Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry
FAQ: Ques. How is the NEET MDS 2026 syllabus divided?Ans. The syllabus is divided into two sections: Part A with 100 questions and Part B with 140 questions.Ques. What subjects are included in Part A of the NEET MDS 2026 syllabus?Ans. Part A includes General Anatomy including Embryology and Histology, General Human Physiology and Biochemistry, Dental Anatomy, Embryology and Oral Histology, General Pathology and Microbiology, General and Dental Pharmacology and Therapeutics, General Medicine, and General Surgery.

NEET MDS 2026 Result and Counselling

Result Announcement: The NEET MDS 2026 result is scheduled to be announced on May 19, 2026 (Tentative) and will be made available on nbe.edu.in in PDF format. Individual scorecards will be announced on/about May 23, 2026 (Tentative) and will be downloadable through login credentials.

Merit List: The 50% All India Quota (AIQ) merit list is published after result, which identifies the eligibility for counselling.

Counselling: Organised by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) for AIQ seats and state authorities for state quota seats. The activity involves:

  • Registration and choice filling on mcc.nic.in.
  • Seat allotment against rank, preferences, and seat availability.
  • Four counselling rounds, which are over by August 2026.
FAQ: Ques. When will the NEET MDS 2026 result be announced?Ans. The NEET MDS 2026 result is scheduled to be announced on May 19, 2026 (tentative) and will be available on the official website in PDF format.Ques. When will individual scorecards for NEET MDS 2026 be released?Ans. Individual scorecards are expected to be available around May 23, 2026 (tentative) and can be downloaded using login credentials on the official website.

NEET MDS 2026 Exam Pattern, Time-Bound Sections by NBESMS, Marking Scheme, and Syllabus - FAQ:

Ques. What is the pattern of NEET MDS 2026 exam?

Ans. NEET MDS 2026 is a computer-based test with two time-bound sections. Part A consists of 100 questions to be solved in 75 minutes, and Part B consists of 140 questions to be solved in 105 minutes, totaling 240 objective-type questions. The exam is conducted in English and is held from 2 PM to 5 PM. Each correct answer gets +4 marks, and there is a negative marking of 1 mark for each incorrect answer. No marks are deducted for unanswered questions.

Ques. What is the expected date for NEET MDS 2026?

Ans. The NEET MDS 2026 exam is expected to be held in the third week of April 2026.

Ques. What is the time duration of NEET MDS exam?

Ans. The total duration of the NEET MDS exam is 3 hours, with Part A lasting 75 minutes and Part B lasting 105 minutes. The exam timing is from 2 PM to 5 PM.

Ques. What is the pattern of NEET MDS 2025?

Ans. The NEET MDS 2025 exam pattern was similar to 2026, with a computer-based test of 3 hours divided into two sections Part A with 100 questions in 75 minutes and Part B with 140 questions in 105 minutes. The questions were multiple-choice, with +4 marks for correct and -1 for incorrect answers and no negative marking for unattempted questions. The exam was also conducted from 2 PM to 5 PM in English.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.

Fees Structure

Structure based on different categories

CategoriesState
General3750
sc2750
pwd2750

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