NEET-MDS 2024, the national-level entrance test for admission to the dental postgraduate program of MDS, will be conducted on March 18.

The National Board of Examinations is in charge of the test. Helpline: +91-7996165333, Website: https://nbe.edu.in, www.natboard.edu.in.

The applications for the test can be submitted online until 11:55 pm on February 19. The application fee of Rs 3,500 can be paid online. The fee is Rs 2,500 for members of Scheduled Communities and differently-abled persons. The applications submitted can be edited from February 22 to 25, if required. However, the name, citizenship, email, mobile number, and the examination centre cannot be changed. The Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College is also approved for issuing disability certificates.

To qualify for the entrance test, the candidates should have completed BDS and internship before March 31 and enrolled in the State Dental Council.

Examination
In Kerala, there are examination centres in Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, and Kannur for the computer-based test of three hours duration. There will be 240 multiple-choice questions. Four marks will be awarded for each right answer, and one mark will be deducted for each wrong answer. The 'test training demo' will be available on the website from March 8. The results will be declared on April 18.

To gain admission, a candidate must score at least 50th percentile marks. For those who belong to the scheduled and backward categories, the cutoff will be the 40th percentile, and for disabled candidates in the general category, it will be the 45th percentile.

Seats
The admission to all MDS seats in the country except those in AIIMS, New Delhi, will be based on this entrance test.
1. The all-India quota of seats in all States will be 50 per cent
2. All-State quotas in all States and Union Territories
3. Seats in all private dental colleges, institutions, and universities in the country
4. Seats in Armed Forces Medical Services institutions.

In addition to these, the same entrance test is the basis for admission to the BDS/MDS screening exam for short service commission in the Army Dental Corps. All details are available on the website. Any queries can be clarified through the 'Helpdesk' tab on the website after the student logs in to the account.