BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery)
All About BDS – One of the most desirable course in health sector after MBBS is Bachelor of Dental Surgery, also known as, BDS. Candidates who wish to groom their career in dental surgery can know all about BDS from this page. B.D.S. is an undergraduate course for five and half years duration, of which four and a half years will be for theory, while one year will be for rotatory internship. The curriculum of BDS is being regulated by Dental Council of India. In order to get BDS course, it is mandatory for students to appear and qualify in National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), for admission to a total of 26,949 seats offered in 313 government, private and deemed institutes of the nation. The online registrations for NEET will begin from December 2, 2019. Interested applicants can check the article on all about BDS for more information on dates, eligibility, application, admission procedure, participating colleges, seats intake and other details below.
Latest: NEET 2020 correction window has started from January 15 to 31.
Know all about BDS Eligibility Criteria
Candidates have to fulfil the specified criteria in terms of nationality, age limit if any, qualifying exam, pass percentage and more. In addition they must also qualify NEET 2020. The eligibility criteria for BDS admissions as per NEET are given below.
Eligibility Criteria
Indian Nationals
Non Resident Indians (NRIs)
Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)
Persons of Indian Origin (PIO)
Foreign Nationals (for 15% quota All India Quota only). The norms for state admissions will be different.
Qualifying Exam
Candidates have to pass a recognised Higher/Senior Secondary Examination or the Indian School Certificate Examination equivalent to 10+2 Higher/Senior Secondary Examination after a period of 12 years study.
NEET Entrance Exam
NIOS candidates are eligible for now subject to the matter subjudice in the court.
Students from Foreign/International Boards are eligible if their qualify exam meets the equivalency determined by Association of Indian Universities (AIU) as per regulations of the Medical Council of India and the concerned University.
Subjects to be studied in qualifying exam
Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology (including practical tests in these subjects)
AND
Mathematics or any other elective subject with English as prescribed by the NCERT.
Note: Candidates who have studied Biology/Biotechnology as and additional Subject can also apply subject to the judgement of the Supreme court where the matter is subjudice.
Required Pass Percentage in 10+2 or equivalent
Unreserved candidates and OCI, NRI, foreign candidates
Must have secured at least 50% in their qualifying exam in
Physics, Chemistry and Biology/ Bio-technology taken together.
Candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes or Other Backward Classes (OBC)must have secured 40%
PwD candidates must have secured 45% in their qualifying exam.
Age Limit
Candidates must have completed 17 years at the time of admission or before December 31 of the year of admission.
Candidates must be born on or after May 5,1994 for SC candidates, relaxation apply as per guidelines. Such candidates must be born on or after May 5, 1989.
The upper age limit criteria has been removed subject to the judgment pending in the Supreme Court.
NIOS candidates
Candidates who have passed 10+2 from Open School or as private candidates are eligible subject to the ruling of the court as the matter is subjudice.
Study of Biology/Biotechnology as an Additional Subject at 10+2 level
Candidates who have studied Biology/ Bio-technology as an additional subject after passing +2 level is eligible to appear in NEET (UG) – subject to the outcome of Special Leave Petitions/Appeals filed by the Medical Council of India.”
Percentile obtained in NEET UG –
The percentile is determined on the basis of highest marks secured in the All-India common merit list in “National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for admission to BDS course.
Candidates must have obtained a minimum of 50th percentile.
For SC/ST/OBC candidates, the minimum marks shall be at 40th percentile.
In respect of candidates with locomotory disability of lower amendments, the minimum marks shall be at 45th percentile.”
State Admissions
While the eligibility for NEET applies to all the BDS admissions, domicile and residency regulations in addition to other eligibility criteria will be applicable as per the regulations of the respective states.
Admissions will be on the basis of the State Merit List announced by each state.
BDS Course Duration
As per the Dental Council of India, BDS course shall be of 4 (four) Academic years with 240 teaching days in each academic year, plus one year paid rotating Internship in a recognised dental college. All candidates will be required to undergo one year paid rotating internship after passing the final BDS examination. The internship is compulsory and BDS Degree shall be granted after completion of one year paid Internship and passing of BDS examination.