The National Dental Commission (NDC), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India has issued a circular highlighting the eligibility requirements for admission to the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) course for the 2026 admission process.

The circular, F.No. NDC/BDS(Gen)Admission-2026/DEB-406 dated September 10, 2026, has been issued to the Directorate General of Health Services and the State/UT counselling authorities.

The Commission has specifically asked authorities involved in BDS seat allotment and counselling to ensure compliance with the prescribed eligibility criteria.

BDS Admission 2026: 50% PCB Marks Mandatory

According to the NDC circular, qualifying the prescribed NEET requirement alone is not sufficient for BDS admission.

Candidates must have:

• Passed Physics individually
• Passed Chemistry individually
• Passed Biology/Biotechnology individually
• Passed English individually
• Obtained at least 50% marks taken together in Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Biotechnology in the qualifying examination
• Secured a place in the prescribed NEET merit list for BDS admission

The requirement is based on the Revised BDS Course Regulations (5th Amendment), 2012, as highlighted by the NDC.

Category-Wise Relaxation in PCB Marks

The NDC has also reiterated the relaxation available to certain categories.

The applicable relaxation is specifically based on the provisions referred to in the NDC circular.

Candidates should also fulfil the individual subject-passing requirements and NEET eligibility applicable to BDS admission.

NEET Qualification Also Required

The NDC has clarified that candidates must fulfil the prescribed NEET eligibility requirement in addition to the qualifying-examination criteria.

Therefore, candidates should not consider the PCB percentage requirement as a substitute for NEET qualification. Both the qualifying examination requirements and NEET-based merit requirements must be satisfied for BDS admission.

English Must Also Be Passed

The circular specifically states that candidates must have passed Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology and English individually.

This means that meeting the aggregate PCB percentage alone does not fulfil all qualifying examination requirements.

Candidates should verify their Class 12 marksheets carefully before participating in BDS counselling.

NDC Issues Advisory to Counselling Authorities

The Commission has highlighted the eligibility requirement to prevent mistakes during the BDS admission, seat allotment and counselling process.

The circular has been addressed to:

• Assistant Director General (Medical Education), DGHS, New Delhi
• Directors of Medical Education of all States/UTs
• State counselling authorities

The authorities have been requested to disseminate the information among officials involved in BDS counselling and allotment.

What BDS Aspirants Should Check

Candidates seeking BDS admission 2026-27 should verify the following before participating in counselling:

1. Check their Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Biotechnology aggregate marks.
2. Confirm that they have passed each required subject individually.
3. Ensure that English has been passed individually.
4. Check the applicable category-wise PCB percentage requirement.
5. Confirm that they meet the prescribed NEET eligibility and merit requirements.
6. Keep their qualifying examination marksheet ready for document verification.
7. Follow the eligibility and document-verification requirements of the respective counselling authority.

Candidates should also check the specific instructions issued by the relevant MCC or State/UT counselling authority for BDS admission.

For Counselling & Admission Guidance, Call or WhatsApp: 9340961481

For the latest updates on BDS admission, NEET UG counselling, dental college admissions, eligibility criteria, seat allotment and counselling schedules, stay connected with AdmissionDuniya.Click here