The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Master of Dental Surgery (NEET-MDS) 2024, which was earlier scheduled to be held on January 23, 2024, is likely to be postponed to the third week of March, according to official sources. The NEET-MDS is the eligibility cum ranking examination for admission to various MDS courses in the colleges of India.

The postponement of the NEET-MDS is in line with the decision to reschedule the NEET-PG 2024, which was earlier notified to be held on March 3, 2024, but has been shifted to July 7, 2024. The reason for the delay in the conduct of the exams is the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the need to ensure the safety and well-being of the candidates.

The official announcement regarding the new date of the NEET-MDS is expected to be made soon by the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), which is the conducting body of the exam. The sources said that the NEET-MDS is likely to be held on March 18, 2024, but the final confirmation will be given by the NBEMS.

The candidates who have applied for the NEET-MDS 2024 are advised to keep checking the official website of NBEMS, nbe.edu.in, for the latest updates and information regarding the exam. The candidates will also be informed about the revised schedule through SMS and email.

The NEET-MDS 2024 will be a computer-based test consisting of 240 multiple choice questions. The duration of the exam will be three hours. The syllabus of the exam will be as per the BDS course regulations prescribed by the Dental Council of India. The exam will cover various subjects such as general anatomy, general medicine, general surgery, dental anatomy, dental materials, oral pathology, oral medicine, pedodontics, orthodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, oral surgery, and public health dentistry.

The candidates who qualify the NEET-MDS 2024 will be eligible to participate in the counselling process for admission to various MDS courses. The counselling will be conducted by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on behalf of the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). The candidates will have to register online and fill their choices of colleges and courses. The seat allotment will be done on the basis of the merit rank, preferences, and availability of seats.

The candidates can check the detailed information bulletin, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, syllabus, and seat matrix for the NEET-MDS 2024 on the official website of NBEMS.