NEET MDS 2025 Cutoff Reduced, Opening Doors for More Aspirants

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has reduced the NEET MDS 2025 qualifying percentile by 19.863, providing a new opportunity for thousands of dental aspirants. This decision, aimed at filling vacant postgraduate seats, has revised the cutoff scores for all categories. With the fourth and final round of counselling set to begin, this article provides a detailed breakdown of the new cutoffs, their implications, and the next steps for candidates.

In a major development for the dental medical education landscape in India, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has officially announced a reduction in the qualifying percentile for NEET MDS 2025. The percentile has been uniformly lowered by 19.863 for all categories, a decision that comes in response to a large number of vacant postgraduate seats in various dental colleges across the country. This move has been widely welcomed by the dental fraternity and, more importantly, by thousands of aspiring students who had just missed the previous qualifying criteria.

The original NEET MDS 2025 results, which were declared on May 15, 2025, had a higher cutoff, leaving many candidates ineligible for the counselling process. The revised cutoff, as per the official notification from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, is a lifeline for these dental aspirants. This reduction will make many previously disqualified candidates eligible to participate in the remaining rounds of counselling. It's a clear signal that the authorities are committed to ensuring that seats in dental colleges are filled by deserving candidates who have demonstrated a certain level of competency. For more on this and other important medical entrance exams, be sure to follow Only Education News.

Revised Category-wise Cutoffs and Their Impact on Dental Aspirants

The reduction in the NEET MDS 2025 cutoff has led to a significant change in the minimum qualifying percentiles and scores for all categories. This will have a direct impact on the ongoing counselling process, particularly the upcoming final round.

• Revised Qualifying Percentile for General (UR/EWS): The new qualifying percentile for candidates in the General and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) categories is now 30.137, a substantial reduction from the previous 50th percentile. This change brings the corresponding cutoff score down to 197 out of 960, making it possible for a large number of medical aspirants to now be considered for admission.
• Revised Qualifying Percentile for General-PwBD: For General-Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) candidates, the qualifying percentile has been lowered to 25.137 from the previous 45th percentile. This revised criterion means the new cutoff score is 182 out of 960.
• Revised Qualifying Percentile for SC, ST, OBC: Candidates from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC), including PwBD candidates, now have a revised qualifying percentile of 20.137. This is a drop from the original 40th percentile, with the new cutoff score being 168 out of 960.

This strategic move is a clear response to the perennial challenge of vacant postgraduate seats in dental colleges. By expanding the eligibility pool, the NBEMS and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare aim to ensure that more seats are filled, thereby strengthening the dental medical education system.

Counselling and Next Steps for Eligible Candidates

The timing of this announcement is particularly crucial as it coincides with the final stages of the NEET MDS 2025 counselling process. The fourth and final round of counselling is scheduled to begin on August 19, 2025. All candidates who are now eligible due to the reduced cutoff must immediately check their status and prepare for the upcoming round.

• New Eligibility: Candidates who previously did not qualify based on the original percentile should re-check their results. They are now eligible to register and participate in the remaining rounds of counselling. This is a critical opportunity for a medical career in dentistry.
• Revised Merit List: The NBEMS has been directed to release a revised merit list for NEET MDS 2025 based on the new cutoff percentiles. Candidates should regularly check the official website of the NBEMS (natboard.edu.in) and the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) (mcc.nic.in) for updates.
• Fresh Registration: The counselling authority may open a fresh registration and choice-filling window for the final round. All newly eligible aspiring students must participate in this process to be considered for seat allotment.

The competition in the final rounds of counselling is expected to be high, and it is imperative that candidates carefully choose their preferences. This decision is a positive step for thousands of hopefuls, offering them a second chance to pursue their postgraduate dental medical education. For more details on the various dental courses and all counselling procedures, you can visit https://www.onlyeducation.in/exams-list/medical.