After the announcement of NEET UG 2025 results, students across the country are now looking for admission opportunities in medical and dental colleges. While MBBS remains the top choice, BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) is a popular and respected alternative among aspirants. This guide explains the minimum marks required for BDS admission in government and private dental colleges after the NEET 2025 results.
What is BDS?
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) is a 5-year undergraduate course (including a one-year internship) that prepares students to become dentists. Like MBBS, admission to BDS courses is only possible through NEET UG.
NEET 2025 Cutoff for BDS Admission
The NEET 2025 qualifying cutoff is the minimum percentile a candidate must score to become eligible for BDS admission. The National Testing Agency (NTA) released the following qualifying percentiles and expected cutoff marks:
| NEET UG Counselling Guide 2025 | |
|---|---|
| State-wise MBBS/BDS Counselling Guide eBook 2025 | 📥 Download |
| MCC NEET UG Counselling Guide eBook 2025 | 📥 Download |
| AACCC AYUSH NEET Counselling Guide eBook 2025 | 📥 Download |
| Category | Qualifying Percentile | Cutoff Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 50th | 686–144 |
| OBC/SC/ST | 40th | 143–113 |
| UR-PwD | 45th | 143–127 |
Note: These are minimum qualifying scores. Actual admission requires higher marks depending on the type of college and category.
Minimum NEET Marks for BDS Admission in Government Colleges (2025)
For BDS seats in government dental colleges, students generally need higher NEET scores:
Join NEET News 2025 | Category | Safe Score for BDS Govt. College |
|---|---|
| General | 450 – 500+ |
| OBC | 420 – 470+ |
| SC | 350 – 420+ |
| ST | 320 – 400+ |
These are average figures based on previous years and may vary state-wise depending on cutoffs.
Minimum NEET Marks for BDS in Private Colleges
BDS seats in private dental colleges are easier to secure compared to government colleges:
- General/OBC Candidates: 300 – 400+ marks
- SC/ST Candidates: 250 – 350+ marks
Most private colleges consider NEET-qualified candidates who have scored above the basic cutoff. However, top private colleges may require higher marks (400+).
State-Wise Admission Through NEET
BDS seats are allotted through:
- All India Quota (15%) – Conducted by MCC (Medical Counselling Committee)
- State Quota (85%) – Conducted by respective state counselling authorities
Each state releases its merit list and cutoff, so students must participate in state-level counselling as well.
State-wise BDS Cutoff (Expected) – NEET UG 2025
Below is an estimated cutoff range for BDS admission in government dental colleges for some major Indian states (based on previous trends):
| State | Category | Expected Cutoff for Govt BDS (Marks) |
|---|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | General | 470 – 500 |
| Maharashtra | General | 450 – 480 |
| Rajasthan | General | 460 – 490 |
| Tamil Nadu | General | 440 – 470 |
| Karnataka | General | 430 – 460 |
| Madhya Pradesh | General | 440 – 470 |
| West Bengal | General | 440 – 470 |
| Bihar | General | 450 – 480 |
| Gujarat | General | 440 – 470 |
| Delhi | General | 490 – 510 |
Note: These are estimated figures. Final cutoffs will depend on seat availability, counselling rounds, and number of applicants in 2025.
Top Dental Colleges Accepting 300–400 Marks (Private/Deemed Universities)
Here are a few well-known private/deemed dental colleges where students with 300–400 NEET marks can explore BDS admission:
- Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore/Udupi (Karnataka)
- Sri Ramachandra Dental College, Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
- Saveetha Dental College, Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
- Dr. D.Y. Patil Dental College, Pune (Maharashtra)
- Krishna Institute of Dental Sciences, Karad (Maharashtra)
- Rama Dental College, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh)
- KLE VK Institute of Dental Sciences, Belgaum (Karnataka)
- Santosh Dental College, Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh)
These colleges may also offer management/NRI quota seats with relaxed NEET mark criteria (above 150–200).
Tips for BDS Aspirants After NEET 2025
- Participate in both AIQ and State counselling.
- Apply to multiple private and deemed universities.
- Keep documents ready for verification.
- Monitor cutoffs and counselling dates carefully.
Note: If you have scored above 400 marks in NEET 2025, your chances of getting a BDS seat in a government college are decent, especially under reserved categories. Even if your marks are between 250 and 400, you can still secure admission in private dental colleges, depending on the state and category.
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