Maharashtra is one of the most sought-after states for NEET MDS admissions, offering a variety of government and private dental colleges. However, the counselling process in Maharashtra can be complex, requiring a clear understanding of eligibility criteria, seat types, and admission procedures.
This guide provides a step-by-step overview of Neet MDS counselling in Maharashtra to help candidates navigate the process efficiently.
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Contents
NEET MDS Counselling 2025 Schedule
The counseling schedule was released on June 19, 2025. According the schedule released, the counseling starts from June 24, 2025 for AIQ and Central Universities. Below is the detailed schedule for NEET MDS Counselling 2025:
| S.No. | Schedule for Admission | All India Quota/ Deemed & Central Universities | Sharing of Joined candidates Data by MCC | State Counselling | Sharing of Joined candidates Data by state DMEs/ State Counselling Authorities* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1st Round of Counselling | 24th June, 2025 to 3rd July, 2025 | 9th July to 11th July, 2025 | 1st July, 2025 to 8th July, 2025 | 14th July, 2025 |
| 2 | Last date of Joining | 8th July, 2025 | – | 13th July, 2025 | – |
| 3 | 2nd Round of Counselling | 12th July, 2025 to 18th July, 2025 | 28th July to 30th July, 2025 | 16th July, 2025 to 27th July, 2025 | 4th Aug, 2025 |
| 4 | Last date of Joining | 27th July, 2025 | – | 3rd Aug., 2025 | – |
| 5 | Round-3 | 1st Aug, 2025 to 8th Aug, 2025 | 17th Aug to 18th Aug, 2025 | 6th Aug, 2025 to 16th Aug, 2025 | 21st Aug, 2025 |
| 6 | Last date of Joining | 16th Aug, 2025 | – | 20th Aug, 2025 | – |
| 7 | Stray Vacancy | 19th Aug, 2025 to 23rd Aug, 2025 | – | 22nd Aug, 2025 to 25th Aug, 2025 | – |
| 8 | Last date of Joining | 30th Aug, 2025 | – | 30th Aug, 2025 | – |
| 9 | Commencement of Academic Session for MDS Courses | 25th July, 2025 | |||
Note: For ensuring faithful obedience of time schedule and also keeping in view the limited time available for conducting counselling, all participating institutes/colleges are directed to treat all Saturdays/ Sundays and Gazetted Holidays as working days.
*: The data of joined candidates will be shared by DMEs/ State Counseling Authorities to MCC for weeding out during seat processing of Round-3.
NEET MDS Counseling in Maharashtra Round 3 Dates
| SL No | Description | Dates |
| 1. | Last Date to cancel Round 1/ Round 2 joined seat | 10th August 2025 |
| 2. | Date of online registration | 6th August 2025 to 9th August 2025 |
| 3. | Payment of registration fee and Security Fee | 6th August 2025 to 9th August 2025 |
| 4. | Uploading of required Documents in PDF | 6th August 2025 to 9th August 2025 |
| 5. | Publication of provisional seat matrix | 10th August 2025 |
| 6. | Publication of combined Provisional State Merit List | 10th August 2025 |
| 7. | Publication of Seat Matrix | 11th August 2025 |
Eligibility Criteria for Maharashtra NEET MDS Counselling
Before applying for counselling, candidates must ensure they meet the eligibility requirements. The key eligibility criteria are:
- Domicile and Educational Qualification
- Candidates who are domiciled in Maharashtra and have completed their BDS from Maharashtra are eligible for counselling.
- Candidates from Maharashtra who have completed their BDS outside Maharashtra are not eligible for state quota seats.
- Candidates who are not domiciled in Maharashtra but have completed their BDS from Maharashtra are eligible to participate.
- Closed State Policy
- Maharashtra follows a closed state policy, meaning students from other states are not eligible for any seats, including state quota and institutional quota.
- The only exception is for candidates applying under the NRI category.
- NEET MDS Qualification
- Candidates must have appeared for NEET MDS and secured the qualifying percentile to be eligible for counselling. If the cutoff is revised, additional candidates may become eligible.
Also Check: MDS Admission in Maharashtra
Steps for Maharashtra MDS Counselling
Maharashtra MDS counselling follows a structured process. Here are the essential steps:
- Visit the Official Website
- Candidates must check mahacet.org regularly for notifications and updates.
- Online Registration
- Register on the official website within the given timeline.
- Pay the non-refundable application fee of ₹3,000.
- Security Deposit Payment
- ₹5,000 for government seats.
- ₹1,00,000 for private seats.
- Publication of Merit List
- After registration, the authorities release a state merit list of all eligible candidates.
- Choice Filling and Seat Allotment
- Candidates must select and prioritize their preferred colleges and branches.
- Maharashtra offers three types of seats:
- State Quota Seats (available in government and some private colleges at a lower fee).
- Institutional Quota Seats (private college seats).
- NRI Quota Seats (reserved for NRI candidates).
- Based on preferences and rank, a provisional allotment list is released.
- Reporting and Admission Process
- Once a seat is allotted, candidates must report to the respective college for document verification.
- Payment of fees is done directly at the college (there is no prior online payment option in Maharashtra counselling).
- Candidates from reserved categories (OBC, SC, ST) must ensure they have all the required documents, including domicile and caste certificates.
NEET MDS Cut-Off 2025
The NBEMS (National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences) has released the NEET MDS 2025 result along with the category-wise qualifying cut-off. The cut-off marks are determined based on the number of applicants, difficulty level of the exam, and total seats available.
NEET MDS 2025 Cut-Off Table
| Category | Qualifying Criteria | NEET MDS 2025 Cut-Off (Out of 960) |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 50th Percentile | 261 |
| General PwBD | 45th Percentile | 244 |
| SC/ST/OBC | 40th Percentile | 227 |
| SC/ST/OBC PwBD | 40th Percentile | 227 |
NEET MDS Revised Cut-Off 2025
| Category | Qualifying Criteria | NEET MDS 2025 Cut-Off (Out of 960) |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 50th Percentile | 30.137 |
| General PwBD | 45th Percentile | 25.137 |
| SC/ST/OBC | 40th Percentile | 20.137 |
Also Read: NEET MDS Cut-off & Revised Cut-off Trend Analysis for 2025
Seat Upgradation and Exit Policy
- Candidates allotted a seat in Round 1 can either accept the seat or opt for upgradation in subsequent rounds.
- Free exit is allowed after Round 1, meaning candidates can withdraw without penalties.
- Round 2 has no free exit, and failure to take admission results in the forfeiture of the security deposit.
- If a candidate is allotted a seat in the Mop-Up Round, they must take admission. Leftover seats are converted into institutional quota seats in the stray vacancy round.
Also Read: MDS Fees in Private Colleges in India
Conclusion
Maharashtra NEET MDS counselling involves multiple steps, including eligibility verification, registration, choice filling, and seat allotment. Understanding the process ensures that candidates make informed decisions regarding their college and branch selection. In Part 2 of this guide, we will discuss the fee structure of Maharashtra colleges and fee capping policies.
What are the eligibility criteria for Maharashtra NEET MDS Counselling?
Students have to qualify the NEET MDS
How many rounds of counselling are there?
There are 3 rounds of counselling: Round 1, Round 2, and mock up.
What if we don’t get a seat in Round 1?
You can go for Round 2 and Mock up round
How can I register for NEET MDS counselling in Maharashtra?
Through the official CET cell of Maharashtra.
