More dental graduates can now take part in MDS counselling. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has lowered the NEET MDS 2026 qualifying percentile for every category, and NBEMS has published the revised cut-off scores. State counselling bodies such as Atal Medical and Research University (AMRU), Himachal Pradesh, may now need to reopen or revise their Round 3 process. Here is what is confirmed and what is not, as of 15 October 2026.

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What Is Confirmed

  • The Ministry's communication dated 12 October 2026 reduces the qualifying percentile by 20.576 points for each category.
  • The change applies to NEET MDS 2026 admissions for the 2026-27 session.
  • NBEMS says the ranks published on 2 June 2026 do not change.
  • AMRU's counselling page lists a Round 3 MDS schedule and a revised Round 3 MDS merit list for 2026.

Revised NEET MDS 2026 Qualifying Cut-Off

CategoryEarlier percentile (marks)Revised percentile (marks, out of 960)
General / EWS50th (308)29.424th (234)
General-PwBD45th (289)24.424th (218)
SC / ST / OBC (incl. their PwBD)40th (271)19.424th (200)

These are qualifying cut-offs, not admission cut-offs. Closing ranks for each college and specialty depend on seats and choices, and none have been published for the revised pool.

AMRU Himachal Pradesh Round 3: Status

One report says AMRU opened fresh Round 3 MDS registration on 7 October 2026 for vacant seats. That was before the cut-off reduction. I could not find an AMRU notice that reschedules Round 3 specifically because of the reduction. When AMRU cut the NEET PG cut-off earlier in 2026, it invited fresh applications and extended choice filling until a new schedule came out. A similar step is possible here, but it is not confirmed. Check the AMRU counselling notifications page before acting.

What Candidates Should Do Now

  1. Compare your NEET MDS 2026 score with the revised cut-off for your category.
  2. Watch the AMRU counselling notifications page for a revised Round 3 schedule or fresh registration notice.
  3. Keep your scorecard, BDS marksheets, internship certificate and domicile or category certificates ready.
  4. If you already hold a Round 3 seat, do not skip reporting until AMRU says so in writing.

Not Yet Confirmed

  • AMRU's revised Round 3 registration, choice-filling and allotment dates.
  • Whether MCC will issue a fresh national schedule after the reduction.
  • The number of extra candidates who become eligible.
  • Seat vacancy numbers for the revised round.

Related Reading

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