50 percent BDS seats lying vacant

As per the Dental Council of India (DCI), nearly 50% of BDS seats are lying vacant this year.  DCI attributes it to NEET, which is based on CBSE pattern. Due to curriculum differences, students of other boards have found it difficult to score well in NEET.  DCI has  recieved number of representations from various states including from dental colleges requesting it to lower the percentile requirted for admissions.  

This year, students from the General category required to get a minimum of 50% percentile to qualify for admission.  In case of Reserved candidates, this number was 40%.

As per a report cited in India Today, given the poor intake at dental colleges, the DCI has written to the HRD ministry to consider lowering the minimam qualification from 50% to 40% for General category and to 30% for Reserved category students.

The DCI has requested for this special exemption only for this years admissions, i.e. 2016-17.