BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) is a 5-years undergraduate program and the only approved professional dental course in India. It is a compulsory course for the students aspiring to work as dentists at government or private hospitals. BDS is one of the most popular medical courses after MBBS in India.

BDS mainly focuses on training and introducing the students to the dental sciences and surgeries.The 5-year program involves 4 years of classroom education and 1 year of compulsory rotating internship. 

The degree is regulated by the Dental Council of India ( DCI ). The various subjects taught in the program include Dental Histology, Oral Pathology, Oral Surgery, etc.

It is necessary for the students to register themselves in the Dental Council of India which regulates the BDS course so that they become eligible to practise their profession after the completion of their degree.

In India, for admission to BDS courses, it is mandatory for students to qualify a 10+2 exam or an equivalent degree with at least 85% from a recognised institute. 

There is generally only one entrance exam conducted all over India. The entrance exam is named National Eligibility cum Entrance Exam ( NEET ) and is held as a national level exam once a year.