Eligibility Criteria

• (a) The candidate must be a citizen of India.
• (b) Age Limit : Maximum permissible age for SSC will be 45 years as on 31 December, 2026.
• (c) Qualification : Short Service Commission in Army Dental Corps is open to candidates possessing requisite qualifications, BDS/MDS from a College/University recognized by the Dental Council of India (DCI). The college should be recognized for the respective batch/year in which the candidate has graduated. Candidates must have registered themselves as Registered Dental Practitioners with any State Dental Council. Candidates should have secured a mandatory min of 55% marks in final year BDS* (aggregate of all subjects)/ should have an MDS Degree.
• (d) Candidates should have completed one-year compulsory rotatory internship by 30 Jun 2026. No condonation of internship of one-year period shall be accepted except:
  • (i) Students of the batch admitted during the academic session 2007-2008 & have completed four & a half year BDS course along with 06 months’ compulsory rotatory internship and
  • (ii) Students admitted during the academic session 2006-2007 at Rajah Muthiah Dental College, Annamalai University & have completed 05 yrs BDS Course without internship.
• (e) Permanent or Provisional Dental Registration certificate of the candidate from State Dental Council /DCI should be valid at least up to 31 Dec 2026. (f) Candidate must have mandatorily appeared in the National Eligibility-cumEntrance Test, NEET (MDS) - 2026 conducted by National Board of Examinations (NBE), New Delhi, on 02 May, 2026

• For Male Candidates : Minimum Height : 157 CMS (For Hill and Northeastern States Candidates : 152 CMS)
• For Female Candidates : Minimum Height : 152 CMS (For Hill and Northeastern States Candidates : 147 CMS)

How to Apply?

• Check Eligibility : Ensure you are an Indian citizen, aged 45 or younger as of 31 December, 2026, possess a recognized BDS/MDS degree, hold valid State Dental Council/DCI registration, and have appeared in NEET (MDS)-2026.

• Gather Required Documents : Collect your Class X/birth certificate, NEET (MDS)-2026 admit card and score card, final year BDS mark sheets (minimum 55% aggregate) or MDS degree, provisional/degree pass certificate, internship completion certificate, and valid State Dental Council registration.

• Prepare Additional Paperwork : Keep ready your nationality/domicile certificate, name change notification (if applicable), employer No Objection Certificate (if employed), self-certified undertaking from page 16 or 17 of the info brochure, and recent passport-size photographs.

• Register Online : Visit the official website at www.join.afms.gov.in to fill out your online application form matching your NEET (MDS)-2026 details.   

• Pay Application Fee : Complete the online payment of Rs 200/- towards the DGAFMS Application Processing Fee (APF) before final submission.

• Submit Application : Ensure your completed online application along with all required document uploads is successfully submitted on or before 22 October, 2026.

Selection Process

• Screening for Interview :: Applications are shortlisted based on marks scored in NEET (MDS)-2026, with candidates called for interview in a ratio of 1:10 (ten candidates per advertised vacancy).

• Interview Process : Shortlisted candidates appear before a Selection Board at New Delhi, and the final merit list is determined entirely by performance in the interview.

• Medical Examination : Candidates provisionally placed on the merit list undergo a detailed medical examination by a specially constituted Armed Forces Medical Board to ascertain fitness.