New Delhi, March 20 – The government announced on Friday that it has established the National Dental Commission (NDC), along with three autonomous boards, replacing the Dental Council of India (DCI).
The notifications regarding this were issued on March 19, and the NDC framework comes into effect from the same date, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health.
This is being hailed as a major reform aimed at improving the quality of dental education and aligning it with global standards.
With the coming into force of the NDC Act on March 19, 2026, the Dentists Act, 1948, will be repealed, and the Dental Council of India will be dissolved with effect from the same date, the ministry said in a statement.
Dr. Sanjay Tewari has been appointed as the Chairperson of the NDC, and Dr. Mousumi Goswami as its Part-Time Member, according to the ministry.
To support the functioning of the Commission, three autonomous bodies have been established: an Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dental Education Board to oversee dental education; a Dental Assessment and Rating Board to regulate accreditation and institutional assessment; and an Ethics and Dental Registration Board to govern the professional conduct and registration of dentists.
The National Dental Commission will formulate regulations to implement the provisions of the Act; conduct the rating and assessment of dental institutions; evaluate human resources and promote dental research; formulate guidelines for fee regulation in private dental colleges; and establish standards for community dental care, education, research, and professional ethics.
According to the ministry, this reform marks a decisive shift towards a transparent, quality-driven, and accountable regulatory framework, replacing the previous elected structure.
The Commission will introduce essential and long-overdue regulatory reforms in dental education, and enhance access to affordable oral healthcare across the country, it added.
