Govt sets up National Dental Commission, replacing DCI; new body will govern education, practice

The Government of India has set up the National Dental Commission (NDC), replacing the existing Dental Council of India (DCI). The new framework is in effect from March 19, 2026, and aims to make regulation more transparent, accountable, and focused on quality. The reform is expected to bring major changes in how dental colleges are managed, checked, and regulated across the country.

Three independent boards have been set up under the NDC to handle different parts of dental education and regulation.

• Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dental Education Board – will oversee dental courses and curriculum
• Dental Assessment and Rating Board – will handle accreditation and evaluation of institutions
• Ethics and Dental Registration Board – will look after the professional conduct and registration of dentists

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Like the National Medical Commission, the NDC is an autonomous statutory body under the ministry of health and family welfare.

NDC replaces DCI

According to the PIB statement, the commission will make rules for dental education, check and review institutions, promote research, and set guidelines for fees in private dental colleges. It will also work to improve community dental care and maintain professional ethics.

The first chairperson of the NDC will be Dr Sanjay Tewari, with Arindam Modak as Secretary. Dr Chandrashekhar Janakiram will head the education board; Nanda Kishore Sahoo, the assessment and rating board; and Tapas Kumar Bandyopadhyay, the ethics and registration board.

Each board has one full-time member—one in the education board, one in the assessment board, and two in the ethics board—and all three boards also have one part-time member each.

“This reform brings a move to a more transparent, quality-focused, and accountable system, replacing the earlier setup. It will also bring needed changes in dental education and improve access to affordable dental care across the country,” the PIB statement said.

The PIB statement added that with the new law coming into effect, the Dentists Act, 1948, has been repealed and the Dental Council of India has been dissolved.