The Government of India has officially constituted the National Dental Commission (NDC), replacing the 78-year-old Dental Council of India (DCI) to overhaul the country’s dental education and healthcare quality. Effective from 19 March 2026, the NDC Act repeals the Dentists Act of 1948, transitioning from an elected structure to a transparent, appointed regulatory framework led by Chairperson Dr. Sanjay Tewari.
The NDC plays a role in moving the regulatory environment from a legacy "elected" model to an "appointed" expert-led framework that emphasises transparency and accountability.
The Commission is supported by three new autonomous boards:
Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dental Education Board – to oversee dental education
Dental Assessment and Rating Board – to regulate accreditation and institutional assessment
Ethics and Dental Registration Board – to govern professional conduct and registration of dentists
The NDC will also perform following functions:
Frame regulations to implement the provisions of the Act
Conduct rating and assessment of dental institutions
Evaluate human resources and promote dental research
Frame guidelines for fee regulation in private dental colleges
Establish standards for community dental care, education, research, and professional ethics
Policy Relevance: Transforming Indian Healthcare Quality
Scaling Professional Standards: By replacing the 1948 Act, policymakers are reflecting growth in the need for a modern legal framework that addresses contemporary dental challenges like digital dentistry and advanced research.
Internalising Affordability: The mandate for fee regulation in private colleges plays a role in ensuring that dental education remains accessible to meritorious students regardless of economic background.
Bypassing Institutional Inefficiency: The Assessment and Rating Board is supported by the need to weed out sub-standard dental colleges through rigorous, data-driven accreditation processes.
Relevant Question for Indian Policy Stakeholders: What specific technical criteria will the Ethics and Dental Registration Board use to integrate Aadhaar-based authentication for the national register of dentists?
Follow the Full Coverage Here: Government Constitutes National Dental Commission to Transform Dental Education and Strengthen Healthcare Quality
