In a significant, long-pending move aimed at overhauling dental education and regulation in the country, the government has constituted the National Dental Commission (NDC), replacing the long-standing Dental Council of India (DCI).
The notification, issued on March 19, brings into force a new regulatory framework designed to enhance quality, transparency, and accountability in dental education and oral healthcare.
With the implementation of the new law, the Dentists Act, 1948, stands repealed, and the DCI has been dissolved with immediate effect. The move marks a decisive shift from the earlier elected regulatory structure to a more streamlined and performance-driven system aligned with global standards.
The newly formed National Dental Commission will function as the apex body responsible for regulating dental education, professional conduct, and institutional standards across the country. It will also focus on improving access to affordable oral healthcare, an area that has often remained underemphasized in public health planning.
To ensure specialized and efficient functioning, the Commission will be supported by three autonomous boards. The Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dental Education Board will oversee academic standards and curriculum design, while the Dental Assessment and Rating Board will regulate accreditation and carry out institutional assessments. The Ethics and Dental Registration Board will be tasked with maintaining professional standards and overseeing the registration of practitioners.
Dr. Sanjay Tewari has been appointed Chairperson of the Commission, with Dr. Mousumi Goswami serving as a part-time member. Among other key appointments, Dr. Chandrashekhar Janakiram will head the Education Board; Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Nanda Kishore Sahoo will lead the Assessment and Rating Board; and Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Tapas Kumar Bandyopadhyay will serve on the Ethics and Registration Board. Shri Arindam Modak has been appointed Secretary to the Commission.
Officials indicated that the NDC would introduce long-overdue regulatory reforms in dental education, including standardized assessment mechanisms, improved institutional accountability, and a greater emphasis on research and human resource planning. The Commission will also frame guidelines for fee regulation in private dental colleges—a move expected to bring greater transparency and address concerns related to affordability.
In addition to academic regulation, the NDC will establish norms for community dental care, aiming to expand access to essential oral health services. Experts have often pointed to significant disparities in dental care availability, particularly between urban and rural areas, and the new framework seeks to address these gaps through better planning and oversight.
The Commission’s mandate includes framing regulations under the Act, conducting ratings of dental institutions, evaluating workforce requirements, and promoting research aligned with national health priorities. By separating regulatory functions across dedicated boards, the system is expected to reduce conflicts of interest and improve governance outcomes.
The reform is part of a broader effort to modernize professional education regulators in India. Observers note that the success of the new framework will depend on effective implementation and coordination among its constituent bodies.
Calling it a much-needed initiative, Dr. O.P. Kharbanda—former Chief of the Centre for Dental Education and Research at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, and current Director of the Cleft Care Centre, Delhi—said the new structure marks a significant step forward for the profession by introducing functional specialization in regulation and governance.
“The new framework provides for separate leadership in key areas such as curriculum, accreditation, and registration, along with dedicated boards focusing on scientific advancement. There will be a Chairperson heading the Commission, supported by autonomous boards, each led by domain experts who are highly accomplished in their respective fields. This is expected to strengthen the sector and, in turn, benefit the public at large,” added Dr. Kharbanda.
Additionally, a former DCI member, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, "The newly constituted Commission has a formidable task ahead as it seeks to address deep structural imbalances in the sector."
The dental landscape in India is marked by a paradox of overall surplus and regional scarcity. With an estimated ratio of one dentist for every 3,846 people—significantly higher than the World Health Organization norm of 1:7,500—the country appears, on paper, to have an oversupply of dental professionals.
"However, this aggregate figure conceals a stark disparity. While urban centers and metropolitan cities are witnessing saturation, rural and underserved regions continue to face an acute shortage of dental care services, as a majority of practitioners remain concentrated in cities. Bridging this urban-rural divide, ensuring equitable distribution of the workforce, and aligning training with public health needs will be among the key challenges before the Commission," said the former DCI member.
