National Dental Commission replaces Dental Council of India to reform dental education

Key facts

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) constituted the National Dental Commission (NDC) through a notification on 19 March 2026.
• The NDC replaces the dissolved Dental Council of India (DCI) and repeals the Dentists Act.
• Three autonomous boards are established under the NDC: Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dental Education Board, Dental Assessment and Rating Board, and Ethics and Dental Registration Board.
• Dr. Sanjay Tewari is appointed Chairperson of the NDC and Dr. Mousumi Goswami as part-time member.
• Dr. Chandrashekhar Janakiram heads the Education Board and Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Nanda Kishore Sahoo heads the Assessment and Rating Board.
• The NDC will frame regulations, assess and rate dental institutions, promote research, set education and ethics standards, and develop fee regulation guidelines for private dental colleges.