New Delhi: The Government of India constituted the National Dental Commission to replace the Dental Council of India and reform dental education and regulation.
The government issued notifications on 19 March 2026, and the new framework took effect immediately. The move aims to create a transparent and accountable regulatory system.
Officials said the reform will introduce long-pending changes in dental education. It will also improve access to affordable oral healthcare across the country.
The new system replaces the earlier elected structure with a quality-driven model. It focuses on strengthening standards in education, ethics and institutional performance.
The government appointed Dr Sanjay Tewari as Chairperson, while Dr Mousumi Goswami will serve as a part-time member.
National Dental Commission introduces new regulatory boards
The government also set up three autonomous boards under the new framework. These bodies will handle education, assessment and professional conduct.
The Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dental Education Board will oversee academic standards. Dr Chandrashekhar Janakiram will head the board as President.
The Dental Assessment and Rating Board will regulate accreditation and institutional evaluation. Lt Gen (Retd.) Nanda Kishore Sahoo will lead this body.
The Ethics and Dental Registration Board will manage professional conduct and dentist registration. Lt Gen (Retd.) Tapas Kumar Bandyopadhyay and Dr Usha Hegde will serve as members.
In addition, Shri Arindam Modak will head the Secretariat as Secretary.
The Commission will frame regulations, assess institutions and promote research. It will also set fee guidelines for private colleges and define standards for community care.
With the new law in force, the Dentists Act, 1948 stands repealed. As a result, the Dental Council of India has been dissolved.
