In a major regulatory reform for India’s dental sector, the Government of India has constituted the National Dental Commission along with three autonomous boards, formally replacing the Dental Council of India. Notifications announcing the new framework were issued on 19 March 2026 and the commission has come into effect from the same date, marking a significant shift in the regulation of dental education and the dental profession in the country.
The new regulatory structure is based on the National Dental Commission Act, 2023, which was enacted on 11 August 2023 and came into force on 29 February 2024. The law repeals the Dentists Act, 1948 and replaces the earlier framework with a system designed to improve quality, transparency and accountability in dental education. The reform is expected to strengthen training standards while also expanding access to affordable oral healthcare services across India.
Health policy experts describe the move as a structural overhaul rather than a routine administrative change. The earlier system, which was largely based on an elected regulatory structure, has been replaced by a commission model that places greater emphasis on performance assessment, accreditation and institutional accountability. Officials say the new framework will introduce long pending reforms in curriculum quality, faculty standards and regulatory oversight, particularly in private dental colleges.
To support the functioning of the commission, three autonomous boards have been constituted. The Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dental Education Board will oversee academic standards and curriculum development, while the Dental Assessment and Rating Board will be responsible for institutional accreditation and performance evaluation. The Ethics and Dental Registration Board will regulate professional conduct and maintain the national register of dental practitioners.
Distinguished professionals from both the academic and clinical sectors have been appointed to lead the commission and its boards. Dr Sanjay Tewari has been appointed chairperson of the National Dental Commission, while Dr Mousumi Goswami will serve as a part time member. The Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dental Education Board will be headed by Dr Chandrashekhar Janakiram as president, supported by Dr Shailesh Madhav Lele as whole time member and Dr Nagaraj M as part time member.
The Dental Assessment and Rating Board will be led by Lt Gen Nanda Kishore Sahoo as president, with Dr Himanshu Aeran as whole time member and Dr Parimala Tyagi as part time member. Meanwhile, the Ethics and Dental Registration Board will include Lt Gen Tapas Kumar Bandyopadhyay and Dr Usha Hegde as whole time members, with Dr Swarga Jyoti Das serving as part time member. Shri Arindam Modak has been appointed secretary to the commission and will head the secretariat.
According to officials, the National Dental Commission will frame regulations to implement the provisions of the Act, conduct rating and assessment of dental institutions, evaluate human resources and promote dental research. It will also frame guidelines for fee regulation in private dental colleges and establish standards for community dental care, professional ethics and research quality. The commission is expected to play a key role in aligning India’s dental education system with global standards while addressing long standing concerns around quality and affordability.
With the coming into force of the new framework from 19 March 2026, the Dentists Act, 1948 has been repealed and the Dental Council of India has been formally dissolved. Health sector observers say the reform could reshape dental education and oral healthcare delivery in India over the next decade, particularly if the new assessment and rating system is implemented effectively.
