Overview
- Government notifications dated March 19 made the National Dental Commission operational the same day, repealing the Dentists Act, 1948 and dissolving the Dental Council of India.
- The new regulator is structured around three autonomous boards covering education standards, institutional assessment and rating, and professional conduct and registration.
- Dr Sanjay Tewari has been named chairperson, with board leaders including Dr Chandrashekhar Janakiram and Lt Gen (Retd.) Nanda Kishore Sahoo, and Arindam Modak appointed as Secretary to the Commission.
- The commission will frame regulations to implement the Act, conduct assessments and ratings of dental institutions, evaluate human resources and promote dental research.
- It is also tasked with issuing fee-guideline frameworks for private dental colleges and setting standards for community dental care and professional ethics.