The National Dental Commission (NDC) has recently issued an important circular reinforcing that no institution, university, hospital, trust, or private organisation can conduct or advertise dental courses, certificate programmes, diploma courses, fellowships, or degrees without prior approval from the NDC under the National Dental Commission Act, 2023.
THE REALITY OF THE NEW MANDATE
According to the circular dated 1 July, 2026, any unauthorised dental programme conducted without NDC approval will not be recognised. The board observed that several institutions and private organisations were advertising and running B.Sc., M.Sc., Diploma, and fellowship courses in dentistry without statutory approval.
The NDC has also warned that institutions conducting such courses may face regulatory action, including discontinuation of programmes, inspections, public disclosure of violations, and other legal measures.
Here is how the NDC is stepping up to protect students and preserve the integrity of our fields:
- INVALIDATING UNAPPROVED DEGREES: The circular makes it crystal clear- any qualification awarded through an unapproved program will not confer any right, privilege, or eligibility for registration.
- HOLDING INSTITUTIONS ACCOUNTABLE: Universities and dental colleges have been strictly advised not to grant affiliation or academic endorsement to any program lacking approval from the component authority.
- PRESERVING THE VALUE OF TRUE EDUCATION: By forcing the closure of unauthorised courses, the NDC is ensuring that our hard- earned, recognised degrees maintain their true value and respect in the healthcare ecosystem.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: WHY DO WE SEEK OUT THESE COURSES?
While the NDC’s crackdown is a fantastic and much-needed initiative, we also have to ask ourselves: why are so many students flocking to these private fellowships in the first place? The harsh reality is that our current dental education system still lags behind when it comes to adequate practical, hands-on clinical training. Many students graduate from dental colleges feeling unequipped and underconfident to handle complex procedures independently. Because of this lack of foundational practical exposure, young dentists are essentially forced to seek out these extra and sometimes unauthorized courses just to bridge the gap and gain clinical confidence.
CONCLUSION
The NDC taking aggressive steps to safeguard students from exploitation is incredibly reassuring. However, to truly solve this issue long-term, this regulatory cleanup needs to go hand-in-hand with a massive upgrade to the practical training standards within our baseline dental colleges.
SOURCE: https://dciindia.gov.in/
What are your thoughts on the new NDC circular? Have you ever felt the need to take an external clinical course just to get the practical exposure you missed out in college? Do you think improving practical training within dental colleges could reduce the need for students to seek additional clinical courses? Share your thoughts below!
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