A dental college in Nagpur has been selected as one of ten institutions across India to participate in a pilot assessment programme aimed at developing a standardized framework for evaluating dental colleges nationwide. The initiative, led by representatives from the National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (NABET) and the Dental Council of India (DCI), focuses on ten key parameters such as curriculum quality, faculty qualifications, clinical training, teaching methods, admission procedures, research contributions, and community outreach.
Dr. Abhay Datarkar, Dean of Government Dental College and Hospital, described the assessment visit as a “landmark achievement” that could lead to the nationwide adoption of NABET accreditation for dental institutions—an approach already in place for medical and homeopathic colleges. He noted that faculty at the Nagpur college provided critical feedback and suggested improvements to the assessment framework tailored specifically for dental education, which are expected to influence the final national standards.
Assessment professor Dr. Vaibhav Karemore emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating that a well-established rating system will help future dental professionals identify institutions that uphold the highest academic and clinical standards.
According to the DCI, India currently has:
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323 colleges offering Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degrees,
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229 offering Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) degrees,
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9 institutions providing postgraduate diplomas in specializations like orthodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics, and more, and
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111 colleges offering programs in dental hygiene and dental mechanics.
Significant changes in dental education policy are also on the horizon. As reported by Dental Tribune International in August, the National Dental Commission Bill 2023 proposes the introduction of a National Exit Test (NExT) for dental graduates as a mandatory requirement for licensure. The bill also plans to dissolve the DCI and establish a new regulatory authority—the National Dental Commission—to oversee dental education in the country.