Key Points:
No provisional registration needed for BDS internship.
Permanent registration simplified after BDS and internship.
Institutions cannot demand provisional registration.
Rule effective immediately; earlier DCI circulars stand superseded.
The National Dental Commission (NDC) has abolished the requirement for Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) graduates to obtain provisional registration before commencing their Compulsory Rotatory Internship (CRI). The decision, which takes effect immediately, is intended to facilitate the timely grant of permanent registration, reduce procedural hardship for students, and simplify the registration process across India.
The reform was approved by the National Dental Commission during its meeting held on July 9, 2026, following recommendations made by the Ethics and Dental Registration Board (EDRB) during its meeting on June 22, 2026. The official circular was issued on July 14, 2026, with the approval of the Competent Authority.
Under the revised provisions, BDS students will no longer be required to obtain provisional registration from a State Dental Council before beginning their mandatory Compulsory Rotatory Internship.
The National Dental Commission has also directed all State Dental Councils to issue permanent registration to candidates who have successfully completed the BDS course, including the prescribed Compulsory Rotatory Internship, without insisting on a provisional registration certificate, provided all other applicable requirements for permanent registration are fulfilled.
Further, the Commission has instructed universities, deemed universities, examining authorities, dental colleges, hospitals, and all other concerned institutions not to insist on provisional registration for the commencement or completion of the Compulsory Rotatory Internship or for any academic, clinical, or administrative purpose connected with it.
Also see: NMC Announces 43,250 Internship Slots for Foreign Medical Graduates Across India for 2026–27
According to the official circular, the Ethics and Dental Registration Board (EDRB) received several representations from BDS students highlighting difficulties in obtaining permanent registration because provisional registration had been mandatory before commencing the internship.
After considering these representations, the Board recommended removing the requirement in line with the Government of India's initiatives on Ease of Doing Business (EoDB), Ease of Living, and regulatory simplification. The National Dental Commission accepted the recommendation during its meeting on July 9, 2026.
The circular also supersedes the Dental Council of India (DCI) circulars dated November 29, 2021, June 21, 2023, and June 28, 2023, along with all other DCI instructions relating to the requirement of provisional registration for BDS students.
The National Dental Commission stated that the revised policy aims to ensure uniform implementation of internship regulations across the country while facilitating the timely grant of permanent registration after successful completion of the BDS course and compulsory internship.
The circular further states that the revised provisions have come into force with immediate effect following approval by the Competent Authority.
(Rh/ARC/MSM)