The Dental Council of India Screening Test Regulations, 2009
1 Short title and commencement. -
(1) These regulations may be called the Dental Council of India Screening Test Regulations, 2009.
(2) They shall come into force on the date 1 of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2 Definitions. -
(1) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) "Act" means the Dentists Act, 1948 (16 of 1948);
(b) "Council" means the Dental Council of India constituted under section 3 of the Dentists Act, 1948;
(c) "Registration" means registration for the purpose of enrolment on the register of dentists maintained by the respective State Dental Council after obtaining the Primary Dental qualification followed by completion of such practical training as prescribed either in India or abroad as per the provisions of the Act and regulations made thereunder;
(d) "Prescribed" means prescribed by regulations made under this Act;
(e) "Prescribed Authority" means a dental institution or any other examining body authorized by the Dental Council of India with the prior approval of Central Government to conduct Screening Test;
(f) "Primary or Higher Dental qualification" means a Dental qualification awarded by any dental institution outside India which is a recognized qualification for enrolment as Dental practitioner in the country in which the institution awarding the said qualification is situated and which is equivalent to BDS/MDS degree in India;
(g) "Qualifying examination" means the examination to be qualified to become eligible for admission to primary or higher dental courses in India as prescribed in the respective Course Regulations as amended from time to time;
(h) "Higher dental qualification" includes PG Diploma or Master of Dental Surgery or equivalent dental qualification as per the norms of the Council with the previous approval of the Central Government may specify from time to time.
(2) Word and phrases used in these regulations and not defined but defined in the Dentists Act, 1948, as amended from time to time, shall have the same meaning respectively assigned to them in the Act.

3 Purpose. -The purpose of conducting the Screening Test shall be only to determine the eligibility of a candidate for his or her registration with any State Dental Council or for any other purpose as the Council may specify in this regard from time to time and qualifying the same shall not confer any other right, whatsoever, on a candidate.

4 Applicability. -These regulations shall be applicable to those Indian citizen possessing a primary dental qualification/PG Diploma/Post-Graduate Dental qualification awarded by any dental institution outside India, who is desirous of getting registration with any State Dental Council or of any other purpose as specified by the Dental Council of India from time to time, on or after the date of publication of these regulations in the Official Gazette, shall have to qualify a screening test conducted by the prescribed authority for that purpose as per the provisions of section 10(4) or 10(5) of the Dentist Act, 1948, as the case may be: Provided that all Indian students who have passed out but their dental qualifications/degrees have not been recognised or who have taken admission abroad on or before the date of publication of these regulations in the Official Gazette, shall also be eligible to appear in the Screening Test even if they do not meet the minimum eligibility criteria for admission for joining UG/PG Courses prescribed in respective Course Regulations: Provided further that the Indian students who have passed out from a foreign dental institution after the publication of these regulations in Official Gazette shall, notwithstanding that their foreign dental degrees are already recognised and included in the Schedule to the Dentists Act, 1948, have to appear in the Screening Test: Provided that the Indian students who have passed out PG Dental qualification from the following foreign dental institutions, need not appear in the Screening Test before registering their PG qualification in the State Dental Council to practice dentistry in India:- "All post-graduate dental qualifications awarded in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom & United States of America and recognised for enrolment as dental practitioners in the concerned specialties in those countries."

5 Eligibility Criteria. -No person shall be allowed to appear in the Screening Test unless:
(a) he/she is a citizen of India and possesses any primary Dental qualification or higher dental qualification confirmed by the Indian Embassy concerned to be a recognised qualification for enrolment as Dental practitioner in the country in which the institution awarding the said qualifications is situated;
(b) He/she had obtained 'Eligibility Certificate' prior to his/her admissions in any foreign dental institution from the Council in accordance with the procedure laid down in these regulations but this requirement shall not be necessary in respect of Indian citizens who have acquired his/her dental qualifications from foreign dental institution or have got admissions in foreign Dental institution before the date of publication of these regulations in the Official Gazette.
6(1) Every desirous candidate fulfilling the eligibility criteria laid down in these regulations shall submit his/her application in such form containing relevant particulars and accompanied with such fee as may be prescribed from time to time for the purpose, and on receipt of the application by the Council, it may obtain such other particulars as may be considered necessary from the applicant for the assessment of the candidate for appearing in the Screening Test;
(2) In case, the application is defective and does not contain any necessary particulars, the prescribed authority, after giving a reasonable opportunity to the applicant to furnish the requisite documents/information, may reject the application.
7 The prescribed authority shall, after scrutinizing the application having regard to the factors referred to in the eligibility criteria or otherwise, inform such candidate in writing about his/her eligibility to appear in Screening Test and shall issue the Admission Card to such eligible candidate accordingly.
8 Fee Structure. -
(a) Examination fee Rs. 75,000 (Rupees Seventy-Five Thousand only) for MDS Course/PG Diploma Course.
(b) Examination fee Rs. 50,000 (Rupees Fifty Thousand only) for BDS Courses.
(c) For 2nd and 3rd attempt, the candidate is required to pay Rs. 35.000 (Rupees Thirty Five Thousand only) for MDS Course/PG Diploma Course and Rs. 25,000 (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) per attempt for BDS Course.
(d) The fees have to be paid by a demand draft in favour of Secretary, Dental Council of India payable at New Delhi.
9 The prescribed authority shall conduct the Screening Test in accordance with the detailed scheme announced by it from time to time. Notwithstanding anything contained in these regulations, the prescribed authority may revise the time, date and venue of examination etc. prescribed in the scheme as it may think fit.
10 The Screening Test may be conducted once or twice a year (depending upon the number of applications) as per the Schedule of examination announced by the Prescribed Authority. The procedure of conducting the Test shall be in accordance with the scheme to be announced by prescribed authority from time to time.
12 A candidate may avail of maximum three chances to appear and pass the Test. Actual appearance at the Test will constitute an attempt. If he/she does not qualify even in his/her 3rd appearance in the Test, the candidate will not be eligible for registration by any State Dental Council.
13 Equivalency of foreign dental qualifications. -
(1) Only full time in-house courses shall be considered for equivalence of foreign dental qualification to the qualification awarded by the Indian universities.
(2) The Primary Dental Qualification with the minimum duration of 5 years shall be equivalent to BDS Degree awarded by an Indian university. However, this duration may be relaxed in case of candidate already passed out from foreign institution on or before the date of publication of these regulations.
(3) The higher Dental Qualification with the minimum duration of 2 years shall be additional qualification equivalent to PG Diploma awarded by an Indian university in concerned speciality.
(4) The higher dental qualification with the duration of 3 years shall be equivalent to MDS Degree awarded by an Indian university in concerned speciality.
14 The Prescribed Authority shall intimate the result of the Screening Test to the candidate State Dental Councils. The unsuccessful candidates shall also be appropriately informed. The candidates who qualify the Screening Test may apply to the State Dental Council for their registration along with the requisite registration fee in favour of the State Dental Council. The State Dental Councils shall issue registration to such successful candidates.
15 A person who is a citizen of India and obtains primary/higher dental qualification from any foreign institution which is recognized for enrolment as a dentist in that country after the date of publication of these regulations shall be entitled to be enrolled on any register of dentists maintained by a State Dental Council, if he/she qualifies the Screening Test and such foreign primary or higher dental qualification, after such person qualifies that said Screening Test, shall be deemed to be the recognized dental qualification for the purposes of the Dentists Act in respect of that person.
16 Procedure for obtaining the 'Eligibility Certificate' prior to admissions in any authority/institution outside India. -
(1) The person who is an Indian citizen and possesses the minimum qualification for admission in BDS Course/PG Diploma/MDS Course as prescribed in Dental Council of India's respective Course Regulations, from India or an equivalent examination from abroad and is desirous of joining one of these Courses in any foreign Dental institution, shall, on or after the date of notification of these regulations in Official Gazette, apply the Council for issue of an Eligibility Certificate for that purpose;
(2) The request for issue of Eligibility Certificate shall be made by the candidate in the proforma prescribed by the Council from time to time and shall be accompanied by the attested photocopies of following documents:-
(1) A non-refundable fee of Rs. 1000 by Demand Draft in favour of Secretary, Dental Council of India, New Delhi. Note. -(1) A candidate belonging to Scheduled Caste/Schedule Tribe/Other Backward Class shall produce a caste certificate issued by Competent Authority.
(2) Copy of 10th passing certificate (for date of birth).
(3) Copy of 10+2 passing certificate.
(4) Copy of 10+2 mark sheet.
(5) A certificate as a proof of date of birth, if it is not recorded in the certificate of the qualifying examination.
(6) Copy of primary Dental qualification, if admission is sought for PG Diploma/PG Degree Courses.
(7) Copy of internship certificate (if done abroad).
(8) Any other relevant documents/information/particulars as the prescribed authority may consider necessary.
(2) Authenticated translated copies (In English/Hindi) of primary Dental qualification or of any other document, if the same is in language other than English/Hindi.
(3) The Council shall be free to investigate on its own about the correctness of information furnished by the candidate in his/her application and/or call for any other relevant information/ document in this regard from the candidate and in the event of any information furnished by the candidate being found to be incorrect or false during such investigation or at any subsequent stage, the Council may refuse to issue the eligibility certificate or if already issued, may cancel the same and he/she shall stand debarred from appearing in the Screening Test without any notice. The decision of the Council in this regard shall be final.
(4) The Council shall consider the application for the Eligibility Certificate and verify the following details as per the regulations of the Council:-
(i) Whether the candidate fulfils the age criterion prescribed by the Council.
(ii) Whether the candidate fulfils the eligibility criteria for admission to that course in India as prescribed in the Council's respective Course Regulations, as amended from time to time.
(5) The Dental Council of India shall evaluate the application of the candidate in terms of sub-regulation (4) of regulation 16 of these regulations, and after such evaluation, if the candidate is found to fulfil the eligibility criteria in conformity with respective Course Regulations, the Council shall issue an Eligibility Certificate in the format prescribed from time to time by the Dental Council of India, to the candidate certifying that he/she is eligible to join a dental institution outside India to obtain Primary or higher dental qualification, as the case may be. The certificate shall indicate that after obtaining that foreign dental qualification, the candidate shall have to undergo a Screening Test, subject to fulfilment of the conditions prescribed in these regulations and that passing this Test shall entitle him for registration or for any other specific purpose (s) specified by the Dental Council of India, from time to time.
(6) In case, the candidate does not fulfil any of the above criteria, the Council may reject his application for issue of Eligibility Certificate giving the reasons recorded in writing therefor. The issue of an Eligibility Certificate to a candidate shall not entitle him to any right, whatsoever, other than to take admission in UG/PG Diploma/MDS courses in a foreign dental institution.

DCI Screening Test Regulations, 2009