The National Dental Commission (NDC), Undergraduate & Postgraduate Dental Education Board (UGPG-DEB), on July 29, 2026, issued a circular mandating the Basic Course in Biomedical Research (BCBR) for postgraduate (MDS) students admitted from the Academic Session 2026–27 onwards. The course, offered through the ICMR–National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) online platform, must be completed before submission of the thesis synopsis, and successful completion is a mandatory prerequisite for appearing in the first-year MDS University Examination.
The circular also requires eligible postgraduate students to register for the BCBR course within three months of admission, with every dental institution appointing a BCBR Nodal Officer to facilitate registration, monitor progress, and maintain completion records. Additionally, completion of the BCBR course is mandatory for faculty members seeking recognition as postgraduate (MDS) guides or co-guides, while existing guides are encouraged to complete the course. Institutions must integrate the acquired research knowledge into dissertations, research projects, ethics training, scientific publications, and evidence-based clinical practice.
Dental colleges are responsible for ensuring timely registration, maintaining a digital repository of BCBR registration and completion certificates, and producing these records during inspections, assessments, accreditation, or whenever required by the National Dental Commission. The circular comes into effect from the Academic Session 2026–27 and applies to all dental colleges and institutions recognised by the National Dental Commission.
[F. No. NDC/UGPG-DEB/DC/Circular/2026/DEB-242]
