Total PG seats now 17, 11 more seats expected by 2026-27
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Feb 13: In a major step toward enhancing dental education and public health initiatives in the region, the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has granted permission to Indira Gandhi Government Dental College (IGGDC), Jammu, to commence a Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) course in Public Health Dentistry with an intake capacity of three seats for the academic session 2025-26.
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The approval follows the Letter of Intent (LoI) issued by the Ministry on January 6, 2025. Subsequently, the Institution submitted the necessary undertakings and documents on January 30, 2025. Based on this compliance, the Ministry issued a Letter of Permission (LoP) on February 12, 2025, allowing the college to initiate the program. The permission, granted under Section 10(A) of the Dentists Act, 1948, is initially valid for one year and will be subject to annual renewal based on verification of progress as per the approved expansion plan.
With this addition, the total number of postgraduate seats at IGGDC Jammu has increased to 17. Sources indicated that the Institution currently has nine departments, out of which seven have been running the MDS course since 2020, with an intake of two students each. The inclusion of three more seats in Public Health Dentistry further strengthens the Institution’s commitment to expanding its postgraduate offerings and addressing the growing demand for specialized dental education.
Furthermore, sources revealed that IGGDC Jammu is set to receive 11 additional MDS seats, including four under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota, from the academic session 2026-27. The seven existing MDS departments, currently admitting two students each, are expected to receive an additional seat per department.
The Institution has already obtained a Letter of Permission (LoP) from the J&K Government and a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the University of Jammu for this expansion. The only pending approval is from the Dental Council of India (DCI), which, once granted, will further increase the Institution’s total postgraduate capacity.
Confirming the development, IGGDC Jammu Principal, Dr Praveen Akhtar Lone, expressed satisfaction over the approval and emphasized the Institution’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence. She also conveyed optimism regarding the sanction of the additional 11 seats for the 2026-27 session, stating that only the final nod from the DCI remains.
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