S Nijalingappa Institute of Dental Science & Research, Gulbarga was started in 1986, under Gulbarga University the college started with the 1st batch of 40 students in the dental wing of Govt. Hospital.

The basic medical sciences were handled by the able faculty of Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College.

The then President of India Late Shri Gyani Zail Singh, on 9th Jan.1987 laid the foundation stone for the three storeyed building on seven acres of H.K.E. Society land on the Sedam Road.

Sri Baswaraj Bhimalli in 1996, took a great decision to name the college in honour of senior leader and former Chief Minister Late Shri S.Nijalingappa, who served thrice as a Chief Minister - maker of modern Karnataka.