India Crosses Five Lakh Organ Donation Pledges

India recorded over five lakh organ donation pledges as of 22 June 2026, and the Union Health Ministry linked the figure to voluntary registration for organ and tissue donation. The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization, or NOTTO, functions under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and coordinates organ donation and transplantation activities in India.

Organ Donation Framework in India

Organ donation in India is governed by the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, which provides the legal framework for organ removal, storage, and transplantation. The law covers both living donation and deceased donation, and it also includes tissues such as corneas, skin, and bone.

Digital Registration and Public Outreach

NOTTO launched an Aadhaar-based online pledge portal, notto.abdm.gov.in, in 2023 for organ donation registration. Public outreach on organ donation has also included appeals in Mann Ki Baat, the monthly radio programme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Transplant Data and Waiting List

India had nearly 90,000 patients on the national waiting list as of March 2026. Deceased donor transplants accounted for about 18% of all transplants in India, while the country performed about 20,000 organ transplants in 2025 compared with fewer than 5,000 in 2013.

Important Facts for Exams

• India observes Organ Donation Day on 13 August every year.
• NOTTO is the national-level organisation for organ and tissue donation coordination in India.
• The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, is the principal law on organ transplantation in India.
• Living donation and deceased donation are the two broad categories of organ donation.

State Participation and Campaigns

Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Karnataka have recorded high organ donation registrations in India. The “Donate Organs, Save Lives” campaign, supported by the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the International Cricket Council, generated over 22,000 pledges in one day during an India-England One Day International match in Ahmedabad on 12 February 2025.