NGO DARPAN Registration

NGO DARPAN (Data and Accountability Portal for NGOs) is an online portal maintained by NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC). It serves as a national-level information repository of all voluntary organisations (VOs) and NGOs operating across India. The portal was launched to promote transparency, accountability, and ease of access for government departments, donors, and the general public in verifying the credentials of NGOs.

Upon successful registration on the NGO DARPAN portal (ngodarpan.gov.in), each organisation is assigned a Unique ID — also referred to as the DARPAN ID. This Unique ID is now a mandatory requirement for NGOs applying for grants and scheme benefits from Central Government ministries and departments. It serves as a verified identification number for the organisation within the government ecosystem.

NGO DARPAN Registration is not mandatory under any single law. However, it has been made a practical prerequisite by most Central Government ministries for the disbursement of grants. Ministries such as the Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, and Ministry of Women and Child Development require a valid NGO DARPAN Unique ID before processing any grant application. For NGOs seeking government funding or CSR grants, registration is effectively essential.

The following types of organisations can register on the NGO DARPAN portal: Charitable trusts registered under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 Societies registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 Section 8 Companies incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 Any voluntary organisation working in areas such as education, health, environment, livelihood, women empowerment, or social welfare The organisation must have valid registration proof and an authorised signatory with an Aadhaar-linked mobile number.

Registering on NGO DARPAN provides the following advantages: Mandatory for Central Government grants — all key ministry schemes require a valid DARPAN ID Access to government schemes — including Swachh Bharat Mission, National Health Mission, MGNREGA (partnership), and Skill India CSR funding eligibility — many corporates verify DARPAN registration before approving CSR grants Enhanced credibility with institutional donors and international agencies Public visibility — your NGO profile is accessible to government officials and the public Prerequisite for FCRA registration in some cases — DARPAN ID is required in the FCRA application

The following documents are required: PAN Card of the organisation Registration Certificate (Trust Deed / Society Registration Certificate / Section 8 COI) Aadhaar number of the authorised signatory (chief functionary) Mobile number linked to the Aadhaar of the authorised signatory (for OTP verification) Details of all trustees / members / directors (name, designation, Aadhaar) Registered office address proof Bank account details in the name of the organisation Brief description of activities and sectors of operation Geographic coverage details (districts and states served) 12A and 80G certificates (if available — not mandatory but recommended)

The registration process on the NGO DARPAN portal involves the following steps: 1. Account Creation — An account is created on ngodarpan.gov.in using the authorised signatory's Aadhaar number with OTP-based verification. 2. Organisation Profile Filling — Details of the organisation are entered, including name, registration number, establishment date, sectors of operation, and geographic coverage. 3. Member Details Entry — Details of all trustees, directors, or members are added. 4. Document Upload — Scanned copies of the registration certificate, PAN card, and supporting documents are uploaded. 5. Submission and Verification — The application is submitted and reviewed by NITI Aayog. 6. Unique ID Issuance — Upon successful verification, a DARPAN Unique ID is issued to the organisation.

No. Registration on the NGO DARPAN portal (ngodarpan.gov.in) is completely free of charge by the government. There is no government fee payable for obtaining the Unique ID. Startup Dost charges a professional service fee for assisting with profile creation, documentation, Aadhaar-linked account setup, and submission to ensure error-free and timely registration.

Once the application is correctly submitted on the NGO DARPAN portal with all required details and documents, the Unique ID is generally issued within a few working days. At Startup Dost, most DARPAN registrations are completed within 1 to 3 working days, depending on document readiness and OTP verification of the signatory.

The Aadhaar number of the authorised signatory (chief functionary) of the organisation is essential for creating an account on the NGO DARPAN portal. Account creation requires Aadhaar-based OTP authentication — an OTP is sent to the mobile number registered with the authorised signatory's Aadhaar. It is therefore important that the signatory's Aadhaar is linked to an active mobile number before initiating registration.

Yes. 12A Registration is not a mandatory prerequisite for NGO DARPAN Registration. An NGO can register on the DARPAN portal immediately after getting its primary registration (trust deed / society / Section 8 incorporation). However, having 12A and 80G registrations will strengthen the NGO's profile on DARPAN and improve credibility with funders.

Yes. The Ministry of Home Affairs requires organisations to provide their NGO DARPAN Unique ID as part of the FCRA online registration application (filed on fcraonline.nic.in). Therefore, obtaining the DARPAN Unique ID is an important step before applying for FCRA registration to receive foreign contributions.

Once the Unique ID is obtained, the authorised signatory can log in to ngodarpan.gov.in and update the organisation's profile. NGOs are encouraged to keep their profile current with: Latest annual reports and financial statements Updated list of trustees / directors / members New sectors of operation or geographic coverage Project details and ongoing activities Keeping the DARPAN profile updated improves the NGO's credibility with government bodies and CSR funders.

Most Central Government grant schemes administered by the following ministries require a valid NGO DARPAN Unique ID: Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry of Women and Child Development Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Additionally, schemes such as the Swachh Bharat Mission, National Health Mission, Skill India, and PM CARES Fund-related initiatives require DARPAN registration.

Yes. Any existing trust, society, or Section 8 company that is already registered can apply for NGO DARPAN Registration at any time. There is no time-bound deadline for DARPAN registration. However, NGOs planning to apply for government grants or CSR funds should complete their DARPAN registration at the earliest to avoid delays in funding applications.

No. The NGO DARPAN Unique ID itself does not expire. However, NGOs are required to log in periodically and update their profile — particularly annual activities, financial information, and compliance details. An inactive or outdated DARPAN profile may reduce credibility during grant verification. NITI Aayog may also flag profiles that have not been updated for extended periods.

Submitting incorrect or incomplete information on the NGO DARPAN portal can lead to: Rejection of the application Mismatch with registration documents, leading to verification failure Rejection of grant applications that rely on the DARPAN profile Delays in issuance of the Unique ID This is why professional assistance from Startup Dost is recommended — our team reviews all details carefully before submission to ensure accuracy and completeness.

No. Each organisation is assigned only one Unique ID on the NGO DARPAN portal. Duplicate registrations for the same organisation are not permitted. If an organisation has registered multiple times, it should contact NITI Aayog or the portal support team to consolidate the records.