Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has given a significant boost to India’s organ donation movement by highlighting its importance in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address, inspiring citizens across the country to come forward and support this life-saving cause.
India has achieved landmark progress in organ donation and transplantation, driven by a combination of government initiatives, strengthened coordination, and public participation. The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) has overseen a significant expansion in the country’s transplant ecosystem, with the total number of transplants rising from under 5,000 in 2013 to nearly 20,000 in 2025, marking a fourfold increase. Approximately 18% of these procedures now utilize organs from deceased donors, highlighting growing acceptance and efficiency in organ retrieval and allocation.
In 2025 alone, over 1,200 families came forward to donate organs of their loved ones after death, saving thousands of lives. Since September 17, 2023, more than 4.8 lakh citizens have registered to donate organs and tissues posthumously through an Aadhaar-based verification system. India has also established expertise in complex transplants, including heart, lung, pancreas, and hand transplants, performing a greater number of hand transplants than any other country, with outcomes comparable to the best global standards at a fraction of the cost.
The surge in deceased donations has been accompanied by enhanced coordination, improved national-level organ sharing, and streamlined transplant protocols. NOTTO’s role as the national coordinating authority has enabled real-time organ allocation and inter-state collaboration. The expansion and modernization of the National Organ & Tissue Transplant Registry has ensured transparency, traceability, and fairness, while State and Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (SOTTOs and ROTTOs) have been strengthened through capacity-building initiatives. Digital platforms for donor and patient registration, hospital connectivity, and the implementation of “Green Corridors” have reduced logistical barriers, enabling rapid and safe organ transport across cities and states.
Public awareness campaigns and community engagement, with active involvement from Panchayati Raj institutions and district- and block-level administration, have contributed to a shift in societal attitudes toward organ donation. Hospitals and healthcare systems have responded with higher efficiency in donor identification, retrieval, and transplantation. These combined efforts have created a robust, compassionate ecosystem, ensuring timely and equitable access to life-saving transplants for patients nationwide.
The government’s strategic push has reinforced India’s vision of self-reliance in advanced healthcare, reducing dependence on overseas transplants while promoting ethical, transparent, and equitable practices. The leadership of Prof. Dr. R.S. Sharma, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, and Prof. Dr. Vaidya Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General, CCRAS, along with coordinated efforts from NOTTO, state transplant organizations, clinicians, and civil society, has been instrumental in driving this transformation.
Looking ahead, the government aims to further increase deceased organ donation rates, expand transplant infrastructure in underserved regions, deepen digital integration, and sustain public awareness, consolidating organ donation as a nationwide movement.
India’s progress under NOTTO reflects the combined impact of strong governance, institutional reform, and citizen participation, positioning the country as a global example of how policy and public engagement can save thousands of lives.
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