NGO Darpan Registration: Darpan ID, Documents and When It Is Mandatory

What is NGO Darpan and what is a Darpan ID?

NGO Darpan is the platform run by NITI Aayog's Voluntary Action Cell for registering voluntary organisations and non-profits. When an organisation registers, the portal issues a unique Darpan ID. Government departments, banks and regulators use that ID to identify the organisation and link it to its registration, PAN and key office-bearers.

Darpan registration is an identity layer, not a form of incorporation. A trust is created by its trust deed, a society by registration under the state societies law, and a section 8 company by incorporation under the Companies Act, 2013. The Darpan ID comes afterwards and simply records the existing entity on a central government database.

Because it is linked to many later processes, treat the Darpan profile as a master record. The legal name, registration number, PAN, address and office-bearer details should match the registration certificate and PAN records exactly, since grant, FCRA, income tax and bank processes may all compare against it.

Is NGO Darpan registration mandatory?

Darpan registration is not a general legal requirement for every non-profit, but it is mandatory in the situations that matter most to an active organisation. NITI Aayog states that the Darpan ID is mandatory for all non-profits seeking grants from Ministries and Departments of the Government of India.

NITI Aayog also lists the Darpan ID as needed to register or renew registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and to seek income tax approval for donations. Under the 2023 amendment to the Prevention of Money Laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules, financial institutions must ensure the Darpan ID is obtained before opening or operating a bank account for a non-profit.

In practice, any trust, society or section 8 company that plans to receive government grants, foreign contribution or tax-deductible donations, or simply wants a clean banking relationship, should register on Darpan soon after it is formed and has its PAN.

Who can register on NGO Darpan?

Non-profit organisations registered in India can register: public charitable trusts, registered societies, section 8 companies and similar voluntary organisations. The organisation must already be legally constituted and have its own PAN, because the portal asks for the registration details and the PAN of the organisation.

A group that has not yet registered as a trust, society or section 8 company cannot obtain a Darpan ID. If you are still choosing the structure, decide that first, because the structure also affects governance, liability and how foreign or institutional donors view the organisation.

Private family trusts are not non-profits in this sense and do not belong on Darpan. Darpan is meant for organisations that work for a public or charitable purpose.

Which documents and details are needed for Darpan registration?

Keep ready the PAN of the organisation, its registration certificate (trust deed registration, society registration certificate or certificate of incorporation), the registration number, the registering authority and the date of registration. Scanned copies of the registration certificate and PAN are uploaded on the portal.

You also need the details of key office-bearers, usually at least three, such as trustees, governing body members or directors, with their PAN and Aadhaar details, along with the organisation's address, contact details, key areas of work and the states and districts where it operates. Details of any earlier government grants received are also asked for.

Signatory and contact details should be for people who will stay with the organisation. A login tied to a volunteer's personal mobile number becomes a problem when that person leaves, so use an official email and a mobile number controlled by the organisation.

How do you register on NGO Darpan step by step?

Go to the NGO Darpan portal at ngodarpan.gov.in, choose sign-up, and verify the organisation's mobile number and email with one-time passwords. Then log in and complete the organisation profile: name, PAN, registration details, address and contact details.

Add the office-bearers and their PAN and Aadhaar details, describe the key issues the organisation works on and where it works, and record any government grants already received. Upload the registration certificate and PAN, review the entries against the source documents, and submit.

Once the details are validated, the portal generates the unique Darpan ID. Record it in the organisation's compliance file and share it with your bank. The portal does not charge a fee for registration.

How does the Darpan ID connect with income tax registration and section 133 (formerly 80G)?

Darpan registration does not give any tax exemption by itself. Tax exemption depends on registration as a registered non-profit organisation under section 332 of the Income-tax Act, 2025 (formerly sections 12A and 12AB of the Income-tax Act, 1961). Donors can claim a deduction under section 133 (formerly section 80G) only if the organisation holds approval under section 354 (formerly section 80G(5)).

Applications for these approvals ask for the organisation's details, and NITI Aayog lists the Darpan ID among the requirements for seeking the income tax donation approval. Having the Darpan profile complete and consistent before applying avoids queries during the income tax process.

Registrations and approvals granted under the 1961 Act continue under the 2025 Act until their validity ends, after which they must be renewed. Track the expiry dates of both the registration and the donation approval, because renewal applications must be made well before expiry.

How do you keep the Darpan profile up to date?

Update the profile whenever office-bearers, the address, the PAN-linked details or the contact person change. An outdated profile is a common reason for delays when a grant, FCRA or income tax application is checked against Darpan records.

Review the profile once a year alongside the annual accounts and income tax return, and keep a log of changes with the board or trustee resolution approving each one. The Darpan ID itself does not change, so it can be quoted consistently on grant applications, receipts and correspondence.

If the organisation converts, merges or is wound up, update or close the Darpan record as well, so that the government database reflects the current position.

Where the Darpan ID is needed

How to get an NGO Darpan ID

1. Form the entity first

   Register the trust, society or section 8 company and obtain its PAN.

2. Sign up on ngodarpan.gov.in

   Verify the organisation's mobile number and email with one-time passwords.

3. Complete the profile

   Enter name, PAN, registration number, registering authority, address and areas of work.

4. Add office-bearers

   Add at least three key office-bearers with their PAN and Aadhaar details.

5. Upload and submit

   Upload the registration certificate and PAN, check entries against the documents and submit to receive the Darpan ID.