New Delhi: NOTTO organ donation efforts drove a fourfold rise in transplants from less than 5,000 in 2013 to nearly 20,000 in 2025, marking a major shift in India’s transplant ecosystem.
The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization recorded unprecedented gains in organ allocation, coordination and sharing. Around 18% of transplants now use organs donated by deceased donors. More than 1200 families donated organs of loved ones in 2025, enabling multi-organ transplants and saving thousands of lives.
Since September 17, 2023, over 4.8 lakh citizens have registered to donate organs and tissues after death through an Aadhaar-based verification system. In addition, India has built strong capacity in complex procedures such as heart, lung and pancreas transplants. The country also leads the world in hand transplants and performs more such surgeries than any other nation.
NOTTO organ donation backed by digital and policy reforms
The government strengthened NOTTO as the national coordinating authority to enable real-time allocation and seamless inter-state sharing. It expanded and modernised the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Registry to improve transparency and traceability. Moreover, authorities upgraded State and Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisations to boost coordination.
Officials streamlined transplant protocols in line with global standards and promoted digital platforms for donor and patient registration. They also implemented standard procedures and green corridors to ensure rapid organ transport across states. As a result, logistical barriers declined and clinical outcomes improved.
Public awareness campaigns and community outreach further accelerated the movement. Panchayati Raj Institutions and district administrations increased local engagement. Hospitals also improved donor identification and organ retrieval systems, which ensured timely allocation to waiting patients.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the importance of organ donation in his Mann Ki Baat address, which strengthened public participation. Consequently, the organ donation movement gained wider acceptance across age groups, especially among youth.
The government now aims to raise deceased donation rates, expand transplant facilities in underserved regions and deepen digital integration. The NOTTO organ donation framework continues to support an ethical, transparent and self-reliant transplant system.
