Darpan Registration in India

Darpan Registration is the process of registering your Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) or Voluntary Organization (VO) on the NGO Darpan portal managed by NITI Aayog. After successful registration, the organization receives a Darpan Unique ID (UIN), which helps government departments and authorized stakeholders identify and verify it.

The NGO Darpan portal creates a central database of NGOs and VOs, promotes transparency, and improves coordination between non-profit organizations and government departments. It also supports access to applicable government grants, schemes, and regulatory services.

Organizations usually need a Darpan ID to apply for government grants, access eligible schemes, and complete certain regulatory applications. It also creates a verified profile that government departments and authorized stakeholders can use to identify the organization.

Governing Laws and Regulations for Darpan Registration

While NITI Aayog manages the NGO Darpan portal, no separate law governs Darpan registration requirements. This means each organization operates under the law through which it was originally established.

The relevant laws and regulations include:

• The Societies Registration Act, 1860: This act governs the registration and functioning of societies formed for literary, scientific, or charitable purposes. The Indian Trusts Act, 1882: This act deals with the law relating to private trusts and trustees. Public charitable trusts, however, are often governed by state-specific Public Trusts Acts (e.g., Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950) or the general principles of equity.
• Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010: Regulates foreign contributions received by eligible organizations and requires a Darpan ID for applicable FCRA services.
• The Companies Act, 2013 (specifically Section 8): Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013, governs non-profit companies formed for charitable or social objectives.
• RBI Master Direction – Know Your Customer (KYC) Direction, 2016: This is a regulatory direction, not an Act. Under the amended KYC framework, banks must register their eligible NGO or NPO clients’ details on the NGO Darpan portal.

Who Can Apply for Darpan Registration in India?

The legal setup of an NGO is different from the Darpan registration for trusts and other eligible entities. Simply put, an organization must first be established under the applicable law before applying for a Darpan ID.

Eligible entities generally include:

• Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
• Voluntary Organizations (VOs)
• Public Charitable Trusts
• Societies
• Section 8 Companies

Note: Darpan registration does not create a new legal entity or replace the organization’s original NGO registration. It only lists it on a central government portal and assigns a Darpan Unique ID.

To register on the NGO Darpan portal, an organization must:

• Be legally registered in India under the applicable law.
• Carry out social welfare, charitable, development, educational, cultural, or other public-benefit activities.
• Operate on a non-profit and non-political basis.
• Have a valid PAN in the organization’s name. The personal PAN of a trustee, member, director, or founder cannot replace the organization’s PAN.
• Maintain an active bank account in its official name.
• It must provide details of its chief functionary and other key office bearers, including the required PAN and Aadhaar information.

The Darpan portal requires details of at least three key functionaries for most organizations. However, a trust may provide details of at least two office bearers or trustees. The required designations generally include the Chairperson or President, Secretary or Chief Functionary, and Treasurer or Financial Trustee.

Is Darpan Registration Mandatory for All NGOs?

Darpan registration is not mandatory for every NGO. However, a Darpan ID becomes mandatory in the following situations:

• Government Grants: Many Central Government ministries and departments require a Darpan ID for grant, scheme, or project funding applications.
• FCRA Services: NGOs must have a Darpan ID to apply for FCRA registration, prior permission, or related services.
• Bank Account Compliance: Under the amended RBI KYC framework, banks must register their NGO or NPO clients’ details on the Darpan portal. Therefore, NGOs may need a Darpan ID to open or continue operating a bank account.
• Government Verification: The ID helps government authorities verify the NGO’s registration and organizational details.
• CSR Opportunities: A Darpan ID may improve visibility and credibility with corporate donors. However, it does not replace the separate eligibility requirements for CSR funding or Form CSR-1.

Note: A Darpan ID does not provide automatic government funding, tax exemptions, grant approval, or CSR eligibility. It serves as an identification and verification record for the organization.

The table below outlines the essential documents required for NGO Darpan Registration:

Note: Audited financial statements, annual reports, project records, and governing-body resolutions may be required later when applying for specific government grants, funding programmes, or other approvals. They are not generally required to obtain the basic Darpan ID.

You can complete the online process for NGO Darpan registration through the official NITI Aayog portal. Here’s how to register on the NGO Darpan portal:

Step 1: Create an NGO Darpan Account

Visit the NGO Darpan portal at ngodarpan.gov.in and select Sign Up. Enter and verify your:

• Official email ID
• Active mobile number
• OTP verification details

Step 2: Enter Your Organization’s Details

Provide the NGO’s legal and registration information, including:

• Legal name and organization type
• Registration number and date
• Registering authority
• NGO’s PAN

Ensure these details match the organization’s official records.

Step 3: Add the Chief Functionary and Key Members

Enter the required details of the chief functionary and other key office bearers, such as:

• Name and designation
• Mobile number and email ID
• PAN and Aadhaar details

Step 4: Provide Contact and Bank Details

Add the NGO’s official:

• Registered office address
• Email ID and mobile number
• Bank account details

Use active information that belongs to the organization.

Step 5: Review and Submit the Application

Review all entries before submission. Check that the organization’s registration, PAN, bank, and key-member details are accurate and consistent.

Step 6: Receive Your Darpan Unique ID

After successful processing, NITI Aayog generates the NGO’s Darpan Unique ID. The organization can use this ID for:

• Eligible government grants
• FCRA-related services
• Other applicable programs

The process generally takes 3–5 working days, depending on the accuracy of the information and portal processing requirements.

NITI Darpan registration comes with no government fee. This means NITI Aayog does not charge a government fee to create a Darpan profile, obtain a Unique ID (UIN), or update the organization’s details. RegisterKaro offers optional professional assistance for ₹1,999, covering expert guidance, document review, and application support. This is a service fee, not a government charge.

The incorporation of NGO Darpan has no prescribed deadline. Therefore, NITI Aayog does not impose a late fee or direct penalty for registering late or not obtaining a Darpan ID. However, without a Darpan ID, an NGO may face difficulties in FCRA registration, NGO bank account opening, or KYC and verification by government agencies.

Note: A Darpan ID does not guarantee government funding, CSR eligibility, or grant approval.

When Can a Darpan ID Be Blacklisted?

NITI Aayog may take action against a Darpan profile when an organization provides false information, misuses the Darpan ID (such as businesses using it to submit false grant applications), or violates applicable requirements. The official portal also states that unauthorized use of the NITI Aayog name, logo, or National Emblem may lead to administrative or legal action, including the blacklisting of the Darpan ID.

NGOs should keep their registration, governing body, contact, bank, and FCRA details accurate and updated. An outdated or inconsistent profile may create issues during grant applications, FCRA processing, or bank verification.

A Darpan ID does not require annual renewal and generally remains active as long as the organization maintains accurate information and follows applicable requirements.

To meet guidelines, NGOs should update their Darpan profile when there are changes in:

• Governing-body members or key functionaries
• Registered office address or contact details
• Organizational activities or operational sectors
• Bank account information
• FCRA registration or related details, where applicable

Keeping the profile current is an important compliance expectation. An outdated or inconsistent profile may create difficulties during government grant applications, FCRA processing, bank verification, or other due-diligence checks. The NITI Aayog's NGO Darpan portal may also take action where information is false, misleading, or used in violation of applicable requirements.

What to Do If Your Darpan Registration Application is Rejected?

If the portal rejects your Darpan application or marks it as pending, review the details carefully before submitting a corrected application. Common issues include:

• A mismatch between the NGO’s name on its PAN and registration records.
• Incorrect registration number or registration details.
• Duplicate registration or an existing Darpan ID.
• Aadhaar or mobile verification issues involving the chief functionary.
• Incorrect or incomplete key-functionary details.
• Inconsistent organization, address, or contact information.

Correct the identified errors and submit the updated information. If the reason remains unclear or the application stays pending, contact the NGO Darpan helpdesk.

• Office Address: Voluntary Action Cell, Room No. 315A, NITI Aayog, Sansad Marg, New Delhi – 110001
• Contact Number: 011-2304 2707 / 011-2304 2646 / 011-2304 2145 (Available on working days from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM).
• Email ID: ngo@india[dot]gov[dot]in

How to Check NGO Darpan Registration Status in India?

You can track a pending application or verify an issued Darpan ID through the official NGO Darpan portal. Follow these steps:

• Visit the official portal and select the available NGO Search or status-check option.
• Provide the Darpan ID, NGO name, registration details, or other information requested by the portal.
• View the available registration details and application status. If the application is pending, log in to the registered account to check updates or complete any required action.

Darpan registration helps NGOs build a verified government profile and access applicable funding and regulatory opportunities. Key benefits include:

• Access to Government Grants and Schemes: A Darpan Unique ID (UIN) is required for many government grant, scheme, and project applications.
• A Single Government Identity: The UIN provides a central identification record that government departments can use to verify the NGO.
• Improved Credibility and Transparency: Public listing on the Darpan portal allows government bodies, donors, and corporate organizations to verify the NGO’s details.
• Simplified Government Coordination: A centralized profile helps reduce repeated verification and improves communication with government departments.
• Support for FCRA Services: A Darpan ID is required for FCRA registration, prior permission, renewal, and other applicable FCRA services.
• Better Funding Visibility: A Darpan-listed profile may strengthen the NGO’s visibility with institutional and corporate donors. However, it does not itself establish CSR eligibility.
• Free and Long-Term Registration: NITI Aayog charges no government fee, and the Darpan ID does not require annual renewal.

Note: Darpan registration does not provide automatic government recognition, grant approval, tax exemption, or CSR eligibility. It also does not replace separate registrations such as 12AB & 80G, or CSR-1.

Upon successful registration, NGOs receive a digital credential that confirms their status, known as the Darpan Registration Certificate. This certificate contains a unique NGO Darpan ID (UIN), which works as an identifier.

What is a Darpan ID (UIN)?

A Darpan ID, or Unique ID (UIN), is issued to an NGO after successful registration on the NITI Aayog Darpan portal. It helps government departments and authorized stakeholders identify and verify the organization.

The ID generally follows this format: State Code/Year/Unique Number, for example, RJ/2024/1234567.

The Darpan ID identifies the NGO in the government database, while the User ID is used to log in to the portal. The UIN does not require annual renewal, but the NGO must keep its organizational and key-functionary details updated.

Note: A Darpan ID does not provide automatic government recognition, tax exemption, grant approval, or funding eligibility.

How to Download and Print Your Darpan Certificate?

There is no separate downloadable Darpan registration certificate. Instead, NITI Aayog issues a Darpan Unique ID (UIN), and NGOs can print their registration details from the portal.

Here’s how:

• Sign in using the registered User ID and password.
• Go to the dashboard and select the organization’s profile or registration details.
• Open the available registration record and use the portal or browser’s print option to save a copy.

If you cannot access the account, use the Forgot User ID or Forgot Password option to recover the login details.