By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : August 04, 2026 7:13 am
The country now ranks third globally in the total number of organ transplants after the United States and China though a significant gap remains between organ demand and availability
India has crossed a major milestone in organ transplantation, performing more than 20,000 organ transplants in 2025—the highest ever recorded in a single year.
In this backdrop, the union government unveiled a series of digital and policy initiatives to further strengthen the country's organ donation ecosystem during the 16th Indian Organ Donation Day (IODD).
The national event, organised by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, highlighted the country's progress in organ donation while honouring deceased organ donors and their families.
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilisers, Anupriya Patel said India has crossed five lakh Aadhaar-verified organ donation pledges since the launch of the national digital pledge portal in 2023, reflecting growing public participation driven by sustained awareness campaigns and the Prime Minister's appeal for organ donation.
The Minister noted that organ transplants have increased from 4,990 in 2013 to over 20,000 in 2025, while deceased donor transplants have grown from 837 to more than 3,500 during the same period. India now ranks third globally in the total number of organ transplants after the United States and China, although she acknowledged that a significant gap remains between organ demand and availability.
To strengthen the national transplantation programme, the Government launched several new initiatives, including the nationwide 'Jug Jug Jiyo Abhiyaan' to promote organ donation awareness, 'e-Pratyaropan', a unified digital platform integrating hospitals, donors, recipients and regulators, and the NOTTO Mobile Application to improve access to transplantation-related services.
The Government also released the National Brain Stem Death Certification Guidelines and the National Guidelines on Swap Transplantation to standardise practices and strengthen policy implementation across the country.
Highlighting the Government's broader efforts, Patel said the organ donation network now includes NOTTO, five Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (ROTTOs), 26 State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (SOTTOs) and around 1,200 registered hospitals.