The NGO‑DARPAN Portal is an online platform developed and maintained by NITI Aayog, Government of India, for maintaining a centralized database of Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) operating in India.
Through this portal, eligible organisations such as Trusts, Societies and Section 8 Companies can register themselves and obtain a unique identification number known as the DARPAN ID.
The purpose of this portal is to:
Promote transparency
Improve governance of NGOs
Facilitate interaction between NGOs and various Central Government Ministries and Departments
Many government departments require NGOs to obtain DARPAN ID before applying for government grants, schemes or registrations.
Applicability / Eligibility
The following entities are eligible to obtain DARPAN ID:
Registered Trusts, Charitable Associations or NGOs
Registered Societies
Section 8 Companies incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013
Basic eligibility conditions
The organisation must be legally registered with the relevant authority.
The entity must have a valid PAN issued in the name of the organisation.
The governing body of the organisation should have at least three members.
The organisation must have valid mobile number and email ID.
Importance / Situations Where DARPAN ID is Required
Obtaining DARPAN ID becomes important in the following situations:
Applying for grants from Central Government Ministries or Departments
Participating in government welfare or development schemes
Applying for registration or prior permission under the
Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010 (FCRA)Maintaining credibility while dealing with government authorities
Being included in the national database of NGOs maintained by NITI Aayog
Therefore, most NGOs obtain DARPAN ID soon after registration.
Information and Documents Required
The following information and documents are generally required while applying for DARPAN ID.
1. Basic Organisation Details
Name of NGO / Entity (as per PAN)
Registration number
Date of registration
Registered office address
State and district
Nature of organisation and activities
2. Registration Documents (Depending on Entity Type)
Trust
Trust Deed
Trust Registration Certificate
Society
Society Registration Certificate
Memorandum of Association
Rules and Regulations
Section 8 Company
Certificate of Incorporation
Memorandum of Association (MOA)
Articles of Association (AOA)
3. Identity Documents
PAN card of the organization
Aadhaar cards of at least three office bearers
PAN cards of office bearers (if available)
Contact details (mobile number and email ID)
4. Additional Supporting Documents
Registered office address proof (electricity bill / rent agreement etc.)
Passport size photographs of office bearers
Bank details (cancelled cheque / bank statement / passbook front page)
Annual reports or financial statements of previous years (if available)
Step-by-Step Procedure for Obtaining DARPAN ID
Step 1 – Visit the NGO-DARPAN Portal
Visit the official portal:
https://ngodarpan.gov.in/
Step 2 – Create User Account
Click Login / Register and select Sign Up.
Provide:
NGO / Entity Name (as per PAN)
Mobile number for OTP verification
Email ID for OTP verification
Security code displayed on screen
Step 3 – OTP Verification
Enter the OTP received on the registered mobile number and email ID to verify the account.
Step 4 – PAN Validation
Enter the PAN number of the organisation.
The portal verifies PAN details with the Income Tax database.
Step 5 – Create Password
After successful PAN verification, create a password for the account.
Step 6 – Login to Account
Login using:
Registered email ID / mobile number / PAN
Password
Step 7 – Profile Completion
Complete the organisation profile by entering:
Organisation details
Registration details
Address information
Areas of operation
Key activities of the NGO
Step 8 – Add Governing Body Details
Provide details of governing body members such as:
Name
Designation
Date of birth
Aadhaar number
Contact details
Step 9 – Upload Documents
Upload required documents:
Registration certificate
PAN of organization
MOA / Trust Deed / AOA
Identity documents of office bearers
Address proof
Bank details
Step 10 – Final Submission and Verification
Review all details carefully and submit the application.
The information and documents will be verified by the NGO-DARPAN portal administrator.
Step 11 – Generation of DARPAN ID
After successful verification, a unique DARPAN ID is generated and confirmation is sent via email.
No physical certificate is issued; the generated ID itself acts as the official identification.
Timeline
Generally, the registration process involves:
2–3 days for document verification
5–7 days for approval and generation of DARPAN ID
However, the timeline may vary depending on completeness of information and verification.
Validity
The DARPAN ID remains valid as long as the organisation keeps its profile updated on the portal.
Any changes in:
Governing body
Address
Contact details
Activities
should be updated whenever required.
Key Benefits
Major benefits of obtaining DARPAN ID include the following:
Access to government grants and schemes
Recognition in the national NGO database
Mandatory requirement for several government programs
Useful for FCRA registrations and permissions
Improves credibility and transparency of the organization.
Conclusion
DARPAN ID acts as a centralized identification system for NGOs in India. It helps government departments maintain a structured database of non-profit organisations and enables NGOs to access various government schemes and funding opportunities.
Therefore, it is advisable that Trusts, Societies and Section 8 Companies engaged in charitable or social activities obtain DARPAN ID soon after registration.
Prepared by:
CS Anchal Rai (Company Secretary)
By Inderpreet Singh (Consultant)
Vittara Advisory
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