Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized the importance of organ donation in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ speech and the ministry said it has given a lasting boost to the organ donation movement in the country.
India has achieved a major milestone in organ donation and transplantation, with the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) making unprecedented progress in organ donation, allocation and transplantation across the country, the ministry said in a statement.
“The number of transplants in the country has increased from less than 5,000 in the year 2013 to almost 20,000 by the year 2025, a remarkable fourfold increase,” the report said.
About 18 percent of transplants are currently performed using organs donated by deceased donors. More than 1,200 families came forward to donate organs of their loved ones after their deaths in 2025, saving thousands of lives and improving the quality of life for many others.
Each donor is now considered a multi-organ donor, transforming the lives of countless recipients. Since September 17, 2023, over 4.8 lakh citizens have registered to donate organs and tissues after their death through an Aadhaar-based verification system.
The ministry said India has developed competence in performing complex organ transplants, including heart, lung and pancreas transplants.
“India is also a leader in hand transplants, performing a greater number of hand transplants than any other country. These remarkable achievements reflect the strong and sustained momentum of the Indian government, translating policy vision into measurable, life-saving results,” the statement said.
It added that India has some of the best transplant professionals and surgeons in the world who achieve results comparable to the best in the world, and that too at a fraction of the cost.
Over the past year, India has witnessed a historic increase in organ donations from the deceased, better coordination of transplants and better organ sharing at the national level, providing more patients with timely and equitable access to life-saving transplants. NOTTO’s strengthened performance underlines India’s growing maturity as a responsive, ethical and technology-enabled transplant ecosystem.
The recent successes are the result of a comprehensive and multi-faceted government strategy. This includes strengthening NOTTO as the national coordinating authority, enabling real-time organ allocation and seamless cooperation between states.
The National Register for Organ and Tissue Transplants has been expanded and modernized, ensuring transparency, traceability and fairness. Targeted capacity building of State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (SOTTOs) and Regional OTTOs (ROTTOs) has been undertaken, while transplant protocols have been streamlined and standard operating procedures aligned with global best practices.
The use of digital platforms for donor and patient registration and hospital connectivity has improved. Promoting green corridors and implementation of standard operating procedures for various modes of transport have enabled fast and safe organ transportation between cities and states. These reforms have significantly reduced logistical barriers, improved clinical outcomes and strengthened public confidence in the organ donation system, the statement said.
Public awareness campaigns, community involvement, and sustained advocacy have created a positive shift in societal attitudes toward organ donation. More and more families are coming forward during moments of deep grief to give the gift of life, transforming loss into hope for countless recipients.
The progress made under NOTTO’s leadership also strengthens India’s vision of self-reliance in advanced healthcare, reducing dependence on foreign transplants while ensuring ethical, transparent and equitable practices in the country, the statement said.
Published on February 23, 2026
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