NGO Darpan Registration — NITI Aayog Unique ID for NGOs
NGO Darpan is NITI Aayog’s portal where trusts, societies and Section 8 companies register to get a Unique ID. You need that ID to apply for grants from Government of India ministries and departments, and the portal lists it for FCRA registration and bank account opening too. Registration is free, and we handle it end to end.
What it is
NGO Darpan registration is the process of enrolling your non-profit on the NGO Darpan portal run by NITI Aayog, with technical support from MeitY-NIC. Once onboarding is complete, the portal gives your organisation a Unique ID. Government departments, banks and the FCRA system use that ID to identify you.
Darpan is not a registration under a statute in the way a trust deed, society registration or Section 8 company licence is. It does not create your legal entity and does not give any tax exemption. It sits alongside those registrations as a single identity for your NGO in government records. You can also read our NITI Aayog page for the basics.
Who it applies to
You want a central government grant
The Unique ID is mandatory for obtaining grants from Government of India ministries and departments. Expect every scheme application to ask for it.
You are preparing for FCRA
NITI Aayog lists FCRA registration and renewal among the uses of the Unique ID. Get it before you prepare the FCRA application.
Your bank has asked for it
The portal also lists bank account opening and operation under the Prevention of Money Laundering rules, as amended in 2023.
Why it matters
Apply for central schemes
Without the Unique ID, you cannot apply for grants from central ministries and departments.
Clear a hurdle for FCRA and banking
Having the ID ready removes one hold-up from your FCRA file and from your bank’s paperwork.
Carry one ID everywhere
The same ID follows your NGO from one application to the next. Form CSR-1 also asks for your Darpan ID where you have one.
Darpan compared with other NGO registrations
| Registration | Who issues it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| NGO Darpan Unique ID | NITI Aayog | Identifies your NGO for government grants, FCRA and banking. No tax benefit and no certificate. |
| Income-tax registration (section 332, earlier 12A / 12AB) | Income Tax Department | Exempts the NGO’s income that is applied to its objects |
| Donation approval (section 354, earlier 80G) | Income Tax Department | Lets donors claim a deduction for their donations |
| FCRA registration | Ministry of Home Affairs | Allows the NGO to receive foreign contribution |
| CSR-1 | Ministry of Corporate Affairs | Allows the NGO to implement CSR projects for companies |
Here is the catch: a Unique ID is neither a certificate nor a tax registration. NGO Darpan does not replace any of the others, and each one does a separate job.
Documents required
From the organisation
- PAN of the NGO (mandatory)
- Registration certificate, trust deed or memorandum and articles
- Registered office address
- Active mobile number and email ID
From each office bearer
- PAN details of trustees or key office bearers
- Aadhaar details of trustees or key office bearers
- Names and designations as recorded in your governing documents
About your work
- Key issue areas and the places you work in
- Sources of funds
How it works
Sign up with OTP
We sign up on the NGO Darpan portal with your NGO’s mobile number and email, verified by OTP, so keep the phone handy that day.
Validate the NGO’s PAN
The PAN of the NGO is mandatory. Its details should match your registration documents.
Fill in your organisation’s profile
We add your registration details, address, areas of work and sources of funds.
Add trustees or office bearers
We enter the PAN and Aadhaar details of your trustees or key office bearers. In practice, this is the step to slow down on: we check every name against the person’s own PAN and Aadhaar before submitting.
Submit and save the Unique ID
Once onboarding is complete, the portal generates your Unique ID. We note it in your compliance records so it is ready for every grant and FCRA application.
Timelines
Register before the scheme window opens
Say a Faridabad society running a women’s skill centre spots a central ministry scheme for training. The application will ask for the Unique ID, so the society should register well before the closing date.
Get the ID before the FCRA file
A Ballabgarh Section 8 company nearing its third year and planning FCRA registration should get its Unique ID now. It will then be ready when the three-year record is in place.
Update it when details change
Update the portal promptly when office bearers, address or other details change, so your profile matches your records.
What happens if you don’t register
Your grant application stalls
The Unique ID is mandatory for grants from central ministries and departments. Without it, the application cannot proceed.
Your FCRA file waits
NITI Aayog lists FCRA registration and renewal among the uses of the ID. A missing ID delays the FCRA file.
Your bank asks questions
The portal lists bank account opening and operation under the Prevention of Money Laundering rules, as amended in 2023. A Palwal trust opening a new current account should expect its bank to ask for the ID.
Frequently asked questions
What is NGO Darpan registration?
It is enrolment on the NGO Darpan portal, which NITI Aayog runs with MeitY-NIC, to get a Unique ID for your non-profit. The ID identifies your trust, society or Section 8 company when you apply for government grants, FCRA registration or a bank account. It does not create your legal entity or give tax exemption. Registration is free, and we can complete it for you.
Who can register on NGO Darpan?
Charitable trusts, societies registered under the Societies Registration Act, Section 8 companies and other voluntary organisations can register. Individuals cannot. The organisation must have its own PAN, because the PAN of the NGO is mandatory on the portal. If your NGO is newly formed, apply for its PAN first, then register on Darpan as soon as it arrives. We can handle both steps together.
Is NGO Darpan registration mandatory?
It is mandatory for anyone seeking grants from Government of India ministries and departments. NITI Aayog also lists FCRA registration and renewal, and bank account opening and operation under the Prevention of Money Laundering rules as amended in 2023, among its uses. It is not a statutory registration like a trust deed or Section 8 licence. In practice, any NGO that deals with government or foreign funding should have the ID.
Does NGO Darpan issue a registration certificate?
No. NITI Aayog states that it neither recommends nor issues any physical or digital certificate. On completion of onboarding, your organisation gets only a Unique ID. So if anyone offers to sell you an “NGO Darpan certificate”, treat it with caution. Save the Unique ID and a screenshot of your portal profile, and keep both with your records.
What documents are needed for NGO Darpan registration?
You need the NGO’s PAN, its registration certificate or trust deed, the registered office address, an active mobile number and email ID, and the PAN and Aadhaar details of trustees or key office bearers. You also describe your areas of work and sources of funds. Most of this sits in documents you already hold. Collect the office bearers’ details first, because a spelling mismatch there is easy to miss.
Is there a fee for NGO Darpan registration?
No. Registration on the NGO Darpan portal is free of cost. There is no government fee at any stage. If you use a professional to complete the onboarding, only that service fee applies. Our quote covers checking your documents, entering the data and recording the Unique ID, so you know the full cost upfront.
Does NGO Darpan replace 12A, 80G or FCRA registration?
No. Darpan registration does not replace income-tax registration or FCRA registration. From 1 April 2026, income-tax registration sits under section 332 and donation approval under section 354 of the Income-tax Act, 2025, in place of the old 12A and 80G. FCRA registration comes from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Darpan sits alongside these as your identity in government systems, so plan for each one separately.
Does a Darpan ID mean NITI Aayog has approved our NGO?
No. The portal’s own disclaimer says that a listing does not imply that NITI Aayog or MeitY-NIC endorses or recommends the organisation. The Unique ID shows that your NGO has onboarded with its basic details. Donors and departments still look at your registrations, accounts and work. Keep those in good order, and the ID adds to a clean record.
Is a Darpan ID needed for CSR-1?
It is not a condition in Rule 4 of the Companies (CSR Policy) Rules, 2014, but Form CSR-1 asks for your Darpan ID if you have one. The real conditions sit in Rule 4(1): income-tax registration and approval and, for independent NGOs, a three-year track record. So the Darpan ID is useful, not decisive. Have it ready and that is one less field to chase when you file.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
NGO Darpan registration itself carries no government fee.
Ready to begin?
Send us your NGO’s PAN, registration certificate and office bearers’ details, and we will get your Darpan Unique ID in place before your next grant deadline.