Quick answer
What is NGO Darpan registration?
NGO Darpan registration is the online sign-up of a non-profit on NITI Aayog's NPO Darpan portal, which issues a unique Darpan ID. The ID is mandatory for grants from central ministries and is required for FCRA registration or renewal, 80G exemption and opening or operating an NGO bank account.
- Run by NITI Aayog's Voluntary Action Cell
- Open to trusts, societies and Section 8 companies
- No physical certificate; you get an ID
- Over 6.3 lakh Darpan IDs issued (November 2026)
What is NGO Darpan registration and who runs it?
The Darpan portal is a national register of non-profits maintained by the Voluntary Action Cell of NITI Aayog. Registering creates an online profile for your NGO and a unique Darpan ID that ministries, banks and the FCRA portal use to identify you.
The portal now calls itself NPO Darpan and lives at ngodarpan.gov.in. Two points from the portal itself are worth knowing before you start:
- There is no certificate. NITI Aayog says it does not issue any physical Darpan certificate, only a registration ID, based on a self-declared affidavit. Anyone offering a "Darpan certificate" is selling a printout.
- It is not an endorsement. The Darpan ID gives no right to use NITI Aayog's name or logo or the National Emblem. The portal warns that misuse can lead to blacklisting or cancellation of the ID.
The portal's public counter showed 636,953 Darpan IDs on 10 November 2026, of which 84 were blacklisted.
| Type | Darpan IDs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Trust | 317,443 | 49.84% |
| Society | 260,512 | 40.91% |
| Section 8 company | 58,914 | 9.25% |
Source: NPO Darpan portal home page, read 10 November 2026.
Who needs a Darpan ID?
Any trust, society or Section 8 company that wants central government grants, FCRA registration, 80G work or a smooth bank relationship should get a Darpan ID. NITI Aayog lists all four uses, which makes the ID close to essential for any active NGO.
| Use | What the official source says |
|---|---|
| Grants from central ministries and departments | Darpan ID is mandatory for all NPOs seeking grants |
| FCRA registration and renewal | Required by NITI; the FCRA portal says Darpan ID is mandatory for all its online services |
| 80G | Required for seeking exemptions under 80G of Income Tax |
| Bank accounts | Under the PMLA (Maintenance of Records) Amendment Rules, 2023, financial institutions must ensure the Darpan ID for opening and operating accounts |
Sources: NITI Aayog Voluntary Action Cell and FCRA Online FAQ, checked 10 November 2026.
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Documents required for NGO Darpan registration
Keep the NGO's registration certificate, the NGO's PAN, and the PAN and Aadhaar details of its office bearers ready. The name you type must match the name on the NGO's PAN exactly, because the portal checks the two against each other.
| Item | Details | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Registration certificate | Trust deed registration, society certificate, or MCA certificate of incorporation | Scan the full certificate, front and back if printed on both sides |
| PAN of the NGO | Issued in the NGO's own name | Spelling, spacing and punctuation must match the certificate |
| Office bearers' PAN and Aadhaar | Chairperson, president, secretary, treasurer or equivalent | Names must match PAN and Aadhaar records; guides usually list three people |
| Contact details | Email and mobile of an office bearer | Use the NGO's own long-term email, not a consultant's |
| Objects and work areas | Your areas of work and where you operate, as the form asks | Write what you actually do; it is visible to ministries |
| Self-declaration | Affidavit-style declaration on the portal | Read it fully before you accept |
Portal steps from ngodarpan.gov.in; the office-bearer list is the common practice described in guides such as ClearTax, checked 10 November 2026. The portal shows the exact fields at sign-up.
How to do NGO Darpan registration: step by step
The portal describes four stages: create an account, upload documents, review and submit, and receive the unique ID. In practice we break it into the smaller steps below so nothing is rejected for a mismatch.
- 1
Match names first
Compare the NGO name on PAN, certificate and bank account. Fix any mismatch before you start, since it is the most common snag.
- 2
Create the account
Sign up on ngodarpan.gov.in with the NGO name, PAN and an office bearer's email and mobile, then set a password.
- 3
Fill organisation details
Enter the registration details, address and areas of work exactly as the form asks, copied from your certificate.
- 4
Add office bearers
Enter PAN and Aadhaar details for each office bearer; the portal verifies them online.
- 5
Upload documents
Registration certificate and other scans in the formats the portal accepts.
- 6
Review and submit
Check every field, accept the self-declaration and submit.
- 7
Note the Darpan ID
Record the unique ID and quote it on grant applications, FCRA forms and bank KYC.
How long does Darpan registration take, and is there a fee?
The portal did not show any government fee when we checked in November 2026, and guides agree it is free. Time depends mainly on how clean your documents are: if names match and office bearers' PAN and Aadhaar verify, the filing itself can be done in a single sitting.
| Item | Position as of November 2026 |
|---|---|
| Government fee | None shown on the portal |
| Certificate | None issued; you receive a Darpan ID |
| Renewal | No renewal fee shown; keep the profile updated when office bearers or details change |
| Our fee | Fixed quote before work starts |
| Typical delay causes | Name mismatch, unverifiable PAN or Aadhaar, wrong registration date |
Based on the NPO Darpan portal, read 10 November 2026. We have not found an official processing time, so we do not quote one.
What to keep updated after you get a Darpan ID
Treat the Darpan profile as a live record. Ministries see it when you apply for grants, and the FCRA and bank teams match it against your other documents, so any change in office bearers, address or registration details should be updated promptly.
- Office bearer changes: update names and identity details when the board or trustees change.
- Address and contact: keep the email working; notices and grant updates go there.
- Tax registrations: once you get 12A and 80G registration, record it so donors and ministries can see it.
- Foreign funding: the Darpan ID is a precondition for FCRA registration; mismatched data delays that application.
- Name and logo: do not print NITI Aayog's name or logo on letterheads or websites as if it endorses you.
Common NGO Darpan mistakes and how to avoid them
Most Darpan problems come from inconsistent data across documents rather than from the portal. Fixing those before you file saves weeks later, when FCRA or a ministry rejects an application because the Darpan record does not match.
- Name mismatch. "Shiksha Foundation Trust" on PAN but "Shiksha Foundation" on the deed.
- Consultant's email. The account is created on an outside email that the NGO later cannot access.
- Old office bearers. People who resigned years ago are still listed.
- Over-claiming. Work areas or results listed that the NGO cannot show evidence for.
- Paying for a "certificate". There is no physical certificate; a printout from a vendor adds nothing.
- Using NITI Aayog branding. This can get the ID blacklisted under the portal's advisory.
Delhi NGOs: what to sort out before Darpan
Delhi has a large number of trusts and societies that were registered years ago and have changed office bearers or addresses since, so the most useful work is usually tidying the base records. Check that the society's current list of members is filed with the Registrar, that the trust deed reflects present trustees, and that the PAN address is current.
If the NGO does not exist yet, form it first: see trust registration in Delhi or our Section 8 page. Many Delhi NGOs then apply for Darpan, 12A and 80G, and CSR-1 in that order, because each step asks for the earlier one.
How CA in Delhi handles NGO Darpan registration
We check your documents for mismatches, create the account on the NGO's own email, fill the profile and hand over the Darpan ID with login details. You get a fixed quote before work starts, and the work can be done fully online.
Darpan sign-up is not listed as a separate service by our three firms. Moneymji lists trust and Section 8 registration, so we pass Darpan enquiries to the listed firm or partner professional that handles NGO compliance and confirm scope in writing. See the firm profiles on our chartered accountant firms in Delhi page.
- What you send: registration certificate, NGO PAN, office bearers' PAN and Aadhaar, contact details and a short note on your work.
- What you get back: the Darpan ID, the filled profile as a PDF for your records, and a list of follow-on registrations you are now ready for.
NGOs near our office in Shalimar Bagh or Pitampura can visit Netaji Subhash Place; others can use our accountant near me page to see how we work remotely.
Frequently asked questions
Is NGO Darpan registration mandatory?
It is mandatory for NGOs seeking grants from central ministries and departments, and it is required for FCRA registration or renewal and for 80G, according to NITI Aayog. Banks must also ensure the Darpan ID under the 2023 PMLA record rules, so most active NGOs need it.
Is there any fee for Darpan registration?
The NPO Darpan portal showed no government fee when we checked in November 2026. If someone charges you, it is a service fee for preparing and filing, not a government charge. We quote ours as a fixed amount before work starts.
How do I download the NGO Darpan certificate?
There is no official certificate to download. NITI Aayog states that it issues only a Darpan registration ID, based on a self-declared affidavit. Save a screenshot or PDF of your profile page showing the ID for your records.
Can a newly registered trust apply for a Darpan ID?
Yes. A trust, society or Section 8 company can register once it has its registration certificate and PAN. Grants and FCRA have their own extra conditions, such as years of existence and past spending, but the Darpan ID itself does not.
Can an individual or a proprietorship register on NGO Darpan?
No. The portal is for non-profit organisations: trusts, societies and Section 8 companies. An individual social worker or a for-profit business cannot get a Darpan ID.
What if office bearers change after registration?
Update the profile on the portal with the new office bearers' details. An out-of-date profile is a common reason for FCRA queries and bank KYC delays, so make it part of your board-change checklist.
Why was our Darpan ID blacklisted?
The portal shows a small number of blacklisted IDs. Its advisory warns that using NITI Aayog's name or logo, or the National Emblem, can lead to blacklisting. Contact the portal through its official channels if you believe it is an error.
Do we need a Darpan ID before applying for 12A and 80G?
NITI Aayog says the Darpan ID is required for 80G exemptions, so getting it first avoids delays. It also feeds into CSR work, which is covered on our CSR 1 registration page.
Can you do Darpan registration for an NGO outside Delhi?
Yes. The portal is national and fully online, so location does not matter. We work by email and WhatsApp with NGOs anywhere in India.