NGO DARPAN is an online platform, maintained by NITI Aayog, on which voluntary organisations and NGOs can enrol and obtain a system-generated Unique ID.
Key facts
- What it is
- NITI Aayog’s portal, which issues NGOs a Unique ID
- Who needs it
- Trusts, societies and Section 8 companies seeking government grants, CSR funding or empanelment
- Fee
- None
- Not a registration
- You must be registered under trust or society law first
- Validity
- No expiry, but keep the profile up to date
Why it matters
A number of government schemes and grant-making portals — including the e-Anudaan portal — require an organisation to hold this Unique ID before it can register with them. In practice, an NGO without a DARPAN ID is shut out of a large share of government funding and empanelment opportunities.
Who needs one
Any registered public trust, society, or Section 8 company that intends to apply for government grants, CSR funding, or empanelment with a government scheme.
What it is not
DARPAN registration is separate from, and additional to, registration under the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950 or the Societies Registration Act, 1860. An organisation needs its underlying trust or society registration first, before applying for a DARPAN ID.
Frequently asked questions: NGO DARPAN
Is NGO DARPAN registration free?
Yes, the portal does not charge a government fee.
Is it a legal registration?
No. A trust, society or Section 8 company is registered under its own law. NGO DARPAN gives the organisation a unique ID and a profile on a government portal.
Who needs it?
Organisations that apply for grants from Central Government departments, apply for FCRA registration or renewal, or deal with banks that ask for it under the 2023 PMLA rules.
Does the ID expire?
The ID itself does not carry an expiry date, but the profile should be kept current when trustees, address or bank details change.
How long does approval take?
The portal does not publish a fixed period. It can take from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the accuracy of the details and the clarity of the documents.
How can an organisation’s registration be checked?
The organisation’s own registration certificate and, for public trusts in Maharashtra, the register kept by the Charity Commissioner are the primary records. A DARPAN ID can be quoted by the organisation and compared with the profile on the portal.
Consultations are by appointment. To fix a time, telephone +91 99301 50560 or send a message on WhatsApp.
This page describes general procedure and does not constitute legal advice. What applies to a particular matter depends on its own facts.