New Delhi, February 23 – In a significant development, organ transplants have seen a four-fold increase in the country – from less than 5,000 in 2013 to nearly 20,000 in 2025, according to the government.
Furthermore, nearly 18 per cent of transplants are currently being performed using organs donated from deceased donors.
Notably, more than 4.8 lakh citizens have registered to donate organs and tissues after death through an Aadhaar-based verification system, since September 17, 2023, as per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data.
The country has achieved a significant milestone in the field of organ donation and transplantation, with the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) recording unprecedented progress in organ donation, allocation, and transplantation across the country.
The ministry further informed that over 1,200 families came forward to donate the organs of their loved ones after death in 2025, saving thousands of lives and improving the quality of life for many others.
Each donor is now a multi-organ donor, transforming the lives of many.
The country has achieved competence in performing complex organ transplants such as hearts, lungs, and pancreas.
"India also leads the world in hand transplants and performs a greater number of hand transplants than any other country. These remarkable achievements reflect the strong and sustained impetus provided by the Government of India, translating policy vision into measurable, life-saving outcomes," according to the Health Ministry.
India has some of the best transplant professionals and surgeons in the world who have achieved outcomes comparable to the best in the world, and that too at a fraction of the cost.
Increasing numbers of families are stepping forward during moments of profound grief to give the gift of life, transforming loss into hope for countless recipients.
NOTTO calls for promoting a culture of organ and tissue donation in government establishments, institutions, and organizations, etc. NOTTO promotes multi-organ donations as a right of every family.
The progress achieved under NOTTO's stewardship also strengthens India's vision of self-reliance in advanced healthcare, reducing dependence on overseas transplants while ensuring ethical, transparent, and equitable practices within the country.
