15th Indian Organ Donation Day 2025: India Ranks 3rd Globally in Organ Transplants

India Marks a Milestone in Ethical Organ Donation with “Angdaan – Jeevan Sanjeevani Abhiyan”, Now Ranking Behind Only the United States of America and China.

India observed the 15th Indian Organ Donation Day at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. The event was organized by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO), functioning under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, and was graced by the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers.

This year's observance was part of the year-long national campaign titled "Angdaan – Jeevan Sanjeevani Abhiyan", a comprehensive initiative aimed at promoting organ and tissue donation by increasing public participation, removing myths and misconceptions, and motivating citizens to pledge their organs to save lives.

The day is especially significant as Indian Organ Donation Day is now observed annually on August 3rd, commemorating India's first successful deceased-donor heart transplant on August 3rd, 1994.

Until 2022, this day was observed on November 27th, and it was shifted to August 3rd from 2023 onwards to celebrate this landmark achievement. Since its inception in 2010 by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, under NOTTO, this day has grown in national importance, serving to both honour donors and spread awareness about the impact of organ donation in saving and improving lives.

This year, the theme for Indian Organ Donation Day is “Angdaan - Jeevan Sanjeevani Abhiyaan”, which emphasizes the importance of voluntary organ donation and promoting organ and tissue donation awareness throughout the country.

As a part of this campaign, Organ Donation Month was observed from 1st to 31st July 2025, with nationwide awareness initiatives such as webinars, pledging drives, and information kiosks, aiming to reach the broader population with accessible, clear, and life-saving messages.

Since the launch of the Aadhaar-based NOTTO Online Pledge website in 2023, over 3.30 lakh citizens have pledged to donate their organs, signifying a historic moment in public engagement. This growing momentum in public participation reflects an increasing commitment among citizens to contribute to the collective mission of saving lives. Despite these efforts, the demand for organs still vastly outweighs supply.

According to the Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation, India's organ donation rate has grown from 0.05 to 0.8 per ten lakh population in recent years. However, this still stands in stark contrast to Croatia’s 36.5, Spain’s 35.3, and the United States’ 26 per ten lakh population. As of March 2020, more than 1,12,000 Indians were waiting for transplants, with a new name being added to the national waiting list every 10 minutes.

A 2020 research report revealed that 20 patients die every day in India due to unavailability of organs. That year, the number of people waiting for transplants (1,12,568) was nearly three times the number of transplants performed (39,718) with just 19,267 donors in 2019.

One of the most tragic ironies is that India, despite having the highest number of road accident deaths among 199 countries, still struggles with low deceased organ donation rates.

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According to the World Health Organization Global Report on Road Safety 2018, India contributes to 11% of global accident-related deaths, with over 1.5 lakh fatalities annually. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways reported 1,53,972 deaths in 2021, of which 67% were individuals aged between 18-45 years—an age group with high potential for organ donation. Yet in 2021, only 552 deceased brain deaths led to organ donations in India. The low rate can be attributed to deep-seated spiritual beliefs, lack of awareness, and myths about illegal organ trade.

This stark disparity portrays the urgent need for increased awareness, and Indian Organ Donation Day serves as a powerful tool to educate the public about both living and deceased organ donation, including donation after brain or cardiac death. It provides a platform not only to remember and honour the donors and their families, but also to encourage responsible discourse around organ donation across social and cultural barriers.

In 2024, India performed over 18,900 organ transplants, the highest in a single year, compared to less than 5,000 in 2013. This accomplishment places India third globally in the total number of transplants, behind only the USA and China. India also now leads globally in hand transplants, demonstrating both surgical excellence and the dedication of its transplant professionals.

Organ donation remains one of the most selfless acts of humanity, with one donor capable of saving up to 8 lives by donating organs like the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and intestines, and improving many more through tissue donation. Still, over 63,000 individuals need kidney transplants, and around 22,000 require liver transplants annually, while India’s organ donation rate remains under 1%. The mismatch between need and availability continues due to cultural hesitation and lack of accurate information.

To improve access, the government provides financial assistance of up to ₹15 lakh under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi for poor patients undergoing kidney, liver, heart, or lung transplants, with ₹10,000 per month post-transplant to manage medical expenses. Furthermore, kidney transplants are included under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), ensuring broader financial coverage.

Efforts are also underway to strengthen infrastructure, improve coordination, and invest in training and data management via NOTTO. States are being encouraged to optimize central government resources to identify potential donors, build specialized transplant facilities, and raise public consciousness.

The Minister emphasized the role of lifestyle changes and preventive healthcare in avoiding organ failure. Citizens are encouraged to embrace Yoga and Ayurveda to support overall wellbeing and organ strength. A call was made to reduce oil consumption by 10%, a simple but effective step in preventing lifestyle diseases and protecting long-term health.

At the 15th Indian Organ Donation Day event, 10 donor families and 4 recipients were honoured alongside ROTTO Transplant Games winners. Several accolades were distributed to institutions and individuals for their outstanding contributions.

ROTTO North was awarded Best ROTTO Region, Tamil Nadu was declared Best State, Puducherry as Best Union Territory, and Manipur as the Best Northeast State. Odisha, Punjab, and Rajasthan were acknowledged as Emerging States, while Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Gujarat were applauded for organ donation promotion. Telangana was recognized for having the highest deceased organ donation rate.

Among institutions, Civil Hospital, Surat won Best NOTTO-RC, and KDRC-ITS, Gujarat was named Best Government Hospital in Transplantation. AIIMS Nagpur was awarded as an Emerging Institution, and the National Eye Bank at AIIMS Delhi was honored for its pioneering work in eye banking. The Best Brain Stem Death Certifying Team award went to Madras Medical College & Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, with special recognition to Dr. Raghavendran R. and Dr. Gomathi Karmegam from ROTO South.

To support these achievements, key publications were released including the NOTTO Annual Report 2024–2025, the NOTTO e-newsletter, the Awareness Booklet for the General Public and Students, a Booklet on Promotion of Organ Health through Ayurveda and Yoga, and a Best Practices Booklet of States in Organ Donation and Transplantation. These educational resources aim to inspire both the medical community and general public through knowledge and successful models.

In closing, the government recalled the early milestones of India's organ donation journey, such as the passing of the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994, and the country’s first heart transplant at AIIMS, moments that laid the groundwork for structured, ethical transplantation in India. She urged every citizen to make organ donation a Jan Andolan, or people’s movement, rooted in the belief of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, or “the world is one family.” By pledging their organs, individuals can transform loss into legacy, grief into hope, and help build a healthier, compassionate.

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