Charities and NGOs in India
India has one of the largest and most diverse nonprofit sectors in the world, with an estimated three million registered NGOs and an active grassroots civil society in every state. The sector ranges from tiny village cooperatives to internationally funded foundations, addressing poverty, public health, education, women's rights, environmental protection, disaster relief, and disability inclusion. Whether you are searching for a comprehensive list of NGOs in India, a verified Indian charity database, an NGO Darpan lookup, an FCRA-registered NGO directory, or a single Indian nonprofit to donate to, GiveRadar consolidates official NITI Aayog Darpan registration, FCRA status, 12A and 80G certificates, financial summaries, news coverage, and an independent integrity score for every Indian NGO. Browse our complete India NGO database or read about how GiveRadar works before you give.
How charities and NGOs are registered in India
Indian nonprofits typically register under one of three legal frameworks: the Societies Registration Act 1860, the Indian Trusts Act 1882, or Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013. To access government grants and most institutional funding, NGOs must register on the NGO Darpan portal maintained by NITI Aayog and obtain a Unique ID. Tax-exempt status is granted under Income Tax Act sections 12A and 80G; the new digital regime introduced in 2021 requires NGOs to revalidate 12A and 80G registrations on a five-year cycle, with key deadlines concentrated around fiscal year 2025-26. Foreign donations are tightly regulated under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) 2010, administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs, which publishes a public list of currently valid FCRA-licensed NGOs. CSR-1 registration is additionally required for NGOs receiving corporate CSR funding under the Companies Act.
Major causes and well-known Indian NGOs
The Indian nonprofit sector is structured around several flagship cause areas:
- Education: Pratham, Teach For India, Akanksha Foundation, Magic Bus, and thousands of school-sponsorship programs.
- Health: Smile Foundation, HelpAge India, Tata Memorial Centre, AIIMS-affiliated trusts, and HIV/AIDS networks like the YR Gaitonde Centre.
- Women, children, and child protection: Childline India Foundation, CRY (Child Rights and You), Snehalaya, Bachpan Bachao Andolan, and Apne Aap Women Worldwide.
- Rural development and livelihoods: SEWA, BAIF Development Research Foundation, PRADAN, and microfinance-linked NGOs.
- Disaster relief and humanitarian: Goonj, Akshaya Patra Foundation, Save the Children India, and Sphere India network members.
- Environment and climate: Centre for Science and Environment, WWF India, ATREE, and reforestation networks like Sankalptaru.
- Disability: Sightsavers India, Enable India, and Mobility India.
Compare two organizations side by side with our charity comparison tool, or browse best education charities in India and best health charities in India to narrow by cause.
How to evaluate an Indian NGO before donating
India's NGO sector is vast and uneven, so donor diligence is essential. Things to check before giving to any Indian NGO:
- NGO Darpan Unique ID: verify on the NITI Aayog portal at ngodarpan.gov.in. A basic credibility signal and prerequisite for most government partnerships.
- 12A and 80G certificates: 12A grants income-tax exemption; 80G allows Indian donors to claim a 50% (or 100%) tax deduction. Confirm both are currently valid under the new digital regime.
- FCRA registration: NGOs receiving foreign donations must hold a current FCRA license issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Cross-check on the official FCRA online portal.
- Audited financial statements: reputable Indian NGOs publish annual reports with audited accounts and FCRA-FC4 returns where applicable.
- GuideStar India / Credibility Alliance accreditation: independent transparency benchmarks for the Indian sector.
- Sanctions and watchlists: use our free charity checker tool to cross-reference every Indian NGO against OFAC, EU, and UN watchlists automatically.
Each Indian NGO profile on GiveRadar combines registration, FCRA, 12A/80G, financials, governance, and third-party signals into a single 0-100 integrity score. Read our integrity score methodology for the full weighting, and see how to check if a charity is legitimate for a step-by-step donor walkthrough.
India NGO explorer: browse, filter, compare
This page works as an India NGO explorer: every registered Indian nonprofit we hold data on, ranked and filterable by state, cause area, FCRA status, 80G eligibility, financial transparency, presence of a website, and revenue size. Use the filters on the left to narrow by category (education, health, women and children, rural development, disaster relief, environment, disability, advocacy, and more), and the search bar to find a specific organization by name or NGO Darpan ID. The directory updates daily as we ingest new NITI Aayog data and enrich existing records with contact details, financials, programs, and news coverage. To compare Indian giving against other markets, browse all countries or jump straight to education charities globally.
Donating to charities in India
Indian donors typically give directly through an NGO's website using UPI, NEFT, or card; the NGO issues a stamped 80G receipt that supports the income-tax deduction. International donors should give through an FCRA-licensed Indian NGO or via US 501(c)(3) and UK fiscal sponsors that pre-screen Indian partners (such as GiveIndia, Atma, or American India Foundation). GiveRadar links to each NGO's official donation channel where available and flags fundraising pages that look unverified. For a structured donor walkthrough, read our donor due-diligence guide.