NGOs in India 2023: State and Category Wise NGOs List based on NGO Darpan Data

NGOs in India 2023: Did you know that India is home to approximately 1.87 lakh non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as per the NGO DARPAN, an initiative of NITI Aayog, India has a total of 1.87 lakh registered non-governmental organizations (NGOs)? The data from ngodarpan.gov.in reflects that Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of registered NGOs, followed by Maharashtra and Delhi. 

Based on the data on NGOs, from the Government of India, Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of registered NGOs, totaling 27,270, followed closely by Maharashtra with 24,784 NGOs. Similarly, the Government of NCT of Delhi and West Bengal have 13,763 and 13,381 registered NGOs, respectively. These four states collectively host the highest number of registered NGOs in India, accounting for 43.7% of the total.

India has a rich history of civil society rooted in the principles of "daana" (giving) and "seva" (service). Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), driven by voluntary spirit and non-profit objectives, have played active roles in cultural promotion, education, health, and natural disaster relief since the medieval era. Their prominence grew during British rule, focusing on improving social welfare and literacy, alongside engaging in various relief projects.

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NGOs in India encompass various forms such as trusts, societies, trade unions, cooperative societies, and Section 8 corporations. These entities operate under the regulatory oversight of both state and federal government agencies.

According to Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013[1], Under section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013[1], the hierarchy of NGOs in states typically involves the Charity Commissioner (for trusts), Registrar of Societies, and Registrar of Companies. Regulatory oversight is provided by the Income Tax Department and the Ministry of Home Affairs, particularly for NGOs that receive foreign contributions.

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NGOs In India 2023: Top 11 Facts of India NGO 

Question 1: How many NGOs are there in India? 
Answer:  According to the NGO DARPAN, India has a total of 187,395 registered NGOs.

Question 2: Which state of India has the highest number of NGOs? 
Answer: According to the latest NGO DARPAN data as of October 26, 2023, Uttar Pradesh leads with the largest number of registered NGOs, totaling 26,270 within the state.

Question 3: Which state of India has the second highest number of NGOs?
Answer: Maharashtra boasts the second-highest count of registered NGOs in India, with a substantial 24,784 organizations currently registered within the state.

Question 4: Which state of India has the third highest number of NGOs?
Answer: The Government of NCT of Delhi has a total of 13,763 registered NGOs. 

Question 5: Which state of India state/UT has the lowest number of NGOs?
Answer: Lakshadweep has a total of 8 NGOs, the lowest in India. 

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Question 6: How many NGOs in India are under Private Sector Companies (Sec 8/25)? 
Answer: A total of 11,034 NGOs in India are registered under Private Sector Companies (Sec 8/25). 

Question 7: How many NGOs are under Registered Societies (Non- Government)
Answer: 93,623 NGOs in India are Registered Societies (Non-government). 

Question 8: What is the current total count of Non-Government Trusts categorized as NGOs in India?
Answer: 69605 NGOs in India are Governed and Managed by Trusts. 

Question 9:  How many Indian NGOs are segmented into Other Registered Entities (Non- Non-Government)?
Answer: 2,839 NGOs are segmented into Other Registered Entities (Non-government). 

Question 10: How many NGOs are managed by Academic Institutions (Private)?
Answer: In India, a total of 2035 are managed by Private Academic Institutions. 

Question 11: How many Blacklisted VOs / NGOs are there in India?
Answer: According to NGO Darpan data, the total number of Blacklisted VOs / NGOs in India is 71. 

State Wise India NGO List 2023: Number of NGOs in Delhi, Bihar, UP, MP, Maharashtra, Odisha and Other Indian States

Number of NGOs in North India: The north Indian states have more number of NGOs as compared to other parts of the country. North Indian states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Haryana, Rajasthan, UP, MP, Chhattisgarh among others, have a total of 93,436 registered NGOs. The table below shows the states-wise NGO list of India. 

Number of NGOs in South India: Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and other South India states have a total of 80,155 registered NGOs. These states have the second-largest conglomeration of NGOs and voluntary organisations.  The table below shows the states-wise NGO list of India. 

Number of NGOs in North East India: The North Eastern Region (NER) comprises eight States viz. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. A total of 9,636 NGOs are working in North East India. 

State Wise List of NGOs In India 2023: According to the NGO DARPAN, India has a total of 1,87,395 registered NGOs. The table below shows the state-wise India NGOs list in 2023 along with the percentage. 

NGOs List: State Wise

Source: ngodarpan.gov.in; Dated: 26th October 2023