Your checklist
0 of 6 doneStuck with an NGO Darpan registration problem? Most of them fall into a handful of types: PAN checks, member details, the registration certificate, the mobile number, and a Unique ID that does not appear. This page gives the likely cause and the fix for each. Darpan Portal Guide is an independent guide. It is not the official site and cannot change anything on your account. Only NITI Aayog's portal at ngodarpan.gov.in and its helpdesk can do that.
First checks before you call anyone
Many errors go away with three basic steps. An official ministry FAQ for NGO portal users gives the same advice.
- Clear the browser cookies and cache, or open a private window.
- Try another browser, and use a computer for uploads if the phone view breaks.
- Check your internet, then try at a quieter time, such as early morning.
If the whole site will not open, the cause is on the server side. People search "why NGO Darpan is not working" when the portal is under upgrade. NITI Aayog has been upgrading the platform, and its own pages now call it the NPO Darpan portal. Wait and try again, and look for notices on the official home page.
NGO Darpan registration problem and fix table
Find your NGO Darpan registration error in the left column, then read across.
| Problem you see | Common cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| PAN not validated online | Online check could not confirm the NGO PAN | Recheck the 10 characters. The official guide lets you upload a PDF or JPG of the PAN card when the online check fails. |
| PAN name and number do not match | NGO name typed differently from the Income Tax record | Type the name exactly as on the PAN, including "Trust", "Society" and spacing. If the PAN itself has a wrong name, correct it with the Income Tax PAN change process first. |
| Member PAN or Aadhaar error | Member name not as on the card, or wrong number | Use the full name exactly as on each card. Agree to the PAN and Aadhaar consent boxes. |
| Member details not saving | A required field is blank, or the session timed out | Save one member at a time. Check date of birth format and mobile number length. |
| RC pending or RC not accepted | Registration certificate missing, unclear or not matching the typed number | Upload a clear, complete scan. Make sure the registration number and date typed match the certificate. |
| Mobile number already exists | That number is already linked to another Darpan account | Do not open a new account. Recover the old one with Forget Password, or use a different number that the NGO controls. |
| Unique ID not generated | Profile not 100 percent complete, or verification still pending | Finish every tab. After the verification email, log in again and generate the ID. |
| Registration not successful at sign up | OTP expired, captcha wrong, or email or mobile already in use | Start again with fresh OTPs and type the captcha fresh. |
| Details update fail | Some fields may be locked after verification | Write to the helpdesk with supporting papers. |
"RC pending" is not a label we could confirm in the official manuals. If you see NGO Darpan showing RC pending, treat it as a sign that the registration certificate step is not complete or not yet checked.
What RC means on Darpan
If you searched "NGO Darpan what is RC", the answer is short. RC means the registration certificate of the NGO: the registered trust deed or trust certificate, the society registration certificate, or the certificate of incorporation of a section 8 company. The portal asks for the registration number, date and authority and an upload of the RC in the NGO details tab. Most RC upload problems come from blurred phone photos, missing pages, or a typed number that differs from the paper. Our Darpan documents checklist shows how to prepare it.
PAN no error in NGO Darpan
Darpan checks the NGO name and PAN together. Three things cause the PAN error almost every time:
- The founder's personal PAN was used. The NGO needs its own PAN. For a trust, the fourth character of its PAN is "T".
- The name has extra words, a different spelling, or "The" at the start, unlike the PAN record.
- The PAN record itself has an old name. Then no typing on Darpan will fix it.
The sign up screen has a box to mark that the PAN name differs, as per the official sign up guide. Use it only when the difference is real and minor. For a wrong name on the PAN, update the PAN first.
How to change NGO name in NGO Darpan
We could not find an official step for changing the NGO name inside Darpan. The safe order is:
- Change the name legally with the authority that registered you: the sub-registrar or charity office for a trust, the Registrar of Societies for a society, or the Registrar of Companies for a section 8 company.
- Update the NGO PAN record to the new name.
- Log in to Darpan and see if the name field can be edited. If it is locked, write to the helpdesk with the new certificate and updated PAN.
If you only spelt the name wrongly at sign up, the helpdesk is again the route, with the RC and PAN as proof.
How to change mobile number in NGO Darpan
If you can log in, check the contact sections of the profile and update the number there. If the old number is lost and you cannot log in, send a request from the NGO's registered email. Put it on letterhead, signed by the president or secretary, with the NGO PAN, Unique ID and the new number. Login help is on our NGO Darpan login page.
NGO Darpan update, edit and delete
Ministries expect the profile to stay current. The Ministry of Culture, for example, asked registered NGOs to add or update the PAN and Aadhaar of board members and office bearers. When the board changes, log in and update the member list.
- Update on PFMS: PFMS reads the NGO name and PAN from Darpan using the Unique ID, so fix Darpan first. Then the NGO, or the programme division with approval, enters the Darpan ID in the PFMS agency details.
- Delete a Darpan account: we found no official self-delete option. Ask the helpdesk in writing if you have a duplicate account, and give both IDs.
- NGO does not show in the list: the ID may be inactive or the profile incomplete. Check with the NGO Darpan search.
Who to contact for Darpan problems
Use only the help listed on ngodarpan.gov.in. An official Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) FAQ says the NITI Aayog helpdesk contact details are on the Darpan portal. An older Ministry of Culture notice gave ngo@india.gov.in for a lost ID or password. Before you write, check the current helpdesk on the official FAQ page.
In your email, give the NGO name, PAN, Unique ID if any, registered mobile, a short note of the problem and a screenshot of the error. For a grant portal problem, contact that ministry, not Darpan. See our MSJE grants page for one example, and our registration guide and Darpan ID page for the normal flow.
Common questions
The ID comes only after the profile is complete and verified. Check that every tab is saved and complete. After the verification email, log in again and use the option to generate the Unique ID.
The NGO name you typed does not match the name in the Income Tax PAN record. Type it exactly as on the PAN. If the PAN itself carries a wrong or old name, correct the PAN first.
That number is already linked to a Darpan account, maybe from an earlier attempt. Recover that account with Forget Password instead of making a new one. If you cannot, write to the helpdesk.
Many fields can be updated after login, and ministries ask NGOs to keep office bearer details current. Some core fields may be locked. For those, write to the helpdesk with proof.
First make sure the Darpan record is active and correct. Then enter the Darpan ID in the agency details on PFMS, or ask the programme division of your funding ministry to do it with approval. PFMS fetches the NGO name and PAN from Darpan.
This usually means the OTP expired, the captcha was wrong, or the mobile or email is already in another account. Start again with fresh OTPs. If the mobile or email is already used, recover that account instead.
It is often server load, upgrade work or a browser issue. Clear cookies, try another browser, and try at a quieter hour. Check the official home page for notices.