Eight practical checks any donor can do in an evening, using free government portals and the papers a real trust can show you
Published: 21 October 2026 | Updated: 21 October 2026 | By Millat Charitable Trust
Before you give money to a charity, it is fair to ask whether the organisation is real, registered and doing the work it describes. Most genuine trusts and societies are happy to answer that question, and India now has several free government portals that let you check basic facts yourself. This guide walks through eight checks, from a two-minute search to a closer look at accounts, and lists the warning signs that should make you pause.
We are a charitable trust ourselves, and donors often ask us how to verify an NGO. The steps below are the same ones we would suggest for any organisation, including Millat Charitable Trust. The facts about government portals come from the portals themselves; links are listed at the end of the page.
Every check below starts with three facts: the organisation's full legal name, the registration number under which it was set up (as a trust, society or Section 8 company), and its PAN. Many NGOs use a short or popular name on posters and social media, while their bank account and tax papers carry a longer legal name. Ask for all three in writing. A genuine organisation can give them at once; it already needs them for its bank account, tax filings and donation receipts.
Write the details down exactly, including spelling. Small differences, such as "Charitable Trust" instead of "Welfare Trust", matter when you search a database, and they are also a common trick used by people who copy the name of a well-known charity.
NGO Darpan (now shown on the site as NPO DARPAN) is run by NITI Aayog. According to the portal, it is a platform where non-profit organisations register to obtain a unique identity number, the Darpan ID. The portal says this ID is mandatory for NPOs seeking grants from Ministries and Departments of the Government of India and the States, that banks must ensure an NPO has a Darpan ID to open and operate an account under the 2023 amendment to the Prevention of Money Laundering record rules, and that the ID is also needed for FCRA registration or renewal and for 80G tax exemption.
The portal's Search NPO page lets you search by NPO name, by Darpan ID or by the NPO's PAN, and filter by registered state, district, sector and type. A result shows the name, the registration number with district and state, the address and the sectors the organisation says it works in.
NGO Darpan also publishes a Blacklisted NPOs page, which can be searched by name, Darpan ID or PAN. Each entry shows which body blacklisted the organisation and from what date. Search it with the same details you collected in Check 1. A blacklisting is a serious signal. If you find one, ask the organisation for an explanation before giving, and keep in mind that an NGO with a similar name may be a different body altogether, which is why the PAN and registration number matter.
The Income Tax Department explains that a trust created wholly for charitable or religious purposes can get tax benefits, including exemption of its income under section 11 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. To claim this, a trust registers with the department; the application form for registration or provisional registration is Form 10A. People usually call this "12A registration". Separately, a donor can claim a deduction under section 80G only if the organisation holds an 80G approval.
Ask the trust for a copy of both orders and check that the name and PAN on them match. Look for the validity period printed on each order, because donations made after an approval has expired or been cancelled do not qualify. Our guides explain what 12A registration means and how the 80G donation tax deduction works, including the receipt and Form 10BE certificate you should receive.
Remember that tax registration is about tax. It shows that the department accepted the trust's application; it does not by itself prove that the trust spends money well. That is what the next checks are for.
If you live abroad and are not an Indian citizen, or if an NGO says it receives foreign grants, its foreign contribution status matters. Under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, an organisation with a cultural, economic, educational, religious or social programme may accept foreign contribution only with a certificate of registration or prior permission from the Central Government. The Ministry of Home Affairs FCRA portal has a "Validate FCRA Certificate" option. Our guide on what FCRA means for donors explains who needs it and what to ask.
A trust is governed by its trust deed; a society by its memorandum and rules. These documents set out the objects the organisation may spend money on and who controls it. Ask to see them, or check whether they are published. Then ask who the trustees or office-bearers are, and whether they are paid.
For example, Millat Charitable Trust publishes its trust deed and the list of its executive body on this website, and its members work voluntarily. You can compare what any organisation says it does with what its own documents allow it to do.
The Income Tax Department lists the reports that charitable trusts claiming exemption must file. These include an audit report by an accountant under section 12A(1)(b) in Form 10B or Form 10BB, a return of income in ITR-7, and a statement of donations received in Form 10BD by 31 May after the financial year. A trust that is filing these regularly should be able to tell you that it does, and should be able to share its audited accounts or an annual report.
Pay into a bank account in the organisation's own legal name, by cheque, UPI, net banking or card, and never into an individual's personal account. Under section 80G, a cash donation above two thousand rupees does not qualify for a tax deduction at all, so a bank payment also protects your tax claim. Keep the transaction reference.
Ask for a receipt that shows the organisation's name, address and PAN, your name, the amount, the date and the mode of payment. If you plan to claim 80G, give the trust your PAN so it can report your donation and issue the certificate.
None of these alone proves fraud, but each is a reason to slow down and check.
You are welcome to apply every check on this page to us. You can read about our work in Kota Division on the about page, see the plans for the Millat Charitable Hospital, and send any question through our contact page.
Search the NGO by name, Darpan ID or PAN on the NGO Darpan (NPO DARPAN) portal run by NITI Aayog, and ask the NGO for its registration number as a trust, society or company. Check that the name, registration number and address match. For tax benefits, also ask for its 12A registration and 80G approval orders.
No. NITI Aayog states on the portal that the Darpan ID is issued on the basis of a self-declared affidavit, that no physical certificate is issued, and that the ID does not confer any endorsement, affiliation or recognition by NITI Aayog.
NGO Darpan publishes a Blacklisted NPOs page that can be searched by name, Darpan ID or PAN. Each entry shows who blacklisted the organisation and from which date. Search with the PAN to avoid confusing two organisations with similar names.
It is safer to pay by bank transfer, UPI, cheque or card into an account in the organisation's own name. Under section 80G, a cash donation above two thousand rupees does not qualify for any tax deduction, and a bank payment gives you a clear record.
Its registration certificate or trust deed, PAN, 12A registration and 80G approval orders with validity dates, a donation receipt with its PAN, and, if it receives foreign funds, its FCRA registration. Ask too about its audited accounts and how your money will be used.
General information only. This page does not certify any organisation and is not legal or tax advice.