Kidney Transplantation in India: A Guide
How kidney transplantation works in India, the living and deceased donor pathways, and the legal framework governing donation.
Last updated: 2026-09-24
Kidney transplantation places a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor into a person with kidney failure. In India the process is governed by the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA) and coordinated through NOTTO and state authorities.
Two donor pathways
- Living donor — a near relative, or a non-relative approved by a State Authorisation Committee
- Deceased donor — a kidney from a brain-dead donor, allocated through the national and state registries
The evaluation and surgery
Both recipient and living donor undergo thorough independent evaluation. The transplant operation places the donor kidney in the recipient’s lower abdomen and connects it to the blood supply and bladder. Recipients require lifelong immunosuppression to prevent rejection.
Buying or selling an organ is a criminal offence in India. Genuine donation is always altruistic and unpaid; only reimbursement of documented expenses is permitted.
Frequently asked questions
What is the success rate of kidney transplantation?
Living-donor transplants have excellent outcomes, with many grafts functioning for decades. Outcomes depend on donor type, tissue matching and the recipient’s overall health.
Who can be a living donor?
Near relatives (spouse, parents, siblings, children, grandparents) can donate after evaluation. Non-relatives require approval from a State Authorisation Committee confirming the donation is altruistic.