By Hemant SharmaNon-governmental Organisations or NGOs are independent entities outside the administrative control of the government, state or centre. They work in multiple areas related to humanitarian and social issues. India has a vibrant NGO landscape with numerous organisations working in diverse fields like education, women’s rights, poverty alleviation, health infrastructure, animal protection, environmental conservation and more. NGOs act as a bridge between the marginalised communities and the government, and are effective in bringing positive changes because they are not driven by profits. Indian NGOs have succeeded in touching the lives of millions. There are over 3 million registered NGOs in India which are operating at the grassroots. Let’s have a look at the top 10 NGOs in India for 2025.
1. HelpAge India
HelpAge India, established in the year 1978, is concerned with the rights and well-being of the elderly population of India. Mission statement of this organisation is “work for the cause and care of disadvantaged elderly person to improve their quality of life”. The organisation operates in 125 districts across 25 states in India.
HelpAge India runs a number of programs, such as geriatric physiotherapy to treat elderly patients suffering from musculoskeletal issues, cancer treatment for financially weak elderly persons, restoration of vision to treat vision problems in elderly people, mobile healthcare to provide free medical treatment to disadvantaged elderly persons, digital literacy for elders and more. The organisation received the UN Population Award in the year 2020.
2. Akshaya Patra Foundation
Akshaya Patra Foundation, established in the year 2000, is an NGO affiliated to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness or ISKCON. It helps the government in resolving the issue of classroom hunger and malnutrition in children by operating in the midday meal scheme. The organisation is the biggest partner of the Government of India to provide nutritious food to the students in governing and government-aided schools.
Akshaya Patra Foundation started by feeding around 1500 students but has expanded tremendously over the years, and is currently serving over 1.8 million students. The organisation was awarded the Global Food Champion Award by BBC in 2019.
3. Child Rights and You
Child Rights and You or CRY, established in the year 1979, focuses on ensuring happier and healthier childhood for underprivileged children, and preserving and protecting their rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. It addresses various crucial needs of children by working closely with parents, teachers, Anganwadi workers and the administrations at both local and state levels.
CRY operates in various areas like providing quality education to children, protecting children against trafficking/abuse/child labour, ensuring proper nutrition and healthcare for children and more. The organisation operates in 19 states and has touched the lives of over 4.7 million children.
4. Goonj
Goonj, established in the year 1999, is present in 23 states in India and operates across various domains like humanitarian aid, community development and disaster relief. It is particularly known for channelising under-used urban materials like clothing to remote rural areas in order to address gaps in infrastructure, education, health and other areas.
Goonj runs programs like Cloth for Work which compensates villagers with things like clothes, furniture, food grains and more in return for work to improve the infrastructure of their own village. The founder of Goonj, Anshu Gupta, was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2015.
5. Seva Bharati
Seva Bharati, established in the year 1989, is a part of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh which focuses on education, social development and empowerment of economically disadvantaged sections of the society. The organisation runs over 100,000 service projects in remote areas across the country.
Seva Bharati helps the weaker sections of the society like tribals by providing educational facilities, vocational and industrial training, medical assistance and more. The organisation also helps in relief operations during natural disasters like floods and earthquake.
6. Nanhi Kali
Nanhi Kali, established in the year 1996 as a part of K.C. Mahindra Education Trust, seeks to empower the girl child with quality education. The motto of this organisation is to educate underprivileged girls in the face of patriarchal and societal challenges.
Nanhi Kali provides comprehensive educational support to girl students studying in government schools in remote areas across the country. The support includes school materials and supply kits, digital tablets equipped with learning software and after-school remedial classes.
7. CARE India Foundation
CARE India Foundation, established in the year 1946, is concerned with the empowerment of women from vulnerable families and marginalised communities, parentless children and underprivileged children. To this end, the organisation provides educational, healthcare, livelihood, emotional care and other kinds of support to women and children.
CARE India Foundation is running 43 projects in 90 districts across 14 states in India. It has directly impacted the lives of over 31 million women and children.
8. Pratham
Pratham, founded in the year 1995, is a non-governmental not-for-profit organisation which is working to provide quality education to underprivileged children. It operates in 23 states and union territories in India.
Pratham runs multiple initiatives like improving the reading and arithmetic skills of children in the 6-14 age group, providing high-quality textbooks to children in 10 Indian languages, learning support programs, libraries, vocational training and more.
9. People for Animals
People for Animals, founded in the year 1992, is an animal welfare NGO working to protect the lives and rights of animals. To this end, the organisation runs disaster rescue missions for animals, sets up animal shelters, runs animal ambulance services, provides veterinary treatments and lobbies for animal rights in courts and legislature.
PFA has a network of 26 hospitals, 60 mobile units, 165 units and 2.5 lakh members across the country.
10. Smile Foundation
Smile Foundation, established in the year 2002, works to empower underprivileged youth, women and children through education, healthcare, women empowerment and livelihood programs.
Smile Foundation runs over 400 welfare projects covering more than 2000 villages and urban slums across 25 states of India.
Conclusion
NGOs complement the efforts of the government in improving literacy levels, improving life quality, eradicating social evils and much more. Moreover, the NGOs also communicate ground realities to the powers that be.