Kidney Transplant in India: A Practical Guide
How a kidney transplant works in India, the living and deceased donor routes, and the legal rules that protect you.
Last updated: 2026-09-24
A kidney transplant places a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor into your body. In India the process is governed by the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA) and coordinated through NOTTO.
Two donor routes
- Living donor — a near relative, or a non-relative approved by a committee
- Deceased donor — a kidney from a brain-dead donor, allocated through the registries
The journey
You and your living donor are each evaluated separately. The surgery places the new kidney in your lower abdomen. Afterward you take immunosuppressant medicines for life to prevent rejection.
Buying or selling an organ is a criminal offence in India. Genuine donation is always voluntary and unpaid.
Frequently asked questions
What is the success rate of a kidney transplant?
Living-donor transplants have excellent outcomes, with many kidneys working for decades.
Who can be a living donor?
Near relatives can donate after evaluation. Non-relatives need committee approval confirming the donation is altruistic.