How do I know if a Section 8 NGO in India is genuine?

Check its CIN on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs portal (mca.gov.in). A valid Section 8 CIN must contain 'NPL' in positions 6-8. Cross-verify PAN, 80G/12A registration on the Income Tax portal, and NGO Darpan Unique ID on ngodarpan.gov.in.

What is the difference between an NGO and a Section 8 Company?

NGO is a general term. A Section 8 Company is a specific legal form under the Companies Act 2013 — a non-profit company that must reinvest all profits into charitable objectives, appoint a board, hold annual audits, and file MCA returns. Section 8 is stricter and more transparent than a Trust or Society.

Is 80G registration mandatory to donate to an NGO?

No — you can donate to any registered NGO. However, only 80G-approved NGOs allow you to claim tax deduction on your donation under the Income Tax Act. Always ask for 80G status before donating if tax benefit matters to you.

How to Verify a Section 8 NGO Before You Donate — 6-Step Guide (India, 2026)

Every year, thousands of well-meaning donors in India send money to what turn out to be fake or shell NGOs. The solution isn't to stop donating — it's to spend 10 minutes verifying. This is the exact checklist we use ourselves, and the one we recommend before you donate to any NGO in India, including us.

India has over 3.3 million registered NGOs. Some are Section 8 Companies (under the Companies Act 2013). Others are Trusts or Societies. All are legitimate legal forms — but each has its own verification process. This guide focuses on Section 8 Companies because they are the most transparent form (mandatory annual audits, board accountability, MCA filings).

Why verification matters

Fraudulent NGOs typically do three things: (a) claim registrations they don't have, (b) show fake certificates on WhatsApp, and (c) disappear after collecting donations. Verification protects your money and your tax deduction. It also puts pressure on the sector to stay honest.

The 6-Step Verification Checklist

Step 1: Check the Section 8 Licence on the MCA portal

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) maintains the master record of every registered company in India, including Section 8 non-profits. Here's how to check:

Go to mca.gov.in
Click on "MCA Services" → "View Company / LLP Master Data"
Enter the CIN (Corporate Identity Number) or company name
The record should show: registration date, registered address, directors, and current status (Active, Under Liquidation, Dissolved, etc.)

Test it with us: Search for CIN U88900MR2026NPL476878 and you'll see Team Samarpan Foundation, registered May 2026, active status, Aurangabad Maharashtra address.

Step 2: Decode the CIN itself

The CIN is not random — its 21 characters tell you everything:

U (position 1): Unlisted company
88900 (positions 2-6): Industry code (88900 = Other social services)
MR (positions 7-8): State code (MR = Maharashtra)
2026 (positions 9-12): Year of incorporation
NPL (positions 13-15): This must say NPL for a Section 8 non-profit (Not-for-profit Public Limited)
476878 (positions 16-21): Unique registration number

Red flag: If you see PTC (Private Company) or PLC (Public Company) instead of NPL, it is NOT a Section 8 non-profit. It may be a for-profit disguised as an NGO.

Step 3: Verify the PAN on the Income Tax portal

Every registered entity in India has a PAN. For a company or trust, the PAN's fourth character reveals its type:

C = Company (Section 8 or otherwise)
T = Trust
P = Person (individual — NOT an NGO)

Go to incometax.gov.in → Services → Know Your PAN. Enter the PAN and see if it resolves to the NGO's name.

Our PAN: AANCT1773D — starts with AAN, fourth character is C (Company), issued to Team Samarpan Foundation.

Step 4: Check 80G and 12A registration

If tax deduction matters to you, verify the 80G approval separately. Two important notes:

12A = Income tax exemption for the NGO itself (income doesn't get taxed)
80G = Donation to the NGO is tax-deductible in the donor's ITR

Both are issued by the Income Tax Department. Ask the NGO for a copy of both certificates. Then verify by going to the Income Tax e-filing portal and searching under "Exempt Institutions" using the Unique Registration Number.

Honest note about us: Team Samarpan Foundation has applied for both 80G and 12A. Both applications are currently pending approval. Until they are granted, donations to us are NOT tax-deductible. We tell every donor this before accepting a contribution. Any NGO that hides its 80G status or claims tax deduction without proof is a red flag.

Step 5: Check NGO Darpan (Niti Aayog portal)

NGO Darpan is the Government of India's central NGO database, maintained by NITI Aayog. Registration is not mandatory to operate, but it is mandatory to receive any:

Government grants
CSR funding (under the Companies Act 2013)
FCRA (foreign contribution) approval

Go to ngodarpan.gov.in. Search by NGO name. A valid Unique ID starts with MP (state-registered) or DP (nationally registered). No ID? The NGO cannot legally receive CSR or government funds.

Step 6: Verify physical presence and real work

Documents can be forged. Real work is harder to fake. Do these five ground checks:

Google Maps — Search the registered address. Is it a real building?
Instagram / Facebook — Are there photos of real events, real beneficiaries, real dates? Or just stock images and recycled posts?
Local news — Search "[NGO name] site:lokmat.com" or "[NGO name] Aurangabad news". If they've done real work, someone has written about them.
Physical visit — If you can, visit the registered office. Most Section 8 NGOs will happily host you.
Ask for the last annual report — Every Section 8 Company must file an annual return with the MCA. If they can't produce one, walk away.

Bonus: The 10-second WhatsApp test

If someone forwards you an NGO's "80G certificate" on WhatsApp asking for donation, do this:

Note the CIN or Registration Number on the certificate
Open mca.gov.in in a new tab
Look up the CIN in "View Company Master Data"
If it doesn't match — or the company shows as Dissolved / Under Liquidation — do not donate

Takes 10 seconds. Saves you from most scams.

How Team Samarpan Foundation stands up to this check

We built our own Certificates Page to make this verification easy. Every legal identifier is public:

CIN: U88900MR2026NPL476878 (verifiable on MCA)
Section 8 Licence: 185648
PAN: AANCT1773D (fourth character C = Company)
TAN: NSKT07020G
Registered address: C/O Sangita R Fuse, Amkheda, Soygaon, Aurangabad, Maharashtra 431120
80G / 12A: Applied, pending approval (honest status)

We publish this because verification isn't a threat — it's a favour to the sector. The more donors who verify, the harder it becomes for fake NGOs to operate. If you want to see how a small, honest, one-taluka NGO looks on paper, run us through the checklist above. Then, when you've verified us — or someone else — donate with confidence.

Quick reference: government verification portals

MCA (Section 8 licence, CIN): mca.gov.in
Income Tax (PAN, 80G, 12A): incometax.gov.in
NGO Darpan (Niti Aayog): ngodarpan.gov.in
FCRA (foreign donations): fcraonline.nic.in

Final word

Verification is not skepticism — it is respect. Respect for the NGO doing real work, respect for your own money, and respect for the sector as a whole. Take 10 minutes. Check the CIN. Check the address. Check the last event on Instagram. Then donate — to us, or to any other NGO that has earned your trust.