Indian Army Honoured After 26,000 Personnel Vow Organ Donation, Largest Single-Day Pledge

The Indian Army has been recognised for its extraordinary contribution to promoting organ donation, receiving the Special Award for Promotion of Organ Donation and Pledging from the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO). The award was presented at the 15th Annual Organ Donation Day event in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The honour follows a landmark campaign led by the Medical Branch of Headquarters Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa (MG & G) Area, which resulted in more than 26,000 personnel pledging to donate their organs in a single day, setting a national record.

What achievement earned the Indian Army this recognition?

The Indian Army’s MG & G Area medical teams organised a large-scale organ donation awareness drive in which over 26,000 personnel pledged to donate their organs in just one day. This unprecedented effort set a new national record and significantly boosted awareness of organ donation as a life-saving act.

At the ceremony, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda lauded the Army for its “stellar role” in inspiring society-wide participation in organ donation campaigns.

What role has the Armed Forces played in organ transplantation?

The Indian Armed Forces have long been involved in structured organ donation initiatives. Since the late 2000s, these efforts have been coordinated by the Armed Forces Organ Retrieval and Transplantation Authority (AORTA) at the Army Hospital (Research and Referral) in New Delhi.

Military hospitals under the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) have developed advanced expertise in harvesting and transplanting vital organs such as the heart, liver, kidneys and lungs. They have also undertaken specialised procedures involving cornea and tissue transplantation.

Why is this achievement significant?

The campaign underscores the Indian Army’s commitment to humanitarian causes beyond its core defence role. By setting a new benchmark for organ donation pledges, the Army has provided a powerful example of collective action for public good.

NOTTO, which oversees India’s organ transplantation system, hopes such initiatives will encourage more people across the country to pledge their organs. The Army’s effort reflects the institution’s ethos of service, compassion and dedication to saving lives, potentially inspiring similar campaigns nationwide.