Mumbai, February 20: In light of the recent state farewell for Vijay Jaiswal, an organ donor in Madhya Pradesh's Indore, public interest in the life-saving process has reached a new peak. The Madhya Pradesh government’s decision to accord a guard of honour to donors underscores a national push to bridge the gap between organ demand and availability. For those inspired by Jaiswal’s legacy, becoming a donor in 2026 involves a streamlined digital process that balances personal intent with legal requirements.

The Digital Pledge: Paving the Way for Organ Donation

The most direct way to register is through the National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) web portal at notto.abdm.gov.in. Under India's "One Nation, One Policy," the process has been simplified to allow citizens to pledge their organs online using their Aadhaar-linked mobile number or Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) ID. Indore Organ Donation: 49-Year-Old Brain Dead Man Accorded State Farewell and Guard of Honour During Last Rites; Here’s Why.

In Madhya Pradesh, organisations like the Indore Society for Organ Donation also provide localised registration platforms. Once the online form is submitted, a "Donor Card" is generated. While this card is not a legally binding document, it serves as a vital expression of intent that alerts medical teams and family members to an individual's wishes.

The Role of Family Consent

Despite having a donor card, Indian law - specifically the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA) - mandates that the "next of kin" must provide final written consent at the time of death. Experts emphasise that the most critical step in the donation process is discussing your decision with your family so they can honour your wishes during a difficult time.

Types of Donation: Living vs Deceased

Organ donation generally falls into two categories:

  • Living Donation: A person can donate one kidney or a portion of their liver to a "near relative" (spouse, child, parent, or sibling) while they are alive.

  • Deceased (Cadaveric) Donation: This occurs after a person is declared brain-dead by a board of medical experts. In these cases, a single donor can save up to eight lives by donating the heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, pancreas, and intestines.

New State Honours in Madhya Pradesh

To normalise organ donation, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced in July 2025 that the state would provide a guard of honour during the last rites of donors. Families of these donors are also now publicly felicitated on Republic Day (January 26) and Independence Day (August 15). These policy changes are designed to shift the cultural perception of donation from an act of "charity" to one of "immortality," ensuring that donors like Vijay Jaiswal are remembered as heroes of the state.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 20, 2026 10:05 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).