New Delhi, November 1: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the National Organ Transplant Games 2026 at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday, describing organ donation as a 'Mahadaan' — a supreme act of generosity — and calling for misconceptions around donation to be dispelled so that fewer lives are lost while waiting for organs, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) reported.

Source: PIB via Tripura Star News

Radhakrishnan paid his respects to deceased organ donors and their families, whose decisions give others a second chance at life, and described the Games as a celebration of courage, determination, compassion and the precious gift of life. He congratulated the organisers — the Renal Care Foundation, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare — for the initiative, PIB said.

570Transplant recipients and donors who performed Tadasana together — recognised by the World Book of Records as the largest such congregation
8 livesThat one deceased organ donor can save, the Vice-President said
20,000+Organ transplants recorded in India in 2025
4,900Organ transplants in India in 2013 — the 2025 figure is more than four times higher

During the programme, the Vice-President released the 'Zindagi Dobara' calendar and felicitated Indian medal winners of the World Transplant Games 2025, held in Dresden, Germany. He witnessed the record Tadasana attempt, after which the organisers were presented with a World Book of Records certificate for the 'Largest congregation of Transplant recipients and donors performing Tadasana'. He also joined the gathering in taking the Organ Donation Pledge and watched exhibition matches in kabaddi, table tennis and badminton, PIB reported.

Source: PIB via Tripura Star News

Pointing to India's progress in transplantation, Radhakrishnan said the country recorded over 20,000 organ transplants in 2025, more than four times the 4,900 transplants in 2013, PTI reported. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's repeated appeals through the 'Mann Ki Baat' programme for giving impetus to the organ donation movement, and recalled an instance in Tamil Nadu where seven organs from one donor were given to seven different recipients.

Source: PTI via Swadesi News

Urging people to make informed decisions about organ donation and share their wishes with family members, the Vice-President said greater awareness could help ensure that more patients receive transplants. He said the Games were more than a sporting event: they celebrated the resilience and achievements of transplant recipients, recognised healthcare professionals, and would inspire people awaiting transplants by showing that life after transplantation can be full of possibilities, PTI reported.

Source: PTI via Swadesi News

Among those present were Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav, Lok Sabha MP Bansuri Swaraj, Sir Ganga Ram Trust Society chairman Dr. D. S. Rana, organising chairman Dr. A. K. Bhalla and NOTTO director Dr. Anil Kumar, PIB said.