Identity & Civil Registration#029

Understanding Gazette Notification for name change

Publish a name change in the official gazette after marriage, deed poll, or personal preference.

At a glance

Jurisdiction

Central Government (Government of India Gazette — for central government employees and general public); State Government (State Gazette — for state government employees and others in some states)

Who applies

Any Indian citizen wishing to change their name legally and publish it as a Gazette Notification for legal recognition; required for updating name in government records post-marriage, conversion, or personal choice

Typical time

Central Gazette: 15–30 working days after submission of all documents to the Department of Publication. State Gazette: 7–30 working days (varies by state).

Fee

Central Gazette: ₹600–₹1,500 approximately (based on size of the notification in lines; plus newspaper advertisement costs of ₹500–₹2,000). State Gazette: ₹100–₹500 (varies by state). Stamp paper for affidavit: ₹10–₹100.

Who should use this process

✓Any Indian citizen of any age (minors through a guardian/parent) can apply for a name change Gazette Notification
✓There is no restriction on the number of name changes, but frequent changes may attract scrutiny from government authorities for passport and other documents
✓Central Gazette publication is accepted as legal proof of name change across India and by most central government agencies, banks, and courts

Who does NOT need to apply

✕Gazette Notification alone does not update name in government databases (Aadhaar, PAN, Passport, Voter ID) — each requires a separate update process using the Gazette as proof
✕Name change through Gazette does not automatically affect legal documents such as property deeds or wills — separate legal processes are needed for those

Documents required

#	Document	Type needed	Purpose
1	Affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper (₹10–₹100 depending on state) declaring old name, new name, reason for change, and swearing that no illegal purpose is intended	Notarised Copy	Primary legal document swearing the intent to change name; must be attested by a Notary Public or First Class Judicial Magistrate
2	Newspaper advertisement of name change published in two newspapers (one national English daily and one regional language daily)	Original	Public notice of the name change; required by the Department of Publication before accepting the Gazette application; both newspapers' clippings with the advertisement must be submitted
3	Identity proof in old name — Aadhaar card / Voter ID / Passport / PAN card	Self-attested Copy	Establishes the current legal name of the applicant (the name being changed)
4	Proof of reason for name change (optional but recommended) — Marriage certificate, court order, conversion certificate, or self-declaration(optional)	Self-attested Copy	Supports the stated reason for name change; strengthens the application and may be asked for by some authorities
5	Two passport-size photographs	Soft copy (PDF)	Identity photo for the application file
6	Demand Draft / payment for Gazette publication fee made in favour of the Controller of Publications, Government of India	Original	Payment of the official Gazette publication fee

Original documents: Carry originals only for in-person visits — do not hand them over permanently unless explicitly required.

Step-by-step guide

1
Execute a notarised affidavit declaring the name change
Offline
Draft an affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper stating: full old name, full new name, date of birth, address, reason for name change, and a declaration that the change is not for fraudulent purposes. Get the affidavit notarised by a Notary Public. This affidavit is the foundational document for all subsequent steps.
Same dayNotary Public / First Class Judicial Magistrate
2
Publish name change advertisement in two newspapers
Offline
Publish a name change notice in two newspapers: one national English daily (e.g., Times of India, Hindustan Times, Indian Express) and one regional language newspaper of your state. The advertisement should state old name, new name, date of change, and father's/husband's name. Keep the original newspaper clippings (with date of publication) as evidence.
1–3 days for publication after submission to newspaper
3
Prepare and submit the Gazette application
Both
For Central Gazette: prepare the application in the prescribed format (available on egazette.nic.in) and submit it in person or by post to the Department of Publication, Government of India, New Delhi (Civil Lines, New Delhi — 110054), along with the notarised affidavit, newspaper clippings, identity proof, and Demand Draft for the fee. For State Gazette: submit to the respective State Home / General Administration Department. Some states (e.g., Delhi, Maharashtra) now accept online applications.
Department of Publication (Central) / State General Administration Departmenthttps://egazette.nic.in
4
Track application and receive Gazette date
Online
After submission, the Department of Publication verifies documents and schedules the notification for publication in the Official Gazette of India (Part IV — Individual Notifications). An SMS or email acknowledgement is sent with the expected publication date.
15–30 working days after submissionhttps://egazette.nic.in
5
Download the published Gazette Notification
Online
Once published, download the official Gazette Notification PDF from egazette.nic.in. The notification shows the applicant's old name, new name, date of publication, and a unique Gazette Number. This published PDF is the legally accepted proof of name change across government departments, banks, and courts.
Same day as publicationhttps://egazette.nic.in
6
Update name in all government documents
Both
Use the Gazette Notification as proof to update name in: Aadhaar (UIDAI online or ASK), PAN (NSDL/UTIITSL online), Passport (RPO appointment), Voter ID (Form 8 on voterportal.eci.gov.in), driving licence (RTO), bank accounts, educational certificates, and property records. Each update is a separate process.
Ongoing; 1–6 months for all documents

Government officers involved

Notary Public

Ministry of Law and Justice (notaries are licensed practitioners)

Step 1

Attests the name-change affidavit confirming identity of the deponent and legal execution of the affidavit

Controller of Publications / Director of Publication

Department of Publication, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

Steps 3–5

Receives Gazette publication applications, verifies documents, schedules notification, and publishes in the Official Gazette of India

State Gazette Editor / General Administration Department officer

State General Administration / Home Department

Steps 3–5 (for state Gazette)

Processes name change Gazette applications at state level; issues State Gazette notification

Government portals

e-Gazette India (Government of India)

https://egazette.nic.in

Download published Gazette notifications, apply online for Central Gazette name change (where enabled), search Gazette records

Department of Publication, GoI

https://deptpub.gov.in

Official contact, postal address, and guidelines for Central Gazette publication applications

Delhi Government Gazette (example state portal)

https://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/doit_dgd/DOIT+Gazette+Division/Home

Delhi residents apply for State Gazette name change notification through Delhi government

Things to watch out for

Newspaper clippings must be originals — photocopies are not accepted

The Department of Publication requires the original newspaper clipping (cut from the actual newspaper) with the visible newspaper name and date. Photocopies of newspaper advertisements are rejected. Some applicants are caught off-guard by this requirement. Keep the original newspaper safely after the advertisement is published.

Central Gazette versus State Gazette — choose based on your purpose

Central Gazette (Government of India Gazette) is recognised across India and by all central government agencies. State Gazette is recognised primarily within the state. For passport, central government employment, and matters handled by Union ministries, a Central Gazette Notification is required. For state college admissions or state government jobs, a State Gazette may suffice.

Gazette notification does not automatically update any official record

The Gazette is merely legal proof of the name change. It does not automatically update Aadhaar, PAN, Passport, Voter ID, bank records, or property deeds. Each document requires a separate update application using the Gazette as supporting evidence. The process takes several months if all records need updating.

Name in affidavit must exactly match the name in Gazette notification

Any typographical error or discrepancy between the name in the affidavit, the newspaper advertisement, and the Gazette notification can render the notification invalid for specific purposes. Double-check spelling of old and new name in all three documents before submission.

Minor name changes (spelling corrections) may not need Gazette notification

Aadhaar, PAN, and Passport offices allow minor corrections (spelling, title addition like Mr/Mrs, capitalisation) with supporting documents without requiring a Gazette Notification. Only significant name changes (different first name, different surname, complete name change) strictly require Gazette publication. Check with the specific department before going through the full Gazette process.

Passport name change has a separate endorsement process

For passport name change post-marriage, the RPO may require: Gazette notification, marriage certificate, and spouse's passport details. The old passport is returned with a name change endorsement on the observation page, or a fresh passport is issued. Do not apply for a fresh Gazette before checking the Passport Seva KYC requirements for your specific case.