Name Change in Gazette

Before you apply

• Any Indian citizen can apply to publish a change of name in the Gazette of India, whether the change is of the first name, surname or only a spelling.
• Name change notices are published in Part IV of the Gazette of India by the Department of Publication, and applications are made through egazette.gov.in.
• Before applying, you need a name change affidavit and a notice of the change in a daily local newspaper. The Gazette of India asks for one paper; some state gazettes and passport offices ask for two, one English and one regional.
• For a minor, the parent or guardian applies on the child's behalf with the child's documents and the parent's ID.
• Change of religion along with name is a separate category and needs extra declarations, so it should be mentioned upfront.
• Central and state government employees usually route their application through their department with a forwarding letter.

What affects the total cost

• The publication fee charged by the Department of Publication for printing the notice in the Gazette.
• Two newspaper advertisements, where the cost depends on the newspaper, the city edition and the length of the notice.
• The name change affidavit on stamp paper of the prescribed value, with notary attestation.
• Printouts or certified copies of the gazette notification for each office where you will update records.
• Extra work if your documents show different spellings that need an additional affidavit or explanation.

How long it takes

Preparing the affidavit and publishing the two newspaper ads usually takes about a week. The gazette application is then submitted with the newspaper copies and documents. The Department of Publication checks the papers and, if everything is in order, the notice appears in a weekly issue of Part IV. In total this is usually three to six weeks. Delays occur when the newspaper ads do not match the affidavit word for word, a photograph or signature is missing, a document is unclear, or the department raises a query that has to be answered.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Choosing a new spelling without checking it carefully. Changing it again later means repeating the whole process.
• Publishing newspaper ads that differ from the affidavit in spelling, father's or husband's name, or address.
• Keeping only the small ad cutting without the newspaper name and date. Keep the full page.
• Signing in the new name before the change is complete, or signing differently on different forms.
• Expecting the 10th or 12th board certificate to change automatically. Boards have their own rules and may only record the link.

What you get at the end

You receive the Gazette of India notification showing your old and new name, which can be downloaded and printed from egazette.gov.in. Keep it with your affidavit and newspaper copies. Use it to update your PAN, Aadhaar, passport, bank accounts, voter ID, driving licence, employer and PF records, and educational records where the board or university allows it. UIDAI limits how many times a name can be updated in Aadhaar, so be sure of the final spelling.

In Delhi NCR

• The Department of Publication, which publishes the Gazette of India, is based in Delhi, but applications are now made online and residents of any state can apply.
• Delhi residents can also use the Delhi Government gazette for some purposes, but the central gazette is the one most widely accepted across states and offices.
• For Delhi residents, the regional language advertisement is usually in Hindi in a Delhi edition. Residents of Gurugram and Noida also commonly use Hindi papers of their edition.
• Affidavits in Delhi are usually made on e-stamp paper from SHCIL authorised centres. Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have their own stamp rules.
• For people outside Delhi NCR, the team can guide you online on the documents and the local procedure where possible, since the gazette application itself is online.