Name Change Newspaper Ad

When you need a newspaper notice

• A newspaper notice is needed before applying to the Gazette of India for a name change, and the gazette expects two papers, one English and one in the regional language.
• Passport and other offices often ask for newspaper publication as part of proof of a name change, along with an affidavit.
• The notice should be published in papers that circulate where you live, so that the public in your area can see it.
• The wording must match your affidavit exactly, including old name, new name, parent's or spouse's name and address.
• A newspaper notice on its own does not change your name in records. It is a public declaration that supports the affidavit and gazette notification.

What affects the total cost

• The newspaper chosen. Large English dailies usually charge more than Hindi or regional papers.
• The city edition. A single Delhi edition is cheaper than an all-India or multi-city edition.
• The length of the notice, since classified ads are usually priced by lines, words or column size.
• The day of publication. Some papers charge differently for Sunday or special editions.
• The number of extra newspaper copies you want to keep for different offices.

How long it takes

Once the wording is confirmed, the notice is booked with the newspaper's classified desk, and most papers publish within one to three days. Larger papers or Sunday editions may need booking a few days ahead. The original newspaper copies are collected after publication and handed over to you. Delays come from last-minute changes to the wording, festival or holiday editions, a rejected booking because a document is missing, or choosing a paper whose chosen edition is not printed every day.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Publishing the ad before the affidavit is ready, and then finding the wording differs from the affidavit.
• Choosing a newspaper that does not circulate in your area, which an office may not accept.
• Leaving out the father's, mother's or husband's name and address, so the notice cannot clearly identify you.
• Keeping only a cut-out of the ad. Keep the full newspaper page that shows the paper's name and date.
• Spelling the new name differently in the English and Hindi ads, which creates two versions of your new name.

What you get at the end

You receive the original newspaper copies, one English and one Hindi or regional, with your notice clearly marked. Keep the full pages safely, along with photocopies. Submit them with your gazette application, and attach copies when you update your passport, PAN, Aadhaar, bank or employer records if those offices ask for proof of public notice.

In Delhi NCR

• For Delhi residents, a Delhi edition of an English daily and a Hindi daily is the usual combination for a gazette application.
• Gurugram and Faridabad residents often use the NCR or Haryana edition of the same papers, and Noida or Ghaziabad residents the NCR or Uttar Pradesh edition.
• If you live in Delhi but your permanent address is in another state, the team can advise whether an edition of your home state is also useful.
• Many papers accept classified bookings through authorised agents, so the copy can be booked without visiting the newspaper office.
• For people outside Delhi NCR, the team can guide you online on the documents and the local procedure where possible, including booking in their local language paper.