13 May Central Gazette Notification for Name Change India: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide (2025–26)
Central Gazette Notification for Name Change India: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide (2025–26)
Name Change Application For Bengaluru
Changing the name on the Aadhaar Card or notarizing an Affidavit is a significant task, but according to the Government of India, it's just the beginning. The Central gazette notification for a name change India is one document that has an undeniable legal value when it comes to passport renewal at the Regional Passport Office (RPO), name change at a nationalized bank, or a correction of your service records for a job with the Central Government or PSUs.
If not, officers from many central institutions will return your application. This gives you a legally binding, signed document that is publicly archived and accepted from Srinagar to Chennai, and even abroad. This guide covers the steps involved in drafting the Affidavit, downloading the published PDF and the process for the applicants of Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad.
What Is the Central Gazette Notification — And Why Does It Matter?
The Gazette of India vs. State Gazettes
There are two types of gazettes in India. Every state has its own gazette, e.g., Maharashtra government releases Rajpatra (Maharashtra Shasan Rajpatra), this gazette is valid for state matters like domicile, update of regional documents, etc. and for state government jobs.
The Gazette of India, however, is published by the Central Government under the Department of Publication in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The official gazette of record for the Union of India and is the only gazette that will be accepted throughout all the central institutions without any objections.
| Feature | State Gazette | Central Gazette of India |
|---|---|---|
| Authority | State Government | Government of India |
| Validity | State-level records | Pan-India + International |
| Passport RPO | Not accepted at most RPOs | Accepted universally |
| Central Govt jobs / PSUs | Varies by department | Accepted universally |
| Banks (nationalized) | Accepted at some branches | Accepted universally |
Please note that for a person who has submitted an online gazette application for Maharashtra state records as a part of the Maharashtra state route, this document will work perfectly with the Maharashtra records but will not work with the RPO or Central PSU. The Central Gazette has no doubt.
Why the Central Gazette Is the Gold Standard
Central Gazette is issued as a PDF signed and tamper-proof on the official portals of egazette.gov.in. It is archived permanently and easily searchable. You can get your entry in your legal name change in India verified within seconds by any officer, bank or embassy.
The 3-Step Legal Process for Name Change in India
The gazette notification for an online name change process is broken into three stages of the legal process. If you miss any one of them your application will be rejected by the Department of Publication. You should write the Affidavit and get it notarized.
Step 1: Draft and Notarize the Affidavit
Every name change is based on a sworn affidavit done on ₹100 non-judicial stamp paper, stating the old name, new name, reason for the change and a pledge that you will not use the old name for any fraudulent activities.
Key points:
- In most cases the oath must be taken before a Notary Public, not just a magistrate or oath commissioner.
- The seal, signature and registration number of the notary should be legible.
- Spell the new name the way you want it to be spelled in the gazette; if there is any deviation from the proper spelling, there will be problems later.
Step 2: Publish Newspaper Advertisements
The name change must be published twice in newspapers issued in Indian language as required by Indian law:
- Any newspaper, in English, that circulates widely in your city (e.g., Times of India, Hindustan Times, The Hindu)
- One vernacular/regional language each day, from the same city
Critical rule: Must have full original newspaper pages (not clipping), both newspapers. The Department of Publication needs the entire page to confirm the ad posting date. Photocopies and digital screenshots are not permitted.
Step 3: Prepare and Submit the Dossier to Delhi
The last step is to draft an application package and submit it to:
The Controller of Publications, Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi – 110054
This is where the gazette notification for name change online process meets with a physical submission. Although the fee is paid electronically, it is physically mailed/hand delivered.
Mandatory Documents Checklist
Before making your envelope, collect all the items on this list. If the information in the dossier is incomplete, it will not be processed.
- Signed Deed: Has signed and filed "Deed of Change of Name" Specimen Form from the Department of Publication website or through authorized service providers.
- Original Newspaper Copies: Prints of all pages of both English and vernacular newspapers with your ad.
- Self Attested identity Proof: Aadhaar card / PAN card / Voter ID (Any One is sufficient).
- Self-attested Address Proof: Should be the same as current city of residence of the applicant.
- Photographs: Two pairs of passport sized photographs, one is recent and the other is white background.
- Digital CD/DVD: The material from the gazette that was typed using MS Word (.doc — not .docx) and then transferred to a CD or DVD. The name change notification should be done using the same font (Mangal for Hindi content), font size and paragraph structure.
Fees and Timeline: What to Expect in 2025–26
Official Government Fees
| Applicant Type | Official Fee |
|---|---|
| Adult (18 years and above) | ₹1,100 |
| Minor (below 18 years) | ₹600 |
Printout of successful fee payment received under the head of "Controller of Publications" at the payment section of the Bharat Kosh website is known as Bharat Kosh (NTRP) Payment Receipt. Save the printout of the transaction receipt (required submission document).
Pay no extra money to the Department of Publication. Any agent or service provider that says that you have to pay a higher "government fee" is lying to you, and the actual fee is ₹1,100 (or ₹600 for minors).
Processing Timeline
Upon receipt of the full dossier with the Department of publication, the realistic time frame of publication is between 4 and 8 weeks. This can be expanded to 10 - 12 weeks at high volume times (post-exam seasons, financial year end).
You can download the name change gazette notification on the official portal of egazette.gov.in within 48-72 hours of the printing date after it has been published online.
How to Search and Download Your Gazette PDF
After publishing your notification, follow the steps on egazette.gov.in to download the Central gazette notification for name change in India PDF:
- Visit egazette.gov.in
- Click on "Search Gazette" in the top navigation
- In the "Gazette Type" dropdown, select "Weekly Gazette"
- Filter by "Part IV" — this section exclusively covers private individuals' name change notifications
- Enter your name or approximate date of publication in the search fields
- The result will show a digitally signed PDF — click to download
Save this PDF to various places: email, cloud storage, print out. It is not a time-limited document and will stand until amended. If the Central Gazette PDF from egazette.gov.in is not the Maharashtra gazette, but an additional document, then make sure to note that on name change gazette online Maharashtra applicants.
City-Specific Guide: Local Nuances Across Major Hubs
Delhi / NCR
Delhi residents can submit directly at the Department of Publication office in Civil Lines. Sometimes the walk in submission can be processed a little bit faster than Speed Post submission. However mailing also is acceptable.
Mumbai / Pune
Applicants who want to change their name by gazette online in Maharashtra may use only the state gazette. If for any purpose, Central Government related (passport, EPFO records, central PSU service records etc.) need to be obtained, along with Maharashtra state gazette, please get the Central Gazette as well. To see the Maharashtra state gazette process, click here to learn more about it.
Bangalore / Chennai
Many people in the South Indian states have two names, the first initial followed by the name of the father or grandfather, so extra care needs to be taken while answering the gazette application form. An example, if your Aadhaar reads "K. Rajeshwari" and you have "Rajeshwari Krishnamurthy" in your affidavit and gazette, then it must be exactly as the Aadhaar reads.
Hyderabad
Many applicants from Hyderabad have to contend with having two names recorded (Telugu/Urdu and English). Make sure that the newspaper advertisement is printed in the Telugu/Urdu (as applicable) vernacular daily and the CD/Word file is in the correct vernacular script if necessary.
Conclusion: Future-Proof Your Identity the Right Way
A name change is a legal action and as all legal action, its power is directly proportional to the quality of the documentation supporting it. The notarized affidavit is a document that documents your intentions. It is disclosed via a newspaper advertisement. But the official notification in the Central gazette for changing name India is what makes your declaration official, permanent, and government verified.
This document is published and becomes a part of the everlasting digital archive of the Government of India. Store your gazette PDF securely in a cloud-based storage system. But when the application process seems complicated – the preparation of the CD, the exact format requirements, the newspaper compliance – professional assistance is available at Changeofname.in →
How to Apply for a Central Gazette Notification for Name Change in India
- Step 1: Draft an Affidavit: Draft an Affidavit on ₹100 non-judicial stamp paper, which should be signed in front of the local Notary Public in your city (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore etc.).
- Step 2: Newspaper Advertisements: Post 1 ad in a top newspaper in English and 1 ad in a top paper in your regional/vernacular language in your city every day. Keep the original page intact.
- Step 3: Government Fee Online: Pay the government fee online by bharatkosh.gov.in and pay the amount of ₹1,100 (Adult) or ₹600 (Minor) under the head of the Controller of Publications.
- Step 4: Prepare a Digital CD: Type your name change notification matter in MS Word (.doc format) following the format of the gazette notification. Record it on a CD/DVD.
- Step 5: Dossier Submission: Dossier to be compiled and sent by Speed Post to the Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, Delhi – 110054 along with all supporting documents.
- Step 6: Download Your Gazette PDF: After its publication (4–8 weeks), download your Central gazette notification for name change India PDF from egazette.gov.in (Part IV of the Weekly Gazette).