NAMING LAW
Changing your name through the Gazette of India
The Department of Publication prints individual change-of-name notices. What it asks for, and what the notice does and does not do.
What the Gazette notice is
The Gazette of India, Part IV, carries individuals’ change-of-name notices, published by the Controller of Publications at the Department of Publication in Civil Lines, Delhi. The guidelines cite no statute: the notice is a public record of the change, not a court order. Other offices decide for themselves whether to rely on it. [1] [2]
What an adult must send
The guidelines list an undertaking signed by the applicant with the old and new names, the father’s or husband’s name and the address; the original newspaper carrying the advertisement; the prescribed proforma in duplicate, typed and signed by the applicant and two witnesses; a CD with the matter in MS Word; two self-attested passport photographs and a self-attested photo-ID copy; a certificate that the hard and soft copies match; and a request letter with the fee. [1]
The newspaper step
The change must be advertised in one of the leading daily newspapers of the area, stating the father’s or husband’s name and the residential address. The original newspaper goes to the department. [1]
Filing, fee and timing
Applications go to the Controller of Publications in person or by post or courier; the guidelines say no other channel is permitted, such as agents or advocates. Documents must not be older than one year and are not returned. The guidelines state a fee of Rs 1,100 for adults and Rs 1,700 for minors, payable through BharatKosh, but the figures carry a 2016–17 date, so confirm the current fee with the department. No printing timeline is stated. [1] [3]
Surnames, adopted names and religion
Taking a surname different from a parent’s, or adding one where none exists, needs an affidavit attested by a First Class Magistrate. For a maiden surname after divorce the department asks for the divorce decree or a no-objection letter from the husband, with a photo ID; it does not process the request while a court matter is pending. A person adopting another religion’s name without changing religion gives an undertaking to that effect. [1] [4]
Proof of the old name and address
The department accepts documents such as a passport, Aadhaar, ration card, voter card, driving licence, a recent utility bill, a government ID, PAN for name, a birth certificate, and Class 10 or 12 certificates. The old-name proof should match the name in your newspaper notice and affidavit exactly. [5]
Finding the notice and using it
Printed copies stopped on 1 October 2015. The weekly Part IV gazette is downloaded from egazette.gov.in under Search Gazette, Weekly Gazette, Part IV, and needs no certification from the department. UIDAI’s document list asks for a Gazette notification for a change of first name or full name, and Passport Seva accepts clippings of two local newspapers or a State Gazette notification as proof of a major name change. [1] [6] [7]
Frequently asked questions
Is a Gazette notification mandatory to change my name?
No statute is cited in the guidelines. UIDAI asks for one for a first-name or full-name change, and Passport Seva accepts newspaper clippings or a State Gazette for a major change. [1] [6] [7]
How much does it cost?
The guidelines show Rs 1,100 for an adult and Rs 1,700 for a minor, with a 2016–17 date. Confirm the current figure with the department. [1] [3]
Can an agent or advocate file for me?
No. The guidelines allow only personal filing or post and courier to the Controller of Publications. [1]
Do I need witnesses?
Yes. The proforma is signed by the applicant and two witnesses. [1]
Where do I find the published notice?
On egazette.gov.in, under Search Gazette, Weekly Gazette, Part IV. [1]
Can I return to my maiden surname?
The department asks for a divorce decree or a no-objection letter from the husband, and does not process the request while a court matter is pending. [4]