How to Change Your Name in Delhi: Gazette Process

Legally changing your name in Delhi follows a settled three-step process: a notarised affidavit, a newspaper advertisement, and a Gazette of India notification published by the Department of Publication, Government of India. Completing all three gives you a document trail that government departments, banks and passport authorities accept as proof. Our name change services handle the drafting, advertising and Gazette filing end to end, but here is exactly how the process works.

Why a Gazette notification matters

Strictly speaking, no statute forces an adult to publish a name change in the Gazette. A notarised affidavit alone is often enough for small, informal changes. But for a change you want recognised across India — on your passport, PAN, bank records and service records — a Gazette notification is the gold-standard proof. For Central Government employees it is effectively mandatory and must follow the conditions in the Government’s official guidelines.

Step 1: Prepare and notarise a name-change affidavit

Draft a name-change affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper (commonly ₹10–₹20 denomination) declaring:

• Your old (existing) name and the new name you wish to adopt;
• Your father’s or husband’s name and your full Delhi address;
• A short statement of the reason for the change (marriage, numerology, spelling correction, personal choice, etc.).

Sign the affidavit before a Notary Public or Oath Commissioner, who attests it. This affidavit is the legal foundation of the whole process and is required at the Gazette stage.

Step 2: Publish the change in two newspapers

After notarisation, publish a short name-change advertisement in two daily newspapers — typically one English daily and one Hindi (or local Delhi-edition) daily. The advertisement should state your old name, new name, full address and the date of the affidavit.

Keep the original printed clippings, not just photocopies — the Department of Publication requires originals (or the full newspaper page) when you file for the Gazette. This step publicly announces the change and protects against later objections.

Step 3: Apply for the Gazette of India notification

The final step is publication in the Gazette of India by the Department of Publication, Government of India, located at Civil Lines, Delhi-110054. You submit:

• The signed name-change request form / proforma;
• The original notarised affidavit;
• Original newspaper clippings of both advertisements;
• Self-attested copies of identity proof (Aadhaar, PAN, Passport, Voter ID or Driving Licence) and address proof;
• A soft copy of the matter to be published, typed in MS Word (not scanned), supplied on a CD as per current departmental instructions;
• Two passport-size photographs and the prescribed fee.

Submission can be made in person during public-dealing hours or sent by post/courier to the Controller of Publications, Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi. Documents should generally not be older than one year. As of 2024, online submission and online fee payment (via the Bharat Kosh portal) have been enabled, though physical/posted documents are still commonly required — confirm the current mode before filing.

Fees

The government publication fee for an ordinary adult change is commonly around ₹1,100 (higher slabs apply for minors, and substantially higher fees for NRI/overseas applicants), as currently prescribed by the Department of Publication. Notary charges, newspaper advertising costs and any professional drafting fees are separate.

Timeline

Allow roughly 30 to 60 days from submission for the notification to appear in the e-Gazette, depending on departmental workload. Once published, you can download the Gazette copy from egazette.gov.in — that copy is your legal proof of the new name.

Documents checklist

• Notarised name-change affidavit
• Original clippings from two newspapers (English + Hindi/local)
• Identity proof (Aadhaar / PAN / Passport / Voter ID / DL)
• Address proof
• Passport-size photographs
• Soft copy (MS Word) on CD
• Filled request proforma and fee receipt
• Marriage certificate or divorce decree (if applicable — see FAQ)

Updating your records after the Gazette

Once the Gazette is published, update your records — ideally in this order:

1. Aadhaar first, at an Aadhaar enrolment/update centre or online, using the Gazette copy as proof. Many other updates flow from Aadhaar.
2. PAN, via the Income Tax/UTIITSL/Protean (NSDL) correction portal.
3. Passport, via the Passport Seva portal — apply for “Re-issue” with reason “Change in Personal Particulars” and carry the original Gazette copy to your Passport Seva Kendra appointment.
4. Bank accounts, voter ID, driving licence, insurance, employer and academic records, each with a self-attested Gazette copy.

FAQ

Do I have to change my name after marriage? No. Adopting a husband’s surname after marriage is a personal choice, not a legal requirement in India. If you do want it recognised everywhere, follow the same three steps. A joint affidavit with your husband (showing old name, new name, marriage details, father’s and husband’s names) plus your marriage certificate is commonly used. Our team also assists with name change after marriage.

How do I revert to my maiden name after divorce? Use the same affidavit → newspaper → Gazette process, and additionally attach a self-attested copy of the divorce decree (court judgment). Reverting to your maiden name post-divorce is well recognised and does not require the ex-spouse’s consent.

Is the affidavit alone enough? For informal use, sometimes yes. For pan-India legal recognition — passport, government service, financial records — complete all three steps and obtain the Gazette notification.

This is general information, not legal advice. Consult our lawyers for advice on your situation.