Name Change in Delhi: Complete Legal Procedure & Gazette Guide

You can notarize your name change affidavit before any authorized Notary Public registered under the Notaries Act, 1952 at any Delhi District Court Complex convenient to you. Jurisdictional courts include Tis Hazari Courts (Central & North Delhi), Rohini Courts (North-West Delhi), Saket Courts (South Delhi), Dwarka Courts (South-West Delhi), Patiala House Courts (New Delhi), and Karkardooma Courts (East Delhi).

In Delhi NCT, the standard statutory denomination for a personal declaration affidavit is minimum ₹10 or ₹20 non-judicial e-stamp paper issued by Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL) or licensed court stamp vendors. For Gazette Part IV filings, ₹10 or ₹20 e-stamp is universally accepted by the Controller of Publications. Ensure the first party is entered in your current legal name.

You must publish public notices in two daily newspapers widely circulating in Delhi NCR: one English national daily (such as The Indian Express, The Times of India, The Statesman, or The Pioneer) and one Hindi daily (such as Navbharat Times, Punjab Kesari, Dainik Jagran, or Amar Ujala). Both notices must appear before submitting your Gazette application.

You MUST submit the entire original newspaper page (both English and Hindi editions). Do not cut or crop out the advertisement. The Department of Publication in Civil Lines strictly mandates full original newspaper pages clearly showing the masthead, publication name, publication date, and page number to prevent forged clipping submissions.

The official government publication fee for Part IV of The Gazette of India is ₹1,100 for an adult Indian citizen and ₹1,400 for a minor child below 18 years. The fee is non-refundable and must be paid exclusively online through the Government of India Bharatkosh portal (bharatkosh.gov.in). Cash, Demand Drafts, cheques, and postal orders are strictly rejected.

Visit bharatkosh.gov.in, select 'Non-Tax Receipt', choose Ministry: 'Housing and Urban Affairs', Purpose: 'Gazette of India Part-IV Notification', and Payment Head: 'Controller of Publications'. Enter ₹1,100 (or ₹1,400 for minors), provide applicant PAN/Aadhaar details, complete payment via UPI/Netbanking, and download the official Bharatkosh Payment Receipt to attach to your dossier.

You must submit a standard CD-R (Compact Disc) containing your typed Gazette Proforma saved in MS Word (.docx) format. The text on the CD must be an exact verbatim replica of your physical signed proforma without any variation. Write your current name, proposed new name, and mobile number on the disc using a permanent CD marker, and package it in a protective jewel case or sleeve.

Any two independent adult Indian citizens (above 18 years of age) who know you personally can sign as witnesses on the Gazette proforma. They can be neighbors, friends, or colleagues. Both witnesses must provide their full legal name, permanent residential address, mobile phone number, and physical signature. Family members may act as witnesses, but independent third-party witnesses are preferred.

After your physical dossier is successfully accepted and verified at the Civil Lines counter (or received via Speed Post), the standard processing timeframe is typically 3 to 6 weeks. The Gazette of India Part IV is published weekly every Saturday on egazette.gov.in. High seasonal backlogs may occasionally extend processing to 7–8 weeks.

No. In compliance with the Government of India Digital India initiative and under Section 8 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, physical printing and mailing of Gazette copies was discontinued on October 1, 2015. All Gazette notifications are published electronically as digitally signed e-Gazettes on egazette.gov.in, which hold universal statutory validity across all courts, banks, and passport offices.

Go to egazette.gov.in, click on 'Search Gazette' → 'Weekly Gazette'. Select Part: 'Part IV' (Advertisements and Notices by Private Individuals), choose your category ('General' or 'Name Change'), enter the Saturday date range corresponding to your publication period, and download the PDF. Use Ctrl+F to search for your name. Save and print multiple certified colour copies.

If a married woman is only updating her surname to her husband's family name in Aadhaar or private bank accounts, a registered Municipal Marriage Certificate generally suffices. However, if she wishes to alter her given first name, amend educational degrees, update Central Government/PSU service books, or apply for an Indian Passport with major variations, an official Central Gazette notification is required.

For minors under 18 years, both parents must jointly execute an affidavit on Delhi e-stamp paper declaring the child's old name, new name, and date of birth. Publish notices in 2 Delhi dailies, submit a minor Gazette application (fee ₹1,400) with the child's birth certificate and parents' IDs to Civil Lines, and once published, apply to the school principal and CBSE Regional Office at Preet Vihar before Class 9/10 registration.

Book an online appointment on uidai.gov.in at any UIDAI Aadhaar Seva Kendra in Delhi (e.g., Inderlok Metro ASK, Akshardham Metro ASK, or Mohan Cooperative ASK). Carry your published Gazette notification printout, original name change affidavit, and existing Aadhaar card. Complete biometric authentication and pay the standard ₹50 demographic update fee. Updation reflects within 5–15 days.

Log in to passportindia.gov.in and apply for 'Re-issue of Passport' under the category 'Change in Personal Particulars → Change in Name'. Book an appointment at PSK Herald House (ITO), PSK Shalimar Place, or PSK Rama Krishna Puram. You must submit: (1) Deed Poll Sworn Affidavit as per MEA Annexure E, (2) Original clippings of two Delhi newspapers, and (3) Published Gazette notification copy.

Visit the NSDL Protean or UTIITSL PAN portal and select 'Request for New PAN Card or/and Changes or Correction in PAN Data'. Provide your existing 10-digit PAN, enter your new legal name, select updated Aadhaar as Proof of Identity (using Aadhaar paperless e-KYC), or submit the published Gazette notification as supporting proof of identity. The revised physical PAN card is dispatched within 10–14 days.

Visit the Sarathi Parivahan portal (sarathi.parivahan.gov.in), select State 'NCT of Delhi', and choose 'Apply for Change of Name in DL'. Fill in your DL number and date of birth, upload the published Gazette notification, updated Aadhaar, and address proof, pay the prescribed departmental fee online, and visit your jurisdictional Delhi RTO (e.g. Mall Road, Janakpuri, or Sarai Kale Khan) for biometric endorsement.

Yes. If you currently reside in Delhi (for employment, education, or personal residence), you can execute the name change procedure in Delhi. You will need local residential proof in Delhi (such as a registered rent agreement, utility bill, or employer verification letter) alongside your existing out-of-state identity proof. Notarize in Delhi, publish in Delhi newspaper editions, and submit at Civil Lines.

For Central Gazette of India notifications submitted to the Department of Publication in Civil Lines, attestation by a registered Notary Public (appointed under the Notaries Act 1952) is 100% legally valid and universally accepted. You do NOT need to visit an SDM or Executive Magistrate unless specifically ordered by a civil court in disputed litigation.

No. The Government of India Department of Publication does not operate any 'Tatkal', emergency, or accelerated processing scheme. All incoming dossiers are batched and reviewed strictly in chronological order of receipt. Beware of unauthorized touts or agents in Delhi claiming guaranteed '48-hour approvals' or expedited backdoor Gazette entries.

Submit a formal name update request letter to your home branch manager along with: (1) Self-attested copy of the published Gazette Part IV notification, (2) Updated Aadhaar Card reflecting the new name, (3) Updated PAN Card with new name, (4) Original notarized affidavit copy, and (5) Fresh passport-size photographs to complete bank KYC re-KYC compliance.