Gazette Name Change in Bihar: Process, Documents, Fees & 2026 Guide

The correct process therefore depends on whether your requirement is for a Bihar Government Gazette publication or a Gazette of India Part IV publication. Do not assume that a private service provider’s process or fee applies to both routes.

Quick Answer: How does Gazette name change in Bihar work?

For a Gazette name change in Bihar, the first step is to determine the Gazette required by the authority that will accept your changed-name document.

For Gazette of India Part IV, the official Department of Publication requires documents such as an undertaking, original newspaper publication, prescribed proforma, identity proof, photographs, request letter and the applicable fee. The official adult/major guideline also requires the name change to be advertised in one daily local leading newspaper before publication.

For Bihar Government Gazette, the official Bihar eGazette portal confirms that Bihar Government Gazettes are published online and that personal name-change notifications appear in its notification database. However, the public Bihar eGazette pages do not provide a single, clearly documented end-to-end citizen application checklist equivalent to the Department of Publication’s Central Gazette guideline.

At a glance

Requirement	Bihar Government Gazette	Gazette of India Part IV
Official source	Bihar eGazette	Department of Publication, Government of India
Personal name-change publications visible	Yes, in Bihar eGazette notification records	Yes
Gazette publication authority	Bihar Government / Bihar Secretariat Printing Press	Department of Publication / Gazette of India
Official public application guide	Not published as one end-to-end citizen guide	Yes
Newspaper requirement	Verify for the specific Bihar route	One daily local leading newspaper
Adult/major Gazette fee	Confirm with the Bihar authority	₹1,100 per case under the published rate order
Online search/download of published Gazette	Yes	Yes
End-to-end online application	Not established from the public Bihar pages	No; official guideline specifies personal/post/courier submission

Important: The ₹1,100 figure above applies to the Gazette of India Part IV adult/major change-of-name notice. It is not the total cost of changing a name in Bihar. The Department of Publication’s September 2023 rate order lists ₹1,100 per case for an adult/major change-of-name notice.

What is a Gazette name change in Bihar?

A Gazette name change is the publication of a person’s changed name through an official Gazette. The publication creates an official government record of the notified name change, but the exact Gazette authority and procedure depend on the route being used.

In Bihar, the official Bihar eGazette portal provides access to Bihar Government Gazettes and searchable notifications. The portal states that published Bihar Government Gazettes can be viewed, printed and downloaded online.

The Bihar notification database also shows personal name-change entries under the Office of Superintendent, Bihar Secretariat Press — for example, several individual name-change notifications published in Gazette No. 41 in October 2026. These records show that personal name-change notifications are being published through the Bihar Gazette system.

Bihar State Gazette vs Gazette of India: Which one do you need?

Bihar Government Gazette and Gazette of India are different publication systems. The Bihar eGazette is operated for Bihar Government Gazettes, while the Gazette of India Part IV name-change process is handled by the Department of Publication, Government of India.

Bihar Government Gazette

The Bihar eGazette is the official online system for published Bihar Government Gazettes. It provides search facilities based on information such as Gazette type, Gazette number, department, publication date and subject.

Gazette of India Part IV

The Department of Publication, Government of India has a specific guideline for adult/major name changes published in Gazette of India Part IV. The guideline describes the documents, newspaper publication, submission process and publication procedure.

Which should you choose?

If an authority specifically asks for “Gazette of India” or “Gazette of India Part IV”: follow the Department of Publication procedure.

If an authority specifically asks for a Bihar Government/Bihar State Gazette publication: verify the requirement with the concerned Bihar authority or Bihar Secretariat Printing Press before submitting documents, because the official Bihar eGazette confirms publication of name-change notifications but does not present the same complete public application checklist found in the Central Gazette guideline.

If a bank, passport office, university, employer or other institution is asking for Gazette proof: ask the institution which Gazette they will accept before paying for publication.

This step can prevent paying for the wrong publication route.

What documents are required for Gazette name change?

The document list depends on the Gazette route.

For an adult/major Gazette of India Part IV name change, the official Department of Publication guideline lists the following:

1. Signed undertaking by the applicant.
2. Original newspaper publication.
3. Prescribed proforma in duplicate.
4. Signatures of the applicant and two witnesses.
5. Required soft copy of the printing matter.
6. Two self-attested passport-size photographs.
7. Self-attested identity proof.
8. Certificate confirming that the hard copy and soft copy contain the same information.
9. Request letter.
10. Applicable publication fee.

The Department of Publication also publishes a separate list of acceptable documents for proof of old name and address. For a fuller checklist, read Documents Required for Gazette Name Change in India.

Important distinction: undertaking vs affidavit

An undertaking and an affidavit should not automatically be treated as the same document.

The official Gazette of India adult/major guideline specifically describes an undertaking and does not state that every adult applicant must submit an affidavit. Private name-change services may use or recommend affidavits as part of their own process or for other authorities.

So an affidavit is not mandatory for every Gazette name change in Bihar; the required document depends on the publication route and the authority involved.

Gazette Name Change in Bihar: Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Confirm which Gazette is required

Before preparing documents, confirm whether the receiving authority requires:

• Bihar Government Gazette,
• Gazette of India Part IV, or
• another form of official name-change documentation.

This is the most important first step because the two Gazette systems have different authorities and procedures.

Step 2: Prepare proof of your existing name

Prepare an accepted identity document showing your old/current legal name.

The Department of Publication publishes an official list of acceptable documents for proof of old name and proof of address. Examples include identity and government documents such as Aadhaar, passport, voter identification, driving licence, PAN and certain educational or birth records, subject to the Department’s applicable requirements.

Use the current official document list rather than relying on an old private-service checklist.

Step 3: Prepare the name-change declaration

For Gazette of India Part IV, the official adult/major guideline requires an undertaking stating the applicant’s old and new name along with relevant personal details. The prescribed printing matter also uses the old name for the applicant’s signature and requires two witnesses.

The official specimen includes a statement structured around: Old name → relationship/details → residential address → New name. The applicant signs using the existing/old name.

Step 4: Publish the required newspaper notice

For an adult/major Gazette of India Part IV name change, the official guideline says the change of name should first be advertised in one daily local leading newspaper, including the father’s/husband’s name and residential address, and the original newspaper should be submitted to the Department.

This is important because many online articles incorrectly state that two newspapers are universally required for every Gazette name change. The requirement should be matched to the exact Gazette route being used.

Step 5: Prepare the Gazette application

For Gazette of India Part IV, prepare the prescribed proforma, undertaking, photographs, ID proof, newspaper and other documents specified by the Department of Publication.

The official guideline also requires a certificate confirming that the hard copy and soft copy contain the same information.

Step 6: Pay the applicable Gazette publication fee

The Department of Publication’s published rate order lists: Gazette of India Part IV — Change of Name Notice (Adult/Major): ₹1,100 per case.

The same rate order lists separate charges for minors, public notices, adoption notices, religion-related notices and other categories.

Does ₹1,100 mean the complete name-change cost is ₹1,100? No. The ₹1,100 figure is the Gazette of India Part IV publication charge for an adult/major change-of-name notice. Your overall expense can also include newspaper publication, document preparation, photographs, postage/courier and any other applicable service or documentation charges.

Step 7: Submit the application

For Gazette of India Part IV, the official guideline states that the documents, printing charges, forwarding letter and photo ID should be addressed to the Controller of Publications, Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi 110054.

The guideline says applications may be submitted personally or sent by post, and also states that applications sent by post/courier are entertained. It does not permit agents or advocates as an alternative submission channel under the stated guideline.

Step 8: Check the published Gazette

After publication, the Gazette can be checked online.

For Bihar Government Gazettes, the official Bihar eGazette provides online viewing, printing, downloading and search functionality for published Gazettes.

For Gazette of India, the Department of Publication’s guideline explains how to search the e-Gazette, select the weekly Gazette and Part IV, choose the relevant dates, download the PDF and search the document for the old or new name.

Can you apply for Gazette name change online in Bihar?

Published Bihar Gazettes can be searched and downloaded online, but an end-to-end online application process for an individual’s name change is not established by the official Bihar eGazette pages.

The Bihar eGazette portal clearly supports online viewing, printing, downloading and searching of published Gazettes. That is different from completing your entire Bihar Gazette name-change application online, which has not been confirmed by an official Bihar application workflow.

For Gazette of India Part IV, the official adult/major guideline specifies submission of the required documents to the Department of Publication personally or by post/courier.

How much does Gazette name change cost in Bihar?

There is no single all-inclusive price for every Gazette name change in Bihar.

For Gazette of India Part IV, the Department of Publication’s published rate order lists:

Gazette notice	Published rate
Adult/Major change of name	₹1,100 per case
Minor change of name	₹1,700 per case
Public notice	₹1,400 per case
Adoption notice	₹1,700 per case
Change of religion	₹1,700 per case
Notice from Indian abroad — adult/major	₹3,500
Notice from Indian abroad — minor	₹5,100

These are publication rates listed in the Department of Publication’s September 19, 2023 rate order, with the revised rates stated as effective from June 14, 2021. See the Department’s Gazette rates page.

Do not add these figures together unless the applicable category actually requires the additional notice.

For Bihar Government Gazette publication, use the applicable Bihar authority’s current instructions rather than copying a fixed fee from a private website. For a fuller breakdown, see Gazette name change fees and timeline.

How long does Gazette name change take in Bihar?

There is no single official turnaround time for every Bihar Gazette name change.

The time can depend on the Gazette route, document completeness, newspaper publication, submission method, verification and publication schedule.

For Gazette of India, the Department of Publication specifically states that it is not responsible for delays in printing by the concerned Government Press.

Therefore, statements such as “Gazette name change is completed in exactly 7 days” or “you will receive the Gazette in 15 days” should not be treated as universal guarantees.

How to check a Bihar Gazette name-change notification online

The official Bihar eGazette portal provides a searchable database of published notifications. You can use the Bihar notification search to look for:

• Notification number
• Gazette number
• Notification date
• Gazette date
• Subject or keywords
• Department
• Notification type

The official Advanced Search Notifications page provides these search fields. Name-change entries appear under the Office of Superintendent, Bihar Secretariat Press.

What should you update after Gazette publication?

A Gazette publication does not automatically mean that every government, financial or educational record changes automatically.

After obtaining the Gazette publication, check the requirements of each organisation where your name needs to be updated. Common records may include:

• Aadhaar
• PAN
• Passport
• Voter ID
• Driving licence
• Bank account
• Insurance records
• Employment records
• Educational certificates
• Property records
• Government service records
• Other contracts or official records

Each authority can have its own documentation requirements. A Gazette publication may be accepted as supporting evidence, but the receiving authority decides its own update procedure.

Name Change After Marriage in Bihar

A name change after marriage can involve a different documentation situation from a general voluntary name change. Do not assume that every married applicant needs exactly the same documents as an unmarried adult applicant.

For Gazette of India, the Department of Publication maintains separate guidance covering different name-change/public-notice situations, including minor cases, adoption, gender/name changes and other categories.

If the name change involves marriage, ask the receiving authority whether it requires:

• Marriage certificate
• Existing identity proof
• Name-change declaration
• Gazette publication
• Newspaper notice
• Any additional relationship or address proof

Use the requirements of the actual authority and Gazette route rather than a generic checklist.

Name Change After Divorce in Bihar

A name change after divorce can involve additional documentation, particularly where a person is restoring a previous name. The Department of Publication maintains separate guidance for certain public-notice and minor-after-divorce situations.

Before preparing the Gazette application, confirm whether the intended name change is:

• A general change of name,
• Restoration of a previous name,
• Change of surname,
• A name change associated with divorce, or
• Another specific legal/documentary situation.

The applicable process and supporting documents may differ.

Gazette Name Change for a Minor in Bihar

A minor’s name change is not automatically processed using the adult/major procedure.

The Department of Publication separately publishes Guidelines for Change of Name – Minor, which indicates that minor name changes are treated as a separate category. Parents or guardians should therefore use the applicable minor guidelines instead of simply copying the adult application format. See Gazette name change for a minor child.

The Department’s published rate order also lists ₹1,700 per case for a Gazette of India Part IV minor change-of-name notice.

What is the difference between name correction and name change?

A name correction usually means correcting an error in an existing record, while a name change means adopting a different name or spelling through the applicable legal/documentary process.

For example:

• Correction: “Rahul Kumar” was mistakenly recorded as “Rahul Kumra.”
• Change: “Rahul Kumar” decides to use “Rahul Sharma.”

The correct procedure depends on the record and authority involved. A spelling mistake in a government certificate may sometimes be handled through the issuing authority’s correction procedure rather than a full Gazette name-change process.

Common mistakes to avoid in Gazette name change

1. Choosing the wrong Gazette

Do not assume that every name-change requirement is a Gazette of India requirement. Confirm whether the receiving authority requires a Bihar Government Gazette or Gazette of India Part IV.

2. Treating an affidavit as universally mandatory

The official Gazette of India adult guideline specifically refers to an undertaking. Requirements can differ by route.

3. Assuming two newspapers are always required

The official Gazette of India adult/major guideline specifies one daily local leading newspaper.

4. Using an outdated fee

The Department of Publication publishes its Gazette rates. The rate order lists ₹1,100 for an adult/major change-of-name notice in Gazette of India Part IV; check the official source before making payment.

5. Assuming an online Gazette search means online application

The Bihar eGazette clearly supports online search and download of published Gazettes. That does not by itself prove that the complete name-change application can be submitted online.

6. Trusting guaranteed turnaround claims

Government publication time can vary. Avoid relying on an exact turnaround unless it is confirmed by the relevant authority.

7. Updating only one document

After Gazette publication, check all records where the old name appears and follow the update procedure of each organisation.

Bihar Gazette Name Change: Complete Checklist

Before submitting a Gazette name-change request, verify the following:

Route

• Confirm whether Bihar Government Gazette or Gazette of India Part IV is required.
• Confirm that the receiving authority accepts the chosen Gazette.

Documents

• Proof of existing/old name
• Address proof where required
• Name-change declaration/undertaking
• Prescribed proforma where applicable
• Photographs
• Identity proof
• Newspaper publication where required
• Witness details/signatures where required
• Request letter
• Applicable publication fee
• Soft copy or other format required by the relevant authority

After publication

• Locate the published Gazette notification online.
• Download and preserve a copy.
• Check that the old and new names are correct.
• Submit the Gazette proof to organisations where the name must be updated.
• Keep the original supporting documents and publication record safely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Official Sources for Gazette Name Change

For the most reliable and current information, use official government sources instead of relying only on private service-provider pages.

• Bihar eGazette – Published Gazettes — view published Bihar Government Gazettes.
• Bihar eGazette – Published Notifications — the notification database, including name-change entries.
• Bihar eGazette – Advanced Notification Search — search by notification number, dates, Gazette number, department, subject/keywords and type.
• Department of Publication – Change of Name / Public Notices — the official adult/major, minor and other guidelines.
• Department of Publication – Gazette Rates — verify publication charges before payment.

Final Takeaway

Gazette name change in Bihar should not be treated as one universal process. The first decision is whether you need a publication through the Bihar Government Gazette or the Gazette of India Part IV.

The official Bihar eGazette confirms online publication and search of Bihar Government Gazettes and lists personal name-change notifications. The Government of India’s Department of Publication separately provides a documented Part IV procedure for adult/major name changes, including the required undertaking, newspaper notice, documents, submission method and publication fee.

For an adult/major Gazette of India Part IV name-change notice, the published government rate is ₹1,100 per case. That amount is the Gazette publication charge, not a universal all-inclusive cost for changing every record in Bihar.

The safest approach is to confirm the Gazette type required by the organisation that will receive your name-change proof, follow that authority’s current official requirements, and verify the published notification after completion. If you need help with the paperwork, contact NameChangeDesk.