Quick answer
If you want to legally change your name in Patna, a Gazette notification can provide an official published record of the change. The correct process depends on which Gazette route applies to your case: the Gazette of India Part IV or a relevant Bihar Government Gazette process.
For an adult applying through the Gazette of India Part IV, the official Department of Publication guideline requires a newspaper advertisement, prescribed application documents, photographs, identity proof, an undertaking, and submission of the completed application to the Department of Publication in Delhi. The Department’s rate order dated 19 September 2023 lists ₹1,100 for an adult change-of-name notice. For the state-wide picture, see Gazette name change in Bihar.
Quick Answer: How Does Gazette Name Change in Patna Work?
A Gazette name change from Patna generally involves these stages:
- Prepare the required name-change documents and affidavit.
- Publish the name-change notice in the newspaper required for the applicable Gazette route.
- Prepare the prescribed Gazette application/proforma.
- Attach the required photographs, identity proof, undertaking and other documents.
- Submit the application to the appropriate Gazette authority.
- Check the published Gazette notification after processing.
- Use the Gazette publication as supporting evidence when updating your other records.
For the Gazette of India Part IV adult/major route, the official Department of Publication guideline says the name change must be advertised in one daily local leading newspaper and the original newspaper must be forwarded with the application.
What Is a Gazette Name Change?
A Gazette name change is the publication of a person’s name-change notice in an official government Gazette.
For the Central Gazette route, the relevant publication is the Gazette of India Part IV, handled through the Department of Publication, Government of India.
A Gazette publication creates an official government publication record showing the old and new name. It is commonly used as supporting documentation when a person needs to establish continuity between the old identity and the new name.
Example: If a person’s existing name is Rahul Kumar and the person legally changes it to Rahul Sharma, the Gazette publication can record the change from Rahul Kumar to Rahul Sharma.
Is Gazette Name Change Available for People Living in Patna?
Yes. People living in Patna can apply for the applicable Gazette name-change process. However, living in Patna does not automatically mean that every applicant must use the same Gazette route.
| Gazette route | What it means |
|---|---|
| Gazette of India | Central Government Gazette published through the Department of Publication |
| Bihar e-Gazette | Official Bihar Government Gazette publication system |
The Bihar Government maintains an official e-Gazette portal containing published Gazettes and searchable notifications, and Bihar e-Gazette records contain name-change notifications.
For an adult/major seeking publication in the Gazette of India Part IV, the official Department of Publication guideline provides the relevant procedure.
Important: Do not assume that a procedure published by a private service provider for Bihar Gazette is identical to the Gazette of India procedure. Confirm the applicable authority and current requirements before submitting documents or paying a fee.
Bihar Gazette vs Gazette of India for Name Change
The Bihar e-Gazette and Gazette of India are different government publication systems, so they should not be treated as interchangeable.
| Factor | Bihar e-Gazette | Gazette of India |
|---|---|---|
| Government level | Bihar Government | Government of India |
| Official portal | Bihar e-Gazette | e-Gazette of India |
| Publication authority | Bihar Government publication system | Department of Publication |
| Relevant use | Bihar Government Gazette notifications | Central Gazette publications |
| Patna residents | Bihar route may be relevant depending on purpose | Can apply from Patna for applicable Central Gazette process |
| Process | Confirm current Bihar procedure | Follow Department of Publication guideline |
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Gazette route according to the purpose of your name change and the authority requiring the publication.
If a specific department, employer, educational institution, passport process or other authority has asked specifically for a Gazette of India publication, follow the Central Gazette process. If you are considering a Bihar Government Gazette route, verify the current procedure through the official Bihar e-Gazette system before applying.
Who Can Apply for Gazette Name Change in Patna?
An adult aged 18 years or above can apply for name-change publication through the Gazette of India Part IV adult/major procedure. Common situations include:
- Full name change
- Addition of a surname
- Deletion of a surname
- Change of surname
- Certain marriage-related name changes
- Other name changes covered by the applicable Gazette guideline
Different situations can have different documentary requirements. The Department of Publication maintains separate guidelines for adults, minors, surname changes, religion-related changes and other categories.
Documents Required for Gazette Name Change in Patna
For the Gazette of India Part IV adult/major route, the official Department of Publication guideline lists the following core requirements:
- Signed undertaking from the applicant
- Original newspaper containing the name-change advertisement
- Prescribed proforma in duplicate
- Signature of the applicant and two witnesses
- MS Word soft copy of the required printing matter
- Two self-attested passport-size photographs
- Self-attested photocopy of identity proof
- Certificate confirming that the hard copy and soft copy contain the same information
- Request/forwarding letter
- Applicable publication fee
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Undertaking | Declares the old name, new name and relevant personal details |
| Original newspaper | Evidence that the name-change notice was published |
| Gazette proforma | Provides the prescribed publication matter |
| Two witnesses | Required for the prescribed adult/major proforma |
| Passport photographs | Applicant identification |
| Photo ID | Identity verification |
| Hard/soft copy certificate | Confirms consistency between submitted versions |
| Request letter | Accompanies the Gazette application |
| Fee proof | Evidence of payment of the applicable charge |
Important: Additional documents may be relevant depending on the reason for the name change. For a fuller checklist, read Documents Required for Gazette Name Change in India.
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Step-by-Step Gazette Name Change Process in Patna
Step 1: Decide the applicable Gazette route
First identify whether you need a Bihar Government Gazette publication or a Gazette of India Part IV publication. The authorities, forms and submission procedures can differ.
Step 2: Prepare the name-change declaration
Prepare the affidavit/undertaking and other documents required for your specific route. For the Gazette of India adult/major procedure, the official guideline requires an undertaking showing the applicant’s old and new name and relevant father/husband and residential details.
Step 3: Publish the newspaper notice
For the Gazette of India adult/major route, the official Department of Publication guideline says the change of name should be advertised in one daily local leading newspaper. The advertisement should state the applicant’s:
- Old name
- New name
- Father’s or husband’s name, as applicable
- Residential address
The original newspaper must then be forwarded to the Department of Publication.
Do not automatically follow websites that say two newspapers are mandatory. The official adult/major guideline specifies one daily local leading newspaper for this Central Gazette procedure.
Step 4: Complete the Gazette proforma
The Gazette of India adult/major guideline requires the prescribed proforma to be typed and submitted in duplicate with the applicant’s signature and signatures/details of two witnesses. The official specimen states the old name, relationship details, residential address and new name, followed by witness information.
Step 5: Prepare the soft copy
The official guideline requires a CD containing the printing matter in MS Word format for the Central Gazette adult/major process. The applicant must also provide a signed certificate confirming that the hard copy and soft copy contain the same information.
Step 6: Attach photographs and identity proof
The Central Gazette adult/major guideline requires two self-attested passport-size photographs and a self-attested copy of photo ID proof.
Step 7: Submit the application
For the Gazette of India adult/major route, the official guideline directs applicants to submit the documents, forwarding letter, applicable charges and photo ID proof to:
Controller of Publications
Department of Publication
Civil Lines, Delhi – 110054
The guideline states that applications may be submitted personally or sent by post. It also states that documents should not be older than one year. The Central Gazette process is therefore not a completely online application.
Step 8: Wait for publication and check the Gazette
The Department of Publication states that, after a completed application is received, the request is sent for notification to the respective Government of India Press.
Gazette of India publications are available electronically. The guideline instructs applicants to search the weekly Gazette, select Part IV and locate the old or new name in the PDF on the e-Gazette portal.
How Much Does Gazette Name Change Cost in Patna?
The Department of Publication’s rate order dated 19 September 2023 lists ₹1,100 for an adult change-of-name notice in Gazette of India Part IV and ₹1,700 for a minor’s, effective from 14 June 2021. See the Department’s Gazette rates page.
Your total cost can include:
- Affidavit/notary charges
- Newspaper publication charges
- Gazette publication fee
- Document preparation costs
- Post/courier charges
- Optional professional assistance
Private websites publish different prices for Gazette name changes, some as service packages, and these amounts are not the government fee. For a Bihar Government Gazette route, confirm the charge with the Bihar authority. Verify the applicable government charge before making payment.
How Long Does Gazette Name Change Take in Patna?
There is no fixed publication time such as 30, 45 or 60 days for every applicant. Processing time can depend on:
- Completeness of the application
- Correctness of the documents
- Newspaper publication
- Administrative processing
- Government Press publication schedule
- Any correction or clarification requested by the authority
The Department of Publication itself states that it is not responsible for delays in printing by the concerned Press. Be wary of any claim of “guaranteed Gazette publication in X days.”
What Should the Name Change Newspaper Advertisement Contain?
For the Gazette of India adult/major route, the official guideline says the newspaper advertisement should state the old name, the new name, father’s or husband’s name and residential address. The advertisement should appear in one daily local leading newspaper, and the original newspaper should be forwarded with the application.
A typical structure is:
“I, [Old Name], son/daughter/wife of [Father/Husband Name], residing at [Residential Address], have changed my name to [New Name] and shall hereafter be known as [New Name].”
Use the official applicable proforma and requirements rather than copying an advertisement from another website.
Gazette Name Change After Marriage
A marriage-related name change can involve a change of surname or other personal-name details. The exact documentary requirements depend on the applicable procedure and the authority where the name will subsequently be updated.
If your purpose is a Gazette of India publication, use the relevant Department of Publication guideline rather than assuming that the standard adult procedure applies unchanged to every marriage-related case. The Department separately lists guidance for adopting a maiden surname and different surname-related situations.
Gazette Name Change After Divorce
A person changing their surname after divorce should identify the specific applicable Gazette procedure and supporting documents before submitting the application. The Department of Publication maintains separate guidance for certain surname and minor-after-divorce situations.
Gazette Name Change for a Minor in Patna
The adult/major Gazette procedure should not be automatically applied to a minor. The Department of Publication publishes a separate Guidelines for Change of Name – Minor document. See Gazette name change for a minor child.
What Happens After Gazette Publication?
Gazette publication does not automatically change the name on every government or private record. After receiving the Gazette publication, you may need to separately request updates to records such as:
- Aadhaar
- PAN
- Passport
- Bank accounts
- Driving licence
- Voter records
- Educational records
- Employment records
- Insurance records
- Property or other legal records
Example: A Gazette notification may establish the published name change, but a bank can still require its own name-update form, identity proof and supporting documents.
Common Mistakes in Gazette Name Change Applications
1. Using the wrong Gazette route
Bihar e-Gazette and Gazette of India are different systems. Identify the required authority before preparing the application.
2. Copying another website’s newspaper requirement
Many private pages say that two newspaper advertisements are required. The official Gazette of India adult/major guideline says one daily local leading newspaper.
3. Using an outdated fee
The adult guideline still shows a ₹1,100 figure dated 2016–17; the current figure comes from the September 2023 rate order. Check the official rates page before paying.
4. Submitting mismatched information
The old name, new name, address and other details should remain consistent across the affidavit/undertaking, newspaper notice, proforma and digital copy.
5. Using an incorrect proforma
Use the applicable official proforma rather than relying on an unofficial template.
6. Assuming Gazette publication updates all records
Gazette publication and document updating are separate steps.
7. Believing a guaranteed timeline
Government publication time can vary. Avoid relying on a guaranteed 30-day, 45-day or 60-day promise.
How to Check a Published Gazette Name Change
For a Gazette of India publication, the Department of Publication’s guideline explains that applicants can search the e-Gazette, select the weekly Gazette category and Part IV, choose the relevant date range and search the PDF for the old or new name.
For Bihar Government Gazette publications, the official Bihar e-Gazette portal provides published Gazette records and notification search by department, notification number, Gazette number, date and subject/keyword.
Frequently Asked Questions
Official Sources to Verify Before Applying
- Department of Publication — Change of Name/Public Notices (includes the Guidelines for Change of Name – Adult/Major)
- Department of Publication — Gazette rates
- Bihar e-Gazette
Government requirements, fees and procedures can change. Verify current requirements before submitting documents or making payment.
Need Help With Gazette Name Change in Patna?
If you are preparing a Gazette name-change application from Patna, first identify the correct Gazette route, then verify the current official requirements, fee and submission method.
Identify the Gazette → Verify the official guideline → Prepare documents → Publish the required notice → Submit the application → Check the Gazette publication → Update other records separately. If you need help with the paperwork, contact NameChangeDesk.
Not sure which process applies to you?
Tell us about your case and we’ll reply with the documents and steps that apply to you.
This article is general information, not legal advice. NameChangeDesk is a private service and is not affiliated with the Government of India or any state authority.