Quick answer
The Central Gazette and State Gazette are both official government publications, but they are issued through different government authorities. For a name change, the correct choice depends on the process you are following and, importantly, what the organisation that will receive the Gazette accepts.
There is no universal rule that every person changing a name must use the Central Gazette or that every State Gazette is interchangeable for every purpose.
Central Gazette vs State Gazette at a Glance
| Point | Gazette of India | State Gazette |
|---|---|---|
| Government level | Union/Central Government | State or applicable UT Government |
| Main publication authority | Department of Publication / Government of India system | Relevant State/UT publication authority |
| Geographic/government scope | Central Government publication | State/UT publication |
| Name-change use | Available through Central Government’s prescribed process | Available where the relevant State/UT provides a name-change Gazette service |
| Acceptance | Depends on the receiving authority and applicable rules | Depends on the receiving authority and applicable rules |
| One universal route? | No | No |
The Government of India’s eGazette portal separately identifies the Gazette of India and State Gazettes, confirming that they are distinct Gazette systems.
What Is the Central Gazette?
The Central Gazette is the Gazette of India, published through the Government of India publication system.
The Department of Publication states that it publishes Gazette notifications and is the publisher and custodian of the Gazette of India and Delhi Gazette. It also specifically lists Gazette notices for change of name among its services.
For adult/major name changes, the Department provides a dedicated procedure for publication in Gazette of India Part IV.
That procedure includes requirements such as:
- undertaking;
- original newspaper;
- prescribed proforma;
- two witnesses;
- soft-copy printing matter;
- photographs;
- identity proof;
- hard-copy/soft-copy matching certificate; and
- request letter with applicable fee.
What Is a State Gazette?
A State Gazette is the official Gazette published by the relevant State Government.
States maintain their own Gazette publication systems and can have their own processes for individual name-change publications.
For example, the Tamil Nadu Government’s Stationery and Printing Department currently publishes Gazette issues that include “Change of Name” by individuals.
Maharashtra also operates an official Gazette publication system through its government eGazette platform, including application-status facilities.
The important point is that State Gazette procedures can differ from the Central Government procedure. You should therefore use the instructions issued by the relevant State/UT authority rather than copying the Central Gazette checklist.
Is Central Gazette Better Than State Gazette?
“Better” is usually the wrong question.
The useful question is:
Which Gazette is accepted for the document or purpose for which I need to prove my name change?
Acceptance is purpose-specific.
A particularly clear current example is Aadhaar. UIDAI’s FAQ states that for changing a first name or full name, the applicant should provide a Gazette notification from either the State or Union Government, together with the specified old proof of identity.
Passport requirements provide another useful example. In April 2026, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a memorandum clarifying that the Gazette of India (Central Government) is also accepted as a valid document for name change, alongside the Gazette notification of the concerned State Government and other prescribed documents.
This demonstrates why a blanket statement such as “only Central Gazette is valid” is unsafe.
When Might the Central Gazette Be Relevant?
The Central Gazette may be relevant when:
- you are specifically following the Department of Publication’s Central Government name-change process;
- the receiving organisation accepts or requires Gazette of India evidence;
- your circumstances fit the Department’s Central Government procedure;
- you are an Indian living abroad and need to follow the applicable Central Gazette route;
- your downstream authority expressly accepts Gazette of India.
The Department’s adult guideline also contains specific provisions for Indians living abroad and Central Government employees, showing that some cases have additional requirements.
When Might a State Gazette Be Relevant?
A State Gazette may be relevant when:
- your State provides an official individual name-change Gazette service;
- the receiving authority accepts the relevant State Gazette;
- your name-change route is governed by a State-specific process;
- the particular service is designed around the State Gazette.
Again, the receiving authority’s current requirements matter.
For example, UIDAI expressly recognises Gazette notification from either State or Union Government for the first/full-name-change scenario described in its FAQ.
Central Gazette vs State Gazette for Aadhaar
For Aadhaar, UIDAI’s current FAQ provides a particularly important answer.
For changing a first name or full name, UIDAI says to provide:
- a Gazette notification from the State or Union Government; and
- an old proof-of-identity document containing the name in Aadhaar.
UIDAI also specifies that the address details in the Gazette should match the Aadhaar record.
So, for this particular use case, the current UIDAI guidance does not support a blanket claim that only the Central Gazette can be used.
Central Gazette vs State Gazette for Passport
Passport rules need to be checked separately.
The April 2026 Ministry of External Affairs memorandum states that the relevant provision was modified so that the Gazette of India (Central Government) is also accepted as a valid document for change of name, alongside the Gazette notification of the concerned State Government and other prescribed documents.
The revised wording refers to:
- two local newspaper clippings; or
- Gazette notification of the concerned State Government; or
- Gazette of India (Central Government),
as applicable under the passport rules.
This is a good example of why old articles can become misleading when government rules change.
Can You Use a State Gazette Outside Your State?
Do not assume that a Gazette published by one authority will automatically satisfy every other authority.
The correct test is the receiving authority’s current rule.
For example:
If Aadhaar’s current guidance says a State or Union Gazette is accepted, that is different from a situation where another organisation specifically asks for a particular Gazette or another form of evidence.
The Gazette’s official status and the receiving authority’s documentary requirements are separate questions.
Does Your Residence Decide Which Gazette You Must Use?
Residence can be relevant to some State-specific processes, but it should not be turned into a universal rule without checking the applicable State procedure.
The Central Government’s own adult name-change guideline focuses on the Central Gazette process and specifies its own submission requirements.
A State Gazette process can have its own eligibility, application and publication requirements.
Therefore, before applying, check:
- Which authority is publishing the Gazette?
- Does that authority provide individual name-change publication?
- What eligibility conditions apply?
- What documents are required?
- What does the organisation receiving the Gazette accept?
Why Do Websites Give Different Answers?
There are several reasons.
1. Different authorities have different rules
Aadhaar, passport, banks, educational institutions and State departments do not necessarily use identical document checklists.
2. Rules change
The Ministry of External Affairs changed its passport guidance in 2026 to expressly include Gazette of India as an acceptable name-change document.
3. Central and State processes are different
The Central Government has a dedicated Gazette of India Part IV process for adult name-change advertisements.
4. A commercial checklist may not be an official rule
The safest source for a government service is the authority responsible for that service.
Which Gazette Should You Choose?
Use this decision process:
Step 1: Identify the end use
Are you obtaining the Gazette for:
- Aadhaar?
- passport?
- educational records?
- bank records?
- another government record?
- general documentary evidence?
Step 2: Check the receiving authority
Find the current official document requirements.
Step 3: Identify accepted Gazette types
If the authority accepts either State or Union Gazette, you have a choice subject to the relevant publication procedure.
Step 4: Check the publishing authority
Do not submit an application based only on a third-party website’s checklist.
Step 5: Keep the published Gazette with your old-name evidence
The Gazette generally works as part of a documentary chain connecting the old identity to the new name.
Final Takeaway
The Central Gazette and State Gazette are both official Gazette systems, but they are not the same publication authority or process.
For name changes, there is no responsible one-line rule saying “always use Central Gazette” or “State Gazette is enough for everything.”
Instead:
Identify the purpose → check the receiving authority → confirm which Gazette it accepts → follow that Gazette authority’s current process.
Current government guidance shows that some important services accept Gazette evidence from either the State or Union Government, while specific procedures can impose their own requirements.
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.