If you want to change your name legally in Gurgaon (Gurugram), the Gazette process involves preparing the required documents, publishing a name-change notice in a daily local leading newspaper, submitting the prescribed application to the Department of Publication, and checking the Gazette of India after publication. For an adult or major applicant, the Department of Publication’s published guideline covers changes of name, addition or deletion of surname, and similar name changes through Gazette of India Part IV.
For a Gurgaon applicant, the Gazette publication itself is handled through the Department of Publication, Government of India, rather than through a separate Gurgaon Gazette office.
Quick answer
An adult applicant generally needs an undertaking, original newspaper publication, the prescribed name-change proforma, supporting identity/address documents, photographs, the required hard-copy/soft-copy declaration, and the applicable publication fee. The Department’s current rate-revision document lists ₹1,100 for an adult/major change-of-name notice in Gazette of India Part IV. Newspaper, document-preparation, courier, and optional professional-assistance costs are separate.
What Is a Gazette Name Change?
A Gazette name change is the publication of an official name-change notice in the Gazette of India. The Department of Publication is responsible for publishing Gazette notifications and Gazette notices relating to matters including change of name.
For an adult applicant, the relevant process is associated with Gazette of India Part IV.
A Gazette publication creates an official government publication record showing the relationship between the previous name and the new name.
Gazette publication vs newspaper advertisement
These two steps are different.
| Stage | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Newspaper notice | Publicly advertises the proposed name change |
| Gazette publication | Publishes the name-change notice in the Gazette of India |
| Post-Gazette updates | Allows the applicant to request changes to individual records with relevant authorities |
The newspaper advertisement is therefore not the same thing as Gazette publication.
Who Can Apply for Gazette Name Change?
An adult or major applicant can use the adult name-change process for a change of name, addition or deletion of surname, and similar changes covered by the Department of Publication’s adult guideline.
The Department separately publishes guidelines for minors and other special situations. Therefore, a minor, gender-change applicant, person adopting a different surname, or applicant covered by another special category should check the relevant Department guideline rather than automatically using the adult process.
What Documents Are Required for an Adult Gazette Name Change?
The Department of Publication’s adult/major guideline lists several documents and submission components.
1. Undertaking signed by the applicant
The applicant must provide the prescribed undertaking signed by the applicant.
2. Original newspaper
The applicant must provide the original newspaper containing the required name-change advertisement.
The published adult guideline states that the change of name should be advertised in one of the daily local leading newspapers and that the original newspaper should be forwarded with the application.
3. Prescribed proforma
The prescribed name-change proforma must be prepared in duplicate, typed, and signed by the applicant and two witnesses.
4. Soft copy of the printing matter
The guideline requires a CD containing the printing matter in MS Word format. The specified format also requires the old name in place of the signature in the soft-copy material.
5. Photographs and identity proof
The applicant must provide:
- Two self-attested passport-size photographs
- A self-attested photocopy of identity proof
6. Declaration that hard copy and soft copy match
The applicant must provide the required declaration confirming that the hard-copy and soft-copy contents are the same.
7. Request letter and applicable fee
The application must include the request letter and the applicable Gazette publication fee.
Document-age requirement
The adult guideline states that the submitted documents should not be more than one year old.
Because government procedures can be revised, applicants should verify the latest Department instructions before submitting the final application.
For each item in detail, see our documents required for Gazette name change checklist.
What Is the Gazette Name Change Process in Gurgaon?
The Gurgaon/Gurugram process can be understood as a sequence of preparation, newspaper publication, government submission, processing, Gazette publication, and post-publication updates.
Step 1: Confirm that the adult process applies
First determine whether the applicant falls under the adult/major name-change guideline.
If the applicant is a minor or falls under a special category, use the relevant Department of Publication guideline instead.
Step 2: Prepare the required name-change documents
Prepare the undertaking, prescribed proforma, photographs, identity proof, request letter, hard-copy material, soft-copy material, and other documents specified by the Department.
The applicant should ensure that the information is consistent across all documents.
Step 3: Publish the name-change notice in a newspaper
The adult guideline states that the change of name should be advertised in one daily local leading newspaper.
The notice includes identifying information such as the applicant’s father’s or husband’s name and residential address, as specified by the Department’s guideline.
Keep the original newspaper because it forms part of the submission.
For notice wording, see our newspaper advertisement formats.
Step 4: Prepare the Gazette submission
The applicant then assembles the newspaper, undertaking, prescribed proforma, photographs, identity proof, declaration, printing matter, soft copy, request letter, and applicable fee.
Accuracy matters at this stage because the Department can reject incomplete, vague, unlawful, or misleading material.
Step 5: Submit the application to the Department of Publication
The Department’s adult guideline directs applicants to submit the documents to:
Controller of Publications
Department of Publication
Civil Lines
Delhi – 110054
The guideline permits personal submission or submission by post/courier and states that other channels, including agents and advocates, are not permissible under that guideline.
For a Gurgaon resident, this means the official Gazette submission is handled through the Department of Publication in Delhi rather than through a separate Gurgaon Gazette office.
Step 6: Wait for processing and publication
After a complete application is received, the request is sent to the relevant Government of India Press for printing.
The Department’s guideline does not provide a guaranteed processing period and states that the Department is not responsible for printing delays.
Therefore, a service provider’s promised turnaround time should not be presented as an official government processing guarantee.
Step 7: Find the published Gazette notice
The Department provides access to the e-Gazette.
The adult guideline explains that applicants can search the relevant Gazette issue and use the old or new name to locate the published notice.
The Gazette publication can then be retained as part of the applicant’s documentation.
How Much Does Gazette Name Change Cost in Gurgaon?
The government Gazette publication charge and the total cost of completing a name change are not necessarily the same.
The latest Gazette rate-revision document currently listed by the Department of Publication specifies:
₹1,100 for each adult/major change-of-name notice in Gazette of India Part IV.
This is the Gazette publication charge stated in the Department’s rate document. It should not be confused with the total amount an applicant may spend.
Other possible costs
Depending on how the applicant completes the process, additional expenses can include:
- Newspaper advertisement charges
- Photographs
- Printing and document preparation
- Courier/postage
- Notarisation or other document services where independently required
- Optional professional assistance
A private service provider may therefore quote a total package price that is higher than the government Gazette publication charge.
Why some pages call ₹1,100 outdated
The Department’s older adult name-change guideline shows ₹1,100 with a 2016–17 date, so some pages describe the figure as historical.
The Department currently lists a rate-revision order dated September 2023, which states that the revised rates were effective from June 14, 2021. The adult/major Gazette Part IV change-of-name rate in that document is ₹1,100 per case. Check the Department’s Gazette rates page before paying.
How Long Does Gazette Name Change Take?
There is no guaranteed government processing timeline stated in the adult guideline.
The overall process has several stages:
- Preparing the documents
- Publishing the newspaper notice
- Preparing the hard and soft copies
- Submitting the application and fee
- Department processing
- Government Press publication
- Locating and downloading the Gazette publication
- Updating individual records after publication
The actual duration can therefore depend on document completeness, submission, processing, and printing.
Do You Need an Affidavit for Gazette Name Change?
The Department’s adult guideline specifically lists an undertaking among the required documents.
Therefore, an affidavit should not automatically be presented as a universal Gazette requirement for every adult name-change applicant.
Some name-change service providers may recommend additional documents depending on the applicant’s circumstances. Those recommendations should be distinguished from documents explicitly required by the Department’s published adult guideline.
Is a Newspaper Advertisement Required?
Yes, the Department’s adult/major guideline states that the change of name should be advertised in one of the daily local leading newspapers.
The original newspaper is then included with the Gazette submission.
The important distinction is:
Newspaper advertisement = public notice stage.
Gazette publication = government publication stage.
A newspaper advertisement alone is therefore not the same as completing Gazette publication.
What Happens After Gazette Publication?
Gazette publication is not the same as automatically changing every government, financial, educational, employment, or identity record.
After receiving the Gazette publication, the applicant may need to approach individual authorities and organizations separately.
Depending on the applicant’s circumstances, this can include records such as:
- Aadhaar
- PAN
- Passport
- Driving licence
- Bank accounts
- Employer records
- Educational records
- Insurance records
- Property or other legal records
Each authority can have its own documentation and verification process.
Post-Gazette checklist
Keep copies of:
- Gazette publication
- Newspaper advertisement
- Identity proof
- Name-change application documents
- Previous-name records
- New-name records
- Receipts/payment evidence
- Correspondence related to the application
This creates a consistent document trail for future record updates.
Common Mistakes in Gazette Name Change Applications
1. Using inconsistent names
The old and new names should be checked carefully across the undertaking, proforma, newspaper notice, identity documents, and printing matter.
2. Missing required signatures
The prescribed proforma and witness sections have specific signing requirements. Missing signatures can create a documentation problem.
3. Submitting incomplete documents
The Department’s guideline allows incomplete or unsuitable material to be rejected.
4. Assuming an affidavit is always required
The adult guideline specifically identifies an undertaking. Applicants should not replace the official requirement with assumptions copied from private websites.
5. Assuming two newspapers are mandatory
The adult guideline currently published by the Department specifies one daily local leading newspaper for the adult name-change advertisement.
6. Using an outdated fee
Government rates can change. The applicant should verify the Department’s latest rate document before payment.
7. Expecting a guaranteed processing time
The Department does not guarantee a fixed publication period in the adult guideline and states that it is not responsible for printing delays.
8. Forgetting post-Gazette updates
Gazette publication does not mean every separate database or document is automatically updated. Individual authorities may require separate applications.
Can You Complete the Gazette Name Change Yourself?
Yes. The Department’s published adult guideline provides a process that an applicant can follow directly.
A DIY application is most suitable when the applicant can:
- Understand the official instructions
- Prepare the prescribed documents
- Follow the required format
- Publish the newspaper notice correctly
- Prepare the hard and soft copies
- Submit the application correctly
- Track the publication
Professional assistance can be useful when an applicant wants help preparing documents or coordinating administrative steps, but professional assistance should not be presented as a government requirement.
Gazette Name Change in Gurgaon: DIY vs Professional Assistance
| Factor | DIY | Professional assistance |
|---|---|---|
| Document preparation | Applicant handles it | Provider may assist |
| Newspaper notice | Applicant coordinates | Provider may coordinate |
| Government fee | Paid by applicant | Usually included or collected separately |
| Courier/post | Applicant manages | Provider may manage |
| Application errors | Applicant responsible | Provider may help reduce administrative errors |
| Government processing | Department controlled | Provider cannot guarantee government processing |
| Gazette publication | Department controlled | Department controlled |
The key point is that no private service can turn a government-controlled publication stage into a guaranteed instant process.
What Is the Official Department for Gazette Name Change?
The Department of Publication, Government of India is the government department responsible for Gazette publication services, including Gazette notices for change of name.
The Department’s current website identifies its office at Civil Lines, Delhi, and provides a dedicated Change of Name/Public Notices section containing the adult/major guideline, acceptable-document guidance, request-letter format, CD certification format, and other related documents.
For Gurgaon applicants, the Department’s official instructions are therefore the primary source to check before relying on a private name-change website.
Because the submission goes to Delhi, our Gazette name change in Delhi page covers the same office and route in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gazette Name Change in Gurgaon: Document Checklist
Before submitting an adult Gazette name-change application, verify the following:
- Applicant qualifies for the adult/major process
- Undertaking prepared and signed
- Name-change notice published in one daily local leading newspaper
- Original newspaper retained
- Prescribed proforma prepared in duplicate
- Applicant signatures completed
- Two witness signatures completed
- Required photographs prepared
- Self-attested identity proof prepared
- Required hard-copy printing matter prepared
- Required MS Word soft copy prepared
- Hard-copy/soft-copy matching declaration prepared
- Request letter prepared
- Current Gazette publication fee verified
- Documents checked for consistency
- Documents checked for age requirements
- Submission prepared for the Department of Publication
- Copies of all submitted documents retained
Final Takeaway
For an adult in Gurgaon, a Gazette name change is a government publication process handled through the Department of Publication, Government of India. The process involves a newspaper notice, prescribed documentation, submission to the Department, applicable Gazette publication charges, and publication in Gazette of India Part IV.
The most important practical point is to distinguish official government requirements from private service-provider recommendations. The Department’s published adult guideline specifies the required documentation and newspaper stage, while its current rate-revision document lists ₹1,100 per adult/major change-of-name notice. Because government procedures and rates can change, applicants should verify the latest Department documents before submitting an application.
For a Gurgaon applicant, the official source of truth is the Department of Publication’s current Change of Name/Public Notices documentation rather than an unsupported fixed timeline, fee copied from an old article, or a private provider’s claim presented as a government requirement.
Official sources
- Department of Publication — Change of Name/Public Notices
- Department of Publication — Gazette rate documents
- e-Gazette of India
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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.