If you live in Jharkhand and want to formally change your name, the relevant Gazette process depends on your situation. For an adult or major, the Department of Publication, Government of India provides a specific procedure for publishing a change-of-name notice in the Gazette of India, Part IV.
For an adult applicant, the published process includes a newspaper notice, undertaking, prescribed proforma, witness signatures, photographs, identity proof, hard-copy/soft-copy certification, request letter and the applicable publication fee.
The Department of Publication currently maintains separate guidelines for adult/major name changes, minors, different surnames, maiden surnames, name and gender changes, and other public notices. Therefore, the first step is to identify which category applies to your case.
Important: Government procedures, fees and submission instructions can change. The Department of Publication’s current website and the latest applicable official document should be treated as the final authority before you submit an application.
Quick Answer: How to Change Your Name Through Gazette in Jharkhand
For an adult/major living in Jharkhand, the Central Gazette process generally follows these steps:
- Confirm that the adult/major name-change procedure applies to your case.
- Publish the required name-change notice in one daily local leading newspaper.
- Prepare the required undertaking.
- Complete the prescribed Gazette proforma.
- Obtain the signatures and details of two witnesses.
- Prepare the required soft copy of the printing matter.
- Attach two self-attested passport-size photographs and self-attested identity proof.
- Prepare the certificate confirming that the hard copy and soft copy contain the same information.
- Prepare the request/forwarding letter.
- Pay the applicable Gazette publication fee.
- Submit the complete application to the Department of Publication personally or by post/courier, according to the applicable instructions.
- Download the published Gazette notification from the official e-Gazette system.
- Use the Gazette notification when applying to update other records that still contain your old name.
The Department’s adult/major guideline specifically describes this process for publication in Gazette of India Part IV.
What Is Gazette Name Change?
A Gazette name change is the publication of a person’s name-change notice in an official government Gazette.
For adult/major name changes, the Department of Publication’s published guideline covers advertisements relating to change of name, including addition or deletion of a surname, in Gazette of India Part IV.
The Department of Publication is the Government of India’s department responsible for publishing Gazette notifications and specifically lists publication of Gazette notices for change of name among its services.
Gazette publication provides an official publication record of the name change. It does not, by itself, automatically replace the old name in every government, financial, educational or private record.
Is Gazette of India or Jharkhand Gazette Used for Name Change?
The distinction between the Gazette of India and the Jharkhand Gazette is important.
The Gazette of India is a Central Government publication. The Department of Publication, Government of India, lists change-of-name notices among the services it handles.
For the adult/major personal name-change procedure described by the Department of Publication, the applicable publication is Gazette of India Part IV.
This does not mean every name-related correction in Jharkhand requires a Gazette publication. The correct procedure depends on the type of change and the authority whose record you want to update.
Do not choose a Gazette procedure solely because a private website describes it as a “Jharkhand Gazette name change service.” Check the applicable government procedure first.
For a wider comparison, see our guide to Central Gazette vs State Gazette.
Who Should Use the Adult/Major Name-Change Procedure?
The Department’s adult/major guideline applies to a person who has attained the age of 18 years or above and wants to publish a change of name in Gazette of India Part IV.
The Department separately lists guidelines for:
- Minor name changes
- Adopting a different surname
- Adopting a maiden surname
- Change of name and gender
- Change of religion
- Public notices
- Other specific categories
If your situation falls into one of these categories, use the corresponding official guideline rather than automatically following the adult/major checklist.
Gazette Name Change Process in Jharkhand
Step 1: Confirm the Type of Name Change
Before preparing documents, identify exactly what you want to change.
Your situation may involve:
- A complete name change
- Addition of a surname
- Deletion of a surname
- Adoption of a different surname
- Adoption of a maiden surname
- Name change after marriage
- Minor’s name change
- Name and gender change
- Name change associated with another legal circumstance
- Correction of an incorrectly recorded name
The Department of Publication maintains different guidelines for several of these categories.
Why this matters: A procedure designed for an adult/major name change should not automatically be applied to a minor or another special category.
Step 2: Publish the Name-Change Notice in a Newspaper
For the adult/major procedure, the Department’s guideline says the change of name should be advertised in one daily local leading newspaper.
The notice should contain the required identifying information, including the applicant’s:
- Father’s or husband’s name
- Residential address
- Existing/old name
- New name
The Department’s guideline states that the original newspaper should be forwarded to the Department with the application.
Keep the information consistent
The information in your newspaper notice should match the information in your other application documents.
Pay particular attention to:
- Old-name spelling
- New-name spelling
- Father’s/husband’s name
- Residential address
A spelling mismatch can create avoidable problems during document processing and later record updates.
For notice wording, see our newspaper advertisement formats.
Step 3: Prepare the Undertaking
The adult/major guideline requires an undertaking signed by the applicant.
The undertaking should identify:
- Old name
- New name
- Father’s or husband’s name
- Residential address
The applicant declares that the information provided is true and correct to the best of their knowledge and belief.
Important terminology
The official adult/major guideline specifies an undertaking. Therefore, an affidavit should not be treated as universally mandatory for every adult Gazette name-change application.
If another authority or your particular circumstances require an affidavit, that is a separate requirement and should be verified for the relevant situation.
Step 4: Complete the Prescribed Gazette Proforma
The Department provides a prescribed specimen for an adult/major name change.
The specimen identifies the applicant by the old name and states that the applicant will thereafter be known by the new name.
The prescribed format includes:
- Old name
- New name
- Father’s/husband’s name
- Residential address
- Applicant’s signature in the existing old name
- Two witnesses
- Witness names
- Witness addresses
- Witness mobile numbers
The Department’s guideline states that the printing matter should be typed and submitted in duplicate with the required signatures.
Use the current official proforma instead of creating a substantially different format yourself.
Step 5: Prepare the Required Soft Copy
The adult/major guideline also requires a soft copy of the printing matter.
The published guideline specifies a CD containing the printing matter without the witness portion in MS Word format and instructs applicants to type the old name in place of the signature.
Because electronic submission requirements can change, verify the current Department instructions before dispatching your application.
Step 6: Attach Photographs and Identity Proof
The adult/major guideline requires:
- Two self-attested passport-size photographs
- A self-attested photocopy of photo identity proof
The application should contain the required documents in the format specified by the Department.
Before submission, check the current list of acceptable proof documents published by the Department.
Step 7: Prepare the Hard-Copy and Soft-Copy Declaration
The applicant must provide a certificate stating that the contents of the hard copy and soft copy are similar.
The Department’s guideline also makes the applicant responsible for mismatches or loss in transit.
This requirement is important because the electronic and physical versions of the Gazette printing material should contain the same information.
Step 8: Prepare the Request Letter
The Department of Publication provides a Request Letter Format for Change of Name Services.
The request letter accompanies the application and the applicable publication fee.
Use the current official format available from the Department rather than relying on an old template published by a private website.
Step 9: Pay the Gazette Publication Fee
The Gazette publication fee is separate from other expenses such as newspaper publication, document preparation and private service charges.
The Department’s September 2023 rate-revision order lists the rate for a Gazette of India Part IV Change of Name Notice for an Adult/Major at ₹1,100 per case.
The Department also publishes payment instructions through Bharatkosh/NTRP.
What should you actually budget for?
Your total cost can include:
| Expense | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Gazette publication fee | Government publication charge |
| Newspaper | Cost of publishing the required notice |
| Document preparation | Printing, photographs and related preparation |
| Post/courier | Sending the application |
| Professional service | Only if you independently choose a private service provider |
₹1,100 is not the total cost of a name change. It is the Gazette publication rate listed in the Department’s rate order for an adult/major change-of-name notice.
The ₹1,100 figure is supported by the Department’s September 2023 rate order. Because government rates can subsequently be revised, verify the current payment instructions on the Department’s Gazette rates page before making a payment.
Step 10: Submit the Application
The adult/major guideline states that the required documents, publication charges, forwarding letter and photo ID should be addressed 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 the documents should not be more than one year old.
Can a Jharkhand resident apply by post?
Yes. The adult/major guideline expressly allows the application to be sent by post.
Therefore, living in Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Bokaro or another part of Jharkhand does not by itself mean that you must travel to Delhi to submit the application.
Use the current official submission instructions before dispatching the documents.
Step 11: Keep Copies Before Submission
The Department’s adult/major guideline states that documents submitted to the Department will not be returned.
That makes document preservation particularly important.
Before sending your application, keep digital scans and/or photocopies of:
- Undertaking
- Newspaper notice
- Gazette proforma
- Identity proof
- Photographs
- Request letter
- Payment receipt
- Hard-copy/soft-copy certificate
- Postal or courier receipt
- Any correspondence
This gives you a complete record of what you submitted.
Step 12: Wait for Gazette Publication
After the completed application is received, the Department’s guideline states that the request is sent for notification to the relevant Government of India Press.
The same guideline states that the Department is not responsible for delays in printing by the concerned Press.
Therefore, a private service provider’s promised processing period should not be presented as an official government guarantee.
Step 13: Download the Published Gazette Notification
The Department’s adult/major guideline explains that Gazette publication is available through the e-Gazette system.
Its published instructions describe the search process as:
- Search Gazette.
- Select Weekly Gazette.
- Select Part IV.
- Select the relevant Saturday/date range.
- Download the relevant PDF.
- Use the search function to locate the old or new name.
- Download and retain the complete Gazette issue.
The Department’s guideline states that the downloaded Gazette copy does not require certification from the Department.
Documents Required for Gazette Name Change in Jharkhand
For the adult/major procedure, the Department’s published guideline identifies these requirements:
| Requirement | Adult/Major |
|---|---|
| Signed undertaking | Required |
| Original newspaper | Required |
| Prescribed proforma | Required |
| Two witnesses | Required |
| Soft copy of printing matter | Required |
| Two self-attested passport photographs | Required |
| Self-attested photo ID | Required |
| Hard-copy/soft-copy similarity certificate | Required |
| Request/forwarding letter | Required |
| Applicable publication fee | Required |
This checklist applies to the adult/major procedure. It should not automatically be used for minors or other special categories.
For each item in detail, see our documents required for Gazette name change checklist.
How Much Does Gazette Name Change Cost in Jharkhand?
For an adult/major Gazette of India Part IV change-of-name notice, the Department’s September 2023 rate-revision order lists ₹1,100 per case.
Your actual total expenditure can be higher because the Gazette fee is only one component.
You may also pay for:
- Newspaper publication
- Printing
- Photographs
- Postage or courier
- Other document-preparation expenses
- Optional private service fees
Example
If the Gazette publication fee is ₹1,100 and you separately pay a newspaper for publishing the notice, your total expenditure will be higher than ₹1,100.
Therefore:
Gazette fee ≠ total name-change cost.
Before paying a private agency, request a written cost breakdown.
How Long Does Gazette Name Change Take?
The Department’s adult/major guideline does not provide a universal guaranteed number of days for publication.
The process includes:
Document preparation → Newspaper publication → Application → Payment → Submission → Processing → Government Press publication → Gazette download → Individual record updates
The Department specifically states that it is not responsible for delays in printing by the concerned Press.
For that reason, be cautious of pages that promise:
- “Gazette name change in 7 days”
- “Guaranteed Gazette publication in 10 days”
- “100% government approval”
- Any other fixed timeline unless supported by a current official service standard.
Can I Change My Name Without a Gazette?
Sometimes.
A Gazette publication is not necessarily the only possible document used in every name-related situation.
The correct procedure depends on:
- Whether you are changing or correcting your name
- Which document contains the old name
- The authority responsible for that record
- The reason for the change
- The documentary requirements of the authority
For example, a document containing a spelling mistake may require a correction procedure rather than a completely new legal name-change process.
If an organisation specifically requires Gazette publication as proof of a name change, follow that organisation’s current requirements.
Gazette Name Change vs Name Correction
A name change means you are intentionally adopting a different name.
A name correction means your intended name has not changed, but a document contains an incorrect spelling or other recording error.
Example of a name change
Old name: Rahul Kumar
New name: Rohan Kumar
Example of a name correction
Correct name: Rahul Kumar
Incorrect record: Rahu Kumar
These situations should not automatically be treated as the same process.
Before preparing Gazette documents, determine whether you are changing the name or correcting an existing record.
Does Gazette Publication Automatically Change Aadhaar, PAN and Passport?
No.
Gazette publication does not automatically rewrite the name stored in every government or private database.
After receiving the Gazette notification, you may need to separately update:
- Aadhaar
- PAN
- Passport
- Voter records
- Driving licence
- Bank accounts
- Insurance policies
- Employer records
- Educational records
- Investment accounts
- Property-related records
Each authority or organisation can have its own documentation requirements.
Practical approach
After receiving the Gazette notification, create a list of every important record containing your old name.
Then update each record using the applicable authority’s current process.
Keep the Gazette notification together with your old and new identity documents so you can establish the connection between the two names when required.
Can I Apply for Gazette Name Change From Ranchi?
Yes.
The adult/major guideline allows the completed application to be submitted personally or sent by post to the Department of Publication in Delhi.
Therefore, a resident of:
- Ranchi
- Jamshedpur
- Dhanbad
- Bokaro
- Hazaribagh
- Deoghar
- Other districts of Jharkhand
can follow the applicable Central Gazette procedure without assuming that a personal visit to Delhi is required.
The important requirement is to follow the current Department of Publication instructions for the relevant category.
Do I Need to Visit Delhi for Gazette Name Change?
Not necessarily for the adult/major application.
The Department’s adult/major guideline states that the application can be submitted personally or sent by post.
Therefore, a Jharkhand applicant can use the postal submission route described in the official guideline.
However, the current submission requirements should always be checked before sending the application.
Can an Agency Apply for Gazette Name Change on My Behalf?
Be careful with this claim.
The adult/major guideline states that applications submitted personally or by post/courier are entertained and specifically says that applications through agents, advocates, etc. are not permissible under that guideline.
Therefore, a private website should not describe itself as having government-authorised authority to submit an adult name-change application unless it has evidence supporting that claim.
A private service provider may offer document-preparation or advisory services, but that is different from being the Government of India’s Department of Publication.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Using an old fee
The older adult guideline contains historical fee information from 2016–2017.
The Department’s later rate order lists ₹1,100 for an adult/major change-of-name notice.
Always verify the latest available government rate before payment.
2. Calling every document an affidavit
The adult guideline specifically refers to an undertaking.
Use the terminology and format applicable to your category.
3. Using the wrong Gazette category
Adult, minor and special-category name changes can have different requirements.
Check the correct Department guideline before preparing the application.
4. Spelling the new name differently
The new name should be consistent across your application materials.
5. Ignoring the newspaper requirement
The adult guideline specifically requires newspaper publication before Gazette publication.
6. Sending incomplete documents
The Department reserves the right to reject incomplete, vague, unlawful or misleading printing material.
7. Assuming Gazette publication updates every record
It does not automatically update Aadhaar, PAN, passport, banks or educational records.
8. Trusting guaranteed timelines
Government publication timing should not be represented as guaranteed unless an official service standard supports the claim.
9. Assuming a private agency is a government office
Check whether you are dealing with the Department of Publication or a private service provider.
Gazette Name Change Checklist for Jharkhand
Before submitting an adult/major application, check:
Category
- I am 18 or older.
- The adult/major procedure applies to my situation.
Name-change documents
- Old name is correct.
- New name is correct.
- Father’s/husband’s name is correct.
- Residential address is correct.
- Undertaking is prepared.
- Prescribed Gazette proforma is completed.
- Two witnesses have provided the required information and signatures.
Newspaper
- Required newspaper notice has been published.
- Original newspaper has been retained for submission.
- Name and address information matches the Gazette documents.
Identity and electronic material
- Two self-attested passport photographs are ready.
- Self-attested photo ID is ready.
- Required soft copy is prepared.
- Hard-copy/soft-copy similarity certificate is prepared.
Payment
- Current Gazette fee has been verified.
- Payment has been made through the applicable government payment route.
- Payment receipt has been saved.
Submission
- Request/forwarding letter is ready.
- Complete application has been checked.
- Copies/scans have been retained.
- Postal/courier proof has been retained.
After publication
- Gazette notification has been located.
- Gazette PDF has been downloaded.
- Gazette copy has been stored securely.
- Aadhaar update has been checked.
- PAN update has been checked.
- Passport update has been checked, if applicable.
- Bank and other records have been updated where required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Takeaway
For a person living in Jharkhand, the Gazette name-change process should begin with identifying the correct government procedure—not with choosing a private “Jharkhand Gazette service.”
For an adult/major, the Department of Publication, Government of India, provides a specific procedure for publishing a change-of-name notice in Gazette of India Part IV.
The adult/major process includes the required newspaper notice, undertaking, prescribed proforma, two witnesses, soft copy, photographs, identity proof, hard-copy/soft-copy declaration, request letter and applicable publication fee.
The Department’s September 2023 rate order lists ₹1,100 per adult/major change-of-name notice. Because government procedures and rates can change, verify the current official payment information before submitting an application.
For a Jharkhand resident, the adult/major guideline permits submission personally or by post to the Department of Publication in Civil Lines, Delhi.
The practical sequence is:
Identify your category → publish the newspaper notice → prepare the undertaking → complete the Gazette proforma → attach witnesses, photographs and ID → prepare the required electronic material → pay the applicable fee → submit the application → download the published Gazette → update your individual records.
If your situation involves a minor, surname-only change, maiden surname, gender change, religion or another special circumstance, check the Department of Publication’s category-specific guideline before using the adult/major procedure.
The Department of Publication should be treated as the authoritative source for the Gazette publication procedure, current forms and applicable government instructions.
Official sources
- Department of Publication — Change of Name guidelines
- Department of Publication — Gazette rates and payment
- e-Gazette of India
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.