If you want to publish a name change in the Maharashtra Government Gazette, the Maharashtra Government provides an online Gazette Part Two — Change in Name service through the Directorate of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications and the Aaple Sarkar portal. The Directorate’s current FAQ states that the normal service period is 15 days after the application is received.
The official Maharashtra route is different from the Central Gazette of India process. Before following a private website’s checklist, confirm which Gazette route applies to your case.
Important: Gazette publication does not by itself give you an automatic right to change your name in every government or private record. The Maharashtra Directorate specifically states that publication of a name-change advertisement does not itself create a right to alter the name in government or other records. Each authority can have its own update procedure.
Quick Answer: How to Change Your Name in the Maharashtra Gazette
To apply for a name change through the Maharashtra Government Gazette:
- Create or use your profile on the Aaple Sarkar portal or apply through the Maharashtra Directorate’s online services.
- Select the Maharashtra Government Gazette Part Two service for Change in Name.
- Review the applicant instructions and complete the prescribed application.
- Upload the required identity proof, address proof, photograph and any case-specific legal documents.
- Enter the application information carefully and submit it.
- Pay the applicable government fee.
- Track the application and retrieve the published Gazette document through the Maharashtra Directorate’s Gazette system.
The Directorate currently lists a 15-day general service period after receipt of the application.
What Is a Gazette Name Change in Maharashtra?
A Gazette name change in Maharashtra is the publication of a name-change advertisement in the Maharashtra Government Gazette, Part Two — Name, Age and Religion Change section.
The Maharashtra Directorate of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications provides a dedicated online service for this purpose. The service is also listed on the Aaple Sarkar citizen-services portal.
The Gazette publication creates an official government publication record of the advertisement. However, publication should not be confused with automatic updating of Aadhaar, PAN, passport, bank accounts, educational records or other records. The concerned authority must still process the name update according to its own rules.
Maharashtra Gazette vs Central Gazette of India
The Maharashtra Government Gazette and the Central Gazette of India are different publication routes.
| Point | Maharashtra Government Gazette | Central Gazette of India |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | Government of Maharashtra | Government of India |
| Relevant state service | Gazette Part Two — Change in Name | Separate Central Government Gazette process |
| Application route | Maharashtra Directorate / Aaple Sarkar | Separate Central Government process |
| Current Maharashtra service timeline | 15 days after application is received | Verify the current Central Gazette requirements separately |
| Best approach | Use when the Maharashtra state Gazette service is the appropriate route for your case | Use when a particular authority or case requires the Central Gazette route |
| Key caution | Gazette publication does not automatically update every record | Requirements and acceptance should be checked with the relevant authority |
Do not choose the Central Gazette simply because a commercial website describes it as the universal name-change procedure. The Maharashtra Government itself provides a separate Part Two name-change service.
If a passport office, employer, court, educational institution or another authority specifically requires a particular type of Gazette publication, verify that requirement with the authority before applying.
For a wider comparison, see our guide to Central Gazette vs State Gazette. For the Central route itself, see the Gazette name change process.
Who Can Apply for a Maharashtra Gazette Name Change?
The Maharashtra Gazette name-change service covers different circumstances, but the supporting documents can change according to the applicant’s situation.
Common situations include:
- Adult name change
- Middle-name change
- Name change after marriage
- Name change following divorce
- Minor name change
- Adoption-related name change
The required supporting document is therefore not identical for every applicant.
For example, the Maharashtra Directorate’s current FAQ specifies different legal documents for certain cases, including an affidavit for a middle-name change, a marriage registration certificate for a name change after marriage, and court-related documents or adoption documentation for specified cases.
Documents Required for Maharashtra Gazette Name Change
The Maharashtra Directorate’s current FAQ identifies the following document categories for a name-change application.
1. Identity Proof
One identity document can be used from the options listed by the Directorate:
- PAN Card
- Passport
- Aadhaar Card
- Voter ID
The Directorate also specifies file-size and format requirements for uploaded documents.
2. Address Proof
The current FAQ lists:
- Aadhaar Card
- Ration Card
- Electricity Bill
Use a document that meets the portal’s current upload requirements.
3. Passport-Size Photograph
The Maharashtra Directorate specifies a passport-size photograph in JPEG format and provides technical requirements for the image dimensions and file size. Check the current portal instructions before uploading the photograph because technical upload requirements can change.
4. Case-Specific Legal Documents
Additional documents depend on the reason for the name change.
The current Maharashtra FAQ lists examples including:
| Situation | Document identified by Maharashtra Directorate |
|---|---|
| Middle-name change | Affidavit |
| Name change after marriage | Marriage registration certificate |
| Specified divorce-related case | Court document and affidavit |
| Adoption-related case | Adoption deed |
Do not assume that every applicant needs every document in this table. The supporting-document requirement depends on the specific case.
Minor Name Change
For an applicant below 18 years of age, the Maharashtra Directorate states that the prescribed notice/application should be signed by the applicant’s parent. It also lists a birth certificate as the age-proof document for a minor name-change application.
Do You Need a Newspaper Advertisement for Maharashtra Gazette Name Change?
The current Maharashtra Directorate FAQ does not list a newspaper advertisement among the documents in its Maharashtra Government Gazette Part Two name-change checklist.
The official checklist instead identifies identity proof, address proof, a photograph and applicable legal documents such as an affidavit or marriage registration certificate depending on the case.
This distinction matters because many commercial pages combine the Maharashtra state process with the Central Gazette of India process and may present newspaper publication as a universal requirement.
Therefore:
Do not publish a newspaper advertisement solely because a third-party website says it is mandatory for every Maharashtra Gazette name-change application. Check the current Maharashtra Directorate instructions for your specific application.
If your particular case or another authority requires a newspaper notice, follow that separate requirement and retain the relevant evidence.
How to Apply for Gazette Name Change in Maharashtra Online
Step 1: Open the Maharashtra Government’s Gazette service
The Maharashtra Directorate provides an online Change in Name service, and the service is also available through the Aaple Sarkar citizen-services system.
Step 2: Create or use your Aaple Sarkar profile
The Directorate’s FAQ instructs applicants to register on Aaple Sarkar and provide their profile information, photograph, identity proof and address proof, with mobile-number OTP verification.
Step 3: Select the correct service
Within the relevant administrative department, select the Maharashtra Government Gazette Part Two service for Change in Name.
The Directorate’s FAQ specifically instructs applicants to select the appropriate Gazette Part Two service for name, age or religion change.
Step 4: Read the applicant instructions
Review the instructions provided to advertisers/applicants before completing the application.
This step matters because the Directorate states that information submitted in the application cannot be changed through the department after the application process has been completed.
Step 5: Complete and upload the application
The official FAQ states that applicants should print the prescribed application form, complete it, and upload it in PDF/JPEG format. The information entered in the online system should match the information provided in the application form.
Check every spelling, including:
- Existing name
- Proposed name
- Address
- Supporting-document details
- Dates
- Other identifying information
Step 6: Upload supporting documents
Upload the identity proof, address proof, photograph and any case-specific legal documents required for your application.
The current Maharashtra FAQ also specifies technical file-size requirements for several uploaded documents.
Step 7: Pay the applicable government fee
Pay the fee shown for your applicant category through the official application process.
Keep the payment confirmation and application number for future reference.
How Much Does Maharashtra Gazette Name Change Cost?
According to the Maharashtra Directorate’s current FAQ, the government fee for the Gazette Part Two name/age/religion change service is:
| Applicant category | Government fee |
|---|---|
| General category | ₹559, including taxes |
| Reserved category, excluding EBC | ₹309, including taxes |
These amounts are the fees currently stated in the Directorate’s FAQ and should be rechecked on the official portal before payment because government fees can change.
Third-party service providers may charge additional professional, documentation, affidavit or assistance fees. Those charges are separate from the Maharashtra Government’s stated service fee.
How Long Does Maharashtra Gazette Name Change Take?
The Maharashtra Directorate lists a 15-day general service period after the application is received for the Gazette Part Two name-change service.
The Directorate also states that immediate or Tatkal publication is not available for this Gazette section because the relevant Gazette part is published weekly.
The 15-day period should therefore be understood as the government’s notified service period, not as a guarantee that every individual case will be completed in exactly 15 calendar days regardless of document issues, rejection or other processing conditions.
How to Check Your Maharashtra Gazette Name Change Status
The Maharashtra Directorate provides a Gazette Status facility for checking the status of the name, age and religion change service.
According to the Directorate’s FAQ, applicants can:
- Open the Gazette Status section on the Directorate website.
- Select the relevant service.
- Enter the application number.
- Check the published Gazette information when available.
The Directorate also states that applicants receive a message on their registered mobile number when the application is accepted or rejected.
What Happens After Your Name Is Published in the Maharashtra Gazette?
Gazette publication is not the final step for every identity record.
The Maharashtra Directorate explicitly states that publication of the name-change advertisement does not itself give the applicant a right to have the name changed in government or other records.
After publication, identify the records that need to be updated and check the requirements of each authority.
Depending on your circumstances, these may include:
- Aadhaar
- PAN
- Passport
- Voter ID
- Driving licence
- Bank accounts
- Insurance records
- Employer records
- Educational records
- Professional registrations
- Property or other official records
The correct approach is:
Gazette publication → identify affected records → check each authority’s requirements → submit the Gazette publication and other required evidence → confirm the updated record.
Do not assume that one Gazette publication automatically changes every database.
Can You Use the Maharashtra Gazette to Update Aadhaar?
A Maharashtra Gazette publication can be relevant supporting evidence for a name-update request, but Gazette publication does not itself update Aadhaar.
Aadhaar name changes are handled separately by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) under its current identity-update rules.
Before submitting the Gazette document, check the current UIDAI requirements for your specific type of name update.
Can You Use the Maharashtra Gazette to Update PAN?
A Gazette publication does not automatically change the name on a PAN record.
PAN details must be updated through the applicable income-tax/PAN service process, using the documents required for that request.
Check the current PAN name-correction or change procedure before applying because the accepted supporting documents can depend on the nature of the change.
Can You Use the Maharashtra Gazette to Update a Passport?
Passport records are maintained separately by the passport authorities.
If you are changing your name on a passport, check the current Passport Seva requirements for the particular situation, such as marriage, divorce or another legal name change.
Do not assume that a Maharashtra Gazette publication alone completes the passport update.
Name Change After Marriage in Maharashtra
For a name change after marriage, the Maharashtra Directorate’s current FAQ specifically identifies a marriage registration certificate as the relevant legal document for the Gazette name-change application.
The process for updating other records remains separate. After Gazette publication, check the current requirements of Aadhaar, PAN, passport, banks, employer records and other authorities individually.
Minor Name Change in Maharashtra
A minor name-change application has additional requirements.
The Maharashtra Directorate states that for an applicant below 18 years of age, the prescribed notice/application should be signed by the parent. The Directorate also identifies a birth certificate as the age-proof document for a minor name-change application.
Because minor cases can involve parental or guardianship issues, verify the current application instructions before submitting the request.
Name Change vs Name Correction
A name change and a name correction are not necessarily the same situation.
A name change generally means that the person wants to use a different name from the name currently recorded.
A name correction may involve a spelling, typographical or data-entry error in an existing record.
The correct procedure depends on the record being corrected and the reason for the change. Before applying for a Gazette publication, determine whether you actually need a formal name-change process or whether the concerned authority can correct the existing record directly.
Common Mistakes in Maharashtra Gazette Name-Change Applications
1. Choosing the wrong Gazette route
Some websites combine Maharashtra Gazette and Central Gazette procedures.
Fix: Confirm which government Gazette route your case actually requires.
2. Entering inconsistent names
A difference in spelling between the application and supporting documents can create avoidable problems.
Fix: Check the old and proposed names character by character before submission.
3. Uploading the wrong document
Different cases can require different legal documents.
Fix: Use the Maharashtra Directorate’s current checklist for your specific situation.
4. Assuming newspaper publication is always mandatory
The Maharashtra Directorate’s current state-route FAQ does not list a newspaper advertisement among the name-change documents.
Fix: Follow the official Maharashtra instructions rather than automatically importing requirements from the Central Gazette process.
5. Assuming Gazette publication updates every record
Gazette publication does not automatically modify Aadhaar, PAN, passport, bank or educational records.
Fix: Treat each record update as a separate step.
6. Assuming the application can be edited later
The Directorate states that information submitted through the process cannot be changed after the application process is completed.
Fix: Verify every field before final submission.
7. Using outdated fee information
Third-party pages can display older fees.
Fix: Check the current Maharashtra Directorate/Aaple Sarkar fee before making payment.
Maharashtra Gazette Name Change Checklist
Before submitting the application, verify:
- Correct old name
- Correct proposed new name
- Identity proof
- Address proof
- Passport-size photograph
- Prescribed application form
- Applicable affidavit or legal document
- Marriage certificate, if applicable
- Court/adoption documents, if applicable
- Correct document format and file size
- Correct application details
- Applicable government fee
- Application number saved
- Payment confirmation saved
- Gazette status checked after submission
- Gazette publication downloaded/saved
- Separate update process completed for each affected identity record
Frequently Asked Questions
Official Maharashtra Gazette Name-Change Route
For the most current requirements, use the Maharashtra Government’s own sources:
- Maharashtra Directorate of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications: online Gazette services and Gazette status.
- Aaple Sarkar: Maharashtra citizen-service portal listing Gazzette Part 2 for change of Name.
- Directorate FAQ: current process, fee, documents, timeline and status guidance.
Because fees, portal interfaces and administrative requirements can change, verify the current official instructions immediately before submitting an application.
Final Takeaway
The Maharashtra Government provides a dedicated Gazette Part Two — Change in Name service through its Directorate of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications and Aaple Sarkar.
For the current Maharashtra state route, the official FAQ lists a 15-day general service period, a government fee of ₹559 for the general category or ₹309 for the specified reserved category, and a document checklist covering identity proof, address proof, photograph and applicable case-specific legal documents.
The most important distinction is between the Maharashtra Government Gazette and the Central Gazette of India. Their procedures should not be mixed.
Finally, Gazette publication is not the same as updating every identity or institutional record. After publication, update each affected record through the authority responsible for that record.
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.