Gazette Name Change in Kapurthala: Process, Documents and Fees

Quick answer

If you live in Kapurthala, Punjab, and want to change your name officially, you can apply for publication of your name-change notice in the Gazette of India through the Department of Publication, Government of India, provided this is the appropriate procedure for your case. The process involves preparing the prescribed documents, publishing a newspaper notice, paying the applicable publication fee and submitting the application according to the department’s current instructions.

The exact requirements depend on whether you are an adult, changing a surname, applying for a minor, or dealing with another special circumstance. Before preparing your application, check the official guidelines rather than relying solely on a private service provider’s checklist. For the state-wide picture, see Gazette name change in Punjab.

Quick overview

  • Relevant government department: Department of Publication, Government of India.
  • Publication: Gazette of India, Part IV, for the individual name-change procedure covered by the adult guidelines.
  • Newspaper requirement: The adult guidelines specify one daily local leading newspaper.
  • Submission: The published guidelines describe personal submission or submission by post/courier.
  • Government fee: ₹1,100 for an adult under the Department’s rate order dated 19 September 2023. Verify the amount and payment instructions before paying.
  • After publication: Use the published notification when applying to update records with the relevant authorities.

Official reference: Department of Publication — Change of Name and Public Notice Guidelines.

How to Change Your Name Through the Gazette in Kapurthala

Residents of Kapurthala who need a Gazette of India name-change notice should follow the procedure applicable to their circumstances. The official adult guidelines set out the paperwork, newspaper notice, payment and submission requirements.

Step 1: Identify the correct name-change procedure

First, determine whether you need an adult name change, a surname change, a minor’s name change, or another category of notice.

The Department of Publication provides separate guidelines for adults, minors, surname changes, adoption-related matters and other special cases. Select the instructions that match your situation.

Official resource: Change of Name and Public Notice Guidelines.

Step 2: Prepare the prescribed documents

The official adult guidelines list the following documents for publication in the Gazette of India, Part IV:

  • An undertaking signed by the applicant.
  • The original newspaper containing the name-change advertisement.
  • Two copies of the prescribed, computer-typed proforma, signed by the applicant and two witnesses.
  • A CD containing the prescribed printing matter in Microsoft Word format, excluding the witness portion, with the old name typed in place of the signature as instructed.
  • Two self-attested passport-size photographs and a self-attested photocopy of identity proof.
  • A signed certificate confirming that the hard copy and electronic copy contain the same information.
  • A request letter and the applicable publication fee.

These requirements come from the published adult guidelines. Check the latest official instructions before assembling your application, because a special application category may require different documents.

Step 3: Publish the required newspaper notice

The adult guidelines specify that the name change must be advertised in one daily local leading newspaper. The notice should include the applicant’s father’s or husband’s name, residential address and other prescribed details.

The original newspaper must be forwarded with the application.

Do not automatically assume that two newspapers, one English and one Punjabi, are mandatory for every Central Gazette application. Some private websites recommend that combination, but the official adult guidelines specify one newspaper. Confirm any additional requirement applicable to your particular case before booking an advertisement.

Step 4: Complete the undertaking and prescribed proforma

The undertaking and proforma must accurately reflect the applicant’s existing name, proposed name and required personal details.

The official specimen includes a declaration that the applicant was previously known by the old name and will thereafter be known by the new name. It also provides for signatures in the existing name and signatures from two witnesses.

Check the spelling of both names, the residential address and the other details against the supporting documents. Ensure that the hard copy and electronic version match.

Step 5: Verify and pay the applicable government fee

The Department of Publication’s instructions refer to payment through BharatKosh, the Government of India’s non-tax receipt portal.

The Department’s rate order dated 19 September 2023 lists ₹1,100 for each adult change-of-name notice and ₹1,700 for a minor’s. The older adult and minor guidelines show the same figures dated 2016–2017. See the Department’s Gazette rates page.

Before paying, consult the latest applicable Department of Publication instructions and confirm the correct payment category, amount and receipt requirements.

Official payment portal: BharatKosh.

Step 6: Submit the completed application

The published adult guidelines identify the Controller of Publications, Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi 110054, as the submission destination.

They describe personal submission or sending the required documents by post/courier. They also state that agents and advocates are not an accepted submission channel under those instructions.

Follow the current official directions and retain copies of your paperwork, the payment receipt and the dispatch details. The guidelines warn that submitted documents are not returned.

Step 7: Check the Gazette of India for publication

After the application has been processed and the notice published, search the official Gazette website to locate the relevant entry.

e-Gazette search workflow showing Gazette category, Part IV, date range, PDF download and name search

Use the official search interface and the appropriate Gazette category. The Department of Publication’s adult guidelines direct applicants to the weekly Gazette, Part IV, and explain how to search the downloaded PDF for the old or new name.

Official website: eGazette of India.

Publication timing can vary. Do not rely on an unverified fixed number of days or assume that submission automatically guarantees publication.

Documents Required for Gazette Name Change in Kapurthala

The documents depend on the applicant’s category. For an adult name-change notice under the published Central Gazette guidelines, use the following checklist.

Adult Gazette name change document checklist showing undertaking, newspaper, proforma, photographs, identity proof and supporting documents
DocumentPurpose
Signed undertakingDeclares the existing and proposed name and required particulars
Original newspaperProvides evidence of the published notice
Prescribed proforma in duplicateSupplies the required printing matter
Two witness signaturesCompletes the prescribed proforma
Microsoft Word file on CDSupplies the electronic printing matter specified in the guidelines
Two self-attested passport-size photographsMeets the adult application requirements
Self-attested identity proofEstablishes the applicant’s identity
Hard-copy/electronic-copy consistency certificateConfirms that both versions match
Request letterAccompanies the application
Applicable fee payment evidenceSupports the payment requirement

The official list of acceptable documents for proof of old name and address identifies examples such as a passport, Aadhaar card, voter card, driving licence, ration card, selected utility bills and certain educational documents. Check the current list and the rules applicable to your category before choosing your proof.

What documents are required for a minor’s name change?

A minor’s application follows separate official instructions. The minor guidelines specify an undertaking signed by the guardian, the original newspaper, the prescribed proforma, an electronic copy, photographs of the guardian and child, identity proof and the required payment.

Parents or guardians should use the official minor guidelines rather than copying the adult checklist without modification. See Gazette name change for a minor child.

Reference: Official Minor Name-Change Guidelines.

Not sure your documents are right?

Tell us your case and we will reply with the documents and next steps that fit it. One mismatch in a name or address can send an application back.

Private documentation help. Not a government office.

Gazette Name Change Fees in Kapurthala

The total cost depends on the applicable government publication fee and any additional expenses involved in preparing the application.

Cost categoryWhat to check
Government publication feeCurrent fee for the relevant application category
Newspaper advertisementPrice charged by the selected newspaper
Affidavit or other documentationWhether additional documentation is required for your circumstances
Postage or courierCost of sending the application
Optional professional assistanceSeparate charges, if you choose a service provider

The Department of Publication’s rate order dated 19 September 2023 lists ₹1,100 for an adult’s notice and ₹1,700 for a minor’s. Do not treat prices advertised by private websites as the government fee.

Confirm the amount through the Department of Publication’s official guidance and payment instructions before making a payment.

How Long Does Gazette Name Change Take?

The processing time depends on document preparation, submission, completeness of the application and publication processing.

The official adult guidelines state that incomplete, vague, unlawful or misleading material may be rejected. They also indicate that the department is not responsible for delays in printing by the relevant government press.

For that reason, avoid relying on a fixed completion guarantee from an unofficial source. Check the current department instructions and allow time for corrections or publication delays.

How to Check Your Name-Change Notification Online

You can search for the published notice through the official Gazette of India website.

  1. Visit eGazette of India.
  2. Open the Gazette search facility.
  3. Select the applicable weekly Gazette category and Part IV, as directed in the official guidelines.
  4. Select the relevant date range.
  5. Download the corresponding PDF.
  6. Search for your old or new name within the document.
  7. Save the relevant Gazette PDF for your records.

Follow the current interface and official search instructions if the website’s navigation changes. Keep the complete published document and your application records.

What Should You Do After Gazette Publication?

Gazette publication provides documentary evidence of the declared name change, but it does not automatically update every government, financial, educational or employment record.

After publication, contact each relevant authority and check its current requirements.

Updating Aadhaar

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) specifies document requirements for name updates, including Gazette notification in certain cases. The required supporting evidence depends on the nature of the change and the applicable update rules.

Check the current instructions at UIDAI before visiting an enrolment or update centre.

Updating PAN

Check the current name-correction or PAN-update process with the relevant official service. Keep the Gazette notification and any supporting identity documents available, but confirm which documents the service requires for your particular change.

Updating a passport

Passport name changes have their own documentary requirements. The Ministry of External Affairs issued an office memorandum in April 2026 addressing the acceptance of the Gazette of India (Central Government) alongside other prescribed documents for name changes.

Read the current requirements through Passport Seva before submitting a passport application.

Updating bank, education and employment records

Banks, educational boards, universities and employers may have separate procedures for changing personal details. Contact each institution and ask which documents it accepts.

Do not assume that one Gazette publication automatically updates all records.

Central Gazette or Punjab Gazette: Which Procedure Applies?

The correct procedure depends on the purpose of the name change and the applicant’s circumstances.

The Department of Publication handles notices published in the Gazette of India under its published guidelines. Punjab also has procedures for certain government-employee name changes through the employee’s parent department and the relevant state government publication process.

For example, the Punjab Government’s published information on government-employee name changes describes departmental approval and submission to the Government Press, S.A.S. Nagar. That is a distinct administrative context from an individual applying under the Central Gazette’s adult guidelines.

Before proceeding, identify the document or record you need to update and confirm which Gazette procedure that authority accepts. Do not assume that a Central Gazette notice, Punjab Gazette notice, affidavit or newspaper advertisement is interchangeable for every purpose.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Before submitting your application, check the following:

  • Inconsistent names: Confirm that the old and proposed names are spelled consistently across the prescribed paperwork.
  • Incorrect personal details: Verify the address and required family details.
  • Missing newspaper evidence: Retain the original newspaper required by the applicable instructions.
  • Incomplete proforma: Check that the prescribed form, witness details and signatures are complete.
  • Mismatched electronic and printed copies: Compare both versions before submission.
  • Incorrect payment: Confirm the current fee category and retain the payment evidence.
  • Wrong application category: Use the relevant adult, minor or special-case guidelines.
  • Unverified processing promises: Do not assume that publication is guaranteed by a private service provider.
  • Incorrect Gazette route: Check whether the Central Gazette or another applicable procedure is appropriate for your circumstances.

Can You Get Professional Assistance With a Gazette Name Change?

You may choose to obtain private assistance with understanding the procedure, preparing documents or checking the application before submission.

However, professional assistance does not replace the government’s prescribed requirements. The Department of Publication’s published adult guidelines specify the accepted submission channels, so confirm the current instructions before authorising anyone to act on your behalf.

Before hiring a service provider, ask for a written breakdown of its charges. The quotation should distinguish government publication fees from newspaper expenses, documentation costs, postage and professional service charges.

Do not assume that a private service provider is a government department or that paying for assistance guarantees publication.

Frequently Asked Questions

First, identify the procedure applicable to your circumstances. For an adult application under the Central Gazette guidelines, prepare the prescribed documents, publish the required newspaper notice, pay the applicable fee and submit the application through an accepted channel.

Do not assume that an affidavit alone completes every name-change procedure. The Central Gazette adult guidelines specify an undertaking, newspaper evidence, prescribed proforma and other documents. Other authorities may have separate requirements.

The Department of Publication’s adult guidelines specify one daily local leading newspaper. Some commercial pages recommend two newspapers, but that recommendation is not a universal Central Gazette requirement. Confirm any additional requirement for your case.

The Department of Publication’s rate order dated 19 September 2023 lists ₹1,100 for an adult’s change-of-name notice and ₹1,700 for a minor’s. Check the latest Department of Publication instructions and BharatKosh payment category before paying.

Do not assume that an online enquiry form or private service-provider website is the official application route. The published adult guidelines describe personal submission or submission by post/courier. Check the current official instructions for the applicable application category.

Processing time can vary according to application completeness and publication processing. The official guidelines do not establish a guaranteed completion date.

Visit eGazette of India, select the relevant Gazette category and Part IV as directed by the official instructions, and search the appropriate PDF for the old or new name.

No. Gazette publication does not automatically change every identity record. Contact UIDAI, the relevant PAN service and other institutions to check their separate update procedures and document requirements.

No. The Department of Publication publishes separate guidelines for minors. Parents or guardians should follow the instructions that apply to the child’s application.

Final Checklist Before Submitting Your Application

Use this checklist before sending your file:

  • Confirm that the Central Gazette procedure applies to your case.
  • Read the current official guidelines for the correct applicant category.
  • Verify the accepted identity and address documents.
  • Prepare the undertaking and prescribed proforma.
  • Publish the newspaper notice required by the applicable guidelines.
  • Check names, addresses, signatures and witness details.
  • Confirm that the printed and electronic copies match.
  • Verify the current government fee and payment instructions.
  • Prepare the request letter and all required supporting documents.
  • Submit the application through an accepted channel.
  • Retain payment and dispatch records.
  • Check the official Gazette website for publication.
  • Contact the relevant authorities to update other records.

Official starting point: Department of Publication — Change of Name and Public Notice Guidelines.

The safest approach is to verify the current official requirements before paying, publishing a newspaper notice or sending original documents.

Official sources

Written by

NameChangeDesk Editorial Team

Researched from official government sources and reviewed within the team before publication. The date this guide was last updated is shown at the top of the page.

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.