If you want to publish a name change in the Gazette while living in Uttar Pradesh, first identify which Gazette and procedure apply to your case. For individual adult name changes, the Government of India’s Department of Publication publishes a specific procedure for Gazette of India Part IV.
The official adult guideline covers name changes, addition or deletion of surname, newspaper publication, the prescribed undertaking and proforma, identity documents, photographs, payment, submission and e-Gazette publication.
Important: Living in Uttar Pradesh does not by itself establish that every type of name-related notice must use one particular Gazette. The official e-Gazette system contains both Government Gazettes and State Gazettes, so the applicable authority and procedure should be verified for the specific case.
Quick Answer: How Does Gazette Name Change Work in Uttar Pradesh?
For an adult whose case falls under the Department of Publication’s Gazette of India Part IV name-change procedure, the process is:
- Decide the exact old and new name.
- Publish the required name-change notice in a daily local leading newspaper.
- Prepare the required undertaking.
- Complete the prescribed Gazette proforma.
- Obtain the required photographs and identity proof.
- Prepare the required hard-copy and electronic material.
- Pay the applicable publication charge through the prescribed payment system.
- Submit the application personally or by post/courier as permitted by the Department’s guideline.
- Wait for the notification to be processed and published.
- Search the e-Gazette for the published notification.
- Download and retain the complete Gazette issue.
- Separately update Aadhaar, PAN, passport, bank and other records where required.
The Department’s published adult guideline specifically refers to Gazette of India Part IV and lists the documents and formalities required for publication.
What Is Gazette Name Change?
Gazette name change is the publication of a person’s declared name change in an official Gazette.
For individual adult name changes covered by the Department of Publication’s procedure, the publication is made in Gazette of India Part IV.
The Gazette publication creates an official published record of the notification. It does not automatically update every other record containing your previous name.
For example, after Gazette publication, you may still need to approach the relevant authorities or institutions to update:
- Aadhaar
- PAN
- Passport
- Voter ID
- Driving licence
- Bank accounts
- Insurance records
- Employment records
- Educational records
- Professional registrations
- Property records
The requirements for each subsequent update depend on the organisation involved.
Which Gazette Should You Use for a Name Change in Uttar Pradesh?
This is the most important point to verify before starting the process.
The Government of India’s Department of Publication currently publishes a document titled “Guidelines for Change of Name for Adult (Major)”. That guideline specifically covers publication of an individual’s name change, addition or deletion of surname in Gazette of India Part IV.
At the same time, the official e-Gazette platform provides access to both Government Gazettes and State Gazettes.
Does that mean every UP resident must use the Central Gazette?
No. That conclusion should not be made solely from the person’s state of residence.
The correct approach is:
Identify the type of name-related change → identify the authority responsible for the applicable publication → follow that authority’s current procedure.
For an adult individual name-change application covered by the Department of Publication’s published guideline, the relevant procedure is explicitly for Gazette of India Part IV.
For a different State Gazette requirement, public notice, institutional correction or specialised case, verify the applicable authority before submitting documents or paying a service provider.
For a wider comparison, see our guide to Central Gazette vs State Gazette.
Name Change vs Name Correction: Which One Do You Need?
A voluntary name change and a correction of an incorrect record are not necessarily the same situation.
Name change
You intentionally want to adopt a different name.
Example:
Amit Kumar → Amit Verma
Surname change
You want to add, remove or adopt a different surname.
The Department’s adult guideline expressly includes addition or deletion of surname.
Name correction
Your intended name has not changed, but another document contains an incorrect name.
Example:
Correct name: Mohammad Zubair Afzal
Incorrect record: Zubair Afzal
In a correction case, check the correction procedure of the authority that issued the incorrect document before assuming that a Gazette name-change application is necessary.
Why this distinction matters
If the problem is simply an error in a school record, birth record or another document, the issuing authority may have its own correction process.
Who Can Use the Adult Gazette Name-Change Procedure?
The Department’s adult guideline applies to a person who has attained 18 years of age or above and wants a change of name published in Gazette of India Part IV.
The Department separately publishes guidelines for:
- Minor name changes
- Name and gender changes
- Adopting a maiden surname
- Adopting a different surname
- Change of religion
- Minor name change after divorce
- Other public notices
Therefore, do not automatically use the adult checklist for a minor or a specialised case.
Gazette Name Change Process in Uttar Pradesh
Step 1: Decide Your Exact New Name
Decide exactly how the old and new names should appear.
For example:
Old name: Rahul Kumar Sharma
New name: Rahul Sharma
Check every spelling before preparing the application.
A spelling difference between your newspaper notice, undertaking, proforma and supporting documents can create unnecessary problems.
Step 2: Publish the Newspaper Notice
For an adult Gazette of India Part IV name-change application, the Department’s guideline requires the name change to be advertised in one daily local leading newspaper.
The notice should contain the applicant’s relevant details, including the father’s or husband’s name and residential address as required by the guideline.
The original newspaper must then be submitted with the application.
Practical recommendation: Keep the original newspaper safely until the Gazette publication and subsequent document updates are complete.
For notice wording, see our newspaper advertisement formats.
Step 3: Prepare the Undertaking
The undertaking must be signed by the applicant.
The Department’s adult guideline requires the undertaking to show:
- old name
- new name
- father’s or husband’s name, where applicable
- residential address
- declaration that the information is true and correct
Use the Department’s current format rather than relying on an arbitrary template found on a private website.
Step 4: Prepare the Prescribed Gazette Proforma
The Department’s adult procedure requires a prescribed printing proforma.
The guideline states that the proforma must be:
- computer typed
- completed in the prescribed format
- signed by the applicant in the old name
- accompanied by two witnesses
- submitted in duplicate
- accompanied by the required soft-copy material
The Department’s specimen also provides fields for each witness’s:
- full name
- signature
- address
- mobile number
Step 5: Prepare the Supporting Documents
For the adult Gazette of India Part IV procedure, the Department lists:
| Requirement | What the guideline says |
|---|---|
| Undertaking | Duly signed by applicant |
| Newspaper | Original newspaper |
| Gazette proforma | Prescribed proforma in duplicate |
| Witnesses | Two witnesses |
| Soft copy | Required printing material |
| Photographs | Two self-attested passport-size photographs |
| ID proof | Self-attested photocopy |
| Hard/soft-copy certificate | Applicant declaration that both are similar |
| Request letter | Required |
| Fee | Requisite publication fee |
The Department also maintains a separate list of acceptable documents for proof of old name and address.
For each item in detail, see our documents required for Gazette name change checklist.
Important document rule
The Department’s adult guideline states that the submitted documents must not be older than one year.
It also states that documents submitted to the Department are not returned, including originals or Xerox copies.
Keep your own copies before submission.
Gazette Name Change Documents Checklist
Before submitting an adult application, check:
- Correct old name
- Correct new name
- Correct father’s/husband’s name where applicable
- Correct residential address
- Original newspaper
- Signed undertaking
- Prescribed typed proforma
- Two witnesses
- Two self-attested passport-size photographs
- Self-attested photo ID
- Required soft-copy material
- Hard-copy/soft-copy certification
- Request letter
- Payment proof
- Documents within the permitted age
- Personal copies of every submitted document
How Much Does Gazette Name Change Cost?
The government publication fee for an adult is ₹1,100 per case.
The Department of Publication’s rate order dated 19 September 2023 lists ₹1,100 for each adult/major change-of-name notice in Gazette of India Part IV, and ₹1,700 for a minor. The Department’s older adult guideline also shows ₹1,100, dated to 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017, which is why some pages describe the figure as outdated.
The Department also maintains a separate document describing additional charges for certain cases, including aliases, additional address information, religion-related wording and certain remarriage/name-change situations.
Your total cost can contain several components
| Cost component | What it may cover |
|---|---|
| Gazette publication charge | Government publication |
| Newspaper | Name-change advertisement |
| Affidavit/document preparation | Where applicable |
| Printing | Application documents |
| Post/courier | Sending documents |
| Professional assistance | Optional private service |
Government publication charges and a private service provider’s total package price are different things.
Because government charges can be revised, verify the current amount on the Department’s Gazette rates page before paying.
Where Should You Submit the Gazette Name-Change Application?
For the adult Gazette of India Part IV procedure, the Department’s published guideline gives the following address:
Controller of Publications
Department of Publication
Civil Lines, Delhi – 110054
The guideline says the required documents, forwarding letter and photo ID should be submitted personally or sent by post. It also states that applications sent by post/courier are entertained and that agents, advocates and other channels are not permissible under this procedure.
This means a private service provider should not be described as the government submission authority.
Can You Apply for Gazette Name Change Online?
Not necessarily as a completely online process.
The adult Gazette guideline describes personal submission or submission by post/courier.
At the same time, the process uses online systems for certain functions, including the prescribed payment route and access to the published e-Gazette.
Therefore, distinguish between:
| Activity | Online? |
|---|---|
| Preparing documents | Can be done digitally |
| Payment | Online payment system is specified |
| Application submission | Follow the applicable government procedure |
| Gazette publication | Government publication |
| Gazette search | Online e-Gazette |
| Gazette download | Online |
Calling the entire process an “online name change” can therefore be misleading.
How Long Does Gazette Name Change Take?
There is no single processing time that should be guaranteed to every applicant.
The Department’s guideline says that once a completed application is received, the request is sent for notification to the relevant Government of India Press.
The same guideline says the Department is not responsible for delays in printing by the concerned Press.
Processing can therefore depend on:
- completeness of the application
- document verification
- corrections, if required
- publication processing
- Government Press scheduling
- administrative delays
A private agency’s quoted turnaround should not automatically be presented as the Government’s guaranteed publication time.
How to Check Gazette Name Change Status
There is an important distinction between application processing and published Gazette notification.
Once the notification is published, the official e-Gazette can be searched.
For the adult Gazette of India Part IV procedure, the Department’s published instructions describe this process:
- Search Gazette.
- Select Weekly Gazette.
- Select Part IV.
- Select the relevant Saturday/date range.
- Download the relevant PDF.
- Search the PDF for the old or new name.
- Download and retain the complete Gazette issue.
How to Download Your Gazette Name Change Notification
Once your notification has been published:
- Open the official e-Gazette website.
- Open the published Gazette search.
- Select the relevant Gazette category.
- For the adult Gazette of India procedure, select Weekly Gazette → Part IV.
- Select the relevant date range.
- Download the PDF.
- Use Ctrl + F or your PDF reader’s search function. Search for your old name and new name.
- Download and retain the complete Gazette issue.
The Department’s guideline states that the downloaded Gazette copy does not require additional certification from the Department.
What Happens After Gazette Publication?
Gazette publication does not automatically update every government or private database.
After publication, identify every record that still contains your old name.
Depending on your situation, this can include:
- Aadhaar
- PAN
- Passport
- Voter ID
- Driving licence
- Bank accounts
- Insurance
- Employer records
- Educational certificates
- Professional registrations
- Property records
For each organisation, check its current name-update requirements.
Keep a complete document trail
Store:
- Previous identity proof
- Newspaper notice
- Undertaking/affidavit
- Gazette notification
- Payment evidence
- Updated identity documents
This makes it easier to establish the relationship between your previous and current name when another institution requests supporting evidence.
Gazette Name Change After Marriage
Marriage-related surname changes require separate consideration.
For example:
Priya Sharma → Priya Singh
The applicable documents can depend on:
- the marriage certificate
- the record being updated
- the nature of the surname change
- the requirements of the relevant authority
The Department of Publication maintains separate guidance for adopting a maiden surname and adopting a different surname.
Therefore, do not automatically assume that every post-marriage surname update requires the same Gazette procedure as a general personal name change.
Gazette Name Change for Minors
A minor should not simply follow the adult name-change checklist.
The Department of Publication maintains a separate Guidelines for Change of Name – Minor document and a separate guideline for a minor’s name change after divorce.
If the person whose name is being changed is under 18, verify the minor-specific procedure before preparing the application.
What If Your Name Is Wrong on a Certificate?
First determine whether you need a name change or a document correction.
For example:
Actual name: Mohammad Zubair Afzal
Certificate: Zubair Afzal
If the intended name has not changed, the issuing institution may have a correction procedure.
The Gazette of India also contains public notices involving corrections to names appearing in educational and other records.
Before preparing a Gazette application, ask:
“Am I changing my name, or am I asking an authority to correct an error in its record?”
That distinction can prevent unnecessary paperwork.
Common Gazette Name-Change Mistakes
1. Using inconsistent spellings
Your old and new names should match across the application materials.
2. Relying on an outdated fee
Check the Department’s current rate information before paying instead of copying a figure from an old article.
3. Assuming every UP resident uses the same Gazette
The applicable Gazette depends on the type of publication and responsible authority.
4. Treating a private website as a government portal
Always identify the actual government authority behind the publication.
5. Confusing Gazette publication with document updating
Gazette publication does not automatically update Aadhaar, PAN, passport, bank or educational records.
6. Using the adult procedure for a minor
The Department maintains a separate minor procedure.
7. Submitting old documents
The adult guideline states that the documents submitted must not be older than one year.
8. Sending documents without keeping copies
The published guideline states that submitted documents are not returned.
9. Assuming a guaranteed publication timeline
The Department explicitly states that it is not responsible for delays in printing by the concerned Press.
Central Gazette vs State Gazette: What Should a UP Resident Check?
| Question | What to verify |
|---|---|
| I want an adult individual name change | Check the Department of Publication’s adult guideline |
| I want to add/delete a surname | Check the applicable surname/name-change guidance |
| I am changing a minor’s name | Use the minor-specific guidance |
| I am correcting an incorrect document | Check the issuing authority’s correction process |
| I found a “UP Gazette” service | Verify which government authority actually publishes the notice |
| I need the published notification | Use the applicable official Gazette system |
| I need the current fee | Verify the current government charge |
| I am using a private service | Distinguish service assistance from government authority |
For the individual adult procedure published by the Department of Publication, the official guideline is specifically for Gazette of India Part IV.
Frequently Asked Questions
Official Sources to Check Before Applying
Department of Publication — Change of Name / Public Notices
The Department currently publishes separate guidance for adult name changes, minor name changes, surname changes, name and gender changes, acceptable proof documents and other public notices. See the Department’s change-of-name guidelines.
e-Gazette of India
The official e-Gazette provides the published Gazette search and download facility.
BharatKosh
The Department’s adult guideline identifies the Non-Tax Receipt Portal/BharatKosh as the payment route referenced in that procedure.
Important: Government procedures, fees and document requirements can change. Verify the current instructions before submitting an application.
Final Takeaway
If you live in Uttar Pradesh and need a Gazette name change, start by identifying the correct government procedure for your specific case.
For an adult individual name change covered by the Department of Publication’s published procedure, the relevant publication is Gazette of India Part IV. The procedure includes the newspaper notice, undertaking, prescribed proforma, witnesses, photographs, ID proof, payment and application submission.
Verify the current fee before paying, do not assume that every UP resident follows the same Gazette route, and do not assume that Gazette publication automatically updates every identity or institutional record.
The safest workflow is:
Identify the type of change → verify the applicable authority → prepare the current documents → complete the publication process → verify the published Gazette → download and retain it → update individual records separately.
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.