Online Gazette Application for Name Change in Bihar

A Gazette notification is the legal process that will make a name change legal all over Bihar and India. The need to update the records of Aadhaar, PAN, passport, bank KYC and land records is mandatory, because no department will take a self-made affidavit on its own as proof.

It means publishing your old and new name in an official government record — either the Bihar State Gazette (egazette.bihar.gov.in, Government of Bihar) or the Central Gazette of India (egazette.gov.in, Department of Publication, Delhi). After publishing, the banks, UIDAI, Passport Office, and Bihar property records accept your new name as legal.

It is the official record that formally connects your old name to your new one, published in Part IV of the Gazette (for personal notifications like name changes). Once the paper is published (15-45 days later, depending on the route) you can download the PDF and use it to update the documents anywhere in India, even Patna or Muzaffarpur or other states.

A Gazette notification is a legal document. This is required to be accepted by the government as proof of your name change, which is essential for several government registrations such as Aadhaar, PAN, BSEB marksheet, or Jamabandi land records. The Gazette is the clinching factor for these checks and a self-made affidavit is not accepted.

No — but to use a new name on official documents (Aadhaar, PAN, passport, property), an affidavit alone isn't enough. It is necessary to first publish the gazette either in Bihar State Gazette or the Central Gazette of India.

Any Indian resident aged 18 or older. Minors apply through parents/guardians. Common lawful reasons include: Spelling correction, marriage, divorce, religious conversion, adoption, personal preference (including numerology).

Bihar State Gazette (egazette.bihar.gov.in, Government of Bihar, Finance Department) — best for state-level records like land documents and BSEB marksheets.

Central Gazette of India (egazette.gov.in, Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi) — needed for nationwide validity: passport, central government jobs, and PSU records. Choose based on which documents you need to update.

Draft a notarized affidavit on stamp paper, stating your old name, new name, and reason for change

Publish ads in one Hindi newspaper (e.g., Dainik Jagran) and one English newspaper (e.g., Times of India, Patna edition)

Submit your application: for the Central Gazette, send your affidavit, clippings, ID proof, a digital CD copy, and the Bharatkosh fee receipt to the Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi; for the Bihar State Gazette, submit through the Gazette/Printing & Stationery wing of the Government of Bihar

[NEEDS VERIFICATION: whether a fully online RTPS-based submission path exists specifically for Gazette name-change publication in Bihar — I found no confirmation of this; RTPS Bihar appears to cover caste, income, and residence certificates only, not Gazette name changes]

Marriage, divorce, spelling correction, numerology or astrology, religious conversion, adoption, or moving away from a name carrying social stigma.

Yes — the process follows the standard format (affidavit, newspaper ads, Gazette application), with an added declaration or certificate confirming the conversion.

Permitted. A parent/guardian signs a notarized affidavit on behalf of the child and presents the child's birth certificate and ID proof. [NEEDS VERIFICATION: whether a "school no-objection certificate" is a standard requirement — this appears in some informal sources but not in official guidance I could confirm]

You need to have an affidavit on stamp paper, ID proof (Aadhaar or PAN), address proof (ration card or electricity bill), clipping from two newspapers of Bihar (English – Times of India or Patna, Hindi – Dainik Jagran), and supporting papers such as Marriage certificate or Divorce certificate as applicable. [NEEDS VERIFICATION: specific file-size limits for online uploads — I could not confirm Gazette-specific upload rules]

For the Central Gazette, processing generally takes 25 to 45 working days after document verification, with the full process (including affidavit and newspaper steps) running 45 to 60 days. For the Bihar State Gazette specifically, [NEEDS VERIFICATION: I could not confirm an official timeline distinct from the Central Gazette process — treat any "15–30 day" figure as unverified until checked against egazette.bihar.gov.in].

Yes. Each additional change requires a fresh affidavit, new newspaper advertisements, and a new application with its own fee — there's no limit on how many times you can do this, though frequent changes may draw extra scrutiny.

Indefinitely. Once published, it stands as permanent legal proof of your name change, usable nationwide for Aadhaar, PAN, passport, and land record updates.

Contact the Gazette Department promptly with a correction request, supporting documents, and the applicable fee. [NEEDS VERIFICATION: exact correction fee and republication timeline — sources I found vary from ₹25 to ₹250 and 7 to 45 days, with no official figure confirmed; verify directly with the Department of Publication or Bihar Gazette office before publishing a specific number].

Yes — newspaper publication in two papers (one English, one Hindi/regional) is mandatory before filing your Gazette application. It is an official notification of your name change.

A notarized declaration on stamp paper stating your old name, new name, date of birth, address, and reason for change (e.g., spelling correction, numerology). It's the backbone of your newspaper ad and Gazette application.

The Central Gazette government fee is ₹1,100 for adults and ₹1,700 for minors, paid via Bharatkosh — this is confirmed and consistent across official and third-party sources. [NEEDS VERIFICATION: a separate, lower Bihar State Gazette fee bracket is mentioned in some sources, but I found no consistent or official figure for it — do not publish a specific state fee number without confirming directly at egazette.bihar.gov.in]

Based on confirmed Central Gazette figures: a notarized affidavit runs roughly ₹200–₹500, two newspaper ads (Hindi + English, Bihar editions) run roughly ₹800–₹2,500 depending on the papers chosen, and the government Gazette fee is ₹1,100 (adult) or ₹1,700 (minor). Total: roughly ₹2,100–₹4,700, plus optional agent fees. [NEEDS VERIFICATION: this differs from some sources citing ₹1,600–₹3,600 total — the gap likely comes from conflating a lower, unconfirmed state Gazette fee with the Central fee; use the Central figures above unless you can confirm a separate state rate]

The government fee is paid online through Bharatkosh, even if the documents (in person or by mail) are sent by the Central Gazette (no offline fee anyway, the file still has to be sent offline to the Department of Publication). Always save your payment receipt to track status and verify payment.

No. The processing fee to the Gazette is not refundable if the application is rejected, withdrawn or corrected.

Download the published PDF from the relevant Gazette portal, then update your other records in order: Aadhaar first (via UIDAI), then PAN (via Protean/NSDL), Passport (via Passport Seva), Voter ID, driving license, bank accounts, BSEB marksheets, land records, and employment records.

Search the official Gazette portal (egazette.gov.in for Central, egazette.bihar.gov.in for state) using your name, publication date, or notification number, then download the PDF. Print physical copies as needed for submissions.

A properly published Bihar State Gazette notification is accepted by Bihar government departments and many private institutions for state-level updates. For nationwide acceptance — passport, central government jobs, PSU records — the Central Gazette of India is the version most departments require.

Yes, with additional requirements: your affidavit must be attested by the Indian Embassy or High Commission in your country of residence, plus standard documents — newspaper ads, ID proof, and the application form.

Fee payment and status tracking can be done online (via Bharatkosh for the Central Gazette). [NEEDS VERIFICATION: a fully online, document-upload application path for Gazette name-change publication specifically — I found no confirmed evidence of this for either the Central or Bihar State Gazette; the physical file currently appears to require offline/postal submission].

Correct the issue identified in the rejection notice, prepare a fresh affidavit and newspaper ads if required, and resubmit with the applicable fee.

Yes — state in the affidavit as 'personal preference' or 'numerology' and then follow the standard procedure of an affidavit, followed by newspaper ads in Hindi and English, and then submit the affidavit to the Gazette.

Yes. A Gazette notification issues only to change the spelling mistake of your chosen spelling across all future updates of Aadhaar, PAN and passport.

Submit a correction request to the Gazette Department with a new affidavit and corrected newspaper clippings. [NEEDS VERIFICATION: exact fee and republication timeline — see the earlier flag on this same question; do not publish a specific number without confirming with the issuing department].

No age limit. Minors apply with parent/guardian - requires child's birth certificate and standard supporting documents.

Yes — Change names again (or change to a new name) will involve the same procedures and process — another affidavit, another newspaper ad, and another Gazette application and fee.

It's not legally required to notify every department proactively, but strongly advisable — updating PAN (Income Tax), Passport, Aadhaar (UIDAI), banks, the RTO, and the Election Commission promptly avoids future verification mismatches.

For the Central Gazette, processing takes roughly 25 to 45 working days after submission. [NEEDS VERIFICATION: a separate, faster state-Gazette timeline is claimed by some sources (15–30 days) but I could not confirm this against an official Bihar government source — verify at egazette.bihar.gov.in before publishing a specific figure].

The Central Gazette government fee is a minimum of ₹1,100 per (adult) person (adults plus minors will cost an additional ₹1,700) in addition to the costs of the affidavit and newspaper advertisement. These are usually around ₹1,000 to ₹3,000.

Check the status of your application or reference on the relevant portal (egazette.gov.in for Central Gazette and egazette.bihar.gov.in for state Gazette) and download the published pdf after it is available.

Go to egazette.gov.in, search by name, Part (typically Part IV for personal notifications), section, or publication date, then download the PDF for printing or submission.

Published e-Gazette PDFs are digitally signed rather than physically stamped. The downloaded PDF is legally acceptable if it has a valid digital signature, otherwise not — see before using any copy.

Gazette notifications are published as downloadable PDFs; no automatic mailing of hard copies is part of the standard process. [NEEDS VERIFICATION: whether the Bihar Government Press in Patna offers a paid hard-copy service — I found this claim in only one unofficial source and could not independently confirm it].

Draft an affidavit citing marriage as the reason for change

Attach a copy of your marriage certificate

Publish ads in one English and one Hindi Bihar newspaper

Submit your Gazette application (Central or State, depending on which documents you need to update) with all supporting documents and fee

After publication, update Aadhaar first, then PAN and other records.

A notarized affidavit, the prescribed proforma (signed by two witnesses), passport-size photographs, original clippings from two newspapers (one Bihar-circulated, one in Hindi or English as required), ID and address proof, and the Bharatkosh fee payment receipt.

The Central Gazette of India has pan-India acceptance. For Bihar specific notifications (Land Records, BSEB documents), use the Bihar State Gazette. Choose based on which documents — state or national — you need to update.

Yes — a standard affidavit, newspaper advertisements, and ID proof requires, as well as departmental approval (or a No Objection Certificate) from the Ministry.

No — it doesn't alter property ownership or legal rights. It's still advisable to update your name in land records (e.g., via the Parimarjan portal for Bihar) to avoid mismatches in future transactions.

For documents like passports or visa applications, yes, it's accepted as supporting proof. For use directly with a foreign government, the notification typically needs apostille certification from the Ministry of External Affairs, and possibly embassy attestation depending on the destination country.

A legal name change in Bihar requires four steps in order: notarized affidavit, two newspaper ads, Gazette notification, then document updates.

Affidavit: Get it notarized on stamp paper, stating your old name, new name, parent's/spouse's name, address, and reason for change

Newspaper ads: Publish in one Hindi daily and one English daily, listing your old name, new name, and address; keep the original full-page clippings

Gazette application: Submit your affidavit, clippings, ID proof, and a CD copy of your application in the prescribed format, with the government fee paid via Bharatkosh, to the Department of Publication [NEEDS VERIFICATION: confirm current fee at deptpub.gov.in — third-party sources cite ₹1,100–₹1,700]

Document updates: Update Aadhaar first via the UIDAI portal, then PAN via Protean, then your Passport via Passport Seva Kendra — Aadhaar updates first since other departments accept it as supporting proof

You need eight items: affidavit, newspaper clippings, ID and address proof, photographs, proforma, fee receipt, and a digital copy.

Notarized affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper

Original clippings from one Hindi daily and one English daily published in Bihar — photocopies aren't accepted

Self-attested Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, or Passport

Address proof: electricity/water bill, rent agreement, or ration card

2–3 recent passport photos

Official proforma plus a covering letter to the Department of Publication

Bharatkosh fee payment receipt

CD or pen drive with your application in MS Word format

Add a marriage certificate and joint affidavit for marriage-related changes, a divorce decree for post-divorce changes, or a birth certificate and both parents' ID for minors. Verify the exact proforma format at deptpub.gov.in — incorrect formatting is a common rejection cause.

The full process takes 30 to 60 days.

Affidavit drafting and notarization: 1–2 days

Newspaper publication and clipping collection: 2–3 days

Gazette processing: 30–45 days after document verification

Budget an extra 1–2 weeks per department once you move on to updating Aadhaar, PAN, Passport, and bank records individually.

Yes — marriage isn't required. Any adult can change their name for any lawful reason, including personal preference, surname change, or spelling correction.

Get a notarized affidavit stating your current name, new name, and reason for change

Publish ads in one Hindi and one English newspaper (most authorities require both)

Submit your affidavit and clippings to the Department of Publication for Gazette notification

Once published, update Aadhaar, PAN, and Passport individually — each has its own process.

DIY costs run ₹2,000–₹4,000 total; an agent or advocate adds ₹2,000–₹5,000 more.

Step — Approximate Cost

Notarized affidavit — ₹200–₹500

Newspaper ads (2 papers) — ₹800–₹1,500

Government Gazette fee — ₹1,100 (adult) / ₹1,700 (minor)

Agent/advocate fees (optional) — ₹2,000–₹5,000

[NEEDS VERIFICATION: all figures above are third-party sourced — confirm the Gazette fee specifically at deptpub.gov.in, since official fees can change without notice]. The government fee itself is fixed via Bharatkosh whether you file yourself or use a service.

No. The Gazette notification will change your name, but will not update automatically (no agency has a backend system that updates automatically for you elsewhere). Mismatched documents can get later applications rejected.

Update in this order, since each step supports the next:

Aadhaar — at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra with your Gazette notification

PAN — via Protean (formerly NSDL) or UTIITSL, using your updated Aadhaar

Passport — re-issue under "Change in Name" on passportindia.gov.in

Bank accounts — in person, with your Gazette notification plus updated Aadhaar and PAN

Voter ID — correction request on voters.eci.gov.in

Educational/employment records — directly through your university or employer's HR; no central portal exists

Yes — mandatory, not optional, and the sequence is fixed: affidavit, then ads, then Gazette submission.

Affidavit states old name, new name, address, and reason

Ads run in two widely circulated Bihar papers — one Hindi (e.g., Dainik Jagran, Hindustan) and one English (e.g., Times of India, Hindustan Times Patna edition) — listing old name, new name, parent's/spouse's name, and address

Submit affidavit, clippings, ID/address proof, and fee to the Department of Publication

The ad serves as public notice, giving anyone a chance to object before the Gazette of India records your new name.

Yes — Indian courts have upheld the right to change a name to avoid caste discrimination. A name change doesn't alter your official caste status or reservation eligibility, since caste is determined by birth and unaffected by your caste certificate.

The process matches any standard name change:

Notarized affidavit citing "avoiding caste discrimination" as the reason

Newspaper ads in one Hindi and one English Bihar daily, stating both names clearly

Gazette submission to the Department of Publication with affidavit, clippings, ID proof, and fee

After publication, update Aadhaar first, then PAN, Passport, Voter ID, and bank accounts.

No — routine Gazette name changes don't require police verification. The process relies on document verification only: affidavit, newspaper clippings, ID proof, and fee payment.

Three exceptions trigger extra checks:

Government employees — need a name change deed or departmental clearance first

Pending legal cases or criminal record — may require court clearance

Religious conversion — may need a declaration from the relevant religious authority

Without these factors, follow the standard process: affidavit → newspaper ads → Department of Publication submission.

Yes — one application covers your full name regardless of how many parts change; you don't file separately for a surname versus a complete name change.

Affidavit stating your complete old name and complete new name

Newspaper ads in one English and one regional-language daily, matching the affidavit exactly

Gazette submission to the Department of Publication with affidavit, clippings, ID proof, and fee

Make sure your affidavit and newspaper ad read the same: names discrepancies are a common cause for applications to be returned. First update Aadhaar then PAN, Passport and other records after publication.