Swearing an affidavit is only the first step in the legal name change journey in India. Before you can submit your dossier to the New Delhi Gazette office, you must notify the general public of your name change by publishing an announcement in daily newspapers. This public announcement serves as a legal notice to prevent fraudulent name modifications, such as individuals attempting to escape financial liabilities, bank defaults, or criminal records.
This comprehensive guide details the exact text formats, newspaper selection criteria, multilingual translation guidelines, and booking procedures for name change ads across India.
Guidelines for Newspaper Selection
The Gazette office has strict rules regarding the type of newspapers acceptable for name change advertisements. You cannot simply book an ad in a cheap community newsletter or weekly digest.
The Two-Newspaper Rule
To satisfy the legal requirement, you must publish the announcement in two daily newspapers:
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| THE TWO-NEWSPAPER RULE |
| |
| [ Newspaper 1: English National Daily ] |
| - Must be widely circulated in your state of residence. |
| - Examples: Times of India, Indian Express, HT. |
| |
| [ Newspaper 2: Regional Vernacular Daily ] |
| - Must be in the official language of your state. |
| - Examples: Dainik Jagran (Hindi), Loksatta (Marathi). |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+Key Criteria for Acceptable Papers
- Daily Circulation: The publication must be a daily newspaper with registered circulation numbers certified by the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC).
- State Edition: The edition of the newspaper must match your state of residence. For instance, if your permanent address is in Mumbai, you must publish in the Mumbai editions of the newspapers.
- Classified Section: The advertisement must be placed under the dedicated “Public Notices” or “Name Change” classified columns.
Standard Text Drafts for Newspaper Advertisements
Because newspaper classified ads are priced based on the number of words or characters, keeping the text concise while retaining all legal details is essential. Here are the standardized, legally accepted templates for various name change scenarios:
1. General Adult Name Change (Spelling Correction / Alias Removal)
Use this format if you are correcting a spelling mistake in your documents or adopting a new name:
Text Format:
I, [Old Name] S/o [Father’s Name], residing at [Full Residential Address], have changed my name to [New Name] for all future intents and purposes vide affidavit dated [Date] sworn before Notary Public [Notary Name], [City].
Example:
I, Amit Kumar Gupta S/o Suresh Prasad Gupta, residing at Flat 302, Green Glen Layout, Bangalore - 560103, have changed my name to Amit Gupta for all future intents and purposes vide affidavit dated 05-06-2026 sworn before Notary Public K. Raghavan, Bangalore.
2. Name Change for Minor Children (By Parent/Guardian)
For minor children under the age of 18, one of the parents must submit the declaration on the child’s behalf:
Text Format:
I, [Parent’s Name] R/o [Full Address], have changed the name of my minor child [Old Child’s Name], aged [Age] years, to [New Child’s Name] for all future purposes vide affidavit dated [Date] sworn before Notary [Notary Name], [City]. Both names refer to one and the same child.
Example:
I, Ramesh Nair R/o Sector 4, Dwarka, New Delhi - 110075, have changed the name of my minor child Aniket Ramesh Nair, aged 12 years, to Aniket Nair for all future purposes vide affidavit dated 02-06-2026 sworn before Notary S.K. Sinha, Delhi. Both names refer to one and the same child.
3. Name Change After Marriage (For Women)
If you are adopting your husband’s surname post-wedding, use this format:
Text Format:
I, [Maiden Name] W/o [Husband’s Name] residing at [Full Address], have changed my name to [New Married Name] post my marriage on [Wedding Date] vide affidavit dated [Date] sworn before Notary [Notary Name], [City].
Example:
I, Priya Sharma W/o Rahul Patel residing at Juhu Scheme, Mumbai - 400049, have changed my name to Priya Patel post my marriage on 15-05-2026 vide affidavit dated 28-05-2026 sworn before Notary M.B. Shah, Mumbai.
4. Reversion to Maiden Name Post-Divorce
If you are removing a married surname and returning to your maiden name post-divorce:
Text Format:
I, [Married Name] D/o [Father’s Name] R/o [Full Address], have changed my name to [Maiden Name] post divorce from my husband vide certified court decree dated [Decree Date] and affidavit dated [Affidavit Date] sworn before Notary [Notary Name], [City].
Example:
I, Sneha Kapoor W/o Rohan Malhotra R/o Phase 2, Mohali, Punjab - 160062, have changed my name to Sneha Kapoor post divorce from my husband vide certified court decree dated 12-04-2026 and affidavit dated 18-05-2026 sworn before Notary J.S. Dhillon, Mohali.
5. Name Change Post Religion Conversion
Use this format if you have legally converted to another religion and adopted a new name:
Text Format:
I, [Old Name] S/o [Father’s Name] R/o [Full Address], have converted my religion from [Old Religion] to [New Religion] on [Conversion Date] and have adopted the new name [New Name] for all future purposes vide conversion certificate and affidavit dated [Date] sworn before Notary [Notary Name], [City].
6. Name Change for Gender Alignment
For individuals aligning their name and gender marker:
Text Format:
I, [Old Name] Child of [Father’s Name] R/o [Full Address], have changed my name to [New Name] and gender marker from [Old Gender] to [New Gender] for all future intents and purposes vide Transgender ID Card No [Card No] and affidavit dated [Date] sworn before Notary [Notary Name], [City].
Regional Vernacular Translations
If you publish in a regional vernacular newspaper, the advertisement text must be accurately translated into that local language. Below are translated templates for standard name change notices:
A. Hindi Translation (For states like Delhi, UP, Bihar, MP)
Format:
मैं, [Old Name] पुत्र/पुत्री [Father’s Name], निवासी [Full Address], यह घोषित करता/करती हूँ कि मैंने अपना नाम बदलकर [New Name] रख लिया है। भविष्य में मुझे [New Name] के नाम से ही जाना जाए। यह बदलाव मैंने शपथ पत्र दिनांक [Affidavit Date] के तहत किया है, जिसे नोटरी [Notary Name], [City] द्वारा सत्यापित किया गया है।
B. Marathi Translation (For Maharashtra)
Format:
मी, [Old Name] मुलगा/मुलगी [Father’s Name], राहणार [Full Address], याद्वारे घोषित करतो/करते की, मी माझे नाव [Old Name] बदलून नवीन नाव [New Name] असे ठेवले आहे. भविष्यात मला याच नावाने ओळखण्यात यावे. हे बदल मी शपथपत्र दिनांक [Affidavit Date] नुसार केले असून ते नोटरी [Notary Name], [City] समोर निष्पादित केले आहे.
C. Telugu Translation (For Andhra Pradesh & Telangana)
Format:
నేను, [Old Name], తండ్రి [Father’s Name], నివాసం [Full Address], నా పాత పేరు [Old Name] ను [New Name] గా మార్చుకున్నానని దీని ద్వారా తెలియజేస్తున్నాను. ఇకపై నా ప్రతీ వ్యవహారంలోనూ నన్ను [New Name] గానే వ్యవహరించాలి. ఈ మార్పు తేదీ [Affidavit Date] నాటి అఫిడవిట్ ద్వారా చేయబడింది, దీనిని నోటరీ [Notary Name], [City] ధృవీకరించారు.
Classified Advertisement Booking Procedure
To book your name change advertisements successfully:
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| BOOKING WORKFLOW CHECKLIST |
| |
| [ ] 1. Draft the ad text using a standardized template. |
| [ ] 2. Choose 1 English national and 1 local newspaper. |
| [ ] 3. Submit copy of notarized affidavit to agency. |
| [ ] 4. Choose publication date (usually within 7 days). |
| [ ] 5. Complete payment and get receipt. |
| [ ] 6. Collect full original newspaper copies on the day. |
+------------------------------------------------------------+- Submit Affidavit: Most newspaper classified portals and booking agencies require a copy of your signed and stamped notarized affidavit as proof before they will approve the booking.
- Review Drafts: Review the draft text to check for any spelling errors. Once printed, a typo in the newspaper will invalidate the notice, and you will have to pay to book a fresh ad.
- Verify Publication: On the day of publication, purchase three physical copies of both newspapers. Keep the full pages intact.
Handling Newspaper Errors (Corrigendum Notices)
If the newspaper prints your advertisement with a spelling mistake or typo, do not panic. Follow these steps:
- Contact the Agency: If the error was made by the newspaper desk despite you providing the correct text, they are legally obligated to reprint the correction advertisement free of charge.
- Corrigendum Ad: They will publish a “Corrigendum” or “Correction Notice” stating:
“In our issue dated [Date], in the name change ad of [Old Name], please read the new name as [Correct New Name] instead of [Incorrect Printed Name].”
- Attach Both Papers: Submit both the original incorrect newspaper page and the corrigendum page with your Gazette dossier.
Vetting Checklist for Newspaper Ads
Before submitting your dossier to the Controller of Publications, check your newspaper advertisements against this verification table:
| Verification Parameter | Standard Requirement | Corrective Action |
|---|---|---|
| Newspaper Type | Must be daily papers (no weekly community papers). | Re-book in registered daily. |
| Completeness | Full page of newspaper must be submitted. | Obtain fresh original copy from publisher. |
| Spellings | Spellings must match the affidavit exactly. | Book a corrigendum advertisement. |
| Affidavit Link | Must reference affidavit date and notary name. | Verify date matches notary seal. |
Conclusion
Placing newspaper advertisements for a name change is a critical legal step that requires close attention to detail. By using our standardized templates, selecting daily newspapers with registered circulation, and ensuring that all spellings match your notarized affidavit, you can prevent delays and secure your legal name change smoothly.
If you are unsure how to book newspaper ads or translate text drafts, consult our coordination desk. We handle the drafting, translation, and booking with leading publications across all states in India, delivering full original sheets directly to your address.