What is The Gazette of India?
The Gazette of India (Bharat Ka Rajpatra) is the official public journal and statutory record of the Government of India, printed and published by the Department of Publication, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Civil Lines, New Delhi. Name changes of private citizens are published weekly every Saturday in Part IV of the Gazette.
Why the Central Gazette Overrides All Other Documents
Under Section 81 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, the court presumes the genuineness of the official Gazette. A Central Gazette notification carries nationwide statutory authority, meaning no government officer, passport officer, bank manager, or foreign embassy official can reject or contest a name change published in the Gazette of India.
Frequently Asked Questions
All Gazette issues are uploaded in digital PDF format on egazette.gov.in. You can search by date, Part IV, and keyword (your name) to download the certified copy.
Since October 2015, physical printing has been replaced by the official electronic e-Gazette under the Information Technology Act, 2000. The downloaded PDF with digital signature is legally valid everywhere.