Name Change in West Bengal: Gazette Notification Service, Fully Online
Affidavit, newspaper notice and Gazette notification done right the first time. We handle the Kolkata Gazette Part II and the Gazette of India, so your new name is accepted by Aadhaar, PAN, passport, bank and school records.
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How to Change Your Name Legally in West Bengal (Quick Answer)
A legal name change in West Bengal has three steps. First, sign a name change affidavit. Second, publish the notice in one Bengali daily and one English daily. Third, get a Gazette notification. A West Bengal resident aged 18 or above can apply online to the Kolkata Gazette Part II at wbgazettepart2.in, which issues the notification within 7 days when documents are in order. For a passport, visa or any use outside the state, send the file to the Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi-110054 for the Gazette of India. The government fee for an adult is Rs 1,100 on either route.
Watch: Central Gazette or State Gazette, which one should you make for your name change (Hindi).
Key Takeaways: Name Change in West Bengal
- West Bengal runs a real citizen gazette route, and it is faster than the Central one. Most guides still send everyone to Delhi.
- Kolkata Gazette Part II covers change of name, surname, deletion of surname, reversion to maiden name, religion and gender.
- Part II is now published by Saraswaty Press Limited. Pages naming only the Alipore press describe the older arrangement.
- The state route needs an affidavit attested by a First Class Judicial Magistrate, a step above an ordinary notary.
- For a passport, visa, central post or any board or employer outside the state, you still need Part IV of the Gazette of India.
- There is no Central Gazette counter anywhere in West Bengal. That office is at Civil Lines, Delhi-110054.
- A birth certificate spelling mistake is a Registrar correction, not a gazette matter.
On This Page
- What is a name change
- Name change services
- Correction vs legal name change
- Kolkata Gazette vs Gazette of India
- Central Gazette step by step
- Step-by-step procedure
- Documents required
- Fees and time
- Mistakes that get files rejected
- Update order after Gazette
- Marriage, divorce, minors, employees
- Birth certificate corrections
- Why choose us
- Cities and districts we serve
- FAQ
- Official sources
- Enquiry form
What Is a Name Change in West Bengal?
A name change in West Bengal is a legal process that ends with one document every office accepts: the Gazette notification. An affidavit or a newspaper notice alone is not enough for passport, PAN or Aadhaar. The Gazette copy is the final, permanent proof, and in this state you can get it from the Kolkata Gazette Part II or the Gazette of India.
Affidavit
A sworn declaration of your old name, new name, parentage and address, on West Bengal stamp paper.
Newspaper Notice
The same notice in one Bengali daily and one English daily, with the full printed pages kept safe.
Gazette Notification
Official publication of the new name. This is your legal proof for every document update.
Name Change Services in West Bengal We Handle End to End
One team for every step: drafting, newspaper, Gazette filing and follow-up.
Gazette of India Name Change (Central)
Notification in the Gazette of India, Part IV, published by the Department of Publication, Delhi. Valid across India and abroad. Best for passport, visa and NRI cases.
Kolkata Gazette Part II Name Change (State)
Online state Gazette for adults domiciled in West Bengal. Published by Saraswaty Press Limited, a Government of West Bengal enterprise. Issued within 7 days when the file is complete.
Name Change Affidavit Drafting in West Bengal
Correctly worded affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper with old name, new name, father or husband name and address. Attestation guidance for Notary or First Class Judicial Magistrate.
Newspaper Name Change Advertisement
We draft and book the notice in the correct format in a Bengali or English daily. The printed page is kept safely for your Gazette file.
Surname Change After Marriage or Divorce
Add, change or delete a surname. Reversion to maiden name after divorce, separation or death of husband, with the court order or certificate attached as required.
Minor Child Name Change in West Bengal
The state Gazette is for adults only, so a child's name change goes through the Gazette of India. A parent signs on the child's behalf. Government fee Rs 1,700.
Birth Certificate Name Correction Guidance
A spelling mistake in a birth certificate is fixed by the local Registrar under Section 15 of the RBD Act, 1969, not by Gazette. We tell you which route saves money.
Aadhaar, PAN, Passport and Bank Update Support
After the Gazette, we guide you on the right order and forms so every document shows the same name without repeat visits.
Name Change for Government Employees
State employees can use Kolkata Gazette Part II. Central Government staff follow the MHA deed format under O.M. 190016/1/87-Estt. dated 12/03/1987.
Name Correction vs Legal Name Change in West Bengal: Know the Difference
Most people pay for a Gazette they do not need, or skip the one they do. This table settles it.
| Question | Clerical / Spelling Correction | Full Legal Name Change |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | A typo or wrong spelling made by the office, for example "Sumit" printed as "Sumti" | You choose a new name or surname, for example after marriage, adoption or personal choice |
| Who fixes it? | The office that issued the document. For a birth certificate, the local Registrar under Section 15 of the RBD Act, 1969 | You, through affidavit, newspaper notice and Gazette notification |
| Gazette needed? | No | Yes, Kolkata Gazette Part II or Gazette of India |
| Newspaper needed? | No | Yes |
| Typical cost | Small correction fee at the issuing office | Government Gazette fee Rs 1,100 plus affidavit and newspaper cost |
| Proof you get | Corrected certificate | Published Gazette page, valid for all departments |
Kolkata Gazette Part II vs Gazette of India for Name Change in West Bengal
West Bengal is one of the few states where a resident has a real choice. Many states print only Government business in their gazette, so residents must go to Delhi. Here you have an option, and for many people it is the better one.
Kolkata Gazette Part II (State Gazette)
- For adults aged 18+ who are domiciled in West Bengal, plus State Government employees
- Fully online at wbgazettepart2.in, published by Saraswaty Press Limited, a Government Enterprise under the PE&IR Department
- Printing moved here from WBG Press, Alipore, under the 17 May 2023 guideline
- Payment through GRIPS portal, Head 0058-00-501-001-14
- Affidavit attested by a First Class Judicial Magistrate of a competent court
- Notification issued within 7 days if the file is in order
- SMS alert on your registered mobile; download the Gazette PDF yourself
- Notice text accepted in Urdu, Nepali, Santhali, Bengali, English or Hindi (2022 guideline)
- Free help desk at Sealdah office, 32 A.P.C. Road, Kolkata-9, by prior appointment
- Redressal within a week; false or incomplete information means fee forfeiture and legal action
- Also covers change of religion (Rs 1,700) and gender (Rs 1,400)
Gazette of India, Part IV (Central Gazette)
- For any Indian citizen from anywhere, and Indians abroad (Rs 3,500)
- Only option for minors and for applicants living outside West Bengal
- Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi-110054. No counter anywhere in West Bengal
- Payment only through bharatkosh.gov.in, non-refundable (no demand draft, no cash)
- Signed physical file sent by post or courier in your own name, never through an agent
- Published weekly on Saturday in Part IV; download free from egazette.gov.in
- Documents must not be older than one year
- Best for passport, visa, central posts, PSUs, banks and boards outside the state
| Point | Kolkata Gazette Part II | Gazette of India, Part IV |
|---|---|---|
| Published by | Saraswaty Press Limited, Government of West Bengal enterprise | Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi-110054 |
| How you apply | Online at wbgazettepart2.in | Signed physical file, by post or courier |
| Who can apply | Domicile of West Bengal, aged 18 and above | Any Indian citizen, from anywhere |
| Timeline | Within 7 days if documents are in order | About 30 to 45 days after the file is received |
| Fee | Rs 1,100 on GRIPS, revised from time to time by the State Government | Rs 1,100 adult, Rs 1,700 minor, on BharatKosh |
| Best for | Records inside West Bengal, state departments, state boards | Passport, visa, central posts, PSUs, banks and boards outside the state |
A correction worth making plainly. Part IV means the Central Gazette only. The Kolkata Gazette has its own Part II for citizen notices, and the two are separate publications. Pages that blur them, or give a West Bengal address ending in 110054, describe something that does not exist.
The safe test if you are unsure: ask the office that has to accept your new name whether it wants a Central Gazette notification. A passport office will. A state department usually will not. Many families do both, since the same affidavit and newspaper pages work for either.
Central Gazette Name Change from West Bengal: Full Step-by-Step Process
The Gazette of India, Part IV, is the route for passports, visas, minors and any use outside the state. Here is every step in detail, exactly as the Department of Publication expects it. Nothing here is done through an agent; we prepare and check, you sign and send.
Prepare and Notarise the Name Change Affidavit
The affidavit goes on non-judicial stamp paper and states your old name, new name, father's or husband's name, full address and the reason for the change. Sign it in your old name before a Notary Public. Read every letter against your Aadhaar before you swear it.
Time rule: the affidavit and every other document must not be older than one year on the day the file reaches Delhi. An old affidavit means a returned file.
Publish the Notice in Two Newspapers
The same notice text goes in one Bengali daily and one English daily that circulate in your district. The notice must show the old name, new name, father's or husband's name and full address. Book classified text, not display; it costs a fraction of the display rate.
Keep the full page: the complete original printed page with the newspaper name and date visible. A cutting is one of the commonest reasons files come back from Delhi.
Fill the Prescribed Proforma with Two Witnesses
Download the prescribed application form from deptpub.gov.in. It must be computer typed, carry your old and new name exactly as in the affidavit and newspapers, and be signed in your old name. Two witnesses sign with their names and addresses. Any mismatch between the affidavit, the newspapers and this form is the number one rejection reason.
Prepare the Soft Copy and Matching Certificate
The notification text is submitted as a soft copy file, along with a short certificate stating that the hard copy and soft copy are the same. No compact disc is needed; guides still asking for a CD are years out of date.
Pay the Government Fee on BharatKosh Only
Pay Rs 1,100 (adult) on bharatkosh.gov.in, the Government's NTRP portal, and print the receipt for the file. Rs 1,700 for a minor, Rs 3,500 for an Indian living abroad, and Rs 250 extra for each alias name. The fee is non-refundable.
Never send a demand draft and never pay cash. The Department of Publication accepts BharatKosh only.
Post the Complete File to Delhi Yourself
The signed file with the affidavit, both newspaper pages, proforma, soft copy, certificate, photographs, self-attested ID and the BharatKosh receipt goes by speed post or courier to: Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi-110054. Keep the tracking slip.
In your own name: the Department accepts applications from the applicant directly or by post or courier. Agents cannot submit for you, so any "we will submit it" promise is a red flag. Documents once submitted are never returned.
Publication in Part IV and Download
After scrutiny, your notification is published in the Gazette of India, Part IV, which comes out weekly on Saturdays. Most files complete in 30 to 45 days after reaching Delhi. Download the PDF free from egazette.gov.in using Control and F to find your name; hard copies ceased in October 2015 and no certification is needed.
If there is an error in print: apply for a corrigendum within six months of publication, so read your notification the week it appears.
Special cases: for a minor, a parent signs everything with the child's birth certificate attached. Central Government employees execute a deed under MHA O.M. 190016/1/87-Estt.(A) dated 12 March 1987, routed through their department. If you also want the state notification, the same affidavit and newspaper pages work for the Kolkata Gazette Part II, only the attestation level differs.
Name Change Procedure in West Bengal: Step-by-Step Guide
Six steps from settling the spelling to downloading the published Gazette. Steps 4 and 5 are alternatives; many people do both.
Settle the Exact Name First
Lay out every document and note how the name appears on each, including spacing and initials. Choose the version on the document that is hardest to change, usually a board certificate or a live passport. Everything after this copies from that line. Aadhaar allows only two name changes in a lifetime, so get it right once.
Make the Name Change Affidavit
On West Bengal stamp paper, stating old name, new name, parentage, address and reason. For the Part II route it is attested by a First Class Judicial Magistrate; for the Central route a Notary is enough. Read every field against your Aadhaar before you swear it. Once sworn it cannot be quietly edited.
Publish the Newspaper Notices
The same text in one Bengali daily and one English daily that circulate in your district. Book classified text, not display. Keep the complete original printed pages with the date visible, not cuttings, and read the proof before it prints.
Apply to Kolkata Gazette Part II Online
Upload the scanned affidavit, newspaper pages, identity and address proof, photographs and the undertaking in the applicable annexure at wbgazettepart2.in. Pay on GRIPS. A team under the Nodal Officer scrutinises the file; shortfalls come by SMS with OTP and are fixed online.
Or Apply to the Gazette of India
For a passport, visa or any use outside the state. The prescribed file, typed proforma with two witnesses, soft copy and photographs go by post to Civil Lines, Delhi-110054, with the fee paid only on bharatkosh.gov.in. Applications are accepted from the applicant directly or by post, never from an agent.
Download the Gazette and Update Records
Part II arrives by SMS and is downloaded from the state portal. Central publication appears in Part IV and is downloaded free from egazette.gov.in. Neither needs certification. Print several copies, then work through your records in the order given below.
Name Change Timeline in West Bengal (What Happens Each Week)
Document check and affidavit draft
You send ID copies on WhatsApp. We confirm the route and send the affidavit draft the same day.
Affidavit signed and newspapers published
You sign and get attestation, usually the same day subject to the Magistrate's availability. Notices in one Bengali and one English daily often print the next day if booked before the cut-off.
Kolkata Gazette Part II published
Online application, GRIPS payment, scrutiny by the Nodal Officer team, notification within 7 days of a complete file.
Gazette of India published (if chosen)
File reaches Delhi by post, scrutiny, then publication in Part IV on a Saturday. Download from egazette.gov.in.
So a Part II notification can be in your hands inside two weeks from a standing start, while the Central route runs three to seven weeks. There is no expedited option on either. Anybody promising faster Government processing for a higher fee is describing their own turnaround, not the press.
What We Do vs What You Do
We do: route selection, affidavit and newspaper drafting, form filling, fee guidance, error check on every page, follow-up till the Gazette is published, and document update guidance after that.
You do: sign the affidavit before the Notary or Magistrate, pay the government fee in your name, and for the central Gazette, post the file in your own name as the Department of Publication does not accept files from agents.
This is why our files do not get rejected: nothing is done in anyone's name but yours.
☎ Call 9540003316Start Your Name Change in West Bengal: Enquiry Form
Documents Required for Name Change in West Bengal
Keep these ready. We check every one before filing.
For Kolkata Gazette Part II (State)
- Scanned original affidavit on West Bengal stamp paper, attested by a First Class Judicial Magistrate, showing father's or husband's name and residential address
- Complete original newspaper pages, one Bengali and one English, with the date visible
- Photo ID: Aadhaar, Passport or Driving Licence (any Government photo ID for Government employees)
- Address proof establishing West Bengal domicile
- Two passport size photographs
- Online undertaking in the applicable annexure (I for name, II for surname, III religion, IV gender)
- Court decree or order where the change follows divorce or separation; death certificate for reversion after death of husband
- Conversion certificate from a Mandir, Masjid, Monastery, Gurudwara or Church for change of religion
- GRIPS payment receipt
For Gazette of India (Central)
- Notarised name change affidavit (not older than one year)
- Complete original newspaper pages with the notice, not cuttings
- Prescribed proforma, computer typed, signed in the old name, with two witnesses
- Soft copy of the notification text submitted as a file, plus a certificate that hard and soft copies match
- Two passport size photographs
- Self-attested Aadhaar, PAN, Passport, Voter ID or Driving Licence
- BharatKosh payment receipt: Rs 1,100 adult, Rs 1,700 minor
- Marriage certificate or certified divorce decree where the change follows from either
- For minors: parent's ID and the child's birth certificate
No compact disc is required. Several guides still tell West Bengal readers to prepare a CD with the soft copy. That requirement went years ago and the soft copy is submitted as a file. A page still asking for a CD has not been checked in a long time, which tells you what to make of its fees and addresses.
Name Change Fees in West Bengal: Government Charges Explained
These are the official government and out-of-pocket costs. Our service fee is quoted separately on call or WhatsApp after the free document check, so you never pay for a route you do not need.
| Item | Paid To / Notes | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Stamp paper and attestation | West Bengal uses low stamp denominations, Rs 10 or Rs 50 commonly; your notary or the court advises the correct one | Rs 100 to Rs 500 |
| Two newspaper notices | Booked as classified text in a lower rate edition. Agencies often quote several thousand for the same result | From a few hundred rupees |
| Kolkata Gazette Part II: change of name | PE&IR Department via GRIPS; revised from time to time by the State Government | Rs 1,100 |
| Kolkata Gazette Part II: change of surname (including deletion or maiden name) | PE&IR Department via GRIPS | Rs 1,100 |
| Kolkata Gazette Part II: change of religion | PE&IR Department via GRIPS | Rs 1,700 |
| Kolkata Gazette Part II: change of gender | PE&IR Department via GRIPS | Rs 1,400 |
| Gazette of India: adult name change | Department of Publication via BharatKosh only. Non-refundable. No demand draft | Rs 1,100 |
| Gazette of India: minor name change | Same route, applied for by a parent or guardian | Rs 1,700 |
| Gazette of India: Indian living abroad | Plus embassy attestation and courier | Rs 3,500 |
| Gazette of India: each extra alias name | Department of Publication via BharatKosh | Rs 250 |
| Speed post to Delhi | Only if you use the Central route | Rs 50 to Rs 200 |
State Gazette charges are as per Notification No. 511-PEIR-99/59/2022 dated 17 May 2023 and are subject to change by Government of West Bengal order; check the portal before paying. Central Gazette fees are as per the Department of Publication.
The arithmetic that settles it. The Central Government fee alone is Rs 1,100. So an "all inclusive" package priced at Rs 999 cannot include it. Ask any provider to state the Government fee separately from their own charge, ask what happens if the file is returned, and ask whether their fee is refundable when it is. We answer all three before you pay.
Common Name Change Mistakes That Get West Bengal Files Rejected
We see these every week. Each one costs a fresh affidavit, a fresh newspaper ad, or a fresh fee.
Paying the Gazette of India fee by demand draft
The Department of Publication accepts payment only through bharatkosh.gov.in. Many websites still say "make a DD". A DD will get your file returned.
Notary attestation for the Kolkata Gazette Part II
The state guideline asks for an affidavit attested by a First Class Judicial Magistrate. A Notary-only affidavit is fine for the central Gazette but is a shortfall on the state portal.
Signing the form with the new name
Every form and undertaking is signed in the old name, because the new name is not legal until the Gazette is published.
Newspaper notice missing father's or husband's name or address
The notice must show old name, new name, father's or husband's name and full address. A short notice with only two names is rejected.
Sending the central file through an agent
The Department of Publication accepts applications submitted personally or by post or courier from the applicant. We prepare everything; you send it in your name.
Writing "Controller of Publications, West Bengal" on the envelope
There is no state office for the Gazette of India. The address is always Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi-110054.
Sending the state application to "Government Press, Alipore"
That was the older arrangement. Since the 17 May 2023 guideline, Kolkata Gazette Part II is applied for online and published by Saraswaty Press Limited. Pages naming only Alipore, or giving a mobile number as a Government office contact, have not been updated.
Submitting a newspaper cutting instead of the complete page
Both Gazette offices want the full original printed page with the newspaper name and date visible. A cutting is one of the commonest reasons a Central file comes back.
Address on the affidavit not matching Aadhaar or the ID proof
UIDAI expects the address in the gazette notification to match your Aadhaar address. Check your Aadhaar address before drafting the affidavit, not after publication.
Preparing a CD, or downloading the state Gazette from egazette.gov.in
No CD is needed; the soft copy is a file. And egazette.gov.in is the Central portal. The Kolkata Gazette Part II is downloaded from wbgazettepart2.in.
Applying to the state Gazette for a minor or from outside West Bengal
Kolkata Gazette Part II is only for adults domiciled in West Bengal. Minors and non-residents must use the Gazette of India.
Which Documents to Update First After Name Change in West Bengal
Order matters. Each document asks for the one before it. Print several copies of the Gazette; every institution keeps its own.
Aadhaar
At an Aadhaar Seva Kendra with the gazette copy and identity proof. A name change is not an online update. UIDAI allows only two name changes in a lifetime, and the update fee is charged per attempt.
PAN Card
As a correction to the existing card, never a new one. Holding two PANs attracts a penalty.
Bank Accounts
Including joint accounts, plus a fresh specimen signature if yours has changed. Cheques already issued in the old name keep clearing.
Passport
As a reissue with a new booklet and a new number. Existing visas do not survive it. The Central Gazette is what the passport office looks for.
Voter ID, Driving Licence, RC
Voter ID is a free Form 8 on the Election Commission portal. Then the driving licence, and separately the vehicle RC, insurance and PUC.
EPFO, Insurance, NPS
UAN, insurance policies and NPS, and separately your nominations, which a name change does not touch.
Board, University, Employer
School and university records, payroll and any verification agency. Boards run their own correction windows; producing the certificate with the gazette is usually the accepted answer.
Property, Society, Utilities
Land records, housing society, electricity and other utilities. Keep the gazette filed with your title documents.
The gazette PDF needs no certification, and nobody should charge you to fetch a public record. Hard copies of the Gazette of India ceased in October 2015.
Name Change After Marriage, Divorce, for Minors and Government Employees in West Bengal
Surname Change After Marriage
There is no legal obligation to change your name on marriage, and either spouse may adopt the other's surname. Where you do, a registered marriage certificate showing both the previous and new name usually does the work for Aadhaar, PAN, banks and the passport. You may need no gazette at all.
Reverting to Maiden Name After Divorce
You are not required to revert, and nobody can compel you. Where you do, a certified copy of the decree is the standard proof, provided it records the name you are reverting to. Read the decree first. The Kolkata Gazette Part II expressly covers reversion, with the court order among the documents.
Name Change for a Minor Child
A parent or legal guardian applies with the child's birth certificate, at the minor fee of Rs 1,700 on the Central route. The state Gazette is for adults only. Where both parents have rights, both should sign. Board correction windows close within a few years of results, so act while the child is in school.
State and Central Government Employees
State employees are expressly covered by the Kolkata Gazette Part II, including a female employee adding or changing a surname on marriage or remarriage, or reverting after divorce. Central employees execute a deed under MHA O.M. 190016/1/87-Estt.(A) dated 12 March 1987, routed through the department so the service book is updated alongside the gazette. Run the two together; a mismatch surfaces at promotion or pension stage, decades later.
Birth Certificate Name Correction in West Bengal Is Not a Gazette Matter
Where a name is misspelled on a birth certificate, the fix is a Registrar correction under Section 15 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, made by the local body that registered the birth. In Kolkata that is the Kolkata Municipal Corporation; elsewhere it is your municipality, notified area authority or gram panchayat. The Civil Registration System portal is crsorgi.gov.in.
For a plain clerical error that is usually the whole answer, and it is far cheaper than a gazette. Try it before assuming you need anything else. If you send us the certificate, we will tell you which route applies at no charge.
One thing to expect, because it surprises people
Section 15 requires the Registrar to correct by an entry in the margin, without altering the original entry. The register keeps what was first written, permanently, with the correction beside it. That is by design: a birth certificate records history, not your current identity.
Why Choose West Bengal Name Change for Your Gazette Notification
Run by a Law Graduate With Real Filing Experience
Our founder holds a B.Tech and LL.B and has filed with the Department of Publication for more than five years. We follow the official guidelines, not forum rumours.
Right Route, Not the Costly Route
Correction or change? State or central Gazette? We tell you honestly, even when the answer is "you do not need a Gazette".
Fully Online From Any District
Siliguri to Sundarbans, Asansol to Kolkata. Everything moves on WhatsApp and email. No office visit, no queue.
Every Page Checked Before Filing
Spelling, father's name, address, signature in old name, fee head, stamp value. A rejected file costs you weeks; we prevent it.
Bengali, Hindi and English Support
Talk to us in the language you are comfortable with. Affidavit and newspaper text is prepared in the language your Gazette office needs.
Your Name, Your File
Fees are paid in your name and the central file is posted in your name. Nothing is done through an agent, so nothing gets bounced.
Name Change Service in Kolkata, Howrah, Siliguri and All West Bengal Districts
Both routes run online or by post, so your district changes the timeline a little and nothing else.
Name Change in West Bengal: Frequently Asked Questions
How can I change my name legally in West Bengal?
Sign a name change affidavit, publish the notice in one Bengali daily and one English daily, and get a Gazette notification. In West Bengal you can choose the Kolkata Gazette Part II (state, online at wbgazettepart2.in) or the Gazette of India Part IV (central). The Gazette copy is your legal proof for Aadhaar, PAN, passport and bank updates.
Does West Bengal have its own name change gazette?
Yes. A resident aged 18 or above can notify a change of name, surname, deletion of surname, reversion to a maiden name, religion or gender through the Kolkata Gazette Part II, applied for online at wbgazettepart2.in.
Who publishes the Kolkata Gazette Part II now?
Saraswaty Press Limited, a Government Enterprise under the Public Enterprises and Industrial Reconstruction Department. Part II printing was earlier done at the WBG Press, Alipore campus, so pages naming only Alipore describe the older arrangement.
Is there a gazette office in Kolkata for name change?
For the state route, the Kolkata Gazette Part II is applied for online and published by Saraswaty Press Limited, with a free help desk at the Sealdah office, 32 A.P.C. Road, Kolkata-9, by prior appointment. For the Central Gazette there is no counter anywhere in West Bengal; that office is at Civil Lines, Delhi-110054.
How fast is the Kolkata Gazette Part II?
The published guideline states that where all documents are found in order, the notification is issued within 7 days of submission. The Central Gazette takes about 30 to 45 days after the file reaches Delhi. There is no expedited option on either.
Is the Kolkata Gazette valid all over India?
It is a state publication. For records inside West Bengal it is generally accepted. For a passport, a visa, a central Government post or an institution outside the state, Part IV of the Gazette of India is what those offices look for.
What is the government fee for name change in West Bengal?
Kolkata Gazette Part II charges Rs 1,100 for a name or surname change on the GRIPS portal, subject to revision by the State Government. The Gazette of India charges Rs 1,100 for an adult and Rs 1,700 for a minor, paid only through bharatkosh.gov.in and non-refundable. Affidavit and newspaper costs are extra.
Who can attest the affidavit for the state route?
The guideline requires an original affidavit attested by a First Class Judicial Magistrate of a competent court. That is a step above an ordinary notary, so check before paying for attestation and having to do it twice. For the Central Gazette a notarised affidavit is accepted.
Which languages does the Kolkata Gazette Part II accept?
The 2022 guideline lists Urdu, Nepali, Santhali, Bengali, English and Hindi. That six-language list is unusually wide and matters for readers in the hills and the Jangalmahal districts.
How many newspapers are needed for a name change in West Bengal?
One Bengali daily and one English daily that circulate in your district, with the same text in both. Keep the complete original printed pages with the date visible, not cuttings. The same pages work for both the state and the central Gazette.
Can a minor child change name in West Bengal?
Yes. The Kolkata Gazette Part II accepts only applicants aged 18 and above, so a minor's name change goes through the Gazette of India. A parent or guardian signs with the child's birth certificate. The central government fee for a minor is Rs 1,700.
Is a Gazette needed to correct a spelling mistake in my birth certificate?
No. A clerical error in a birth certificate is corrected by the local Registrar of Births and Deaths under Section 15 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, through the body that registered the birth, such as the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. A Gazette is for a full legal name change.
Do I have to change my name after marriage?
No. There is no legal obligation, either spouse may adopt the other's surname, and there is no deadline. If only your surname is changing and you hold a registered marriage certificate, you may need no gazette at all.
Do I need to visit any office in Kolkata or Delhi?
No. The Kolkata Gazette Part II application is fully online. The Gazette of India application is sent by post or courier in your own name. Nothing requires you to travel, from Siliguri, Malda, Purulia or anywhere else in the state.
Can an agent submit my Central Gazette application?
No. The Department of Publication accepts applications from the applicant directly or by post or courier. We prepare and check the file; you sign and send it in your own name.
Do I need to submit a CD with my application?
No. The soft copy is submitted as a file. Pages still asking for a compact disc have not been updated in years.
How do I download my gazette notification?
For Part II you are informed by SMS and download the soft copy from wbgazettepart2.in. For the Central Gazette you download it free from egazette.gov.in, using Control and F to find your name. Hard copies ceased in October 2015 and neither needs certification.
What if my application has a mistake in it?
For Part II the guideline provides for redressal within a week, subject to submission of the registered document. For the Central Gazette a published error is corrected by corrigendum, which must be applied for within six months of publication, so read your notification the week it appears.
What happens if my Central Gazette file is returned?
The Central Government fee is not refundable. The commonest causes are a mismatch between the affidavit, the newspaper notices and the proforma, an address that does not match the identity proof, a cutting instead of a complete page, and documents older than a year. We check every one of these before you post the file.
How many times can I change my name in Aadhaar?
Twice in a lifetime, after which a rare regional office exception is needed. The update fee is charged per attempt and is not refunded if the request is rejected, so settle the exact spelling before you apply anywhere.
Does the address on my gazette matter?
Yes. UIDAI expects the address in a gazette notification to match your Aadhaar address, so check your Aadhaar address before drafting the affidavit rather than after publication.
Can Government employees use the Kolkata Gazette Part II?
Yes. The guideline expressly covers State Government employees, including addition or change of surname on marriage or remarriage and deletion or reversion to a maiden name on divorce or separation. Central Government employees execute a deed through their department under the MHA Office Memorandum of 12 March 1987.
Official Sources for Name Change Rules in West Bengal
Everything on this page is checked against these. Use them yourself; nobody should charge you to read a public record.
Kolkata Gazette Part II Portal
wbgazettepart2.in for the online application, the published guideline (Notification 511-PEIR-99/59/2022, 17 May 2023) and download of the notification.
Department of Publication
deptpub.gov.in, Civil Lines, Delhi-110054, for current Central fees and the prescribed document list.
eGazette and BharatKosh
egazette.gov.in for free download of Central Gazette notifications; bharatkosh.gov.in, the only accepted mode of payment for the Central fee.
UIDAI and Civil Registration
uidai.gov.in for Aadhaar rules, including that a name change needs a Seva Kendra visit; crsorgi.gov.in for birth certificate corrections.
The Short Version
- West Bengal has a real citizen gazette route. Apply online at wbgazettepart2.in for the Kolkata Gazette Part II.
- Where documents are in order, the Part II notification is issued within 7 days. The Central Gazette takes 30 to 45 days.
- Use the Central Gazette anyway if a passport, visa, central employer or out-of-state board is involved.
- Get the affidavit attested by a First Class Judicial Magistrate for the state route, not just a notary.
- One Bengali daily and one English daily, complete original pages, and read the proof before it prints.
- Settle the exact spelling first. Aadhaar allows only two name changes in a lifetime.
- A birth certificate error is a Registrar correction through your local municipal body, not a gazette matter.
- If only your surname is changing after marriage and you hold a registered certificate, you may need no gazette at all.
Talk to Us Before You Spend Anything on Name Change in West Bengal
Send us the documents that disagree with each other and the exact name you want on record. If a gazette is not required we will say so. If it is, we will tell you which one, quote our fee separately from the Government fee, and tell you plainly what happens if a file is returned. Monday to Saturday.