Gazette Name Change Time in West Bengal: 7 Days or 45 Days, Depending on the Route
Two gazettes, two clocks. The Kolkata Gazette Part II is issued within 7 days of a complete file. The Gazette of India takes 30 to 45 days after the file reaches Delhi. This page lays both out day by day, names the four things that add weeks, and explains why no "urgent" option exists at any price.
Get Call and Name Change Format
How Long Does a Gazette Name Change Take in West Bengal? (Quick Answer)
Kolkata Gazette Part II: the guideline says the notification is issued within 7 days of submission when documents are in order, so about two weeks from a standing start once the affidavit and newspapers are counted. Gazette of India: published every Saturday in Part IV; most files complete in 30 to 45 days after reaching Delhi, so five to seven weeks overall including speed post. Both clocks count from a complete file: a shortfall SMS on the state route or a returned central file restarts them. There is no fast-track on either route, at any fee.
| Stage | Kolkata Gazette Part II | Gazette of India |
|---|---|---|
| Affidavit | 1 to 2 days (Magistrate's availability) | Same day (notary) |
| Newspapers | Prints next day if booked before the cut-off | |
| Application | Online, same day | Post to Delhi, 2 to 5 days in transit |
| Office processing | Within 7 days of a complete file | 30 to 45 days after receipt |
| Publication day | Any working day, SMS alert | Saturday only |
| Download | Same day as the SMS, from the portal | Saturday of publication, egazette.gov.in |
| Total from a standing start | About 2 weeks | 5 to 7 weeks |
| Revise window | 24 hours after Final Submit | None; correct and re-post |
| Fast-track | Does not exist on either route | |
Gazette Name Change Timelines in West Bengal: Every Number in One Place
- Affidavit
- Same day in most cases, subject to the Magistrate or Notary being available. This is the step that slips over a long weekend.
- Newspaper notices
- Often printed the next day if booked before the cut-off, so allow 1 to 3 days for both papers.
- Kolkata Gazette Part II
- The guideline says the notification is issued within 7 days of submission where all documents are found in order. From a standing start that is about two weeks including the affidavit and newspapers.
- Gazette of India
- About 30 to 45 days after the file reaches Delhi, published on a Saturday in Part IV. Add the postal days each way and the pre-work, so three to seven weeks in practice.
- Both routes together
- The clocks run in parallel, not one after the other. The same affidavit and the same newspaper pages serve both files, so doing both adds cost, not months.
- No fast-track
- Neither gazette has an expedited option and no fee buys speed. Anybody promising faster Government processing is describing their own turnaround.
- Shortfall on the state route
- An SMS with an OTP link, fixed online. Answering the same day usually costs a day or two; ignoring it stalls the file indefinitely.
- Returned central file
- Weeks lost and the fee gone, because the Central Government fee is not refundable. The commonest causes are a name mismatch across documents and a cutting instead of a complete page.
- Aadhaar after the gazette
- An in-person Seva Kendra visit, with the update usually reflecting within a few days. Do this before the passport, because the passport office reads the Aadhaar name.
- PAN and bank
- PAN is a correction to the existing card and takes about one to two weeks. A bank needs a branch visit for signature verification, and no Indian bank completes this fully online.
- Passport
- A reissue with a new booklet and a new number, on normal or tatkaal timelines after your appointment. Tatkaal speeds the passport office, never the gazette.
- Planning rule
- Work backwards from the deadline. For anything involving a passport or a visa, count on two to three months end to end and do not book travel inside that window.
On This Page
- Every timeline number
- State route: day by day
- Central route: week by week
- Doing both: they run in parallel
- Four things that add weeks
- Why there is no fast-track
- Time after the gazette: Aadhaar to passport
- Planning around a deadline
- Common questions people search
- Timeline terms explained
- Districts we serve
- FAQ
- Enquiry form
How Long the Kolkata Gazette Part II Takes: Day by Day, From ID to PDF
Document check, route decided, affidavit drafted
You send your ID on WhatsApp. We confirm the state route fits, draft the affidavit in the portal's declaration format, and you take it to the First Class Judicial Magistrate.
Affidavit sworn
Depends on the Magistrate's availability; usually the same or next day. Note the affidavit number and the Magistrate's name.
Newspapers booked and printed
One Bengali and one English daily. Booked before the cut-off, the notice prints the next morning. Photograph the full pages.
Online application, GRIPS payment, Final Submit
Register, declaration, Rs 1,100 on GRIPS, uploads within size limits, Preview, Final Submit. Application number by SMS. 24 hours to revise.
Scrutiny and notification
A team under the Nodal Officer checks the file. A shortfall comes by SMS with an OTP link; fix it online and the 7-day count restarts. A complete file is issued within 7 days.
Approval SMS, download, Aadhaar
Download from the portal Home page, print copies, book the Aadhaar Seva Kendra.
How Long the Gazette of India Takes From West Bengal: Week by Week
Affidavit, newspapers, proforma, BharatKosh, post
Notarised affidavit, two newspapers, typed proforma with two witnesses, soft copy and certificate, Rs 1,100 on BharatKosh, file posted by speed post in your own name. Usually done in 4 to 6 days.
In transit to Civil Lines, Delhi
2 to 5 days by speed post from West Bengal. Keep the tracking slip; the office clock starts on receipt.
Scrutiny at the Department of Publication
The file is checked for mismatches, document age, payment and completeness. A faulty file is returned by post, which adds two transit legs and a re-post; the fee already paid is not refunded.
Publication on a Saturday
A cleared file goes into the next weekly issue of Part IV. Most West Bengal files complete in 30 to 45 days after receipt.
Download from egazette.gov.in
Open the issue, search your name, save the PDF. Free, no certification. Read it the same week; a corrigendum must be sought within six months.
State and Central Gazette Together: How Long Both Take
The affidavit and the newspaper pages serve both gazettes, so both applications start in the same week. The state notification arrives in about a week while the central file is still in the post. By the time the Gazette of India is published, your Aadhaar, PAN and bank are usually already updated on the strength of the Kolkata Gazette Part II.
Total time for both is the central time, five to seven weeks, not the sum. The only extra work is the notary attestation for the central file if you had the Magistrate attest the affidavit for the state; in practice the Magistrate-attested affidavit is accepted by Delhi too.
Who should do both
Anyone with a passport, visa, central job or out-of-state board anywhere in their future. The state gazette gets the local records done fast; the central gazette covers everything else without a second affidavit. Which gazette for which case.
Why a Gazette Name Change Gets Delayed in West Bengal: Four Causes
| Cause | Route | Time added | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shortfall SMS (mismatch, oversized file, notary affidavit) | State | Restarts the 7-day count from the corrected submission | Match the four fields; compress files; Magistrate attestation |
| Returned file (cutting, old affidavit, DD, signature in new name) | Central | Two postal legs plus re-scrutiny: 2 to 4 weeks | Full newspaper pages; affidavit under a year; BharatKosh only; sign in the old name |
| Missed SMS on a wrong or family member's number | State | Indefinite until noticed | Register your own mobile; check Application Status weekly |
| Festival weeks, postal delay, Saturday cut-off | Both | Days to a week | File before Durga Puja and Christmas weeks; post early in the week |
Is There a Fast-Track or Tatkal Gazette Name Change in West Bengal?
The Kolkata Gazette Part II guideline sets one timeline: issue within 7 days of a complete file. The Department of Publication publishes Part IV once a week, on Saturday, and scrutinises files in the order received. Neither office publishes a tatkal fee, a premium queue or an expedited counter, because neither has one.
A provider promising "gazette in 3 days for extra" on the central route is describing something the press does not do. On the state route, 7 days is already the rule; nobody can sell you fewer.
What actually shortens the time
A complete, matched file on the first attempt. That is where the weeks are saved, and it is the only thing a good service can honestly promise. Every fee, and what refunds do not exist.
How Long Aadhaar, PAN, Bank and Passport Updates Take After the Gazette
Aadhaar
Seva Kendra visit; the updated Aadhaar usually reflects within days to a couple of weeks.
PAN
Correction on the existing PAN after Aadhaar; typically a couple of weeks.
Bank
KYC update at the branch; same day to a few days per bank.
Passport
Reissue in the new name after the Gazette of India; Passport Seva's own processing time, plus police verification where applicable.
Voter ID, DL
Form 8 online; RTO as per its schedule.
Board records
Each board's own correction cycle; apply before its window closes.
Planning a Gazette Name Change Around a Deadline in West Bengal
| Your deadline | Start the gazette by | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Bank or Aadhaar update needed in 3 weeks | Now; state route in about 2 weeks, then the update | Kolkata Gazette Part II |
| Passport application in 3 months | At least 8 weeks before; central gazette 5 to 7 weeks, then reissue time | Gazette of India (and state for local records) |
| Visa interview with a fixed date | 3 months before; passport reissue must be complete before the visa file | Gazette of India |
| Board correction window closing | Immediately; do the state gazette for speed and the central if the board is outside West Bengal | Depends on the board |
| Child's school admission | 6 to 8 weeks before; minors are central only | Gazette of India |
Common Questions People Search About Gazette Name Change Time
Three short answers to the searches that bring people to this page.
What is the fastest way to change a name in West Bengal?
The Kolkata Gazette Part II, where the guideline promises the notification within 7 days of a complete file. Two things make it faster still: getting the affidavit attested and both newspapers booked in the same week, and answering any shortfall SMS the day it arrives. Nothing else moves the needle, because there is no paid fast-track on either route.
Can I get a gazette notification in one day?
No, and anyone offering it is selling something they do not control. The state route needs scrutiny before publication and the central route publishes weekly on a Saturday. What can happen in a day is the preparation: the affidavit, the newspaper booking and the upload. The Government part runs on its own clock.
How long does the whole process take including Aadhaar and passport?
For a state gazette plus Aadhaar, plan on three to four weeks. For anything touching a passport, count two to three months, because the central gazette takes 30 to 45 days, Aadhaar comes next, and the passport reissue follows that. If you have a visa appointment or travel booked, tell us the date first and we will work backwards from it.
People Also Search For
Timeline Terms Explained: Scrutiny, Shortfall, Working Days
Eight words that decide how long your file takes, in one line each.
Scrutiny
The stage where a team checks your file before publication. Most of the waiting happens here, and a clean file passes it once.
Shortfall
A missing or unreadable document. On the state route it arrives as an SMS with an OTP link, and every day you take to answer is a day added.
Working days
What official timelines usually count. A file submitted before a long holiday stretch waits through it, which is why late-week submissions feel slower.
Weekly issue
The Gazette of India publishes Part IV on Saturdays, so your file waits for the next issue rather than appearing on the day it clears.
In parallel
Running both gazettes at the same time from the same affidavit and newspapers, rather than finishing one before starting the other.
Tatkaal
The faster passport scheme at a higher fee. It speeds the passport office only, never the gazette that comes before it.
Returned file
A central file sent back for a defect. The fee is not refunded and the clock restarts, which is why the pre-check matters more than speed.
Supporting proof
What the gazette is. Publication is not the end: Aadhaar, PAN, the bank and the passport each take their own time afterwards.
Timeline Planning for Kolkata, Howrah, Siliguri and Every District
Your district changes the timeline only a little, through how quickly a court slot and a newspaper booking come through. Everything else runs online or by post at the same speed statewide. Tell us your deadline on WhatsApp and we will work backwards from it.
Gazette Name Change Time in West Bengal: Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a gazette name change take in West Bengal?
Kolkata Gazette Part II: the guideline says the notification is issued within 7 days of submission when all documents are in order, so about two weeks from a standing start including the affidavit and newspapers. Gazette of India: published on Saturdays in Part IV, most files complete in 30 to 45 days after reaching Delhi, so five to seven weeks overall.
How long does the Kolkata Gazette Part II take?
Within 7 days of a complete online application, per the 17 May 2023 guideline. The clock counts from a complete file; a shortfall SMS restarts it from the corrected submission.
How long does the Gazette of India take from West Bengal?
Typically 30 to 45 days after the file reaches the Department of Publication in Delhi. Add 2 to 5 days for speed post from West Bengal. Publication is weekly on Saturday, so a file cleared mid-week appears in the next issue.
Is there a fast-track or tatkal gazette name change?
No. Neither Saraswaty Press nor the Department of Publication offers expedited processing at any fee. Anyone charging extra for urgent government processing is charging for their own turnaround.
What makes a gazette name change take longer?
A shortfall on the state route (SMS with OTP link; fix and resubmit), a returned central file (mismatch, cutting, old affidavit, demand draft), a missed SMS on a wrong registered number, festival and holiday weeks, and postal delay to Delhi.
How long before I can start the gazette after the newspaper notice?
The next day, once you have the printed page. There is no waiting period after publication on either route.
How long is the affidavit valid for the gazette?
On the central route, documents must not be older than one year on the day the file reaches Delhi. The state route asks for a recent newspaper advertisement; keep everything within a few months.
How long does the whole name change take, including Aadhaar and passport?
State route: gazette in about two weeks, Aadhaar a few days after the Seva Kendra visit, PAN and bank within a couple of weeks. Central route: gazette in five to seven weeks, then the same updates; passport reissue adds its own processing time after that.
Can I revise the state application after submitting?
Within 24 hours of Final Submit, using Click to revise. After that, only the shortfall SMS route can change anything, so use the Preview screen before you submit.
Does doing both gazettes take twice as long?
No. They run in parallel. The affidavit and newspapers are shared; the state notification arrives in about a week while the central file is still in the post.
When is the Gazette of India published?
Every Saturday, Part IV. Download the issue from egazette.gov.in and search your name. Hard copies ceased in October 2015.
My state application has been Pending for more than 7 days. What now?
Check the registered mobile for a shortfall SMS first. If the file is complete and still pending, the guideline provides redressal within a week on submission of the registered document, and the Sealdah help desk sees applicants by appointment.
Official Sources for Gazette Timelines
Kolkata Gazette Part II guideline
Notification of 17 May 2023: notification within 7 days of submission where documents are in order; SMS on the registered mobile.
Process Manual v1.2.0
Portal manual: 24-hour revise window, Application Status, download location.
eGazette of India
egazette.gov.in: weekly Part IV issues, published on Saturdays.
Gazette Name Change in West Bengal: The Complete Series
Nine guides on the gazette notification itself: which gazette, the wording, the documents, the time, and the marriage, minor, passport, spelling and Kolkata cases.
Gazette Name Change in West Bengal
What the notification is, which gazette to use, and what it is worth.
Read →Gazette Name Change After Marriage
When the marriage certificate is enough, and when you need a gazette.
Read →Gazette Name Change for a Minor
Central only, Rs 1,700, parent as applicant, school and board timing.
Read →Notification Format and Sample
The wording of the affidavit, notice, form and published entry.
Read →Documents Required
Both routes item by item, with size limits and category extras.
Read →Gazette Name Change for Passport
Why the passport office wants the Gazette of India, and how to time it.
Read →Name Correction in Gazette
Three cheaper routes first, then the gazette as change of name.
Read →Gazette Name Change in Kolkata
Courts, dailies, Sealdah desk, Belghoria press and our Park Circus office.
Read →Gazette Office Guides for West Bengal: The Complete Series
Six guides that cover the West Bengal gazette offices end to end: where they are, how to apply, what it costs, what the rules say, and where the old Alipore address went.
Gazette Office in West Bengal
Saraswaty Press, the Sealdah help desk and the Delhi office: which one your case needs.
Read →Kolkata Gazette Part 2 Online Application
Every screen of wbgazettepart2.in, from registration to Final Submit.
Read →Kolkata Gazette Part 2 Download and Status Check
Application Status, the shortfall SMS, and where the PDF appears.
Read →Gazette Notification Fees in West Bengal
Every cost separated: GRIPS, BharatKosh, stamp paper, newspapers, courier.
Read →Kolkata Gazette Part 2 Guidelines Explained
The 17 May 2023 notification, clause by clause, in plain words.
Read →Government Press Alipore Name Change
Where Part II moved in 2023 and what to do if you were sent to Alipore.
Read →Get Call and Name Change Format
Have a Deadline? Tell Us the Date and We Work Backwards
Send your ID photo and the date the new name must be ready by. We tell you which route makes it, the day-by-day plan, and the fee, before you pay anything. Monday to Saturday.