Central Gazette Name Change Fees 2026 – Government Charges, Additional Fees & Bharatkosh Payment

If you are planning to change your name through the Gazette of India, one of the first questions is: How much does a Central Gazette name change cost? 

The published Government publication charge for a Change of Name Notice – Adult/Major is ₹1,100 per case, while the published charge for a Change of Name Notice – Minor is ₹1,700 per case.

However, the Government publication fee is not necessarily the complete amount you will spend. Certain name-change requirements and special circumstances attract additional Government charges. You may also have separate expenses for the required newspaper advertisement, document preparation, courier and professional assistance.

The Department of Publication, Government of India, publishes the applicable Gazette rates and provides a prescribed payment procedure through Bharatkosh/NTRP.

This complete guide explains:

• Central Gazette name-change Government fees 
• Adult and minor fees
• Fees for Indian applicants living abroad
• Additional charges for aliases and addresses
• D/o and W/o charges
• Religion-related additional charges
• Remarriage-related charges
• Charges involving a minor child’s name change
• Newspaper and documentation costs
• Government fee versus service fee
• How to pay the Gazette fee through Bharatkosh
• Function Head, PAO and DDO details
• How to generate and preserve the payment receipt
• What happens if the wrong fee is paid
• Historical Gazette rates
• Why different websites quote different prices
• Frequently asked questions about Central Gazette fees

📌 Quick Answer: How Much Does Central Gazette Name Change Cost?

The published Government charges include the following:

These are Government publication charges. They should not automatically be treated as the total amount payable to a private agency for completing the entire name-change process.

Certain circumstances can also attract additional Government charges.

❓ Is ₹1,100 the Total Cost of a Central Gazette Name Change?

No.

₹1,100 is the published Government publication charge for an adult/major change-of-name notice.

Your overall cost may also include:

• Newspaper advertisement
• Applicable document preparation
• Photographs and photocopies
• Courier/postage
• Professional or consultancy assistance
• Additional Government charges, where applicable

This distinction is important because a website quoting a price for a “Gazette name change service” may be quoting a complete package rather than the Government publication fee alone.

📊 Central Gazette Name Change Government Fee Table

The published rate schedule contains separate charges for different types of Gazette notices.

The applicable amount depends on the category of notice and the circumstances of the applicant.

👤 Central Gazette Fee for Adult / Major Name Change

For an adult or major applicant in India, the published Government publication charge for a Change of Name Notice – Adult/Major is:

This is the Government publication charge. 

It does not automatically include:

• Newspaper advertisement
• Private consultancy
• Document preparation
• Courier
• Other applicable expenses
• Additional Government charges for special requirements

Therefore, if you see ₹1,100 described as the “Gazette fee,” that is the Government publication component. It should not automatically be interpreted as the final amount you will spend.

🧒 Central Gazette Fee for Minor Name Change

For a minor’s Central Gazette name-change notice, the published Government publication charge is:

The Department of Publication maintains a separate guideline for Change of Name – Minor.

A minor’s application should therefore be prepared according to the applicable minor procedure rather than simply copying the adult application.

The total cost can be higher than ₹1,700 if newspaper, documentation, courier or professional assistance is required.

🌍 Central Gazette Fee for Indians Living Abroad

The published rate schedule separately provides charges for Indian applicants living abroad.

These are Government publication charges.

An applicant living abroad may also have other expenses, such as:

• Embassy/High Commission attestation where applicable
• Document preparation
• International courier
• Newspaper publication
• Local notarial expenses
• Professional assistance

Therefore, ₹3,500 or ₹5,100 should not automatically be treated as the complete cost of an overseas application.

⚠️ Additional Charges for Central Gazette Name Change

The Government has separately specified circumstances in which additional charges apply.

This is an important part of the Central Gazette fee calculation because the basic ₹1,100 adult fee does not cover every possible name-change requirement.

The additional-charge document specifies the following:

These charges are specifically listed in the Department’s document titled “Details Where Additional Charges Are Applicable.”

🔖 Additional ₹250 Charge for Each Alias

If an alias needs to be included in the Gazette publication, the Government document specifies:

The wording is important: the charge is stated to apply for each alias.

Therefore, if more than one alias is to be included, the additional charge is calculated for each alias.

Do not treat ₹250 as a general additional charge for every name-change application.

👨‍👧 Additional Charge for D/o and W/o

The Government’s additional-charge document specifies:

Where the applicable Gazette publication requires these particulars, this additional charge needs to be taken into account when calculating the Government publication cost.

📍 Additional Charge for Present and Permanent Address

The Government document also specifies:

Therefore, applicants should not assume that every possible address combination is included in the basic adult Gazette publication fee.

If both present and permanent address are required in the publication under the applicable format, the additional Government charge should be considered.

🕊️ Additional Charge for Certain Religion-Related Declarations

The Government’s additional-charge document specifies an additional:

for mentioning either of the following declarations:

This is a specific additional charge and should not be confused with the standard Government fee for an ordinary adult name change.

💍 Additional Fee for Remarriage After Divorce

The Government document specifically lists:

Remarriage after divorce and change of name of Applicant

with an additional charge of:

This is in addition to the applicable basic publication charge.

Therefore, an applicant in this specific category should not simply calculate the cost using the ordinary ₹1,100 adult fee.

💔 Additional Fee for Remarriage After Death of Husband or Wife

The Government document separately lists:

Remarriage after death of husband/wife and change of name of Applicant

with an additional charge of:

Again, this is a specific additional charge and should be added to the applicable basic publication charge.

👨‍👧 Remarriage + Applicant and Minor Child Name Change

The Government document also covers a more specific situation:

Remarriage after death/divorce of husband/wife and change of name of Applicant along with minor child.

The document specifies:

• ₹1,700 for the minor
• ₹1,100 for change of name of the major
• Total additional charge: ₹2,800

This is an important distinction because the applicant may otherwise calculate the fee using only the ordinary adult rate.

🧮 How Is the Total Government Gazette Fee Calculated?

The Government fee should be calculated based on:

For example, an ordinary adult applicant starts with the applicable adult/major publication charge.

If the case also requires an additional charge—for example, an alias, both present and permanent address, or a specified special circumstance—the relevant additional amount must be added.

Example

If a particular adult application attracts:

• Basic adult publication charge: ₹1,100
• One alias: ₹250

the Government publication component would be:

Other expenses, such as newspaper publication or private service charges, would still be separate.

⚖️ Government Gazette Fee vs Service or Consultancy Fee

This distinction is extremely important.

Therefore, if a company quotes a price for “Central Gazette Name Change”, ask whether the quoted amount includes:

1. Government fee
2. Additional Government charges
3. Newspaper
4. Documentation
5. Courier
6. Service/consultancy

This makes price comparisons much clearer.

📰 Is Newspaper Advertisement Included in the Gazette Fee?

No.

The newspaper advertisement is a separate expense.

For the adult/major Central Gazette procedure, the Department’s guideline requires publication in a daily local leading newspaper and specifies submission of the original newspaper with the application.

The Government Gazette publication charge and the newspaper’s advertisement charge are therefore two separate costs.

The newspaper cost can vary depending on:

• Newspaper
• Edition
• Advertisement size
• Publication requirements
• Location

For this reason, there is no single newspaper price that should be added to every Gazette application.

📝 Does the Gazette Fee Include Affidavit or Undertaking Charges?

The Government publication fee should not be treated as automatically including private charges for preparing documents.

The Central Gazette adult procedure includes an undertaking among the prescribed documents.

If you use a professional to prepare, check, stamp or notarise documents where required, that may involve a separate expense.

Always distinguish:

💿 Does the Gazette Fee Include CD or Soft Copy Preparation?

No.

The Central Gazette adult procedure includes a CD/soft-copy requirement for the prescribed Gazette printing matter.

If you prepare the soft copy yourself, there may be little or no professional preparation cost.

If a service provider prepares and checks the Gazette matter for you, its preparation charge may be separate unless expressly included in the package.

📋 Other Gazette Categories & Fees

🕊️ Gazette Fee for Change of Religion

The published rate schedule lists:

for a Change of Religion notice.

This is different from the ₹1,100 ordinary adult name-change rate.

There are also specific additional charges in certain circumstances involving statements about change of name and religion. The applicable category should therefore be identified before payment.

👶 Gazette Fee for Adoption Notice

The published rate schedule lists:

for an Adoption Notice.

Adoption cases have their own documentary requirements and should be handled according to the applicable Department guideline.

Do not automatically use the ordinary adult name-change fee for an adoption case.

📢 Gazette Fee for Public Notice

The published rate schedule lists:

for a Public Notice.

The correct category should be determined from the nature of the proposed publication.

A public notice is not automatically the same as an ordinary adult name-change notice.

📄 Gazette Fee for Lost, Destroyed or Stolen Notice

The published rate schedule lists:

for a Lost/Destroyed/Stolen Notice.

This is a separate Gazette publication category and should not be confused with the normal name-change fee.

💳 How to Pay Central Gazette Fees Through Bharatkosh

The Department of Publication provides a specific Payment Procedure through Bharatkosh (NTRP).

The Government payment instructions provide the following process.

Step 1 – Open Bharatkosh

Visit:

Select:

Step 2 – Select the Payment Process

The Bharatkosh procedure provides four stages:

1. Payment Purpose
2. Depositor’s Details
3. Confirm Information
4. Pay

Step 3 – Select the Payment Purpose

Under Depositor’s Category, select:

Under Purpose, use the search/lens option to locate:

The Government instructions specify selecting this option from the available purpose list.

📋 Bharatkosh Gazette Payment Details

Enter/select the following details according to the Government payment instructions:

These are the fields specified in the Government’s Bharatkosh payment instructions.

🔢 What Is the Function Head for Gazette Payment?

The Government payment instructions specify:

This is the Function Head specified for the Gazette payment procedure.

Applicants should use the current Government payment instructions and the information displayed on the Bharatkosh portal at the time of payment.

🏢 What Is the PAO Code for Gazette Payment?

The Government instructions specify:

PAO means Pay and Accounts Office.

🏛️ What Is the DDO Code for Gazette Payment?

The Government instructions specify:

DDO means Drawing and Disbursing Office.

✏️ What Should Be Entered in the Remarks Field?

The Government payment instructions specify:

Use the current wording displayed in the Government payment procedure if the Bharatkosh interface or updated instructions change.

Step 4 – Enter Depositor’s Details

Enter the required depositor information, including:

• Name
• Address
• Mobile
• E-mail

Review the information carefully before proceeding.

Step 5 – Confirm the Information

Check the details entered for the payment.

Pay particular attention to:

• Applicant name
• Amount
• Purpose
• Function Head
• PAO
• DDO
• Contact details

An error in the payment information can create unnecessary difficulty when the receipt is attached to the application.

Step 6 – Make the Payment

The Government payment instructions provide online payment options including:

• Net Banking
• Debit Card
• Credit Card

Select the payment option available on the current Bharatkosh portal and complete the transaction.

Step 7 – Generate the Bharatkosh Receipt

After successful payment:

The Government instructions specifically state that the applicant should:

Take a print of the receipt and attach it with the application.

Keep the receipt safely even after the application has been submitted.

We recommend keeping:

• Printed receipt
• PDF/digital copy
• Transaction/reference number
• Payment confirmation

💰 What Amount Should I Enter in Bharatkosh?

Enter the applicable Government publication amount for your particular case.

Do not automatically enter ₹1,100 simply because you are applying for a name change.

First determine:

• Adult or minor
• Applicant in India or abroad
• Type of Gazette notice
• Any additional charge
• Any special circumstance

For example:

But a special case may require the basic fee plus an applicable additional charge.

The amount should be verified before payment.

❌ What If I Pay the Wrong Gazette Fee?

If the amount paid is incorrect or insufficient, the application may require further action.

The Department has procedures dealing with cases where a fee difference has to be paid.

If you discover an error:

1. Do not assume the payment is automatically refundable.
2. Do not assume it can automatically be transferred to another application.
3. Check the Department’s instructions.
4. Keep the original payment receipt.
5. Follow the Department’s instructions regarding any additional payment or correction.

📅 Can Gazette Fees Be Revised?

Yes.

Government publication rates can be revised.

The Department of Publication currently lists a Revision of Rates of Publication of Advertisement Notices in the Gazette of India & Delhi Gazette dated 17 September 2023.

Therefore, applicants should not rely indefinitely on an old website, old article or old screenshot showing a Gazette fee.

Always check the latest applicable Government information before payment.

🔎 Why Do Different Websites Show Different Gazette Fees?

There are several possible reasons.

A website may be quoting:

1. Government publication fee

For example, the applicable Government fee for an adult/major name-change notice.

2. Complete service package

This may include:

• Government fee
• Newspaper
• Documentation
• Service charge
• Courier

3. Historical fee

Some websites continue to display old Government rates.

4. Special-category fee

Minor, overseas and other cases can have different charges.

5. Additional Government charge

Certain requirements attract specific additional charges.

Therefore, when comparing prices, ask:

⏳ Are Old Gazette Fees Still Valid?

Older Government documents and websites may show rates from previous periods.

The existence of an old Government PDF does not necessarily mean that it is the latest applicable rate document.

The Department currently lists its 17 September 2023 rate revision on its Gazette page.

Applicants should therefore check:

• Date of the rate document
• Effective date
• Notice category
• Applicant category
• Any subsequent revision
• Additional charges

before making payment.

⚡ Is There a Tatkal or Urgent Central Gazette Fee?

Applicants should be careful when they see advertisements for:

A private service provider may offer faster assistance as part of its own service, but that does not automatically mean that an official Government Tatkal category exists.

Do not assume that an additional amount advertised as an “urgent Government fee” is an official Government charge unless it is supported by the current Department of Publication instructions.

🚚 Does Gazette Fee Include Courier Charges?

No.

Courier or postage is a separate expense where physical documents need to be sent to the Department or where a service provider sends documents on behalf of the applicant.

Courier charges can depend on:

• Location
• Weight
• Courier company
• Delivery speed
• Domestic or international destination

📰 Does Gazette Fee Include Newspaper Charges?

No.

The newspaper advertisement is a separate publication expense.

Where newspaper publication is required, the applicant must account for the newspaper’s advertisement charge in addition to the Government Gazette publication fee.

🤝 Does Gazette Fee Include Consultancy Charges?

No.

Private consultancy or application-assistance charges are separate from the Government publication fee.

If you use a service provider, ask for a clear breakdown of:

• Government fee
• Additional Government charges
• Newspaper
• Documentation
• Courier
• Professional/service fee

⬇️ Does Gazette Fee Include Downloading the Gazette?

The Government publication fee should not be confused with a private service provider’s charge for helping an applicant obtain or download the published Gazette.

Published Gazette material can be searched through the official e-Gazette of India system.

Applicants should retain their published Gazette notification safely after publication.

📄 Is There a Separate “Gazette Certificate Fee”?

The expression “Gazette certificate” is commonly used by applicants.

However, the Central Gazette process involves publication of the applicable notice in the Gazette of India.

Therefore, the Government publication charge should not automatically be described as a separate “certificate fee.”

After publication, the Gazette notification can be used as supporting documentation where the relevant authority accepts it for the particular purpose.

🧾 What Is the Total Cost of an Adult Central Gazette Name Change?

There is no single total amount that applies to every applicant.

The total may consist of:

Plus, where applicable:

• Additional Government charges
• Newspaper advertisement
• Documentation expenses
• Photographs/photocopies
• Courier
• Professional assistance

A fixed “total cost” should not be quoted without knowing the applicant’s circumstances.

📝 Examples

Example: Ordinary Adult Name Change

Suppose an adult applicant has a straightforward name change with no special additional charge.

The applicant may then have separate expenses for the required newspaper, documentation, courier and optional professional assistance.

Example: Adult Name Change With One Alias

Suppose the applicable case includes:

• Adult/major Government publication fee: ₹1,100
• One alias: ₹250

Other costs remain separate.

Example: Adult Name Change With Two Aliases

Where the Government’s additional-charge rule applies:

• Adult/major publication fee: ₹1,100
• Two aliases: ₹250 × 2 = ₹500

Again, newspaper and other expenses are separate.

Example: Applicant and Minor Child in the Specified Remarriage Case

For the special situation identified in the Government additional-charge document:

• Major applicant: ₹1,100 additional
• Minor child: ₹1,700 additional

This should be considered together with the applicable basic publication charge and any other applicable expenses.

🗺️ Central Gazette Fee vs State Gazette Fee

This page deals specifically with Gazette of India / Central Gazette charges.

A State Gazette can have its own:

• Government fee
• Application procedure
• Documents
• Publication rules
• Payment system
• Processing procedure

Therefore, do not assume that a Maharashtra Gazette fee or another State Gazette fee is the same as the Central Gazette fee.

If you are applying through the Central Government’s Gazette of India procedure, use the applicable Central Gazette rates and Department of Publication instructions.

🔍 Does the Reason for Name Change Affect the Gazette Fee?

It can.

An ordinary adult/major name change has a published Government publication charge of ₹1,100.

However, the Department has separate categories and additional charges for particular circumstances.

These include matters relating to:

• Minor name change
• Indian applicants abroad
• Adoption
• Change of religion
• Alias
• Present and permanent address
• Remarriage
• Applicant and minor child
• Other specified requirements

Therefore, identify the correct category before paying.

💍 Does Marriage Name Change Have a Different Gazette Fee?

There is no separate general “marriage fee” listed as a standalone adult Gazette name-change rate.

The applicable procedure and charges depend on the nature of the proposed publication and the applicant’s circumstances.

Ordinary adult name changes follow the applicable adult/major rate, while certain special remarriage circumstances have specifically listed additional charges.

⚖️ Does Divorce Name Change Have a Different Gazette Fee?

There is no separate general “divorce fee” listed as a standalone ordinary adult name-change rate.

However, the Department’s additional-charge document specifically identifies remarriage after divorce with change of applicant’s name and provides an additional charge of ₹1,100.

Therefore, divorce-related and remarriage-related cases should be examined according to the specific circumstances.

📛 Does Surname Change Have a Different Gazette Fee?

A normal adult/major surname change falls under the applicable adult/major name-change category unless the circumstances require another category or additional charge.

The published adult/major Government publication charge is:

However, special circumstances—for example, an alias, particular address requirements or specified religion-related declarations—can result in additional charges.

✅ How Can I Avoid Paying the Wrong Gazette Fee?

Before making payment:

1. Identify the correct category

Adult, minor, Indian abroad or another special category.

2. Check additional charges

Look for:

• Alias
• D/o/W/o
• Present and permanent address
• Religion-related declaration
• Remarriage
• Minor child
• Other applicable circumstances

3. Verify the Government amount

Use the latest applicable Government rate.

4. Check Bharatkosh details

Confirm:

• Purpose
• Function Head
• PAO
• DDO
• Amount
• Remarks

5. Save the receipt

Keep both printed and digital copies.

📌 Central Gazette Name Change Fees – Complete Quick Reference

❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Central Gazette Name Change Fees

🤝 Need Help With Central Gazette Name Change?

We assist applicants with the Central Gazette name-change process, including:

• Documentation assistance
• Newspaper advertisement
• Gazette application preparation
• Format checking
• Soft-copy preparation
• Application assistance
• Status follow-up
• Publication assistance

Government publication charges are separate from our professional/service charges. We can explain the applicable cost for your particular case before you proceed.

🏛️ Official Government Sources

For the latest Government information, applicants should refer to the Department of Publication and the official e-Gazette system.

• Department of Publication – Gazette Rates
• Department of Publication – Change of Name / Public Notices
• Department of Publication – Bharatkosh/NTRP Payment Procedure
• Official e-Gazette of India