A clear, step-by-step guide to legally changing your name in Puducherry. Affidavit, newspaper notice, the two Gazette routes, real fees, documents and timeline, all checked against the official Puducherry Government pages.
A quick walkthrough of the affidavit, newspaper and Gazette steps, and how the Puducherry name correction service works.
In this video, the YourDoorstep team explains the full name change procedure in Puducherry: which Gazette to choose, the documents you need, the real fees, and how we handle the whole process at your doorstep.
Puducherry may be a small Union Territory, but changing your name here follows the same clear legal path as the rest of India, and the best part is that you don't need to visit any office. Citizens of Puducherry can apply for a name change through the Central Government Gazette, which is a fully online process. Whether you live in Puducherry town, Karaikal, Mahe, or Yanam, we assist you right at your doorstep. The Name Change Procedure in Puducherry covers your name change on all kinds of documents, from ID proofs like your Passport, PAN card, Aadhaar card, and Voter ID, to school and educational certificates, land and property papers, and any other record you need updated.
To change your name in Puducherry, do three things. First, make a notarised affidavit with your old and new name. Second, publish the change in two newspapers, one English and one Tamil. Third, apply for a Gazette notification. You can use the Puducherry State Gazette (fee from ₹135, published in about three weeks) or the Central Gazette of India (₹1,100 for adults, ₹1,700 for minors, valid all over India).
This is the one thing most guides skip. As a Puducherry resident you can publish in two different Gazettes. Picking the right one saves money and avoids trouble later.
| Point | Puducherry State Gazette | Central Gazette of India |
|---|---|---|
| Published by | Directorate of Stationery & Printing, Puducherry | Department of Publication, Controller of Publications, Delhi |
| Government fee | From ₹135 (up to 120 words), plus ₹11 per extra 10 words | ₹1,100 adult, ₹1,700 minor (paid on BharatKosh) |
| Time to publish | About three weeks | About 30 to 45 working days |
| Where accepted | Recognised, but some outside offices ask for the Central one | Accepted everywhere in India and most overseas use |
| Best for | Local records, cheaper and faster | Passport, Aadhaar, PAN, banks, service records |
Almost any Indian citizen can do it, as long as the reason is honest. You are eligible if:
Common accepted reasons: marriage, divorce or going back to your maiden name, spelling mistakes in old records, religious conversion, numerology or astrology, adoption, gender change, or simply a personal choice to be known by a new name.
Every legal name change in Puducherry follows the same three steps, whichever Gazette you pick.
A sworn statement on stamp paper with your old name, new name, father's or husband's name, address and reason, signed before a Notary Public.
Publish the change in two papers, one English (like The Hindu) and one Tamil (like Dinamani or Daily Thanthi). Keep the original copies.
Apply to the Puducherry State Gazette or the Central Gazette of India. This makes your new name an official public record.
The affidavit is the base of the whole process. It states, on oath, that you are changing your name and why. It must include your current full name and new name, your father's or husband's name, your age and full address, the reason for the change, and a clear line that you are not changing your name for any wrong purpose.
Buy non-judicial stamp paper (usually ₹10 or ₹20), get the affidavit drafted, then sign it before a Notary Public or Oath Commissioner in Puducherry. Keep the original plus two or three copies.
You must announce the change in two papers so the public is informed. For Puducherry that means one English newspaper (The Hindu or The Times of India) and one Tamil newspaper (Dinamani, Daily Thanthi or Dinamalar). Puducherry is Tamil-speaking, so the second paper should be Tamil, not Hindi. Some copied guides get this wrong.
Keep the notice short: your old name, new name, father's or husband's name, full address and the affidavit date.
Option A, Puducherry State Gazette. Send your request to the Director, Stationery and Printing, Puducherry, with the original affidavit (notary signed), an attested copy of your Ration Card (address proof), an attested copy of your Birth Certificate, an attested copy of any document named in the affidavit, and the fee (minimum ₹135 for up to 120 words, plus ₹11 for every extra 10 words). Publication happens within about three weeks.
Option B, Central Gazette of India. Send your file to the Department of Publication, Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, Delhi 110054, and pay the fee on the BharatKosh portal. The Central file also needs a typed proforma signed by two witnesses, a CD with the same text in MS Word, two photos, a self-attested ID copy, and a matching certificate. Documents should not be older than one year. When it is published, you download your notification from egazette.nic.in yourself, and that copy is valid without any extra stamp.
| Document | Needed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Notarised affidavit (original) | Yes | Base document for both routes |
| Newspaper copies (original) | Yes | One English, one Tamil |
| Ration Card (attested copy) | Yes | Address proof for the State Gazette |
| Birth Certificate (attested copy) | Yes | Asked for in the State route |
| Aadhaar / PAN copy | Yes | Photo ID proof |
| Passport-size photos | Yes | Two to three copies |
| CD with soft copy (MS Word) | Central route | Required for the Central Gazette |
| Fee receipt | Yes | BharatKosh receipt for the Central route |
| Marriage certificate | If applicable | For name change after marriage |
| Divorce decree | If applicable | For maiden-name cases |
Here is what you actually pay, kept honest. Newspaper rates change with the paper and the town, so treat these as a realistic range.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Stamp paper and notarisation | ₹100 to ₹300 |
| Affidavit drafting (if you use a lawyer) | ₹300 to ₹500 |
| Two newspaper advertisements | ₹800 to ₹3,000 |
| Puducherry State Gazette fee | From ₹135 |
| Central Gazette fee (adult / minor) | ₹1,100 / ₹1,700 |
| Typical total (State route) | ₹1,500 to ₹4,000 |
| Typical total (Central route) | ₹2,500 to ₹6,000 |
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Affidavit and notarisation | 1 to 2 days |
| Newspaper publication | 1 to 3 days |
| Puducherry State Gazette | About 3 weeks |
| Central Gazette of India | About 30 to 45 working days |
If you hand the whole job to a service provider, plan for 30 to 45 days end to end because of courier time, follow-ups and the Gazette queue.
The Gazette does not update your other papers by itself. Take the Gazette copy and update each record one by one.
| Document | How to update |
|---|---|
| Aadhaar | Visit an Aadhaar Seva Kendra or use the myAadhaar portal with the Gazette and affidavit |
| PAN Card | Apply for a correction through Protean (NSDL) or UTIITSL |
| Passport | File a reissue application with the Gazette as proof |
| Driving Licence | Apply at the RTO with the Gazette copy |
| Bank Accounts | Visit your branch with the Gazette, affidavit and ID |
| Voter ID | Submit Form 8 for correction of entries |
| Ration Card | Apply through the Civil Supplies Department or a Common Service Centre |
| School / College records | Contact your board or university (they may ask for a court order too) |
Your marriage certificate is the supporting proof. The affidavit, newspaper and Gazette steps stay the same. This is the most common reason women change their surname.
You do not need a separate court petition just to use your maiden name again. Your divorce decree is the supporting document, and the normal three steps apply.
A parent or guardian applies for the child. Parental consent and the child's birth certificate are needed, and the Central Gazette fee for a minor is ₹1,700.
The simplest case. State clearly in the affidavit that it is only a spelling correction. No court order is needed for a genuine typo.
| Mistake | Why it hurts |
|---|---|
| Name spelling that does not match your Aadhaar | The whole file can be rejected |
| Publishing in a Hindi paper instead of Tamil | Wrong for Puducherry, may be questioned |
| Losing the original newspaper copies | You cannot prove the publication |
| Sending un-attested photocopies | Documents are not accepted |
| Believing a "5-day Gazette" promise | No such official track exists |
| Updating only some records after the Gazette | Old name lingers and causes mismatches later |
We prepare the affidavit, publish the newspaper notice, file the Gazette correctly the first time, and guide you on updating Aadhaar, PAN and passport afterwards. Doorstep service, honest pricing.
The fees, offices and timelines on this page are checked against official Government pages, not copied from other blogs.
Government fees and timelines can be revised from time to time. Always confirm the current figures on the official portals above before you apply.
Match every spelling to your ID, keep original copies, and pick the Central Gazette when your passport, Aadhaar and bank records are involved. Or let us do the full job for you.
