On this page
The short answer
For a name change in Odisha, swear an affidavit stating your old and new names, publish a notice in two newspapers (usually one Odia and one English daily), and apply for publication in the Odisha Gazette through the Directorate of Printing, Stationery and Publication at Madhupatna, Cuttack. With the Gazette copy, affidavit and notices, you then update Aadhaar, PAN, passport, voter ID, bank and other records. After marriage, a marriage certificate is often enough for a surname change.
How name change works in Odisha
A name change in Odisha is usually completed with three documents: a sworn affidavit (sometimes drawn up as a deed of change of name), notices in newspapers, and publication in the Odisha Gazette. No single statute governs a change of name in India. An adult may adopt a new name, and these three steps create a public, dated record that offices accept as proof that the old name and the new name belong to the same person. Each office (Aadhaar, PAN, passport, bank, school board, land records) then updates its own record on the basis of that proof.
A name change does not affect your rights or liabilities: property, loans, cases and records in the old name still bind you, and you should disclose the old name wherever a form asks for it.
Step 1: name change affidavit in Odisha
The affidavit is a sworn statement that sets out:
- your old name and new name, exactly as you will use them (spelling, initials, surname);
- your father's or husband's name, date of birth and full address;
- the reason, briefly (for example after marriage, after divorce, to correct a spelling, or for personal or religious reasons);
- a statement that all future records should be in the new name, and the identity documents you hold.
It is usually typed on non-judicial stamp paper and sworn before a Notary or an Executive Magistrate. The stamp value expected for an affidavit can differ by purpose, so ask the office that will receive it. See affidavits and notarisation in Odisha and e-stamp paper in Odisha.
Step 2: newspaper notices
Publish a short notice of the change in two daily newspapers: commonly one Odia daily and one English daily circulating in the area where you live. The notice gives the old name, the new name, your address and the affidavit details. Keep the full original pages of both papers, with the date and masthead visible, not only the cutting; many offices ask for them.
Step 3: Odisha Gazette name change procedure
The Odisha Gazette is published by the state's Directorate of Printing, Stationery and Publication (the Odisha Government Press) at Madhupatna, Cuttack. To have a change of name published:
- Prepare the application in the format the Directorate uses, with the notified fee.
- Attach the sworn affidavit, the original newspaper pages, identity proof in the old name, passport-size photographs and, if the change follows marriage or divorce, the marriage certificate or decree.
- Submit at the Directorate in Cuttack, in person or by the mode it currently allows. Check the current fee, format and any online option with the Directorate before you go, because these change.
- Once published, obtain copies of the Gazette page that carries your notice. Keep several copies and a scan.
Some people, especially central government employees or those who will use the change abroad, publish in the Gazette of India instead or as well. That is handled by the Department of Publication, Government of India, through the e-Gazette portal. Which Gazette an office accepts depends on the office; ask before you start.
Step 4: updating your records
| Record | How it is changed |
|---|---|
| Aadhaar | Online or at an Aadhaar centre with a supporting document. UIDAI allows a name update only a limited number of times (twice in a lifetime); later changes need an exception process. |
| PAN | Correction application through the Income Tax Department's PAN service providers, with the Gazette notification or marriage certificate. |
| Passport | Re-issue application on Passport Seva. After marriage, the marriage certificate is generally used; for other changes, the deed or affidavit of change of name and newspaper notices are generally asked for. Check the current document list. |
| Voter ID (EPIC) | Form 8 (correction of entries) on the voters' service portal. |
| Bank, insurance, employer | Written request with the Gazette copy, affidavit and new ID. |
| School and university certificates | Each board or university (for example BSE Odisha, CHSE Odisha or your university) has its own procedure and often asks for the Gazette notification. Some will only note the change rather than reissue the certificate. |
| Land records (RoR) | An application at the Tahasil to correct the name in the Record of Rights; see RoR correction in Odisha. |
| Birth certificate | Handled by the Registrar of Births and Deaths; see birth and death registration. |
Update Aadhaar and PAN first, then the bank, so that the name on your Aadhaar-PAN link and bank KYC matches.
Change of surname after marriage
A woman does not have to change her surname after marriage, and keeping the birth name is lawful. If she does change it, a registered marriage certificate is usually enough for Aadhaar, PAN and the passport, and a Gazette notice is often not needed. Some offices still ask for the affidavit and Gazette, especially where the first name also changes. See marriage registration in Odisha. After a divorce, the decree plus an affidavit is the usual starting point for reverting to the earlier name (see divorce in Odisha).
Changing a child's name
For a minor, the parent or guardian swears the affidavit on the child's behalf and signs the Gazette application. Where the parents are separated, the consent of the other parent, or a court order, may be asked for. Changing the name in school records is a separate request to the school and, for certificates already issued, to the board. After an adoption, the adoption order or deed is the basis for the new name (see adoption in Odisha).
Common problems
- Spelling differences between the affidavit, the newspaper and the Gazette. Use the identical spelling everywhere, including initials and spacing.
- Only part of the change recorded. If you are changing both first name and surname, say so clearly; otherwise a second notice may be needed.
- Documents in many names. If you have used several versions of your name, list every version in the affidavit as names of the same person.
- Property and inheritance. Keep the Gazette copy with your title papers. When you sell or inherit, the Sub-Registrar or Tahasil may ask how the old and new names connect.
Drafting of affidavits and deeds is described under drafting and opinions.
A transgender person who holds a certificate of identity can change the first name in official records on the strength of that certificate; see the transgender certificate.
Odia terms used in this guide
| Odia | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ନାମ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନ | nama paribartana | change of name |
| ଶପଥପତ୍ର | shapathapatra | affidavit |
Frequently asked questions
How do I publish a name change in the Odisha Gazette?
Apply to the Directorate of Printing, Stationery and Publication (Odisha Government Press), Madhupatna, Cuttack with the affidavit, original newspaper pages, ID proof, photographs and the notified fee. Check the current fee and format with the Directorate first.
Is a Gazette notification needed to change my surname after marriage?
Usually not. A registered marriage certificate is generally accepted for Aadhaar, PAN and the passport. Some offices still ask for an affidavit and Gazette, especially if the first name changes too.
What should a name change affidavit contain?
Your old and new names, father's or husband's name, date of birth, address, the reason, your ID documents and a statement that records should be in the new name. It is sworn before a Notary or Executive Magistrate.
Odisha Gazette or Gazette of India: which one do I need?
Most purposes within Odisha accept the Odisha Gazette. Central government employees and some offices or foreign uses ask for the Gazette of India. Ask the office that will rely on it.
How many times can I change my name in Aadhaar?
UIDAI allows a name update only twice in a lifetime through the normal process. Further changes need an exception process through UIDAI.
Can a parent change a minor child's name?
Yes. The parent or guardian swears the affidavit and signs the Gazette application for the child. The other parent's consent or a court order may be asked for if the parents are separated.
Official sources
- e-Gazette of India (Department of Publication)
- UIDAI: updating demographic details in Aadhaar
- Passport Seva: re-issue of passport and change in personal particulars
- Election Commission of India: voters' service portal (Form 8)
General information, not legal advice. Every matter turns on its own facts and documents, and the law and official procedures change. Check the current position with the concerned office, or take advice on your own facts, before acting.