January 22, 2026

The Gazette of India Guide Official Notifications, Name Changes & Land Acquisition

📜 24x7 Resource: The Gazette of India (Bharat Ka Rajpatra)

The Record Hub

Access the official journal where the Government speaks to the People.

  • Official Portal: egazette.nic.in
  • Maintained By: Department of Publication, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
  • Key Use Case: Name Change (Citizens) & Notification of Laws (Lawyers).
  • Motto: "Published by Authority."
🏛️ LEGAL REALITY: In India, a law passed by Parliament does not become effective the moment the President signs it. It becomes effective only on the date it is published in the Official Gazette. Until the PDF appears on egazette.nic.in, the law is legally invisible.

Introduction: The "Birth Certificate" of Law

(Why You Need This Archive)

You might think the newspaper is where news happens. But in the eyes of the State, nothing has happened until it is printed in the Gazette of India.

  • Did the government ban a specific pesticide?
  • Did the UPSC change the exam pattern?
  • Did your neighbor legally change his name from "Ramesh" to "Suresh"?
  • Is the highway authority acquiring your farmland?

All these actions require a Gazette Notification.

For 150 years, this was a printed booklet sold at the "Kitab Mahal" in Delhi. In 2015, the government stopped physical printing (except for a few archive copies) and moved entirely to e-Gazette. Now, anyone can download these notifications for free.

This "24x7 Resource Page" is your guide to navigating this massive, chaotic archive. It is essential for citizens fixing their identity documents and for researchers tracking government orders.

🔍 The Two Types: Weekly vs. Extraordinary

The first thing to understand is that the Gazette is split into two streams.

1. The Weekly Gazette

  • Published: Every Saturday.
  • Content: Routine matters.
    • Part IV: Private Advertisements (Name Changes, Notices of Religion Change).
    • Part III: Vacancy Circulars (Government Jobs).
    • Part II: Reports of subordinate offices.
  • Use Case: If you are changing your name, you will look here.

2. The Extraordinary Gazette (Asadharan Rajpatra)

  • Published: Any day, any time (whenever urgent).
  • Content: Major decisions.
    • Acts of Parliament: When the "Women's Reservation Bill" becomes an Act.
    • Rules & Regulations: When the Income Tax Dept issues a new deadline.
    • Proclamations: When the President declares an Emergency.
  • Use Case: If you are a lawyer or journalist tracking policy changes.

📝 Citizen Service: How to Change Your Name

The most visited section of the Gazette is Part IV. If you want to change your name in your Passport or Aadhaar, a Gazette Notification is the "Gold Standard" proof.

The Procedure (Simplified)

  1. Affidavit: Make an affidavit on stamp paper declaring the name change.
  2. Newspaper: Publish an advertisement in one national and one local newspaper.
  3. The Dossier: Send the affidavit, newspaper cuttings, photos, and a CD (with the text) to the Department of Publication (Civil Lines, Delhi).
  4. Fee: Pay the fee (approx ₹1100-₹1500) via the NTRP (Non-Tax Receipt Portal).
  5. Publication: In 2-3 weeks, your notification will appear in the Weekly Gazette.
  6. Download: Go to egazette.nic.in, search for your old name, and download the PDF. This PDF is your legal proof.

🏗️ Land Acquisition Notifications

If you own land, the Gazette is your early warning system.

  • Section 4 Notification: The government announces "We might need land in this area for a highway."
  • Section 6 Declaration: The government announces "We are acquiring this specific plot."
  • Where to find it: These are usually in Part II, Section 3 of the Gazette.
  • Why check: Once the Section 6 declaration is published in the Gazette, the land vests with the government. You cannot sell it. Ignorance of the Gazette is not an excuse.

🕵️ How to Search the e-Gazette Portal

The search bar on egazette.nic.in is notoriously sensitive.

Method 1: Search by "Subject"

  • Go to: "Search Gazette".
  • Select: "Extraordinary" or "Weekly".
  • Category: Choose "Ministry of Finance" or "Ministry of Law".
  • Keyword: Type "Income Tax" or "Drone Rules".

Method 2: Search by "Date"

If you know the date of the order (e.g., the day Demonetization was announced - Nov 8, 2016), search by date range.

Method 3: The "G.S.R." and "S.O." Numbers

  • G.S.R. (General Statutory Rules): Used for Rules (e.g., Information Technology Rules).
  • S.O. (Statutory Orders): Used for executive orders (e.g., Delegation of Powers).
  • Lawyers cite these numbers (e.g., G.S.R. 45(E)). If you have this number, use the "Search by Notification Number" tab.

🏛️ State Gazettes

Remember, egazette.nic.in is only for the Central Government.

  • If the Tamil Nadu Government changes the name of a village, it will be in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette.
  • Most states now have their own e-gazette portals (e.g., gazette.kerala.gov.in or egazette.up.nic.in).

Your official record toolkit:

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Is the printout of the e-Gazette valid in court?

Yes. Under the Information Technology Act, 2000, the digitally signed PDF downloaded from the official website is treated as a legal document. You do not need a "Certified Hard Copy" anymore.

Q2. How long does it take for a law to be published?

Usually within 24 hours of the President signing the Bill. The Ministry of Law sends the text to the Government Press immediately.

Q3. What is the difference between "Part I" and "Part II"?

The Gazette is divided into parts to organize the chaos.

  • Part I: Notifications by Ministries (Non-Statutory).
  • Part II: Acts and Regulations (Statutory).
  • Part III: Public Service Commission (UPSC) ads.
  • Part IV: Private Ads.

Q4. Can I search for my grandfather's freedom fighter pension notification?

Yes, but you will have to dig into the Archives section. The e-Gazette has digitized records going back to 1950 (and some pre-independence). You need to know the approximate year.

Q5. Why is it called "Gazette"?

The word comes from the Italian gazetta (a small coin), which was the price of a news sheet in 16th-century Venice. The British brought the tradition to India, making the Calcutta Gazette one of the first in Asia.

Bookmark this page. When the government puts it in ink here, it becomes the law of the land.