State and Central Government Gazette: A Complete Guide
1. What is a Gazette?
A Gazette is an official government publication where legal and public notices, regulations, appointments, changes in law and more are announced. It is an important document where both State and Central Governments publish information to the public. Gazette notifications are statutory and are accepted as proof in court, government offices and institutions.
Types of Gazette Notifications in India
There are two types of Gazette notifications
State Government Gazette: Published by individual state governments, it contains notifications, rules, regulations and official government orders specific to that state.
Central Government Gazette: Published by the Department of Publication, under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs of the Government of India. It contains central level notifications, regulations and public notices that apply across the country.
3. Central Government Gazette
3.1 What is Central Government Gazette?
Central Government Gazette is the official publication of Government of India where important notices, orders and changes are communicated to the public. It is printed and published by the Directorate of Printing Department of Publication M/o Housing and Urban Affairs Government of India
Types of Central Gazette Notifications:
Statutory Rules and Orders: Notifications regarding changes in laws, rules and regulations.
Appointments and Promotions: Official appointments and promotions in central government departments.
Public Notices: Notices regarding legal and administrative matters, name changes, property disputes, loss of official documents.
Government Orders: Specific orders from ministries and departments.
3.2 Why Central Government Gazette is important
Central Gazette is a national level legal record where any information published in it is considered credible. Its notifications are statutory and can be used for :
Legal proof in court.
Updating official documents (such as name change on passport or Aadhaar card).
Issuing policies for state level implementation.
Public awareness on government decisions.
4. State Government Gazette
4.1 What is State Government Gazette?
State Government Gazette is an official publication for each state in India. Each state publishes its own Gazette through which local governments communicate important legal and administrative matters to its citizens. The name may vary slightly from state to state but the purpose remains the same.
Types of STATE Gazette Notifications:
State Level Regulations: Laws and regulations specific to the state.
Local Public Notices: Notices regarding legal matters, name changes, land disputes and local appointments.
State Government Decisions: Policies, appointments and changes made by the state government.
4.2 Why State Government Gazette is important?
For a citizen of a particular state, State Gazette is important for local legal matters. It is an official platform for:
Name changes: Many individuals have to get their name published in their state’s gazette.
Land and property notifications: Legal disputes, land acquisition and other property matters are announced through the state gazette.
State specific policies and orders: Regulations regarding local governance, public safety and infrastructure are often published here.
while both gazettes are for legal formalization, Central Gazette is required for matters that are pan-India, national policies or mandated by central government bodies. State Gazette is sufficient for state level legal matters.
5. Differences Between State and Central Government Gazette:
Criteria
Central Government Gazette
State Government Gazette
Issuing Authority
Directorate of Printing Department of Publication
M/o Housing and Urban Affairs Government of India
Respective state governments
Applicability
Nationwide
Applicable only within the specific state
Type of Notifications
Central policies, rules, appointments, national-level public notices
State laws, regulations, public notices, appointments
Fees : 1100/- to 3650/- Duration ranges from 15 to 45 days
Fees : 523/- to 1470/- Duration Ranges from 10 to 15 days
6. How to publish a notification in the Gazette
The process of publishing a notification (like name change) in the Gazette is same for both State and Central Gazettes with some state specific variations.
6.1 Central
Step-1: Affidavit for Name Change :
Prepare an affidavit stating old name and new name. This affidavit should have personal details, reason for name change and is usually notarized.
Step-2: Newspaper Publication :
Publish a public notice in two newspapers (one in local language and one in English) regarding name change. This is for transparency and as public record.
Step-3: Apply for Gazette Notification
Submit application to Department of Publication
Notarized affidavit.
Copies of the newspaper advertisement.
Passport size photographs.
Marriage certificate (if applicable).
Identification and address proof.
Requisite fee (approximately ₹1,100 – ₹3,650 depending on category).
Step-4: Wait for Gazette Publication.
After submission, the name change is published in the Official Gazette. The time taken for publication may vary but it usually takes 2-4 weeks.
6.2 State Government Gazette Process
Each state has its own process for Gazette notifications though the overall structure is same as central process. Here’s the work flow for State Gazette like Maharashtra.
Step-1: Affidavit for Name Change :
Prepare a notarized affidavit stating your old and new name, personal details and reason for change. However the process has been simplified for State gazette. Now, only a Photo ID Proof (Pan, Aadhar, Driving license) and Address Proof ( Ration card, Aadhar, Electricity Bill / Passport ) Required instead of Affidavit.
Step-2: Newspaper Publication :
Publish your name change notice in two newspapers (one regional and one English) After the Gazette arrives that too only for passport purposes.
Step-3: Submit to State Government
Submit application to state’s Department of Printing and Stationery or other concerned authority with:
Identification and address proof.
Birth Certificate for Minors
Marriage certificate or other documents (if applicable).
Application form
Prescribed fee (varies from state to state; around 523/-)
Step-4: Wait for Gazette Publication.
The time taken for state government notifications can be few weeks to months depending on state’s workflow.
7. Gazette Notification Cost
Cost for both State and Central Gazettes varies slightly based on type of notification. Here’s a rough idea of the fees:
Central Government Gazette Fees
Name change: ₹1,100 – ₹3,650.
Other notifications (legal, statutory): Can vary greatly depending on the type of notice and its length.
State Government Gazette Fees
Name change: ₹523 – ₹1470 depending on state.
Other notifications: Varies as per state rules and complexity of the notice.
Gazette Notification Validity
A Gazette Notification is legally valid and accepted by all government and private institutions as proof of name change or other notifications. It is considered as official document by:
Passport Office: For name changes.
Banks: For updating your name in account.
Government departments: For legal purposes and identity verification.
Court of law: As evidence in case of Legal disputes.
Digital Gazettes: The Way to E-Gazette
With the digitalization of government services, many states and central government have moved towards e-Gazettes. These are electronic version of the Gazette which is easily accessible to public online. The eGazette portal (https://egazette.nic.in) allows you to:
Download official Gazette notifications.
Search by name, date or category.
Apply for Gazette publication (in some cases).
State governments like Maharashtra, Karnataka and Delhi also have their own portals
How long it takes to get published in Gazette?
Central Gazette: 2-4 weeks.
State Gazette: 10 – 15 days depending on state and complexity of application.
Gazette notifications whether at state or central level is a legal formality for various personal and public matters like name change, public notice or legal disputes.
Knowing the difference between State and Central Government Gazettes and the process can save time and efforts. With digitization the process is getting easier but applicant should ensure they follow all the steps properly
This guide provides an in-depth look at every aspect of Gazette notifications and their importance in legal and governmental procedures across India.
