Government allows Gazette of India as valid proof for name changes in passports after court direction.
April 26, 2026: India has revised its passport rules to simplify the name change process, now allowing notifications published in the Gazette of India as valid proof. The move follows a directive from the Delhi High Court in the case of Raj Trehan vs Union of India, which pointed out that earlier guidelines had excluded the central gazette. Acting on the court’s order, the Ministry of External Affairs has amended the rules to include it.
Under the updated provisions, applicants can now submit either two local newspaper clippings, a state government gazette notification, or a Gazette of India notification when applying for a name change in their passport. Officials clarified that the omission of the central gazette in the 2020 guidelines was unintentional and has now been corrected to ensure uniformity.
The revised rules aim to streamline documentation and reduce procedural hurdles for applicants. Passport authorities have been instructed to implement the changes consistently across all offices in India and abroad, aligning the process with judicial directions while maintaining existing conditions under previous guidelines.