Name Correction in a Birth Certificate: Rules and Documents

If a birth was registered without the child’s name, you can add the name free of charge within 12 months of registration. After that, a late fee applies up to 15 years from registration. To fix a wrong entry, such as a misspelt name, apply with proof to the registrar who holds the record. Section 15 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 governs the correction.

Key facts

Name inclusion vs name correction

The law treats three situations differently, so identify yours first.

Time limits for adding a name

Rule 10 of the Model Registration of Births and Deaths Rules, 1999, which states adopt with changes, sets these limits:

1. Within 12 months of registration, a parent or guardian gives the name to the registrar orally or in writing. No fee is charged.
2. From 12 months to 15 years, the registrar enters the name on payment of a late fee. The model rule fixed ₹5. Tamil Nadu’s rules now charge ₹200, and the MCD Delhi portal lists ₹10 for adding a name after one year.
3. For births registered before a state’s rules began, the 15 years run from the date those rules started.

The parent must also present the certificate issued earlier. The registrar then endorses the name on it.

Past the 15-year limit

States extended the 15-year window by five years in 2014, and in most states that extension ended by 31 December 2019. On 10 November 2020, the Registrar General of India allowed states to amend Rule 10 for five more years and called this the last relaxation. Whether the extra window is open in your state depends on whether and when the state notified it. Ask your registrar before you apply.

Documents required

Requirements are set by each state and local body. The Delhi Municipal Corporation’s list shows what registrars typically ask for:

MCD accepts Aadhaar, ration card, voter ID, passport, bank passbook and similar documents as ID. Carry the originals when you visit. Some registrars also ask for an affidavit stating the correct name; our guide on how to make an affidavit explains the format.

Where and how to apply

Apply to the registrar of the area where the birth was registered, usually the municipal body in a town and the panchayat or health office in a village. Some local bodies take correction requests online. For example, NDMC in Delhi accepts them from parents or siblings with supporting documents, followed by an in-person document check.

1. Get the birth registration number or a copy of the current certificate.
2. Collect proof of the correct name, such as the hospital discharge record, school record or Aadhaar.
3. Fill in your local body’s correction or name-inclusion form, online or at the office.
4. Write the name as first, middle and last name in full, with no abbreviations. The 2024 model forms require this format.
5. Attach the documents, pay any fee and note the application number.
6. Attend verification if called, with originals.
7. Collect or download the corrected certificate once the registrar approves it.

How the registrar decides

Rule 11 separates two kinds of mistakes. For a clerical or formal error, the registrar inquires and corrects it. For an error of substance, the registrar can correct the entry on a declaration by two credible persons who know the facts. In both cases Section 15 requires a signed, dated note in the margin, and the original entry stays as it was. The registrar sends notice of the correction to the informant’s permanent address.

If the registrar refuses, appeal to the District Registrar within 30 days. The Gujarat High Court held in 2022 that circulars cannot take away the registrar’s power to correct entries that are wrong in form or substance.

Gazette notification for later name changes

If a person adopts a new name, such as a new surname, the usual proof is a notice in the Gazette of India, Part IV. The Department of Publication’s guidelines require a newspaper advertisement, an undertaking and the fee. Its guidelines list ₹1,100 for an adult and ₹1,700 for a parent changing a minor’s name. Our name change gazette guide covers the full process.

Whether a registrar will record a gazetted name change on the birth certificate varies by state. MCD’s list asks for a letter from two credible persons for a total name change; other offices may accept only spelling corrections. Check with your registrar before you publish the notice. For a disputed case, a local lawyer can advise on a court order. For first-time registration and downloads, see our guide to getting a birth certificate online.

Frequently asked questions

How can I add my child’s name to the birth certificate?

Give the name to the registrar who registered the birth, with the earlier certificate and parents’ ID. It is free within 12 months of registration and needs a late fee after that.

Is there a time limit for adding a name?

Yes. The rules allow 12 months free and then up to 15 years from registration with a fee. In November 2020 the Registrar General let states extend this by five more years; check whether your state did.

How do I correct a spelling mistake in the name?

Apply to the registrar with proof of the correct spelling, such as the hospital record or school certificate. The registrar corrects it in the margin under Section 15.

Can I change the name completely on a birth certificate?

Rules on this vary. Some local bodies accept a total change with supporting letters; others allow only corrections. A gazette notification is the usual proof of a new name.

What fee is charged for correction?

It is set by the state. MCD Delhi lists no fee for corrections; adding a name after 12 months carries a late fee.

Can the correction be done online?

Some local bodies, such as NDMC in Delhi, take correction requests online and then verify documents in person. Others need an office visit.

What if the registrar rejects my request?

Appeal to the District Registrar within 30 days of the decision under Section 25A of the Act.

Sources

• FAQ of CRS: name without charge within 12 months, corrections under Section 15 — Office of the Registrar General, India (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Extension of period for insertion of name in birth record, 10 November 2020 — Office of the Registrar General, India (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Model Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Rules, 2024 and forms — ORGI (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Tamil Nadu Registration of Births and Deaths Rules, 2000 (Rules 10 and 11) — Government of Tamil Nadu (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Karnataka Registration of Births and Deaths Rules, 1999 — Government of Karnataka (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Section 15, Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 — Indian Kanoon (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Birth and death registration: fees and documents — Municipal Corporation of Delhi (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Documents for birth correction and name addition — MCD (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Online birth certificate record correction — New Delhi Municipal Council (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Change of name guidelines (adult and minor) — Department of Publication (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Sangeeta Jeramdas Khatri v. Chief Officer, Gujarat High Court, 9 February 2022 — Indian Kanoon (checked 16 Sep 2026)