Affidavit for Change or Correction of Name in Educational Certificates

Updated India guide with a modern sample affidavit, practical filing steps, official Gazette resources and the legal position relevant to educational records.

Updated: 29 August 2026

When this affidavit may be used

An affidavit can support an application to correct or change a name appearing in a school, board, university, degree, mark sheet or other educational record. It is commonly used to explain the applicant's identity, the name presently recorded, the name requested and the reason for the request.

Important: there is no single affidavit-and-Gazette procedure that automatically applies to every educational certificate in India. The applicant should first check the current rules of the issuing board, university or institution.

A spelling or factual correction may be processed differently from a substantive change of name. For CBSE records, the Board maintains separate rules and procedures for correction/change of particulars. The Supreme Court's decision in Jigya Yadav (Minor) v. CBSE (2021 INSC 303) is a leading authority on correction and change of particulars in CBSE certificates.

Current legal position: the Supreme Court recognised that lawful expression of identity, including a change of name, has constitutional protection, while permitting educational authorities to impose reasonable procedural safeguards. Requests based on existing public documents and requests based on a later acquired name may be treated differently.

Suggested steps before applying

  1. Identify the type of request. Determine whether it is a spelling/factual correction, alignment with existing public records, change after marriage, adoption of a surname, or a completely new chosen name.
  2. Check the issuing authority's rules. Use the current website, examination bye-laws, ordinances or student-services rules of the board or university that issued the certificate.
  3. Collect supporting records. Depending on the case, these may include birth certificate, Aadhaar, passport, school admission record, transfer certificate, marriage certificate, Gazette notification, court order or other official documents.
  4. Prepare an affidavit if required. State the old and new/correct name clearly, identify the certificate, explain the reason and confirm that both names refer to the same person.
  5. Complete Gazette/public notice formalities only where applicable. Follow the latest Department of Publication or State Gazette instructions rather than relying on older generic checklists.
  6. File the prescribed application. Submit the authority's form, supporting documents and prescribed fee, and retain acknowledgment and copies.

Sample affidavit format

Adapt the format to the facts and to the specific requirements of the board, university, notary or other competent authority. Delete clauses that do not apply.

AFFIDAVIT FOR CHANGE / CORRECTION OF NAME IN EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATE

I, [FULL NAME OF DEPONENT], son/daughter/spouse of [NAME], aged about [__] years, residing at [FULL ADDRESS], do hereby solemnly affirm and state as follows:

1. That I am the applicant seeking correction/change of my name in the educational record/certificate issued by [NAME OF BOARD / UNIVERSITY / INSTITUTION].

2. That I passed/completed [EXAMINATION / COURSE] in the year [YEAR] under Roll No./Registration No. [NUMBER].

3. That my name is presently recorded in the said certificate/record as "[OLD / INCORRECT NAME]".

4. That my correct/changed name is "[NEW / CORRECT NAME]".

5. That the correction/change is sought because [STATE THE REASON BRIEFLY - e.g. spelling error, alignment with birth/public records, marriage, adoption of surname, or lawful change of name].

6. That "[OLD / INCORRECT NAME]" and "[NEW / CORRECT NAME]" refer to one and the same person, namely myself.

7. That I am submitting the documents required by the concerned authority in support of this request, including [LIST RELEVANT DOCUMENTS].

8. That this affidavit is made for submission before [BOARD / UNIVERSITY / INSTITUTION / OTHER AUTHORITY] for correction/change of my name in its records and for issuance of the corrected/revised certificate, if permitted under the applicable rules.

DEPONENT

VERIFICATION

I, the above-named deponent, verify that the contents of paragraphs 1 to 8 are true and correct to my knowledge and belief and that nothing material has been concealed therefrom.

Verified at [PLACE] on this [DAY] day of [MONTH, YEAR].

DEPONENT

Official links and current references

For a university-issued degree or mark sheet, also check the university's current examination ordinances, student-services portal and prescribed forms. Requirements can differ between institutions.

Frequently asked questions

Is a newspaper advertisement compulsory in every case?

No. It depends on the nature of the request and the rules of the authority concerned. Where Gazette publication or a public notice is required, follow the current official instructions for that category.

Is a court order always necessary?

No universal rule applies to every board or university. Some situations may be processed on the basis of public documents and prescribed declarations, while other cases may require additional legal documentation. Check the current rules applicable to the particular certificate.

Can the same format be used after marriage?

Yes, the sample can be adapted, but the applicant should state the pre-marriage and post-marriage names clearly and attach the documents required by the issuing authority. The Department of Publication also provides category-specific surname guidance.